It toughens them up and in many ways creates a passion / desire to be the best which is usually missing in kids that have been rewarded financially before they actually achieve anything. You even see it a local level now where kids are getting paid or given endorsements from clubs long before they really do anything of note. It then becomes a case of them feeling entitled regardless of their lack of achievements. Bottom line, you can make a lot of money from football these days even if you are shit.Originally Posted by Jetmaster
THe NPL players today make more money in real terms than the majority of NSL players did in the 70's and 80's, and 90's. And yet those NSL players were good enough for Socceroo call ups and even offers from overseas clubs.
Hence, there's just not a lot of incentive to get to the next level now and you also get kids like Hoole who are clueless about the gap between here and Europe.
And these Centres of excellence / elite Jets type programs are only making it worse.
People like Kevin Keegan are quite vocal that these sorts of things are what has ruined English football.
