My internet feed cut off during the interview when he was talking about Rossi. TP had just said he was frustrated, then ..... Can anyone finish off what was said after that.
He said Rossi was frustrated, but having never played any first team football at any level, they weren't going to bung him straight into a Premier League team, so when the offer came in, they decided it was best to let him go. More interesting was the stuff on his time at Swansea, he managed to bring through eight players from the youth team to the first team and two of them were sold for £25m.
This is the price you pay because money has turned the EPL into a results based pressure cooker where results and instant success are the only things that count
I don't know how to break this to you but results have always been the only thing that mattered in any professional sport. As Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers said "Winning isn't the most important thing. It is the only thing."
How long was Tony at Swansea for? How long did the overhaul of their youth system take before players started poking through?
Didnt hear it myself but thanks to Driff off of CI " Anyone listen to Tony Pennock interview on RH tonight? If not, try their online 'listen again' service. He blew away, once and for all, the myth that the youth system is a waste of time. In his relatively short time developing the Swansea system, he produced 8, yes EIGHT, players that have now played for their first team. The sale of only 2 of their players from the youth system more than paid for all the investment in the system that had been made, with money to spare, including considerable investment in the facilities. Swansea are similar to us. The other example he spoke about was Southampton. Again a club from our 'galaxy' unlike say the Manchester clubs. If it's done right, then it can pay. In fact, it's probably essential for clubs like ours with ambition. He sounded confident, whilst being very humble, that the club will achieve at least level 2 shortly. It's another reason why it's essential that we stay in the PL. The investment is being made in the staff, and facilities. And for that, we only have AA to thank. It's time some woke up to the facts of what is being done for the future of our club, and stopped harking on about past failure. Yes, a long line of previous owners have failed miserably; not least those involved last time we had the riches of the PL at our disposal. Thankfully, our current owner recognises the importance and is doing something about it. He may be wrong with other matters, but credit where credit is due eh.
I was thinking The Yorkshire and Humber Cup final victory over Scarborough but you make a valid point.
Because we do what people should do but a lot of inadequate ****ers don't, we support our local team and hope that one day we might actually win something. Unfortunately under current PL set up that becomes less likely as years go by. I first got really interested in football in 1960. Compare the number of teams which won the title and the FA Cup for the 22 years after that to the number which have done so in the 22 years since formation of PL. Especially the first dozen or so years compared to 1960-1972.
