5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Here's how unmanageable footballers are becoming .... I watched my son in an under 9's tournament. There was a stand out player for one of the sides, so good in fact that every manager knew the lad - who had been with LCFC academy for 2 years. Normally any of the pro-clubs academy players won't play in tournaments so it raised some eyebrows and several of the managers questioned the host club whether it was allowed (usually the tournament doesn't allow academy players). There was a very visible LCFC scout at the game and most managers also knew him - so asked if he was happy that an under contract player was playing. He said that he wasn't and he'd already spoken to the lad's manager by phone who'd said that he was meant to be playing for LCFC today!!! He chose to play for a side, he wasn't even signed on for, to shine in a local tournament rather than play for the club that hold his contract. I had a long chat with the scout, who was a really nice chap put in a horrible position with everyone moaning at him..... He said what else can I do?? I've told him not to play, passed his manager's instruction to not play, told his dad he shouldn't be playing, and told the organisers he didn't have our permission to play. The lad still played. I asked whether he risked having his contract torn up as it was so disrespectful to LCFC..... "No, he plays for the year above his age and could go all the way - he's too valuable to discipline!!" Too valuable to discipline at 9 years old. No wonder footballers are above any usual moral code when their value, or potential value, puts them above their contractual agreements. Just disgusting.
ramadaone Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Why didn't you take it up with the lads father as he was there?
stevelcfc Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 The kid probably played because he knew he'd get away with it.
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 Why didn't you take it up with the lads father as he was there? I was just chatting to the scout one to one about it as he'd been talking to our manager stood next to me. It wasn't my place to talk to his dad, and to be fair to the scout I don't think he wanted to either - the guy was huge and quite intimidating. The kid probably played because he knew he'd get away with it. Almost definitely. What a total lack of respect he showed by doing it though!
KFS Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 I was just chatting to the scout one to one about it as he'd been talking to our manager stood next to me. It wasn't my place to talk to his dad, and to be fair to the scout I don't think he wanted to either - the guy was huge and quite intimidating. Almost definitely. What a total lack of respect he showed by doing it though! Can you even tie a 9 year old into contract these days? Sounds like issues on the father's end.
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 Just to be clear - I'd spoken to the scout, making conversation not any point, after he'd had almost every manager complain to him and he'd spent ages on the phone to the club .... I just happened to be stood next to him making conversation well after the fuss had died down.
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 I was just chatting to the scout one to one about it as he'd been talking to our manager stood next to me. It wasn't my place to talk to his dad, and to be fair to the scout I don't think he wanted to either - the guy was huge and quite intimidating. Almost definitely. What a total lack of respect he showed by doing it though! Thats your real issue then, nobody should be intimidated least of all the official LCFC chap
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 Can you even tie a 9 year old into contract these days? Sounds like issues on the father's end. Yeah apparently so..... and yes I felt sorry for the lad - problem was definitely his dad.
RowlattsFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Almost definitely. What a total lack of respect he showed by doing it though! To be fair, the kids 8 years old.. Surely up to the parents to make sure he's doing what he is supposed to be doing.
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 To be fair, the kids 8 years old.. Surely up to the parents to make sure he's doing what he is supposed to be doing. I agree .... I meant by the parent(s).
ScouseFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 What sort of world do we live in when an 8 year old kid isn't allowed to have a game of footy with his mates?
ramadaone Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Let's just say the lad is the next Wayne Rooney... He is under contract at LCFC but his Dad wants him to play with his school mates in a local tournament What do you think the club should do?
RowlattsFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 I agree .... I meant by the parent(s). Oh right, my mistake. Does seem a bit young to have contractual obligations though, kids at that age should be allowed to enjoy playing football.
Sods Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 What sort of world do we live in when an 8 year old kid isn't allowed to have a game of footy with his mates? This, I don't see the problem at all. It's under 9, not under 16. Got to keep enjoyment at that age surely.
Lambert09 Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 The kids 9 years old, he should be able to do what he wants. Can't believe he is being questioned for this. You think at that age he shouldn't be given freedom to have some fun?
ScouseFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Let's just say the lad is the next Wayne Rooney... He is under contract at LCFC but his Dad wants him to play with his school mates in a local tournament What do you think the club should do? Let him play football with his mates. He's 8 years old. Imagine being an 8 year old kid. You go to school, you go to football practice and you go to bed. You don't do anything else. Now this kid presumably lives and breathes football, his friends all play for this team and it's all the do and talk about. Now imagine being this kid if you're dad said "son, you're too good to play with your mates, you're gonna have to stand and watch". I'd be absolutely gutted. He's not going to do himself any major long term damage on a park at the age of 8, is he? At 8 I was playing football every waking hour I wasn't in school, if someone told me I couldn't I'd have gone mental.
RowlattsFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 The only problem I can see is that he should have played for Lcfc today but decided (or parent decided) that he'll play in this tournament instead.
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 I think the point is that if he wants to play with his mates that's cool .... sign for the club his mates play for and not LCFC. But he was meant to be playing for his club (the one that he signed for by choice) against coventry today - but wasn't there.
ScouseFox Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 Again I'd agree with that if it was u16/u18 or something serious. The kid is still a very young kid. He doesn't know what he wants other than to just play footy with his mates. He doesn't want contracts and signing for clubs etc etc. Just to play footy with his mates.
Webbo Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 What sort of world do we live in when an 8 year old kid isn't allowed to have a game of footy with his mates? Exactly. How could anyone at the club discipline the kid anyway?
Mark_w Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 I think the point is that if he wants to play with his mates that's cool .... sign for the club his mates play for and not LCFC. But he was meant to be playing for his club (the one that he signed for by choice) against coventry today - but wasn't there. Why should he be forced to choose between playing football with his friends and progressing. If you stop kids from playing football with their friends then they're not going to be enjoying it as much and who knows they might pack it in all together. He's 8, he shouldn't be committed to playing for Leicester, let him enjoy playing football, don't make him worry about his career.
Ashley Posted 21 April 2013 Posted 21 April 2013 I can see both sides to this. One thing you need to remember though the kid is still 8 or 9 years old, he's only a kid once he was probably playing with his mates? Nothing wrong with that intact it's a good thing you can't take the enjoyment out of it for the kid, say all of a sudden he doesn't want to play because its being taken to seriously at that age? What I will say is anyone turning professional has to give up their child good, training three times a week then a game at the weekend? Diets, training schedules etc then again you could say that's nothing due to the money they will make...
5waller5 Posted 21 April 2013 Author Posted 21 April 2013 Why should he be forced to choose between playing football with his friends and progressing. If you stop kids from playing football with their friends then they're not going to be enjoying it as much and who knows they might pack it in all together. He's 8, he shouldn't be committed to playing for Leicester, let him enjoy playing football, don't make him worry about his career. Hey - I don't make the rules!!! If you sign for an academy you sign for the academy with their rules - and their rules are that you stop playing for anyone else!!! If you want to be a pro footballer and play for LCFC academy you accept those rules - if you don't you play with your mates. You can't do both - especially when your club have specifically asked you not to!!!
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