RedRaider wrote: ↑March 30, 2019, 10:06 pm
I don't normally disagree with you Woodgers but I don't think race has anything to do with following a plan. It gets down to the individual and how willing they are to allow their talent to be harnessed. Does the individual 'buy in' or not. To use your soccer example, Brazil don't seem to have a problem being competitive. Germany did not make the Round of 16 qualifiers at the last World Cup having been beaten at Group level by Mexico and South Korea. Just like the Sharks taking half a century to win an NRL Premiership, one day an African nation will produce a Pele or Mbappe to spearhead a side good enough to beat the Worlds finest.
If you look at our side, both BJ and Sia have Samoan heritage. But they are chalk and cheese as far as discipline goes. I don't think generalisation based on Islander heritage stacks up. It is more the make up of the individual that counts.
It was an overall generalisation RR and it's an observation. There are exceptions to the rule. I certainly didn't want to come across as pointing the finger at races or anything, in fact I was deliberately trying to be sensitive about that as it isn't my go at all.
I'm envious of the physical attributes of those athletes of the island nations. Naturally they are some of the best athletes, as are our own Indigenous people.
As a generalisation I was trying to make the point that some people are more coachable than others, same as some people are more physically gifted as others. We all have different strengths.
Without getting into a tit for tat, you'll find that Germany performance at the last WC as an anomaly. But let's not flog it. Brazil have failed dismally in the past due to poor coaching, but their biggest strength is they're the most technically gifted players on earth, partly because many of them grow up learning to play with a tennis ball so acquire skills that are the envy of every nation.
Anyhow I made my point and again, I wouldn't have submitted the post if I thought people didn't think I was making a valid point and would take it the wrong way. It was more or less lived experience on how coachable people are and I hope I didn't cause anyone any offence.
We continue to **** about with blokes that are part of some fraternity. It's infuriating.