Just wondering where we're up to with our youth set up and whether anyone is looking to break through for us within the next couple of years? I don't follow the youngsters at all so just hoping someone a little more in the know could tell me who the next Colback/Henderson might be? Or indeed the next Noble/Laing? Just seen Laing ended up at Notts County on loan from Forest. What happened to the lad who went out on loan to Wimbledon and really impressed? Was It Blair Adams or Billy Knott? I forget.
Watmore and Mavrias are future first team players imo, although neither are academy products. Pickford signed a new deal so I'd expect him to feature at some stage
Honeyman & Cartwright seem rated, Pickford seemingly has a great chance, and there's some American kid who's name escapes me that is apparently very good. Mandron may well make it too.
I firmly believe that the problem lies with Ged McNamee with the Youth System If I remember correctly Kevin Ball was winning u21 tournaments with the team he had at his disposal? Whereas we have just released Louis Laing and John Egan to keep Ged's son Tom on the books... Think we need a Head of Youth Development that has links to other countries and that has a couple of scouts at their disposal to check on kids from different continents and then sign them up...
I think where they've gone to play football tells it's own story. They were at the age where we had to offer them a pro contract or let them go, Geds son is not at that age yet, he's going to get chance to finish his scholarship just like Laing and Egan did, doesn't mean Tom is going to get a pro contract. but looking where Laing and Egan have gone to play football I can see why they didn't get a pro contract. What would be the point?
