Soccer

Youth coaching must change in order to produce more leaders: former Cliftonville defender Marc Smyth

Cliftonville's Academy supremo Marc Smyth (centre) wants to see a winning culture become a priority in youth football
Cliftonville's Academy supremo Marc Smyth (centre) wants to see a winning culture become a priority in youth football Cliftonville's Academy supremo Marc Smyth (centre) wants to see a winning culture become a priority in youth football

Danske Bank Irish Premiership: Clfitonville v Dungannon Swifts (today, 3pm)

CLIFTONVILLE’S double league winning defender Marc Smyth has slated the Irish League's youth coaching philosophy and as a result he believes leaders are becoming harder to find.

Since being forced into retirement through injury three seasons ago, Smyth has headed up the north Belfast club’s youth academy.

The former Ayr United defender isn’t a fan of the new U20 league because he feels it doesn’t place enough emphasis on winning.

“I’m not a fan of the youth system here and I suppose it’s the same in a lot of other places. I would rather loan out 16 and 17-year-olds.

“The U20 league here is a development league. You’ve got lots of young kids who play nice football – and that’s great, but go and play in a sh*thole on a Saturday afternoon for a manager who is under pressure and try getting three points.”

Smyth, who formed an almost impenetrable central defensive partnership with Jaimie McGovern at Cliftonville, added: “When I was at Ayr United the first thing they did was send me out on loan to a junior team for three games, and I hated it.

“But it was a test and that’s what they did with young players. So it’s something we’re looking into with our kids at the academy.

“We try to develop our players and that’s obviously crucial but it’s also about trying to develop a winning culture. On Mondays and Wednesdays we’ll try and make our players better.

“In games, we have our vision and our philosophy in terms of how we play but in every cup game we want to develop winning. We’re trying to develop a balance at Cliftonville. We want to win on Saturday and we want our players to win their battle and to mix their game up.”

Smyth has kept a keen eye on the club’s first team and laments the fact that manager Barry Gray doesn’t have the same amount of leaders in his ranks as former boss Tommy Breslin.

“You need people who you can relate to. Fans need to see somebody on the pitch that they can relate to and can buy into. We were fortunate to have so many leaders in our team: You had George McMullan, Barry Johnston led by pressing, Ryan Catney led by being a dog, Chris Scannell led by speaking in the changing room and had an aura about him.

It’s very hard to find leaders.

“Barry Gray will make improvements because, as he said in his interview [after the Crusaders defeat on St Stephen’s Day], he won’t accept mediocrity.

“It’s only right for managers, coaches, players and supporters to demand better because once you accept mediocrity that’s what you’ll become.

“Sometimes, though, it can come down to budgets and who you can sign.

“The current side is never going to be as good as the Cliftonville team that won back-to-back leagues, and they shouldn’t be compared. This is a different team.

“The game is going to change because we are in an environment where desire and winning is not coached. Too many people are getting carried away with Barcelona. Youth team managers are turning up to play three at the back…

“Players aren’t being subjected to that [winning mentality] and by the time they hit 17 and 18 there are so many kids who are mentally weak.”

Meanwhile, Smyth has hailed the success of Cliftonville’s FonaCab Development League for five and six-year-olds.

For the last 18 months, over 300 kids from Irish League and junior clubs descend on Solitude every Saturday morning to take part in four-a-side games.

“We’ve created an environment where the kids can learn,” said Smyth.

“There are no goalkeepers and it is four-a-side where every kid gets plenty of touches of the ball. There is no poaching involved and all the kids get to score a goal in the games. It’s nurturing the love of the game. Everyone at Cliftonville has been overwhelmed by the interest and success of the initiative and we greatly appreciate FonaCab supporting us.”

Irish League stats

Ards v Ballymena

ARDS will be happy with their points tally and league position at this stage and they will look to put more daylight between themselves and the bottom three. But Ballymena’s firepower could put them on the back foot.

Odds: H:11/5 D:11/4 A:5/6

Prediction: Ballymena

Carrick Rangers v Glentoran

GLENS boss Gary Haveron returns to his old stomping ground and should have enough to break down Davy McAlinden’s side in the second half.

Odds: H:3/1 D:23/10 A:4/5

Prediction: Glentoran

Cliftonville v Dungannon Swifts

CHRIS Curran is nearing full fitness after a groin problem while the Reds back-line should have a more familiar look about it. The Swifts are struggling for goals and will do well to take anything away from Solitude today.

Odds: H:3/10 D:7/2 A:13/2

Prediction: Cliftonville

Coleraine v Crusaders

A share of the spoils is the likely outcome of this eagerly awaited top-of-the-table clash. Eoin Bradley’s brilliant late winner last week against Dungannon was the shot in the arm the Bannsiders needed ahead of the visit of Crusaders who are in slightly better form.

Odds: H:15/8 D:5/2 A:11/10

Prediction: Draw

Linfield v Glenavon

THE Blues, who have taken three points from a possible nine, haven’t convinced at any stage this season and are running into a Glenavon side that are scoring for fun and keep fighting to the last.

Odds: H:4/5 D:11/4 A:5/2

Prediction: Draw

Warrenpoint v Ballinamallard United

WITH Darren Murray a target of Crusaders and Coleraine, the ‘Point need all the points they can get, particularly against fellow basement battlers Ballinamallard today. The home side should be fresh too after a week off.

Odds: H:4/6 D:11/4 A:11/4

Prediction: Warrenpoint