No Hunger in Paradise
Based on Michael Calvin's 'No Hunger in Paradise', this documentary about home-grown English footballing talent is an intriguing program as it investigates and reflects on how the next generation of footballers could or are finding it difficult to have successful careers.
The fact that parents are putting pressure on children who want to become professional footballers is an interesting subject for debate as some people think that it's creating a barrier for them to express their talent.
Nowadays football is starting to become like a property auction spending spree, rather than an opportunity to explore and discover local talent. This could be one of the reasons as to why countries such as England aren't performing as well in major tournaments. However, having seen the under 17 side win their first World Cup, perhaps this could be the start of a new and successful era for English football just like the 1966 World Cup was.
There is also the fact that young players with more potential are seemingly under pressure to perform consistently at the highest level due to various reasons such as issues regarding fitness. Take Jack Wilshere as an example, I've rarely seen him go through an entire Premier League season without any major injury of fitness issue.
There's also the subject on fame in the sense that players appear to be wanting more attention from the media rather than just focussing on their game and their team, which is just selfish and lazy in the sense that you aren't really setting a good example to yourself and the rest of your team on how to bond together as a team and build a good understanding amongst yourselves.
For other players, it's about the mentality and how they behave in different phases of life, which could ultimately define their career. Colchester United centre back Ryan Innis's career was effected by his behaviour in the sense that he was unable to stop people from taking advantage of his career in terms of controlling his emotions.
This is all to do with the mindset of the player. Those who have the right mindset and mentality tend to have a far more successful career than those who don't. This is becuase they find it easier to focus on their game and what the team requires them to do.
The Steadman Scott story is an intriguing one to look at. Having just got out of prison, he still wants to be involved in football and in particular coach children on the streets which is step in the right direction, not just for him but for youngsters as well particularly for those from poorer and unpleasant backgrounds such as Brixton.The fact that some of the players from the England team including Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne who had trained at Scott's academy at the age of 8 years emphasis the desire that he had, to do something great in English football by training the next generation.
What is also noticeable is his attitude towards training the next generation. He is so passionate about giving a chance for youngsters to become potential stars in professional football which was something that he couldn't become during his career.
It's almost like restarting your career, but as a coach or mentor instead of a footballer and aiming high to achieve something which you weren't able to do as a footballer.
The structure of the documentary is eloquently laid out in the sense that the documentary presents how academies are going about preparing the next generation of footballers and the problems that are arising beyond this matter.
To sum things up, this program is a great example of the barriers in which young people may face in terms of kickstarting their footballing career. This includes difficulty with dealing with pressure from parents or mental health problems.
This is all to do with the mindset of the player. Those who have the right mindset and mentality tend to have a far more successful career than those who don't. This is becuase they find it easier to focus on their game and what the team requires them to do.
The Steadman Scott story is an intriguing one to look at. Having just got out of prison, he still wants to be involved in football and in particular coach children on the streets which is step in the right direction, not just for him but for youngsters as well particularly for those from poorer and unpleasant backgrounds such as Brixton.The fact that some of the players from the England team including Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne who had trained at Scott's academy at the age of 8 years emphasis the desire that he had, to do something great in English football by training the next generation.
What is also noticeable is his attitude towards training the next generation. He is so passionate about giving a chance for youngsters to become potential stars in professional football which was something that he couldn't become during his career.
It's almost like restarting your career, but as a coach or mentor instead of a footballer and aiming high to achieve something which you weren't able to do as a footballer.
The structure of the documentary is eloquently laid out in the sense that the documentary presents how academies are going about preparing the next generation of footballers and the problems that are arising beyond this matter.
To sum things up, this program is a great example of the barriers in which young people may face in terms of kickstarting their footballing career. This includes difficulty with dealing with pressure from parents or mental health problems.
