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If we manage to get our own house in order i.e Get rid of gap year in Underage leagues and improve the LOI we could potentially keep players longer and get a premium when they eventually move. We should be doing this now even if there is no Brexit but with Brexit it gives our players a big advantage.

But how are our players going to improve?

practice

The assumption being that more resources will be put into our players because the english clubs cannot but a journey man seasoned pro for next to nothing from some other country. Our lads (and UK lads) will have a bigger opportunity to play first team football. Currently it seems only the very top players get a chance out of the youth teams.

It was meant as rhetorical. I get the assumption, I just don't think Irish players will improve much because of that.

If Brexit has a massive impact on the number of non UK/Irish players in terms of quotas in academies it could in turn see the increased presence of the number of scouts from UK clubs taking interest in Irish talent.

Is that not because the quality of player isn't there? And when I say the quality of player, I mean the technical ability required is greater. Even the Irish lads that make it in England are lacking in technique.

The DDSL would be up there with the best underage leagues in Europe standard wise.

Without factoring in other really strong teams/leagues around the rest of the country.

I suppose it was always handy/easy for English clubs to come over here and cherry pick players because lets face it cost was minimal for scouts, access was straight forward.

I think nowadays because the world has gotten so much smaller with modern technology, easy get work permits for talented players etc aswell as the obvious (our major problems from the very top down to grassroots) our players simply aren't as in demand as they once were.

If this is true, and I am not doubting it, merely asking the question, how come so many of the very best then go to England's biggest academies and fail and end up nowhere? And how come those that do make it, do so not on the basis of technical ability?

Maybe this generation coming through will be different, but if the players leaving or that good, where is the problem. G-Mac on here has said the same about the talent up  to 14s.

I have always thought the solution was obvious; keep them at home for as long as possible. How that is achieved, with the FAI and the culture at home, is another matter.

A prime example would be that the traditional 11 aside from under 12s (down) would now consist of less players thus giving kids more chances of getting touches of the ball. (Spain/Belgium/Holland etc have been doing this for years)

While the culture of "winning at all costs" still remains with some coaches, the fact that underages leagues have non competitive age groups it allows more focus on player development than on simply winning!

So there is more focus on technique now than we'll say lumping the heavy kid in goal or the big tall kid up top (to an extent)

It will probably take another 10-15 years before we're in line with the elite (in terms of how things are ran/done) but there is definitely signs of improvement.

It's a numbers game really. Irish players are no different to any others if they get the opportunity.  But at each stage of development there is a drop off in numbers. Players are let go because of other alternatives.  The more that stay in the system the more that reach the top.  

But I hear what you're saying about making the leap from our current level. Brexit won't save us on its own but will help if we are ready for it.