ant london wrote:twosips wrote:To be honest, and i've touched on it before in other threads, i see the reason kids don't move abroad as something that's linked to a bigger cultural problem. English arrogance mainly. We speak the world's most popular language, we're highly influential in all areas of culture and have huge sporting relevance, including the biggest football league in the world. We're not quite on the same level as the yanks, but we definitely have a huge sense of entitlement as a country.
The vast majority are lazy and don't want to learn other cultures whereas its the norm for kids in non-english speaking countries to look elsewhere for opportunities and head over here etc.. i don't think it'll ever change in football to be honest. Not drastically anyway.. We've always just presumed everything will come to us, as opposed to have to go looking for it and as a result there's very little motivation. It's all not helped either by the fact that most, even kids in the reserves, still probably clear more in a year than my parents do combined despite being about 17. It's an easy and comfy lifestyle.
I have to say mate, I agree with your first paragraph but I do not really think you are seeing the full picture on the second although you do make some good points.
I've lived and worked now long term in three different non-English speaking countries and have spent extended periods working in maybe 4-5 more. I first lived overseas for 12 months when I was 19 and, I have to say, it wasn't easy at all in some respects. I can speak languages (and could speak French very well when i first moved to Paris) and am not some kind of cultural ignoramus but even with all of that, at that age, it was pretty tough at times living so far away from family and friends and familiar things. I wasn't under the kind of "make of break your career and life" pressure that some of these kids would be under...ie. when they would need a support network more than ever nor was I likely to get the kind of temptations dangled in front of me which they would.
I see the fact that so few English kids go overseas to play as a function of some of the things you say - ie. taking the easier route but also likely that their families are often against the idea due to the risks it entails. Yes, kids from less developed countries have been doing this for years but they had no choice. It was either play on dirt pitches and not monetise your talents or you up sticks and go for your dream.
As more kids realise that an "apprenticeship" in the lower UK leagues doesn't achieve results and that a move overseas does work then that may likely change.
From a non-football perspective (and linking to an extent to the unemployment thread on off topic) I think people in the UK may ultimately have to become more mobile to work in the roles at the levels they want to in the future.
once you cunts couldn't colonize you shut up shop. FACT.
cheers
