It would be a major mistake to downgrade to a level three status as suggested in the article The 4 million pound cost per annum of runnung the academy is more than covered by the transfers of Daniel and Ollie and as is the way of the world doubtless others will go in time as well thus further covering the running costs.
We’re currently reaping the benefits of past investment whether we can maintain a decent standard of players coming through is unknown ,it costs the Club 40k year for one players development including the kids and yes we’ve had a windfall in selling Ollie and James we still have to cover Bastons and Ayews’ wages should they stay I’ve always been an advocate of the Academy and hopeful it will remain as it is but it’s not me who sees the books and has to make the decisions
I get more satisfaction from developing our academy players and see them coming in to the first team than big money signings. It is inevitable that some will move on to other clubs for hopefully decent transfer fees, as Dan and Ollie have done, which means the costs of the academy will be covered and probably other areas of the club will benefit as well .This is why it would be stupid to downgrade the one area of the club which appears to be successful moneywise.
4 million to run the academy, I wonder what we would have had to pay to sign players like Rodon, Byers, Roberts, Garrick and even Fulton to a degree, plus those I have missed. that is money well spent in my humble opinion, if we continue to reap the rewards like we have over the last couple of seasons. On a side note watched U18's play Garden Village seconds last night. Have to say some nice little footballers, but wow what pure attitudes they have. arguing at every decision, one player sent off for grabbing a village player by the throat cause he was tackled hard and one player warned for butting a village player as well when he should have been sent off.
not sure but both leon and tatey were there. The guy who headbutted a player should have been removed by the coaching staff it was naughty, but they did nothing, thought they would have been firm on discipline
the problem was as soon as garden village started to get a little physical, they didn't like it and reacted badly to it. I don't know whether that comes from over protection in the academy games they play.
Our academy has always been run well to be fair. And to be honest it is lucky they have been run well or the club would have been in dire straights otherwise. Tosh and his staff have been brilliant at coaching his players in the way some have slotted into the first team with no problem.....Tosh deserves to have a shot at managing at a higher level......Did you know that Tosh was a very good rugby player his chosen sport.
I'm not surprised , neither have I .Tidy player in his day but that doesn't necessarily make you a good coach or have man management skills
Steven Benda , good luck a more than decent keeper based on what I've seen of him . Because of his age he needs more experience before moving up into our first team ,he's more assertive than Mulder and Nordfelt but Woodman has more than an edge over all three https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49555420
I agree with these comments having watched some of the under 23 games on Swans TV. Benda is also good at saving penalties. I just hope he gets game time at Swindon and not being just a bench warmer. The other question is whether Woodman, who is on loan to us, will be here next season.
Regarding Woodman , Newcastle I would imagine believe watching his development closely and if he continues his current upwards trajectory and with a year left on his current contract they'll be foolish not to offer another .
I now know who he is looked at a picture on line, when I was coaching GV u19's and we played the Swans in the FAW youth cup, we did actually end up nose to nose, due to his antics and attitude to us on the line. yes he is a prick. I wonder if we were lucky enough to go up whether he would be a permanent target for us.
He "manages" West End U16s and I believe a few players there have gone back into the Swans academy (after being released) on his recommendation , which in it's self is not a bad thing if it gets a kid noticed by the Club but I can't say I've taken to him I'd like to think so (on both counts)
Funny reading old threads just shows far we've come https://www.not606.com/threads/swansea-academy.33205/ aberdude said: ↑ look i work with a father off a kid that has signed pro forms for the swans and he will tell you the difference between the two set ups for sure.why do they need indoor facilties dude.....i really dont get ur point,we play in the open air why not train in it.....im not sure if your correct on this mind. dude heres my point if you cant grasp it........my cousin thats works with ur kid has told me of a 9 year old lad that was top of the pops and way better than the other 9 year olds at swansea,well he`s from narberth and chelsea have just taken him from swansea for 1700 hundred quid in compo.....this couldnt happen at cardiff`s set up because of the money we invest in the kids and the choice of giving them the contract before any other club can even look at him......this is until the age of sixteen yeah
