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Franca

Interesting - never heard of that but would love to know if there is a correlation.

100% is. Its been studied and written about at length, its called the Relative Age Effect.

Broadly its a compounding 'issue'. Those who are relatively older (especially a a young age sept vs August birthday is huge) appear stronger, faster, etc.

As a result they are more likely to be picked for teams, and then benefit from more practice, coaching and game time. So the gulf can widen.

As a recruiters are aware, in sports where size is a massive factor e.g. rugby, the more sports science driven recruiters are looking at 'bio-banding'. Basically grouping by weight/size. Then they get a better idea id 'Jonny' is actually good, or if he's just the biggest in his year.
 
100% is. Its been studied and written about at length, its called the Relative Age Effect.

Broadly its a compounding 'issue'. Those who are relatively older (especially a a young age sept vs August birthday is huge) appear stronger, faster, etc.

As a result they are more likely to be picked for teams, and then benefit from more practice, coaching and game time. So the gulf can widen.

As a recruiters are aware, in sports where size is a massive factor e.g. rugby, the more sports science driven recruiters are looking at 'bio-banding'. Basically grouping by weight/size. Then they get a better idea id 'Jonny' is actually good, or if he's just the biggest in his year.
That's interesting.
When he was at Arsenal Kanu was interviewed by a reporter who commented that he had a lot of skill "for a big man", he was quite confused and replied, "But I learned how to play when I was small. I got big later".
 
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100% is. Its been studied and written about at length, its called the Relative Age Effect.

Broadly its a compounding 'issue'. Those who are relatively older (especially a a young age sept vs August birthday is huge) appear stronger, faster, etc.

As a result they are more likely to be picked for teams, and then benefit from more practice, coaching and game time. So the gulf can widen.

As a recruiters are aware, in sports where size is a massive factor e.g. rugby, the more sports science driven recruiters are looking at 'bio-banding'. Basically grouping by weight/size. Then they get a better idea id 'Jonny' is actually good, or if he's just the biggest in his year.

As someone born at the end of August, this must be why I never made it.
 
100% is. Its been studied and written about at length, its called the Relative Age Effect.

Broadly its a compounding 'issue'. Those who are relatively older (especially a a young age sept vs August birthday is huge) appear stronger, faster, etc.

As a result they are more likely to be picked for teams, and then benefit from more practice, coaching and game time. So the gulf can widen.

As a recruiters are aware, in sports where size is a massive factor e.g. rugby, the more sports science driven recruiters are looking at 'bio-banding'. Basically grouping by weight/size. Then they get a better idea id 'Jonny' is actually good, or if he's just the biggest in his year.
Back in my youth coaching days, I had two particularly talented players, aged 10-11 years old, that got the attention of scouts from a number of clubs. As I recall, between the two of them they were at one time or another at Wimbledon, Fulham, Millwall, West Ham and Charlton.

Both ultimately got released because they were too small.

Both are now well over 6' tall.
 
Back in my youth coaching days, I had two particularly talented players, aged 10-11 years old, that got the attention of scouts from a number of clubs. As I recall, between the two of them they were at one time or another at Wimbledon, Fulham, Millwall, West Ham and Charlton.

Both ultimately got released because they were too small.

Both are now well over 6' tall.

Sounds like a very common issue. But also sounds like clubs are getting better in delaying that decision to give players time to mature physically.
 
The only thing that stopped my career in football was a combination of lack of skill, ability, pace, awareness, work ethic and aptitude.
More than 60 years ago I played in a team coached by John Boyle, the former Chelsea player from the late 60s/early 70s.
One day he pulled one of my teammates aside to arrange a trial with Chelsea.
To this day I remain envious that I didn't get the call instead!
My teammate was outstanding, but he didn't make the grade .
 
Meanwhile, back on the subject of Franca … nice finish in today’s game in Marbella. Early days yet but there is definitely a player in there.
 

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