Ryan Shawcross worth a shout too, had a long career mostly in the EPL with Stoke, called up for England too. He is still thought of as a legend by Stoke fans. Craig Cathcart is another who had a really solid EPL career. Actually its amazing the number of quality CBs that came through at that same time but never really had a chance with Vidic, Rio and Wes ahead of them.
We should be so proud of our youth system
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Just call him Voldemort. We must be brave.
I’m not having Pique. Made his first team debut the same year he signed.
Robbie Brady is another one. Solid PL player.
Must be the most divisive thing about the club.
So many so called fans turn on the academy lads immediately when things aren't going well.
It's one of the best things about the club! The culture of giving opportunities to young players
So many so called fans turn on the academy lads immediately when things aren't going well.
It's one of the best things about the club! The culture of giving opportunities to young players
Agree, I couldn't even work out who the second academy player was at first!
Signing a player at the age of 16 is not the same as bringing a player through the academy!
Of course it counts.
You can't be a professional footballer until 17 and academy football scholarships are 16 to 18
The UK made some rule like you can develop kids from only a certain radius which makes what you want very difficult and almost entirely depending on luck imo.
For Mr Voldemort I won't be surprised if he'd make a return. And if we're bought by the Qataris I won't be against that.
We must aligned our strategy and philosophy from top to bottom. Youth coach should mould players to players that fits our XI team. If possible, I wouldn't buy players from another team. I really hope Amad, Pellestri, Mainoo, Hannibal, Iqbal, Savage and others cam make it to the XI in the next 2-3 years. We might only need to spend money on a striker for the season.
Very proud and of the record from the 30s. If only one breaks through every year its brilliant. When you can bring two or more through, like we have done in the past and hopefully in the next few years, its great.
Why I love the club is the exact reason I cannot stand Magreed as they have just bought their team for as long as I can remember.
Barca?
I think the ban on saying Mason Greenwoods name has been lifted. You’re just not allowed to say anything about him.
Tom Heaton, Ryan Shaw Cross, Danny higginbotham have all had great careers away from the club. I think there have been several keepers who have gone on to do well in the prem after never establishing themselves with us.
Glad the mood has changed around here but it must not be forgotten that during the last year, the academy lads were the most criticised amongst here. McTominay, Rashford etc.
I think fans of the club largely are ungrateful for the talents that academy has given us.
I think fans of the club largely are ungrateful for the talents that academy has given us.
I'm not sure that's really true is it? I picked your post because it was the latest one to make this point, but there's tonnes of similar posts above.
If someone asked me to name the players who got the most criticism on here last season, I would say Rashford and McTominay for sure, but I'd say Shaw, Maguire, Fred, AWB, Pogba and DDG all got a similar or even greater amount.
It's just one of those issues people tend to become polarised on. People either tend to believe Academy lads get more criticism/les criticism or that English lads get more criticism/less criticism, for example. Truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
And...lest we forget...much of the criticism last year was justified. Abuse isn't justified, but saying some of these players let themselves down on the pitch at times last year seems fine in my book. Most of the team fell well short of the standards we expect, and not just technical standards, but work-rate too
What little time he's had in games, he's looked calm on the ball. A neat passer as well, by the look of him.
More than anyone else, the past managers need the most flack.
When handled as ETH has, the players have played with purpose, clarity and belief.
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Honestly I support the club mainly for this reason. Always feel more excited watching a young player make a debut, talents developing with their ups and downs, than an established star smashing it week in week out.
I know technically he didn't come through our youth system but don't forget Amad Diallo.
Dean Henderson, Ethan Laird, Brandon Williams
What tinkering is going on?
Asking coaches to win games apparently.
The only thing that didn't really need intervention...
I really hope it’s not true. Nobody gives a shit about the matches or trophies the unders win. It’s important coaches can rotate players around the pitch and let them try out different roles or give them specific instructions to carry out that are to benefit the player’s personal growth rather than the team’s ambition.
This sort of attitude is how you end up with some 6ft lump of a 13 year old smashing in 80 goals a season that will disappear as soon as the other lads gain the benefits of puberty. Meanwhile the Scholes of this world are passed on.
You taking about Obi-Martin are you
We've got more leaks than the iraqi navy.
Wilcox didn’t do that bad leading the City academy. Cox is doing a good job but maybe Wilcox has some new and extra insights to get even better.
Assuming it’s not clickbait which it may well be - it can go too far the other way though. There has to be at least some shared focus on winning. As long as kids aren’t being drilled to sit back on 1 goal leads etc. it’s fine to have at least some pressure because they will create it themselves anyway, it’s not like you play football and don’t want to win when you’re a kid.
Winning games generates a winning mentality, something we're seriously lacking, and a lot of people, including the players, do give a shit about winning the likes of the Youth Cup, ask any of the class of '92
I suspect its more a case of asking coaches to prioritise playing the quicker/stronger lads? Probably the result of data showing the players who make it are more likely to be fitter and stronger, especially in the modern game. We do seem to have had a ton of little technicians who have struggled to make an impact in the game, let alone at United. Gems like Scholes will always make it regardless, but they also have to graft to overcome the physical disadvantage and win themselves a position.
Alternatively, it could be tactical. As in, get the academy players from a younger age being much more organised and defensively solid, rather than a 'go and express yourself' approach. Preparing them for the realities of the professional game.
Tbh it's all speculation based on journo stirring shit up and I hate myself for taking the bait. Need far more information to actually judge the merits of any changes.
Alternatively, it could be tactical. As in, get the academy players from a younger age being much more organised and defensively solid, rather than a 'go and express yourself' approach. Preparing them for the realities of the professional game.
Tbh it's all speculation based on journo stirring shit up and I hate myself for taking the bait. Need far more information to actually judge the merits of any changes.
Ferguson did the same to Eric Harrison. When Harrison protested, Ferguson told him he wanted more.
I have no problems with setting high standards for our academy teams tbh. We need that winning mentality ingrained into our youngsters from the beginning.
Yeah, at the end of the day it’s a competitive sport. Everyone involved wants to win every game. Why wouldn’t they? That’s a separate issue to doing their best to develop young talent. Which can happen at the same time as winning football matches, I’m sure.
The only weird thing in those rumours is the idea that anyone senior in the club would feel the need to tell academy coaches they should try to get their team to win football matches. That goes without saying. Nobody wants to coach a losing team.
Ultimately right now the youth teams are winning games and creating players, so it doesn't seem too much of a problem.
A major shift would be an issue, though. As above, you don't create Paul Scholes if you think winning games at youth level is your first priority.
A major shift would be an issue, though. As above, you don't create Paul Scholes if you think winning games at youth level is your first priority.
Winning didn't affect Chelsea's academy
Me neither. About time we show proper ambition and winning mentality