Very good.
The movement of my head resembled that of a nodding donkey.

The big difference between Dyche and Hodgeson is that the former has complete control of footballing matters and is therefore unlikely to want to come to a club where he will be little more than a coach

NES did manage Valencia and Porto before Wolves.

Cheers Mate

Happy New Year to you and yours too..!!

COYP

As far as I'm aware, top football teams have embraced the very latest technology and techniques. I believe the top Italian sides were originally way ahead but even Palace players will have a strict diet and regime etc. There are no more drinking sessions in the top flight. Even saw small teams will have a data analyst and sports scientist now - like Stevenage for example. Large teams may have 5-10 employees just for analysis.
Rugby is now behind football - except at the very highest level. Teams like Saracens and England, however the French are relatively new to it all, but are now doing it. Ireland rugby have a top set up.

Red and Blue Army!

Mate

I'm not sure how qualified I am to answer your question.

I can only recount my own experience as a player - unlike you I didn't Manage our coach at Senior/Adult level.

As a player I was reasonable - but limited in terms of ability. I was quick, could tackle and could pass - you won't be surprised to hear I was a fullback.

On that basis was encouraged just to concentrate on that - I always remember my dear old Dad when I was at junior level on the side-lines, hit him early let him know you are around..!!

That was similar to my experience at Senior level - where there was limited coaching in terms of developing you as a player more concentration on making the most of attributes you already had.

Where I can speak with more authority is development at Youth level. I was fortunate enough through my Sons to become heavily involved in the building and development of our local Football Club - where we took them from having no youth teams to having teams at every age group from U6 to U17's, at some age groups 2 teams.

We became to be the "go to" team/Club in our area - trials in close season were a nightmare..!!

The big difference that I noticed compared to my own experience as a junior was that all coaches needed to be/were qualified - unlike when I was younger it was just a Guy that liked/had played football and was prepared to give up his time to run a junior team for local kids.

There was/is far more focus on developing core skills from a very young age, so not just working on where a player has natural attributes, but pro-actively working on and developing areas of weaknesses in a player.

Prime example as much as the boys hated it, playing games where they could only use their weaker foot - at a young age this was highlighted by them having to wear different colour socks on each leg.

They were/are encouraged to pass the ball from a very young age - whereas I was encouraged just to "put my foot through it".

Result - for example my youngest son - now 22 can hit a dead ball equally well with both his right and left foot - rare as "Hens teeth"..!!

Another thing was playing with their head up - if a player played a "blind pass" - game was stopped and player asked what they were trying to do and where they were trying to pass it.

Other big thing is the introduction of 7 as side, 9 a side at younger age groups - they don't play 11 a side a side until they get to u13's.

Consequently players get more time on the ball on smaller pitches, meaning they have to be able to control the ball, pass and have more awareness of making space etc..

Upshot total difference to when I played football as a junior - I remember when I was a junior at what 9/10 years of age - pitch was huge and it was just "kick and rush".

All of this is why I get so exasperated when I see a performance like our first half performance against Leicester where we couldn't string 2 passes together - kids of 8/9 years of age are now able to do that.

I also think that the St Georges park project has has had a huge impact - IMO it's no coincidence that we are seeing at England senior level so much exciting talent and excellent players coming through now 8 years after it's inception.

So in summary and in answer to your question grass roots and youth football IMO is far more organised, facilities and coaching so much better - meaning that we are seeing so much more quality coming through. So the future looks bright.

On Youth Football, kids and the coaches are great - it's the parents that can be a nightmare..!!

COYP