Interesting points:
A few brief comments:
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I agree that the emphasis has to be put chronologically on technical, tactical, athletical skills. At the same time, humans are very plastic before 9-12 years of age, with consequences also on lifetime gene expression (as a general phenomenon, of course). I was wondering if by not trying to direct gene expressione in the early years, we are losing the best time to influence it. The same can be said for learning foreign language, mathematical skills and so on. Now, read biographies and you can understand lots of things, read textbooks and you will soon get caught is some dogmatic views. Mine are only points for discussion, of course.
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As for coaches, I don’t think only in terms of quality, but also where the coach fits better in. It’s very different working with little ones and late teens, and you know that better than me, for example I much prefer working with adults, others prefer working with late teens and so on. It is the same in schooling.
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I think an African nation won’t win the WC for at least the next fourth editions. This is because, despite the incredible phyisical and athletical abilities (I remember Nigeria in 1994, incredible athletes!), they underestimate the value of the tactical component. It’s a cultural thing, maybe it will change, maybe not.
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next time I will write about how the progression of player development is in Italy.