At the age of 16 I was trying not to fail advanced algebra and stressing out about my upcoming driving test. Instead of worrying about normal teenage things, many young footballers are nervous about how they’re going to perform for their professional debuts.
Every year there are 17, 16 and even some 15-year-old players entering football clubs all over the world. These young players are a double edged sword, bringing the goodness of fresh legs and new skills to the game, all the while plaguing their leagues with their inexperience.
Wayne Rooney was 16 when he scored his first professional goal for Everton and has only gotten better since. Rooney brought a high amount of energy to his team, along with quick moves and an awesome knack for goal scoring. He is turning into one of the soccer greats.
Although some new teens come in and light up the league with their abilities, some end up folding under the pressure. Freddy Adu is a perfect example of this. Adu came into the MLS when he was only 15. He was greeted with all kinds of hype, with many people saying he was going to be the next Pele. Only a couple of years later he is sitting on the bench and hearing talk of how overrated he is. In my opinion it’s not his fault. Some players end up coming into the league to early, before their skills can develop to their optimal level. This is what happened to Adu.
So are these youngsters helping or hindering their clubs?
Friday, September 19, 2008
September 20th, 2008 - Young Guns
Posted by Ally Weber at 8:01 AM
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2 comments:
They're typically not playing at the highest level right away, so I think they're helping.
But the bigger question is: Does all of the stress placed on the young players help or hurt them?
Because, as it is with the NFL, it seems that if a player simply doesn't pan out, that clubs can just dump them.
Obviously there aren't that many significant injuries (don't tell that to Gilberto's leg), but I think a lot of the hype gets into people's heads.
But I guess it's a better system in football when compared to basketball, where people can't go out and support their families because of all the stupid rules.
I don't know though, it's an interesting question and something to ponder I guess.
I think that the stress placed on them definitely hurts them. A lot of time the fame goes to their heads, or they just end up folding under the pressure. Either way it's hindering their play.
There are however some exceptions, like Ninis, who just end up flourishing. It all depends on the person and how strong they are, both mentally and physically.
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