Theres been a lot said on here and elsewhere about Whites probable departure, but if we look at what results we've had from TA recently are we confident that we can produce quality kids any more. Recent players to graduate and make it have been Delph and Howson, but can we actually compare White, Parker and Lees to these two. Or are Howson and Delph actually not as good as past kids that came off the TA production line. We sold young garbutt to Everton recently, plus 2 promising talents to Man City. The truth is that we're not getting much quality out of the place these days and probably down to 2 factors. 1) Lack of investment in TA and quality coaching staff. Academy director and his No2 left to take over Man City, so that shows how ambitious they are and how good our guys were. Since then we've struggled and last season it took Bates 5-months to find a new head of the academy, who jacked it in recently as he'd had enough. 2) One of the guys who went to City recruits from Yorkshire and has his own contacts with schools and boys clubs and can spot talent. As a parent would you want the best coaching and facilities for your kid, or would you allow Bates to charge you for your kid going to Leeds. Theres been a lack of funds for too long at TA and the place has been run down to the bare bones. Just think how many players who graduated from TA are still playing in the premier league, for plenty of clubs. Never mind Smith and kewill etc, even keepers like Robinson and Carson.
Remember that we took Delph from Bradford. That is what happens in Academies in football, big fish eat smaller fish and so on.... Dads will always choose Man City over Leeds as they think they are helping their children. We need a policy of more players from the ranks to make people stick with Leeds United. Our Academy is better that 50% of the Premiership and all of the Championship so we should be optimistic. We have seen some good players coming through but no great ones since Milner and Gradel but that's to be expected. Look at Old Trafford they had great players come through with Giggs, Scholes etc but have not kept it up since and they are still playing. It is also about luck and belief, especially from the first team manager, if O'Leary had not come from the reserves we would not have seen as many kids make it with Kewell, Smith and co.
