On this episode 33, I’m joined by Chris Robinson aka The Scouting Game who is also the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Southampton.

Chris tells me that although development of players for the First Team is the main focus of academies. Players will also be judged on their desire to win matches.

Chris lets me know that personally, if he sees players laughing and joking after they’ve lost a match. That’s an immediate red flag for him, because he’ll question how seriously they take football and if their desire to win is meaningless