Can anyone name a player that either Stoke have bought or developed through their Accademy under the steady stewardship of TP. I have Shawx - bought from Man U for approx 1-2 million and worth 10 million plus! Shotton - I undersatnd that he has come through the accademy and been promoted through TP's selection. Wilko - My understanding was that he was already within the squad (although he came through the accademy) befor TP took charge - although I stand corrected if someone can state otherwise. Any others?
Yes he was, last game of that season too! Shows how stupid Pulis is don't you think? As "Thick as two short planks" NO OTHER Manager would have let him go without giving the lad a fair chance. Smither's sorry I can't think of any more.
I would have liked to see Rooney play for us more, but he hasn't been that good in the Championship (4 goals in 18 matches), so I don't think we've missed out on much.
I'm actually trying to establish whether this great accademy and the mysterious great coach has actually developed any players into 1st team players - hence increaing their value to the club in both value and as a player! Like I said, I can only really think of Shawx & Shotton that he has bought and improved or developed through our accademy! Doesnt say much really - does it!
If you go onto the BBC website and look at the Stoke page, you can see some comments made by Florent Cuevalier.If you follow the links further back you will see TP's comments that say " a great prospect (when signing him from Portsmouth) - one for the future." I'll bet the future is somewhere else.
Maybe that is why we're spending more money and putting more effort into the academy? Also, Pulis isn't known for youth development, but most managers don't have a lot to do with the academies, maybe the academy staff aren't good enough, or don't d a good enough job of advertising their players? Martin Paterson came through our academy too I think, not that he did anything for us before going to Burnley.
