What if you don't make it?

[taupe]

A fascinating and revealing read of kids and football and academies, courtesy of Trent Alexander-Arnold...

‘What if you don’t make it?’: Trent Alexander-Arnold on football’s brutal talent machine

At 24, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has the world at his feet. But many thousands make the same sacrifices only to be dropped at the last moment – sometimes with tragic consequences. Here, he reveals why he’s working to support ex-academy players

www.theguardian.com

I didn't realise just how much kids were giving up on/missing to pursue dreams of football, and at what age.

 

[fitz]

A fascinating and revealing read of kids and football and academies, courtesy of Trent Alexander-Arnold...

‘What if you don’t make it?’: Trent Alexander-Arnold on football’s brutal talent machine

At 24, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has the world at his feet. But many thousands make the same sacrifices only to be dropped at the last moment – sometimes with tragic consequences. Here, he reveals why he’s working to support ex-academy players

www.theguardian.com

I didn't realise just how much kids were giving up on/missing to pursue dreams of football, and at what age.

My ma used to teach a kid who just spent every lesson practicing his signature for signing autographs once he's made it big. He didn't make it big.

I think there's loads that these kids will have to sacrifice and risk on the off chance. I'm sure plenty people know of friends/colleagues who are very into encouraging their kids in their dream to make it as a footballer (also trying to live their own dream through their kid). Some of it touching on worryingly convinced it'll happen. Getting sold a dream by clubs/parents/friends etc must be absolutely crushing when it doesn't come off. Makes me glad i had no ambition or goals at all in life as a young'un.

 

[taupe]

Makes me glad i had no ambition or goals at all in life as a young'un.

I know what you're saying, me neither. I loved playing football, and played all through my youth and teens at club level, but it didn't become a dream or ambition. I'm not driven in any particular way (that I'm aware of) I drift and have limited ambition. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, just a thing thing I guess.

I suppose not making it is the risk you take when trying. It's a perspective too, how you frame your ambition; seeing it in terms of success or failure for example. So dealing with failure, if that's how you see it, can be critical and part of the learning process too.

What I'm saying is you don't want to rob kids of their dreams and prevent them having ambition and trying, but you need to ensure that mechanisms, learning and support (like TAA's proposal?) are in place and a part of the process.

 

[FOX Franks]

I know what you're saying, me neither. I loved playing football, and played all through my youth and teens at club level, but it didn't become a dream or ambition. I'm not driven in any particular way (that I'm aware of) I drift and have limited ambition. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, just a thing thing I guess.

I suppose not making it is the risk you take when trying. It's a perspective too, how you frame your ambition; seeing it in terms of success or failure for example. So dealing with failure, if that's how you see it, can be critical and part of the learning process too.

What I'm saying is you don't want to rob kids of their dreams and prevent them having ambition and trying, but you need to ensure that mechanisms, learning and support (like TAA's proposal?) are in place and a part of the process.

it seems to me that the insta generation and those with “side hustles” don’t realise that something can actually be a hobby

just because you can’t sell em for the same price as a van gogh doesn’t mean you shouldn’t paint, eh

 

[FOX Franks]

it seems to me that the insta generation and those with “side hustles” don’t realise that something can actually be a hobby

just because you can’t sell em for the same price as a van gogh doesn’t mean you shouldn’t paint, eh

Oh, and I ****ing hate the term “side hustle”.

 

[jb5000]

Oh, and I ****ing hate the term “side hustle”.

I ****ing hate that we've bequeathed our young people an economy where they need to monetise their spare time, or 'side hustle'

 

[FOX Franks]

I ****ing hate that we've bequeathed our young people an economy where they need to monetise their spare time, or 'side hustle'

Yes. I think that is why.