Also, we have a number of excellent prospects coming through from younger, such as Morrell. These will begin to feature towards the end of the next season, and hopefully form the basis for our Championship side in a few years time. We will never progress if we do not produce quality youngsters, because we cant compete even with the Blackburns and West Hams by spending 3 or 4 million on a player. Spend any less and you get what you pay for. The only way forwards is to develop our own. If we produce great young players (and a club playing philosophy that is the same from 15 to 1st team) then whoever is manager will play those players (because there is little option otherwise) After all, Swansea have done all right by it
Our local scouting in the past has also been lacking. The likes of Butland and Sinclair are examples of talent on our doorstep that was not taken advantage of. This is not made any easier with the likes of West Brom and Southampton camped nearby. A youth policy/academy is necessary but does need to produce. I just think that for the amount of time and money that has been invested and for what ever reason(s) there hasn't been as much returned as could be expected.
That should read academy players. Because that would be the sign of a healthy functioning FC. A scenario could be a team full of Algerians, Belgians, Czechs, Eskimos. Not a dig at a race but that would be no real football club.
If its not about being a West Country team ... Whats it all for! A young J Atyeo appears out there and no Bristol City not being a West Country team decide go for the camel. Might as well turn Failand into a park and ride.
Sinclair joined the Gas and played for them. Butland joined the Jamie Shore development centre now linked to WBA . At that age he wouldnt join City as City didn't have a development centre to join, so it may not have been down to scouting but lack of opportunity.
According to a recent radio interview I heard Jack Butland state that neither City nor Rovers ever made any approach to him and thus he joined Birmingham City. I think that we all agree that BCFC have only paid lip service to it's Academy for some years. However we should perhaps draw a line under that as with three Academy graduates regularly in the first team squad, although not yet regulars in the starting eleven, and some good younger ones like Morrell, the future does seem somewhat brighter for developing future first teamers. Not as quickly and maybe as many as some would want but you can not turn the supply line on like a water tap. With Tinman and his team now putting in much more effort into finding talent locally and afar, we must support the Academy until it starts funding itself with outgoing transfer fees for established home produced first teamers or by City progressing up the league ladder.
Bollocks to that it's been 8 months since we got cat 2 for the academy I want to see 8-9 youth players starting at Rotherham or I won't be happy. If in 3 years we ain't producing then complain but let's let things develop. Also Clifton vill I don't know if didn't realise this but we ain't Bayern Munich's rival because you keep comparing us against them.
I don't compare Bristol City to Bayern Munich. I reflect on the best teams in the world, and foreign FA's emphasis on youth development. If a model is good enough for them, part of it is good enough for a small club like BCFC. Doing the opposite has utterly failed financially and the XI has nosedived regardless.
does anyone else think its a coincidence that since AEA has been suspended we have been better in defence, i was glad he got sent off and dont rate him personally.
That was funny though wasn't it. He's been ****e so far for us but I think the Brighton fans rated him highly so there could be a decent player in there somewhere. But would rather see him not on the first team until he proves it. Remember everyone hated Fielding at first, now he has a wig he's a different player.
So hair is the solver of all problems then. In all seriousness I think that AEA could learn from being out of it. He'll be better next season if he works hard in pre season to build up fitness then we will see the real El Abd.
