SUNDERLAND are preparing to clear the decks at Academy level with a raft of young talent set to leave. England Under 20 international Blair Adams â allowed to convert his loan to Coventry City into a permanent move last week â leads the exodus. But plenty of other players who have broken through into the second string in recent years are also on their way out. Former Arsenal wide-man Roarie Deacon was only contracted to Sunderland until the end of 2012 and his contract has not been renewed. Midfielder Adam Reed (right) is understood to currently be in talks with Portsmouth over a move there. James Armstrong, son of former Sunderland midfielder Gordon Armstrong, has left and joined Hull City. And Craig Lynch and Ryan Noble were both alerted about potential loan moves to Holland. The loan moves to Holland will not go ahead but Lynch is believed to be considering a trial and potential full-time move to Sheffield United. Both Lynch and Noble remain under contract but their Sunderland futures look uncertain to say the least. The decisions have partially been forced upon the club by the introduction of the new Under 21 development sides this season in place of the traditional Reserve team squads. Both Adams, Reed and Deacon would have been too old next season to be part of the development squads â as will Noble â and would have had to play in Under 21 games as over-age players. But a key part of the change-around is manager Martin OâNeillâs desire to fast-track through young talent that could potentially play a part in the first-team future while allowing players to leave who are not really putting pressure on the first-team squad. It was the same process that former boss Steve Bruce instituted when he first arrived at the club â both managers believing that if a place canât be envisaged in the first team somewhere along the line for a young player, they should move on Explaining his desire to let Adams leave last week for example, OâNeill told the Echo: âBlair is a good professional and a good player but he had reached the stage of his career where he needed to be playing games and we couldnât guarantee him them here. âThis move is good for him and it will help his career to develop and if it does so, we wonât lose out as a club.â OâNeill was referring to the fact that although Adams left for nothing, Sunderland have a hefty sell-on clause. And the same would apply for any moves for Lynch and Noble. Still at Sunderland are injured centre-halves Louis Laing and John Egan, while midfielder Billy Knott, whose season has also been blighted by injury, remains on the books.
If those lads are coming in, spending all that time here and, at the end of it are still not good enough, it seems to me we need either a higher standard of entry or a higher standard of coaching.
My concern is we ain't even getting 300k or so for the lads to cover development cost. Praise allah that Liverpool subsidised the Academy for 3-4 years with their hilarious payment for Jordan!
When were safe we need to get Louis Laing playing at CB giving him the experience ready for next season. With JOS guidance he will be OK. Will eventually/hopefully become SAFCs captain.
I think the problem with his size was always going to make managers reluctant, he's also had several failed loan spells, and supposedly has a bit of an ego. Shame for the lad, but it's clear he ain't gonna make it here, hopefully Laing will fair better, not so much spotlight on a young CB. Leadbitter, Jordan etc got the chance, they will if they are good enough.
Taking scoring records from the u19's/dev squad through the reserves and into league football is a big ask. Noble's been a bit unlucky with loan moves and injury. Not the biggest of lads either. Bridges did it but not many others come good on the hype. Premier League football is literally a massive step up in class with massive pressure and expectation. Remember Proctor during the not so distant yo yo years? He was steady but got blooded in the Champo!
Proctor occasionally looked as if he could be ok. Although that was the 'season we don't discuss' and I was mainly ****faced at every match, or high on mushrooms. Still I felt anguish.
Basically the only young ones from the current crop with a chance of making it are Knott, Laing and Egan. I know Mon rates Egan really highly but he is injured long term atm. Knott is on loan in the conference and needs to be playing at a higher level as he is capable. Think this will be good in the long term as we will have our kids playing at a higher level at a younger age.
