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JFC in the final U21 squad for European Championship



GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
46,811
Gloucester
Well, that's not really true, is it? Every transfer window sees players go from a lower division to a higher one, sometimes even non-league to the league (there was that guy who went from burgess hill to a premier league side recently), players who go on to excel at the new level, displacing the players already there. If every player that could cut it at a higher level was already there, this wouldn't ever happen.

There are loads of talents that could do well in the championship or above but for one reason or another find themselves plying their trade part time. Maybe they didn't have the right attitude or opportunities/relationships to get into the system as a kid. Maybe they were written off because of their size. Maybe they just took their time to develop. Maybe they were never used in the right system/position to show what they could do.

True.

But the problem is spotting them (as opposed to those who are playing at that level because that is the highest level they can ever aspire to). We did it with Zamora and Peter Ward, but it doesn't always work that way!
 




hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
Helpful Moderator
Mar 16, 2005
61,457
Chandlers Ford
That's what baffles me too. In almost every respect someone like John Paul Kissock is a better player. He has a greater range of passing, more mobile, energetic, aggressive and skillfull than JFC. And he couldn't get into the Whitehawk side for the last few games.

Had you considered that it just might be easier to find space, win tackles, and have time on the ball to pick a pass, playing against Conference South part timers than against Championship midfielders?
 


Acker79

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 15, 2008
31,907
Brighton
So you agree with him that there were at least four players playing for Whitehawk that are better than JFC? JFC who has played a fair few games in the Championship before he is 21 and is a regular in all England age groups to date.

I don't know, I didn't see them. I am disagreeing with your suggestion that if a player is good enough to oust someone from a championship side they would already have done it and not be playing for a team like Whitehawk, and thus the fact they are currently playing there means they can't possibly be better JFC.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,640
Burgess Hill
Well, that's not really true, is it? Every transfer window sees players go from a lower division to a higher one, sometimes even non-league to the league (there was that guy who went from burgess hill to a premier league side recently), players who go on to excel at the new level, displacing the players already there. If every player that could cut it at a higher level was already there, this wouldn't ever happen.

There are loads of talents that could do well in the championship or above but for one reason or another find themselves plying their trade part time. Maybe they didn't have the right attitude or opportunities/relationships to get into the system as a kid. Maybe they were written off because of their size. Maybe they just took their time to develop. Maybe they were never used in the right system/position to show what they could do.

The guy from Burgess Hill went to the Development Squad of a premier league team.....not quite the same thing. I don't think he played any prem minutes.

Good to hear there are so many players in non-league in Sussex that are so much better than current England u21 Internationals and that they are not being grabbed by any pro teams. Whitehawk must be paying them LOADS.
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
Definitely "incredible" in that I don't believe the hype around him. There are at least four of Whitehawks midfield from last season who were better. Baffling how he got into the England team.

I'm fascinated that you know better than all our scouts, the past four Brighton managers and England youth managers. What position do you have in the FA or Football League? It must be very important as you have so much knowledge.
 






drew

Drew
Oct 3, 2006
23,073
Burgess Hill
Isn't it unbelievable that, whilst we should be celebrating the fact that one of our own is representing England at a prestigious tournament, irrespective of whether you appreciate or not his ability, people still think it productive to slate the guy.
 


jamie the seagull

Well-known member
Jul 27, 2011
2,803
Great lad and a credit to the club.
It must be hard to play for England one minute and then come home and play with the crap we have put out this year.
Personally felt he needed a rest in the period before Xmas when the summer tournament appeared to affect him.
Each time he takes the field he is playing out of position.
Having seen him play he should be played off the front man.
 






ken tiler

Active member
Nov 24, 2007
323
Brighton
Had you considered that it just might be easier to find space, win tackles, and have time on the ball to pick a pass, playing against Conference South part timers than against Championship midfielders?

Of course I have - and its not always correct to assume that footballers have less time on the ball in non league than in the league.

Incidentally John Paul Kissock, a graduate of the Everton academy, played for Everton in Europe, was an England under 16 and under 18, and England C player himself, and was highly regarded both in the English and Scottish League sides he has played in ( I dont remember Oxford United rating Jake Forster Caskey so highly)- and I can see why. His career has been blighted by injury, and I suspect he may have been overlooked because of his size, and maybe his attitude. I suspect JFC is a good lad and tries to do does what the manager wants but that doesnt make him a technically great player. It is my view that John Paul Kissock, is a better all round midfield player than JFC. I remember thinking the same kind of thing, when for example, I saw Steve Penney and Ian Wright play together in a trial match for Albion reserves - Ian Wright (playing non league for Greenwich Borough) looked better in my view but for some reason we didnt sign him, we signed Penney. Wright signed for Palace. Who was right then - all the Abion Scouts and management?
 


