Lots of focus on Willock, and rightly so but surely we should be developing our own talent? 'we never have any decent kids' I hear you cry..... even though talent like that young Shola lad recently pissed off to Man Utd etc... I say we do have talent.. but it's supressed and untapped... as they aren't nurtured properly and developed correctly. Remember the paddling pool and wheelie bin incidents? - shameful. Whilst some get a hard on over the thought of Mbappe et al rocking up at SJP after a takeover I get one over the thought of a state of the art academy with a production line of Geordie Willock's meaning we don't have to covet other people's young talent. Okay I also get a hard on over that mucky think Pouchies lass does to me with her magic wand but I digress. In short I'd say the need for a real, modern academy is far greater than a sack full of arab money. The sad thing is... even without the takeover a decent academy would be achievable with any other owner than Ashley.
We should sign Willock, but also be developing Matty Longstaff I think. I'm annoyed at the lack of game time he's gotten at times despite showing potential. If we're not going to play him, then I think we should send him out on loan to a championship side/league one side.
The Matty longstaff one is bizarre. He seems to have bags of potential. But is really quite slow. He should have been loaned out definitely.
I'd like to see the Longstaff brothers either side of Hayden in the middle 3 with Wilson and either Miggy or ASM playing off him up top.
Fact. We should also forge strategic alliances with clubs all over the world to take our best youngsters on loan and farm their talent to us. It's not difficult to do and would pay dividends.
Something which the consortium probably has plans to do. How can Ashley be considered fit and proper when he effectively stifling the development of talent thst can impact on the wider game?
Hayden ain't that good. Would like to see the Longstaffs with a good coach. They both have talent and Sean has demonstrated that previously.
Nah they're **** mate sorry.. One seen enough from Sean that's for sure.. Matty has more promise though
He's continuing to stick two fingers up to the fans. He was mates with us and then it all fell apart so he hates the fan base. No interest at all in long term.
This x 1,000,000. All our academy does is churn out future part time painter and decorators who will be playing for Jarrow Roofing, Bedlington Terriers and Consent by the time they're 21. And let's look at the ones who actually made it, Haris Vuckic ended up on the Rotherham bench, Nile Ranger was too busy being a criminal to play football, and Phil Airey wasn't good enough for Blyth Spartans.
I've had a painting and decorating business for 10 years after being involved with professional sport for the previous 40 years, I know where I'm happiest.
That's glossing over the issue and brushing reality to one side, the Mackem's aren't professional sportsmen.