ACADEMY

Much has been made of the investment in our academy but what return are we getting?. Some time ago someone rang me and asked that I join the Foundation. When I asked how many Academy players had made it through to the first team in the last 5 years my caller replied "you have a point" and rang off.

So does the academy represent VFM? I suppose Bryan and Skuse are the exceptions but many seem to make the fringes and then disappear. Who would own a Football Club?

 

Personally, I don't think it does. There have been some successes, but we haven't really had payback other than for David Cotterill. Skuse went on a free, we did get his services, but I was never a great fan of Skuse.

We haven't really taken advantage of it. GJ hardly used it and McInnes tried without success.

Bryan may have gone this transfer window, but I think his value will rise, so its good to see him here still. I hope we don't end up selling him to cheaply.

Personally, I think greater use could be made of scouting, we have seen locl talent escape us, Butland, Sinclair to name two.

Southampton's have made millions through their youth system. I know that they are supposedly set up locally as well but its proof that there is talent there if you look for it. We in comparison have made it a cost exercise.

 

The problem is that with Championship status comes the ability to pay more. It really is a chicken and egg situation. To me the real prize is promotion which will gives us the status to attract better players . So what do we do, try and it on the cheap. I only hope we don't end up with egg on our face

 

Yes the academy represents at this point value for money as Joe Bryans growing worth = several seasons running costs. No academy no Joes.

If you view Football Clubs in their truest social sense of course Bristol Cit should be offering Bristol and its wiser community kid he very best training they can, with a view to also unearth talent for the XI.

A Bristol City is not really a Bristol City if the starting XI contains no local lads. A danger I expected to become a reality this season as Joe Bryan despite his undoubted talent was formerly being underused. The FC has to operate in manner that talent does get a run v playing the wages.

City can improve recruitment by focusing lower down the development ladder talented kids as 7 - 9 are joining other club development centres and then their academies. City should have satellite development centres in the manner other clubs do throughout Somerset and Wiltshire. Kids not only end up at Southampton but Exeter also step in.

 

I think we now have a far better academy infrastructure than we did 2 or 3 years ago - however we will not see the "fruits" of that new system for another 2-3 years

 

We should be aiming for a category 1 academy to attract the best!

 

I do agree, I would like to see a team of Bristolians, doubt if it would bring results though- Times change-. Once you could only play cricket for Yorkshire if a Yorkshireman- I am not sure if teams care now in the short term. There are teams in London that often don't have any one English in the team let alone Londoners.

I can understand kids going to Southampton, but Exeter should not be doing the same to us. Again, I agree with developing from a young age- It takes time though and too many despite of our investment have not made it-

 

Just out if interest, how many Bristolians have made it to play for England or the prem?

It also amazes me that the academy was only really kicked into life 2 years ago and we want superstars already. If we did attract as young as 9 year olds then it will be 6-7 years minimum before they are even old enough to play for the first team.

So even if we got 13-14 year olds, then that will be minimum three years.

 

I look upon City as being a West Country team that plays in Bristol so an aim should be to have several players in the starting XI from the West Country.

Arsenal and Chelsea have extensive youth development sets ups and Arsenal have West Country development centres e.g Taunton. There are also teams like Palace who see a regular progression into the first team from their academies.

Kids go to where the is opportunity. City are hardly high profile in Somerset and Wiltshire. In Bristol there is opposition from Cardiff, Southampton and now Swansea for the better kids starting at six and seven. I would like to see City equaling not only the efforts of those club but also the independent football schools like FSS who are training nearly 600 kids.

Football schools are no drain on resources, parents pay not FC's and the better kids are then referred to development centres / academies. It is something other clubs do. More contact = More talent = More players. The norm is that only 2-3% become scholars from an academy and less become pros hence why so few reach the first team. Bristol City can increase the odds.

 

In different guises City have had an academy from its school of excellence days for twenty years. Kids in the academy start at nine.

 

It's also true that a lot of local talent is hovered up at a very early age by Premiership Academies. My Grandson has been courted by Southampton and WBA so far. So it begs the question, where are Bristol City when we have clubs from 100 miles away looking at our under 10's ????

 

Bristol City can be vigorous at an earlier age. Running football schools - development centres would increase the clubs reach and fulfill a social role within the community, and wider community.

A Bristol football school currently trains 600 kids from under nine downwards a week. Other professional clubs are also training local kids at that age including clubs from Wales. City can do likewise in Bristol Gloucestershire/Somerset/ Wiltshire

 

In theory, there should be more than enough local talent to supply the 1st teams of several professional teams for years to come if the programmes are managed properly