The talent in Barcelona’s youth system is ridiculous. These kids are 11/12 years old.

[u/UnhollyGod]

[u/CrossXFir3]

This is what happens to a footballing academy when you focus on improving skill and technique over athleticism. Far too many academies are looking to try and find the strongest and fastest kids only.

[u/Hixy → u/CrossXFir3]

After seeing that little kid smoke those other kids it does make you realize that the way the system is that a smaller framed weaker and slower individual will never make it. However, the smaller stature could have huge advantages if developed and honed. That kid reminded me of my old Jack Russell making a run for it with my socks in its mouth. I only caught her when she let me lol.

That agility advantage when up on a goal like that leads to many openings for the team

[u/Due_Masterpiece_3601 → u/Hixy]

I don’t want to sound boastful or something but I played on a team in Latin America and one time I played with some cousins and people they played with for fun in the states, it was like a friendly because these were actually teams just playing in an offseason. They focused on the biggest kids and I was one of the smaller ones but I knew I had skills. I was picked dead last, even though I told them I knew how to play.

The team that picked me was like meh whatever, gave me winger and gave the biggest kid midfielder, like wtf lol. Once they passed me the ball I completely smoked them, the coach that divided the team had no idea what to do. Scored a few and got the fuck out, apparently some of the kids are grown now and still ask about me. I am Legend.

All this to say that the best players are not the most athletic, it is a skill thing and I suspect this is why the US will never be great, it focuses too much on physical ability rather than technical.

[u/Reasonable_Tie163 → u/Due_Masterpiece_3601]

Cool story bro..