Our U-19 Team Is From Abroad.

July 22nd, 2008 | By: tomasz | 8 Comments »

One interesting thing I observed when checking last call ups to the U-19 squad. It turns out that 9 out of 13 players play abroad. The squad, of course, will be later supplemented with guys from Poland, but nevertheless the number of ’stranieri’ is quite impressive.

In my opinion, it’s just another proof that we’re reacting quicker than before when looking for Polish talent abroad. Moreover, this is also a result of more and more Poles being transferred abroad at a young age. I’m a big supporter of both trends. Names like Janota (Feyenoord), Kupisz (Wigan) or S-Latef (Sheffield Utd) are already well known to Polish fans. However, it’s nice to learn that we also got guys at Bordeaux (Mateusz Rajfur) or Manchester City (Adrian Cieslewicz). The lads from German clubs, judging from their names (Alan Stulin, David Blacha, Lukas Olbrich), seem to be the ones who left Poland as children (or were born abroad). No more cases of Podolski and Klose? Let’s hope so, our youth coaches look to be doing their best. We ought to see the effects of our foreign scouting in 5-6 years time.

As much as I support the decision of young Poles to develop abroad, I wonder if it’s a permanent trend. I mean, will we always have to rely on other countries to bring up our youth? What do you think, is this how the future of Polish football will look like in the era of EU? Will the national team be composed of the players who left Poland early or will there be a place for Polish league ‘products’? I personally would like it only to be a short term solution. I hope that it won’t overshadow the need to build a well organised training programme for the prospects who decide to stay in Poland. Moreover, I hope Polish clubs will invest more money in youth development and in 10 years time a young player will think twice before moving abroad. On the other hand, if there comes a chance to leave for Barcelona, Real, Ajax, Man Utd or Arsenal I will always encourage our youngsters to do so. What’s your opinion?

Tags: Group A, Janota, Kupisz, Poland, S-Latef

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By M. Zurawski | July 22nd, 2008 at 6:38 pm

It all comes down to money, doesn’t it? I would think (and hope) that it’s a matter of an economic domino effect. The economy grows, the infrastructures improve, the common person has more money, the clubs get richer with a larger fan base, the quality of the football improves. While, of course, Man U and Real Madrid and Barca are obviously world powers, it is as much through good footy as it is financial acumen. I think that IF (and unfortunately only if) we managed to COMPLETELY cleanse our leagues & officials of corruption, more legitimate monies will flow into the programs. And i would hope that since every club desires success they will realize that it is necessary to heavily invest into youth, into pitches, into facilities, scouting, ect. And within a decade or two Legia and Wisla and perhaps a few others can become european contenders. And when that happens, not only will the quality of competition improve but young talent will realize that it is not necessary to go abroad. It will all take a lot of time and forethought. In the mean time, i am VERY happy that we are realizing that we have to harness the potential of our ex pats. There are literally millions of Poles abroad, as we all know, and there is within that community a massive potential for the improvement of our national football. And i think that players like the ones mentioned in the article and hundreds more can perhaps bring something to our NT that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Someone that, for example, spends their entire youth going through a Dutch youth system is going to have an attitude and aptitude different then a local lad. And if used properly it can only help us. We could ship lads in from Mars, even if they have but a whiff of polish blood, if they can make us compete and win. I think the future is bright if the association goes about things correctly.

By Alek | July 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 am

its good for our youth to be from abroad because of always waiting for our players to transfer to some higher league and then then have to fight for a place. Now the first part is out and they only have to fight for a place but they have years to do it. Take Janota if he played say for Legia, sure he would probably start and play well but he would have to play well enough to impress abroad. Then say he goes to Feyenoord since he played in a lower league it would take a while to get into the squad like Matusiak. Hands down the best thing would be for the Ekstraklasa to get better because if all your players come from the same league they will likely play about the same football. It does seem like the league is getting better, but its becoming rather like the Scottish league with only 2 really good teams and the rest are average or shit. I really admire Wisla for staying Polish, Legia are getting allot stronger but just getting second rate players from Spain, it will still give the younger players more of a challenge to get into the squad like Wysocki, Rybus and Borysiuk but I’d rather they stay “pure blood”.

By tomasz | July 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 am

@M.Zurawski
The problem in Poland is that the clubs are owned by private people or companies (Cupial in Wisla, Walter and Wejchert in Legia or Rutkowski in Lech) who can resign from further sponsorship at any time as was the case with Drzynala or Prokom and Arka. Hence, I wouldn’t trust clubs only to develop young talent in Poland. I’d like the government to devote more money to football by building new pitches, training centres etc. It will happen because of Euro 2012; there are already numerous small towns applying for a financial aid to build football training centres. At the same time, money alone is not enough. What we need is the knowledge how to train our youngsters. Youth coaches in Poland are usually not educated specialists but hobbysists (can’t blame them as they earn very little money). I want to see a national programme being designed, a one that would last for the next 30-40 years. One of the possibilities is to acquire specialists from abroad who would create foundations of the system. I agree with you completely about our youngsters abroad, I’d even call them up from Morocco if they were good enough.
@Alek
Until now, only Smolarek experienced a career path that you described. Piszczek, on the other hand, was bought by Hertha at a young age, but then developed in Poland. I think we need further 5-6 years to see if this way of development is trully a good one. If guys like Janota, Cywka, Fojut, Kupisz, S-Latef, Krychowiak, Rajfur or Cieslewicz get through the youth system and play regularly abroad then we should encourage all the youngsters to leave. Our youth coach, Michal Globisz, says that he supports every decision of this kind. Surprisingly, it may also improve our clubs’ youth training as they would have to invest in it to keep the biggest prospects. I agree with you about the Polish league, nowadays there are only 3-5 clubs that may be called professional.

By M. Zurawski | July 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 am

So here’s a little speculation. I was just browsing the news at work and read a rumour that Tottenham may be in the process of placing a bid on Wagner Love. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Janczyk would esentially become a first teamer by default. Well, unless they invested into another striker. We’ll see if any of this pans out.

Posted from Canada

By Alek | July 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 am

I thought Globisz quit after the Euro cup like all of Beenhakers staff. If he did it is a shame I thought he was a great coach for our youth.

By tomasz | July 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Wagner Love’s departure is essential for Janczyk. However, CSKA has another Brazilian in attack: Jesus (what a perfect partnerhip Love+Jesus). As for Globisz, I don’t think he was ever a part of Leo’s staff. He coached our U20 in Canada in 2007 and is currently a U19 coach.

By M. Zurawski | July 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm

It seems there’s more Brazilians then alcoholics in russia, oi.

By Moving Overseas | August 19th, 2008 at 2:19 am

I decide to post comment

Well this is useful… (at least for me)

very thanks

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Moving Overseas

Posted from Thailand