Even with all Ellis Short's money I don't see SAFC competing in the spending stakes with Chelski, Man City and similar Clubs. Reason to be thankful for the success of the AoL and the handful of young players in or on the fringe of the first team. What was it the Club did five, ten years ago that brought in the kids and started them on a development that has led to todays situation? Was it the work of the Dutch guy (ex Ajax) who was Director of the Academy? Whatever the reason was, is the same work continuing and can we expect more kids breaking through? I know the Quinn/Keane connection brought in Irish youngsters-does a link to the Emerald Isle still exist? I know there is a great need to resolve the issue of loan players and squad strengthening is required but can the money be found to keep the Academy producing top quality young players? Anyone got information about the state of the Academy and youth development?
Pont...this was posted yesterday on the SMB. Brilliant analysis of the young players, their development, and what expectations would be reasonable. Enjoy. We only have one Reed, Adam, who is on loan at Brentford and is a canny player and can put himself about but don't think he has enough to push on. We do have three Nobles though, Ryan and Reece who are brothers and Liam who is on loan at Carlisle and scored 3 in recent weeks from midfield including two long range stunners. Billy Knott is a class above anyone in our youth team and reserves and will be a first team regular this time next season IMO. Scolari actually had him training with the Chelsea first team when he was 14. Jordan Cook is on loan at Walsall and is doing well there, he has a chance of making it with us, might need a full season on loan at a higher level than he is now though. We have three very promising fullbacks coming through, Bagnall and Marrs are right backs and Blair Adams who is a left back and could well be our second choice left back next season. As an example, in the reserve game away to Blackpool he was up against Matt Phillips who tore Bardsley a new arsehole a couple of months earlier and Adams had him and then Puncheon in his pocket, he also then drove forward and put an inch perfect cross into the path of Noble who scored. Louis Laing is by far our best defensive prospect, comfortable on the ball, good range of passing, can score a goal and is a quality CB, as well as an England youth international. He's nowhere near ready physically though, in that above reserve game with Blackpool he was up against Harewood and battled with him really well but he still looks like he needs to bulk up a bit. Craig Lynch should be able to push on to be a squad player soon, he's improved massively this season and has fully deserved his recent call ups to the full squad. We have plenty of other young talent too like Fletcher, Ben Wilson, Mitchell, Egan, Laidler, etc. I can honestly see the vast majority of our current youngsters making it in league football, even if it's not with us. Some will definitely end up at least in the Championship too. One thing I will say is that physically we don't seem to being through much variety, they are all technically very good, some are very skillful too and Kevin Ball is doing a great job but as examples there is no-one like Carroll for his height and presence, Agbonlahor with his pace, Wheater as a no-nonsense big lump at the back. That's not to say they are all midgets but Tounkara apart there is just no-one coming through who stands out physically. Edit: bit like Henderson and Meyler really, both are over 6 foot and can run all day but both look like they could do with bulking up. Read more: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=587243#ixzz1KeUWFzB1
Cheers for posting this mate, i confess to not being in touch with the youth team development. This Billy Knott kid sounds a really big deal, i remember hearing about him at Chelsea training with the big lads as a kid, i'm sure he was featured on SSN or something. Promising indeed.
Good read thanks Pont. I've heard great things about Billy Knott too, but haven't had the opportunity of seeing him play yet. I was carrying out some research on the reserve team yesterday, to see if there was anyone who stood out that could be promoted to the first team squad. I was pleasantly surprised when I read Craig Lynch's stats for the season: 9 goals in 15 starts and a handful of sub appearances is pretty impressive. With Gyan and Welbeck out for the rest of the season, I wonder if Lynch will make the bench on Saturday? He's got to be worth a punt.
Been to see Carlisle a couple of times this year, as luck would have it, before they signed Liam Noble on loan... Hear very good things about him, apparently Bruce wants him back there next year... could be a decent prospect.