Acker79

Well-known member
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Nov 15, 2008
31,907
Brighton
The guy from Burgess Hill went to the Development Squad of a premier league team.....not quite the same thing. I don't think he played any prem minutes.

Good to hear there are so many players in non-league in Sussex that are so much better than current England u21 Internationals and that they are not being grabbed by any pro teams. Whitehawk must be paying them LOADS.

Jaoa Teixeira was in a premier league development squad, too. As was Jesse Lingard. Jordon Ibe. Quite a few premier league development players go out on loan and prove successful at championship sides.

I didn't limit it to non-league sussex. Also, I didn't say that those 'loads' would all necessarily unseat JFC, but that they could "do well in the Championship".

Maybe "there are loads" over states it a bit. Over time, there has been loads. Les Ferdinand, Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones all went from non league to top flight football, granted that was a different time. But the 'different time' thing works both ways. There wasn't then a culture of 'let's spend money getting a foreign player in because the English player is demanding too much/fans like exotic signings', that make it harder for English players who are good enough to get the opportunity to jump up and show it.

Rookie suggested that every player that is good enough to play at a higher level is already there. That a player playing in the non league team can't possibly be good enough to play at a higher level simply because he is currently playing non-league.

That isn't true. Every transfer window sees players move up and down the pyramid and sees players from lower levels proving a success at higher levels.
 




Hampster Gull

New member
Dec 22, 2010
13,462
Definitely "incredible" in that I don't believe the hype around him. There are at least four of Whitehawks midfield from last season who were better. Baffling how he got into the England team.

Saw the play off final and there was NO ONE om that pitch anywhere close to JFC in terms of ability
 


nwgull

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2003
13,838
Manchester
The guy from Burgess Hill went to the Development Squad of a premier league team.....not quite the same thing. I don't think he played any prem minutes. .

Also worth noting that Hull's academy was category 3 this season (they just got upgrade to Cat 2 for next year) so he wouldn't have even been playing in the top tier of the DS league structure, unlike the Albion DS players.
 






DavidinSouthampton

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 3, 2012
16,615
PMSL
Incredible talent?
He's done sweet fa for a few years and offers nothing...Sort your glasses out

That's why he'll be in the England U21 squad, then. Looks like a few other people need to sort their glasses out.
 


ken tiler

Active member
Nov 24, 2007
323
Brighton
Saw the play off final and there was NO ONE om that pitch anywhere close to JFC in terms of ability

I didnt see that match - I dont think that any of the Whitehawk team played very well in that match. But I still disagree, and I base my views on seeing JFC in many matches this season. Torres is also a much better player in terms of vision and passing ability than JFC, for example. What specifically is better about JFC than either Torres or John Paul Kissock. ( I also happen to think
Sam Deering and Jake Robinson are better players than JFC too)
 


DavidinSouthampton

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jan 3, 2012
16,615
Had you considered that it just might be easier to find space, win tackles, and have time on the ball to pick a pass, playing against Conference South part timers than against Championship midfielders?

There's a strange sort of logic there. You have a point, sir.
 


dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
52,640
Burgess Hill
Isn't it unbelievable that, whilst we should be celebrating the fact that one of our own is representing England at a prestigious tournament, irrespective of whether you appreciate or not his ability, people still think it productive to slate the guy.

Absolutely
 




nwgull

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2003
13,838
Manchester
I didnt see that match - I dont think that any of the Whitehawk team played very well in that match. But I still disagree, and I base my views on seeing JFC in many matches this season. Torres is also a much better player in terms of vision and passing ability than JFC, for example. What specifically is better about JFC than either Torres or John Paul Kissock. ( I also happen to think
Sam Deering and Jake Robinson are better players than JFC too)

Why then are they all playing non league and JFC is being consistently selected for an international 11 that's full of Premier League and Championship first team players?
 


ken tiler

Active member
Nov 24, 2007
323
Brighton
Why then are they all playing non league and JFC is being consistently selected for an international 11 that's full of Premier League and Championship first team players?

Thats the really baffling bit - ive tried to explain briefly why some of the Whitehawk players are better technically than JFC - as an extreme example. I suspect there are many other non league and league players, including other Albion players, who are better technically than JFC too. I suspect he is selected because he can do the job asked of him by England under 21s. I saw no evidence of any outstanding ability on his part when playing for Albion this season. I dont think he is a dreadful player - probably conference premier or league 2 at best. As an Albion product I`d love him to do well, and I`d love him to prove me wrong.
 


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