How many of our players continue past college or past youth soccer for that matter......? Many of our players never have a chance to see what they could become. In Holland the professional clubs have a reserve league, for U23 players. In Italy, they have five divisions of professional soccer. In the US our players have to be "ready" at 16 - 17 for college.

"A player is learning all the time. I believe up until you’re 30, you work on your weaknesses. After 30, you work on your strengths – you know what you’re good at and you try to get the best out of it. As you get older you learn more about the opposition and more about the game. "

Ian Rush

Liverpool’s European Cup winner identifies the traits that mark a truly great striker...

We’re told strikers are instinctive. Does that mean you can’t learn how to score goals?
No. Of course there are always things you can learn, but it’s mainly down to instinct. If you start thinking about what you’re doing, it’s too late – by then the opposition have worked it out and a defender will have the ball. When you’re one-on-one with the keeper you have to stay calm, don’t rush yourself.

If you think too much, I can guarantee you’ve lost too much time. Too many things go through your head and you make the wrong decisions.

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