Alan Pardew concerned by FA move to stop publication of youth results
Alan Pardew is concerned The Football Association's desire to prevent the publication of youth football scores risks removing one of English football's greatest strengths.
The FA has advised local newspapers not to publish the results of Under-seven to Under-11 matches amid long-term concerns that an emphasis on winning has undermined English players' technical development.
They wish to make youth football "more child centred and less results orientated", but Pardew, who already considers English players to possess inferior technical ability to their more successful rivals, believes losing that competitive edge could prove damaging.
"If you ask me, our youth football isn't competitive enough," said the Crystal Palace manager, whose team on Saturday host Southampton in the Premier League.
"Under-18s, Under-17s, Under-16s, Under-15s should be more competitive. It's what the game's all about, and you learn, hone your skills, if it's more competitive, so I don't agree with that policy, but they probably did it for the right reasons.
"Technically we're not the best players, trust me, I've worked with the best players in the world, and they're not all English, but what we do have is a spirit and a winning mentality, and it can make up for a lot of technical deficiencies. So I'd be careful to start edging around that.
"The problem with youth football is there's always different views. There's plenty of people at the FA that sit in little meetings and come up with certain ideas.
"I remember, if my team had done well, having a look in the paper if you'd won a medal or something, or if my primary school had done well, of course you do. What's wrong with that? Where that harms children, I don't get it."
Pardew remains without Bakary Sako for the visit of Southampton, owing to a hamstring injury, while Dwight Gayle, having suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury, and Mile Jedinak, because of an ankle problem picked up this week, will also miss Saturday's fixture.
The manager, who worked at Southampton before his sacking in August 2010, believes Ronald Koeman's team are still suffering because of the "big blow" of Morgan Schneiderlin's summer transfer to Manchester United, and has targeted victory in his pursuit of the Premier League's top six.
"I do think they miss him," Pardew said. "It's not easy to replace someone as influential as Morgan. That they might be having a struggle with, but they are still a very good side.
"This has been a fantastic year for us, 2015. If we can match this year I will be really happy. If we match this year I think we can end up in the top six.
"Let's cement ourselves in sixth. If we win, we are sixth. One hurdle at a time.
"We are a long way from European football. Let's talk in March."
Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman is wary of the threat posed by Palace and has warned his players they represent more difficult opponents than the team they twice defeated last season.
"They are a strong team, they have a lot of physicality, and some good quality players," Koeman said.
"They like to play offensively, with a big spirit in the team. We have to stop that, and play our own game, and to use our strengths will be very important, and very decisive.
"The Crystal Palace of today is stronger than it was at that stage of the season (when Southampton won 3-1 on Boxing Day 2014). But we know how we can win, we know what we have to do to win a game, and we'll be looking forward."
Koeman remains without long-term absentees Fraser Forster, Florin Gardos and Jay Rodriguez, but Victor Wanyama is available after previous concerns about his fitness.
"Wanyama did a normal session this week, he looks good.
"(Rodriguez) needs four or five more weeks to be part of the team. He's working hard to come back.
"Our ambition is still for the highest position in the table, but first of all it's how we like to play football. But if we are not at our level, because it's the Premier League, you can lose to everybody.
"It's a tough competition, and maybe more difficult than it was before."
Source: PAR
