No fear of failure the way forward for Well kid Allan

FOOTBALL doesn’t build character, it reveals it.

The workers, wasters, tackle shirkers and makers, the hiders and creators. Boys who’d bail you out, stick you in, the cowards and the courageous who take the ball rather than pass the buck with it.

It’s one reason why big clubs always conduct a meet-and-greet night for parents of young potential signings.

Here’s a tip for any vertically-challenged dad who gets the call from either of the Old Firm to come in. Clubs work on a “like father like son” premise, so ditch the flat shoes and wear a pair of platforms.

They aren’t just measuring up in the physical size and height department, they’re looking out for anyone coming under the environmentally challenged category.

Have no doubts, it’s a good home or bad home type of assessment based on behaviour.

Forget pace, ability and ball control, the big clubs can make or break the dreams of many a young player purely based on perceived failings of personality.

Which brings us to Motherwell midfielder Allan Campbell.

As something of a surrogate father since nurturing him through the academy to the first team, Well boss Stephen Robinson’s words last weekend weren’t just complimentary – it sounded as though he’d be happy to adopt him.

The Northern Irishman said: “If everyone was like him, life would be very easy.”

Quite a statement and the type of quote any player would love to have uttered in their direction.

But something else stands out about the 22-year-old with 130 first-team games to his credit – his desire for forward motion in a game where so many others want to go backwards.

His football brain appears unpolluted by the possession and passing for passing sake coaching mantra belted from academy touchlines across our game.

Watch the number of backwards passes in the Premiership that boil down to a lack of bravery and that question of character. Then look at the best players on the planet – first touch forward, head up and looking to create rather than opting for the negative, safe options.

Livingston’s Scott Pittman and Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson join Campbell in being standouts in the forwardthinking department.

The scoring stats back

Campbell’s carefree, dynamic approach to the game is a breath of fresh air

up the argument as they all sit ahead of the rest for midfielders, with two goals apiece in this league campaign.

Pittman’s top of the pops at goal with eight efforts and an accuracy of 38 per cent.

Ferguson has had a total of five attempts this season compared to Campbell’s four.

The Fir Park dynamo illustrated his ability with a weekend winner against St Johnstone after a scorcher last Tuesday to seal the points for Scotland’s Under-21s in Lithuania.

Campbell’s carefree and dynamic approach is a breath of fresh air.

He’s testament to the fact the biggest mistake you can make is being afraid to make one.