Originally Posted by
newie4eva
The way I see it the NBN side of the club has had a Phoenix approach (soley NBN focused) not a Valentine one of having a genuine pathway from u6's through to 1st grade. In other words the NBN football doesn't seem to be there for the huge number of local kids that they have but are there for whoever would like to play NBN for them from anywhere (my son is a player that joined from outside of their club thus over stepping a local product and I have watched many others do it as well). It seems to have really peaked this year with all the Central Coast players recruited. I don't feel its just the coaches fault, if the club allows it to occur then they own the problem as well.
They seem to have lost many good young players over the last couple of years instead of them coming through from the really good youth teams they have had. There are a lot of good young players at other clubs at present. When these kids were first selected they would have all been over the moon and proud with dreams of playing 1st grade one day for Valentine.
When clubs bring a heap of new players into the top team from outside the club then it usually disillusions the kids and they then seek opportunities elsewhere.
I believe the club needs to drop their focus on the current "being in the NBN no matter what" attitude and be willing to drop down to Newfm (if it occurs) and become a truly Valentine club. Do it for all their kids and youth and then 'work towards' a future in the top league as this truly Valentine club giving all their kids a real home club team to aspire to and have it based somewhere in their area as Cahill Oval is not only a shocker but how can the kids possibly see it as a home for their senior teams.
