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Vitor Flora – Liverpool’s Unknown Boy From Brazil
It is why many were so intrigued by Vitor Flora when he joined Liverpool in September of 2008. Apart from the basic facts – that he was an eighteen year old Brazilian striker – absolutely nothing was known about him. This lack of knowledge wasn’t limited to England because even in his native Brazil very few people had heard of him.
Initially that seemed strange given that his club of origin – Botafogo – is one of the biggest and most titled clubs in Brazil. Closer inspection, however, revealed that the Botafogo club that Flora had played for wasn’t the one based in Rio de Janiero but rather Botafogo SP, a club based in Ribeirão Preto (in the São Paulo state) who played their football in what is effectively the third tier of Brazilian football.
This article was originally published on The Botafogo Star.
Brief Book Review of Erbstein: The triumph and tragedy of football's forgotten pioneer
That tragedy was particularly cruel on the man who had overseen their rise, Ernest Erbstein. The Hungarian Jew had managed to live through the holocaust only to perish in the moment when his footballing dreams were being realised.
His story is perhaps less known, a footnote in the Torino tragedy, but it should no longer be the case thanks to this book by Dominic Bliss. Superbly researched and written, this is a fantastic book that is required reading.
Homegrown Saints
For outsiders it is hard to identify any form of success at St Mirren. The club has struggled to stay afloat in the Premier League whilst a win in the Scottish League Cup in 2012-13 offered a rare moment of glory. Success isn’t something that you typically associate with the Paisley club.
Look closer, however, and you will start to see a different picture. Their first team regularly features six players – Mark McAusland, Sean Kelly, Kenny McLean, Thomas Reilly, John McGinn and Jason Naismith – who started their careers in the club’s youth teams. Of that group, four have represented Scotland at Under 21 level. Many more have either already had a taste of first team football or else are on the periphery of the first team squad.
By any measure, then, that which St Mirren have in place is a hugely successful youth system.
The full article can be read on Blueprint for Football.
Blueprint According To...Joe Smith
Joe Smith falls into that latter group. A creative player, he admits that from a young age he had that creative aspect ‘coached’ out of him to the extent that he eventually decided to stop playing. However, he eventually took up coaching seeing this as an opportunity to avoid having other suffer the same experiences as him, making creativity very much at the core of his football blueprint.
The full interview can be read on Blueprint for Football.
[Featured Article] December 2014 Twitter Feedback
#ff - @paul_grech consistently great writer and his blueprint for football series is superb. Also shares a lot of interesting articles.
— FMAnalysis (@FMAnalysis) December 5, 2014
Universality http://t.co/LWKN22YV3N Top interview with @The_W_Address by @paul_grech 'Sacchi’s vision has come to fruition' @Inspirethegame
— Andy Edwards (@andyeeeee) December 8, 2014
.@muraliLiverpool the Blueprint for Football newsletter is like a gold mine for youth coaches. http://t.co/IWm3TldtHz Owner: @paul_grech
— α υ Я (@DMRI05) December 11, 2014
#FF No. 10: @blzzrd & @paul_grech's TL's. Best footballing knowledge aggregators. #Football
— α υ Я (@DMRI05) December 11, 2014
The new Total Football http://t.co/FKuMdeWOm5 @paul_grech interviews @The_W_Address
— John Sinnott (@JohnSinnott) December 12, 2014
@paul_grech I love the website http://t.co/GMU8RsEj37 Paul -Thanks for sharing! I think it's great :)
— JoJoMicallef (@JoJoMicallef) December 12, 2014
"What Goes Into Developing a Coaching Philosophy"
One of the best I've read.
@timlees10 talks with @paul_grech
http://t.co/U4RCRQ1WUy
— Samira Kumar (@Samirak93) December 16, 2014
Excellent interview & content from “@paul_grech & @timlees10 What Goes Into Developing a Coaching Philosophy: http://t.co/hsiqsWAUGP” 👍
— Gavin Levey (@GavLevey) December 16, 2014
"@paul_grech & @timlees10 What Goes Into Developing a Coaching Philosophy: http://t.co/Um3j21rB0U” Superb and insightful content.
— Kris Mavor (@KrisMavor) December 16, 2014
Developing a Coaching Philosophy http://t.co/GQeq17sURg Great interview with @timlees10 by @paul_grech 'I don’t believe in luck..' #topman
— Andy Edwards (@andyeeeee) December 16, 2014
Great interview from @paul_grech @timlees10 on Developing A Coaching Philosophy @coachingbadges @PlanItCoach http://t.co/R7CRyGb69S
— Matt Thomas (@GoalIn_One) December 16, 2014
Thanks @paul_grech and @timlees10 , this is the best thing I've read in a long time.
http://t.co/Nb2EY7Ut1i
— Left-Wing Soccer. (@LeftWingSoccer) December 16, 2014
@paul_grech @CoachingFamily @timlees10 Paul I am so impressed with this interview. Great work fellas - big future ahead for Mr Lees methinks
— Kevin Graham (@webblyhead) December 16, 2014
This is a great read from @paul_grech talking with @timlees10 about coaching, youth development & philosophies http://t.co/PySNM6FlC1
— Whitehouse Address (@The_W_Address) December 16, 2014
@The_W_Address @paul_grech @timlees10 this is one of the best reads on a coaching philosophy I have seen. I share his 'simple messages' idea
— Pro Soccer Coach (@PaulJSpacey) December 16, 2014
@paul_grech @timlees10 excellent article mate. Absolutely agree with everything mentioned. 👍
— Jonathan Henderson (@JonnyHenderson) December 17, 2014
@The_W_Address @CoachDerekMc @paul_grech @timlees10 I cannot retweet this enough http://t.co/rr8eIDPtrK
— Coach Julien (@MrCoachJulien) December 17, 2014
@The_W_Address @paul_grech @timlees10 Wish we had someone like this at #NUFC instead of fraudster Pardew
— :) (@toonmessi) December 17, 2014
Mighty stuff - @paul_grech talks to @timlees10 about developing a coaching philosophy - http://t.co/Co2PQciVjJ
— Brian McDonnell (@backpagebrian) December 17, 2014
This from @paul_grech is a great read - http://t.co/r5idNy5lAO
— Neil Atkinson (@Knox_Harrington) December 20, 2014
This by @paul_grech is an excellent read #LFC #academy http://t.co/WhtAoyjIG4
— Chris (@ChrisLawley77) December 21, 2014
@paul_grech fantastic article with @timlees10 mate!!!
— Joe Smith (@flowinfootball) December 22, 2014