What about youth??

WILL youth be given it’s chance on Wearside?


Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has added two new faces already this transfer window, and is looking to bring more players into the squad before February 1.

The Black Cats’ proactive approach to the current window should be applauded, and so should owner Ellis Short for backing his manager financially.

But while there’s nothing wrong with the club’s approach of seeking new blood to boost their fortunes, it does make me wonder what is happening with its own production line.

Young keeper Jordan Pickford has made the bench on a couple of occasions this term, but otherwise Jack Colback is the only other youth team product to have any impact on the first-team set-up, and he graduated from the club’s academy some time ago.

The latest youngster to be shipped out is South Shields-born Blair Adams, who has joined Coventry City on a permanent deal.

The left-back was allowed to join the Sky Blues despite Sunderland having only one recognised player in that position – Danny Rose – and he’s on loan from Tottenham.

So are the players coming through the ranks just not up to Premier League standard?

And if so, what do the Black Cats do about it?

No one expects the club’s production line to turn out first-teamer after first-teamer every year, but those tipped for big things in the last couple of seasons have rarely had even a sniff of action in the senior match-day squads.

The academy has more than paid for itself in terms of unearthing players such as Jordan Henderson, sold to Liverpool for £20m, and Martyn Waghorn, who went to Leicester City for about £3.5m.

But where are the stars of the future?

In recent weeks, O’Neill has named just six substitutes instead of the allowed seven in the FA Cup away to Bolton and in the replay against the Trotters.

Why not bring in one of the club’s young players, and give him the experience of being in the squad and taking his place on the bench.

Is the club saying the youngsters aren’t ready, aren’t good enough, or don’t fit in to the manager’s plans?

Bringing players through who are capable of acquitting themselves at Premier League level isn’t easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it.

But youth needs to be given its chance to shine.

And if those coming through the ranks at the minute aren’t making the grade, then Sunderland must look again at how it goes about recruiting the cream of the crop, and how it develops them into first-team stars of the future.

To end on a positive note, what has been seen of new recruit Alfred N’Diaye has been fairly fleeting so far, but the Frenchman looks like an astute signing on the limited evidence seen.

Certainly before tiring against Wigan at the weekend he made a telling contribution, not least the excellent cross which led to Sunderland’s second goal. Hopefully, there’s more to come.

 

Asked a similar question on another thread last week mate also asked what is the point of an Academy when we don't use it.

 

I really thought we would have had a glimpse at laing after the way bally was raving about him at a pub night

 

Was he drunk though mate?

 

Laing, Adams, Ryan Noble, Pickford, Reed.

I thought all of them would break through at one time or another, it is quite disappointing but we have never brought any stars through in my life time who have gone on to be good european players. Not one. I think Henderson and Colback are overrated. Them are probably the best two we have brought through.

Compare us to Middlesbrough and West Ham, they can do it, so what are we doing wrong?

 

That's the million quid question mate.

 

No he was drinking coffee, was a good night, recomended if you've not been to one mate

 

I should have added Micky Gray and Micky Bridges to that.

 

Went to one with Benno good laugh also with the handsome prince Petaaaa Beaaaaardsley also very funny hates us though and said that the barcodes would never get relegated that season, good judge as well as they did.

 

Laing.

Stated before the lad oozes class. If we don't play him somebody will get a cracking player.

 

Class! Terminally ugly man peter like!

 

Agreed mate used to go to the reserves games at Ferrens Park mostly for the chips but, some of the young uns were very good at the time (when we were under Bruce) and struggling he didn't even play them. Must be a right pisser for the lads when they can see we are struggling and still can't get a game, bit different now mind we are doing okay so maybe time to try some of them as ever it's up to the manager.

 

Its wasted on the young.

x

 

I think its because boros academy is a very well established one.
Dunno what its like now, but in the late nineties early noughties when i was playing youth football boro were light years ahead. They would sign anyone 10-15 who was good. Id say i knew of more lads at boro than us or newcastle combined even though the distance was greater. 99 percent wouldnt make it past 15 but when you.cast the net that wide they hoovered up most of the better players. These were the days when leeds had cash too and remember alot of kids going down there in the holidays rather than going to sland or newcastle. Like i say just my opinion and obviously this was before and just after our academy opened so is probly alot different now.
But may be an explanation as to why we havent had that many opposed to boro.

 

I remember a few years ago Peter Reid said he was "frightened" by the ability being shown by our youth squad.

Now I know why..........

x

 

My take on it is that MON would want to introduce youth players into a stable team that's not fighting against relegation. He needs to steady the ship with experience first. As a young lad, the pressure of playing against a disgruntled crowd could be too much to bear. Bruce threw a few in for a few minutes here and there and I can't recall any outstanding performances amongst those that haven't made the team.

 

A lot of clubs are in the same boat now with youth.
The only thing which will change the focus on youth is if there is a new rule brought in saying you had to play 4 home grown players under 21 in your starting 11 each week. It would also strengthen the national game too (although I don't give a **** about England TBH)

 

http://m.sunderlandecho.com/sport/s...s/sunderland-make-academy-clear-out-1-5342175

This answers the question i suppose

 

Yes included the injuries to Laing and Egan, other wise I think they might have been on the bench the last couple of games.

 

I found this comment on the link and found it bang on with my thoughts, we need to have a full restructure in the country, and that starts at grassroots level. The training up until the age of about 12-13 is very poor and it needs to start earlier then that. From the age of 7, kids just get told to have fun and training consists of two sides playing a game, that is all. Instead of this, they should be taught tactics and educated about a better understanding of the game. Below is the comment:

It's always been the same with kids no matter which club they are at. I remember seeing some figures a few years ago about kids who had played at age level for their countries, say u17, who then went on to make it at senior level in the PL, and the figure was very low. When you look at other countries they same to have a much higher ratio of young players who go on to make it in their own top leagues, and then senior international level. I saw some highlights on Youtube a couple of weeks ago of a Greek kids match, and one of the sides played like Barcelona!!! From the kick off, they strung something like 30 odd passes together before scoring, without the other side having a touch. I couldn't envisage that happening in an u13 or u15 game here. It starts at grass roots level, and its something the FA are trying to change now, but it will take sometime. Hopefully the AoL is already implementing these changes and the way kids are taught to play from an early age, so both club and country will see the benefit sooner rather than later.