A bit of a fait accompli, but should the best players should be given the best opportunity to play with the best clubs ? and does it mean Arsenal will be able to better develop youth players without spending a fortune ? The AST will be asking Gazidis about Arsenal's approach to EPPP and how it will affect youth development at the club.http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/20/football-league-controversial-overhaul-academies
Yes, but the clubs that developed them should also get paid properly. This new system is not going to do that. Also, some clubs would really start to stockpile young talent and hope the best ones make it.
Totally agree It's a massive kick in the teeth to academies financially, Premier league clubs should compensate them properly. I'm not sure about the stockpiling though. Clubs like Chelsea and City will just buy top the players available - at least Arsenal and Utd try to develop their youth. For all the accusations that our youth project has been a failed experiment. We've produced players like Wilshere, Szczesny, Coquelin, Frimpong, Miquel, Eastmond, as well players coming through like Ozyakup, Yennaris, Eisfield and Toral.
From what i've heard, Arsenal will be cat 2. I work very closely with a couple of football boards and have heard snippets. There will be 5 Cat 1 academies, 3 up north, 2 down south. One of the Southern ones is nailed on to be Southampton, they were already considered as cat 1, before they planned to spend £15million on updating the already top class facilities. Up north Middlesborough and United are shoe ins, but not sure who the other will be. The other London academy is likely to be one of Chelsea or Fulham.
