Age, Experience and Leadership.

I often see people say we only sign young players and that we need experience players with leadership skills on the field.

Now I don't see how the three are linked or not so much as people say.

Leaderships often a very individual thing that people have rather than gain a lot of the time.

The opening day of the season came and Arsenal played West Ham, West Ham win and Reece Oxford of the age SIXTEEN stands out.

I watch MOTD2 like I normally do and I see the guests slam two Arsenal players for a lack of match understanding and Leadership on the field. One of the players was a 6ft 6 30 year old at the time with 340 league appearances and over 100 full international caps and also like the other Footballer I will highlight won a World cup winners medal. The other person was a 42? Million pound transfer and Arsenal highest ever Transfer. Played at the biggest club in the world with over 250 league appearances at the time and 70 international caps.

The players I'm talking about are M Ozil and P Mertesacker. These two on the Age experience and Leadership I see reading and listening to would hit that but in reality they don't. This game wasn't the only time they've been hit with this and they questioned by Roy keane over it in a Champions league game this very season.

Why I mention the the Arsenal vs West Ham Match was a 16 year old played it that game and did show the leadership skills people do so want to see from some Barnsley players. He was pointing things out to teammates and trying to encourage whenever possible.

I think the leadership skills can be best seen when the the footballers feel comfortable and and confident. I think we've got players that can do this role but they aren't getting the chance and if they do the confidence of these players are so low they don't want to say anything. They just want to keep to themselves and play the game like they should.

I understand this could be seen controversial but just something I notice people saying or putting.

 

Leaders are born not made in my opinion.

 

Controversial YOU!! Never Phil.
Young players like Oxford benefit by having people guiding him on the pitch in other words experience.
Put a team of sixteen year olds against axteam of 26 year olds and the latter will win 99.99% of the time.
Tellin thi

 

God I've missed this. Welcome back lad.

 

True, leadership skills are often inherent, and experience alone does not create a "leader".

However, what experience does do is teach those with an aptitude for leadership how to apply and implement those skills confidently and effectively and to the benefit of those around them.

 

I think you're right to separate the 2. Experience doesn't automatically mean leadership and conversely inexperience can lead.

Unfortunately BFC are lacking in both right now.

 

I'm not sure if they are born, but certainly you can have learnt innately the skills required of leadership at an early age. Leaders can be young or old. Leaders can be good as well as bad, some people think they are great leaders but offer bad advice, other leaders hold back, they only take the lead when they see it is required.

What makes a great leader is one of those age old questions and one that has many answers, not all of which can easily be put into practice.

 

The two players singled out have something in common.

 

Dont tell me, they are GERMAN !!!

 

Who are you thinking about Phil?

 

And World Cup winners.

 

True to form you head straight for the germans. However its quite obvious that arsenal havent had a proper leader for years which is why they fold when under pressure hence why for the last six years various pundits have savaged them for it.

So you are not really bringing anything new and controversial to the table.

I notice in terms of players hiding youve missed the main culprit in the EPL ... yaya toure.

 

I think you're right in the sense that to be a good leader you need to be confident. A confident player is much more likely to encourage the team and order them around than a player who is low on confidence and not playing particularly well.

However, knowing what to say and who to say it to comes through experience of playing the game.

Our players lack confidence AND experience and thus no leader has emerged.

 

I was thinking they both played for Werder Bremen!

 

Digby !! Definitely .

 

Just think what it would be like if we had some ENGLISH World Cup winners to ridicule eh ?

 

Just wait a day or two, it will all end up being Wilson`s fault that we are **** this season and Hassell should not be allowed to breathe, oh and Luke Steele is **** !

 

I can see now why the kid doesn't bother with this site.

Cut him some slack Mark.