We do, we've got Sellars-Fleming, he scored a hattrick the other night. We've seen him a few times this year and I think it's fair to say he's not looked quite ready yet
I don’t know, Chazz. It’s been like that for years. We stockpile keepers in our u21s. How many have made a league appearance for us or had a run of games in the first team? I get it, keepers reach their peak later than outfield players but it’s just a carousel of signing young keepers who are highly-rated for them to never get a sniff and be released. I remember when Mannion was the next best thing. We have produced some good academy talent in recent years. KLP and Greaves being the main ones but Andy Smith could be a decent player for us. Not sure how or if Jarvis fits into that equation. We’re well-stocked for wingers but he can also play up front. Billy Chadwick was highly-rated too but has since dropped down the divisions. Jim Simms was highly-rated but had his contract terminated last month. There’s also Henry Sandat and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming. All forwards. I don’t really rate Conor Sellars as a coach and think he’s a tosser. The u21s aren’t doing too bad but I actually think our academy and facilities need massive investment.
It’s not that we stockpile keepers, it’s that they show potential and talent but then never get chance to develop because they ended up rotting in the reserves. Some of them went on to have decent careers. If we go back far enough, we had Oxley, who made one league appearance for the first team but then never got a look in again. Now at Harrogate Town via Hibs and Southend. Never had to drop into non-league. Joe Cracknell was another, never made a first team appearance, went to Harrogate and played a bit of league football before dropping down to become Scarborough #1. Rory Watson was famously at Scunthorpe when they went down but was probably one of their best players. Couple of short term contracts at Wrexham and Donny and is now at York. Callum Burton went to Cambridge and is now the backup keeper at Plymouth. Will Mannion went to Pafos but didn’t play. Now back up keeper at Cambridge United. Harry Fisk now reserve keeper at Shelbourne. So our better prospects do go on to have decent careers. Just not with us.
Cracknells not number 1 this season but this is missing the point So they never got a chance but have gone on to ok careers so why haven’t we produced a centre forward Klp is a wide man Where are the centre forwards ? And this goes back years When Tom eaves was galloping about the paddock you’d think the under 23’s could bring on someone to do better?
I think it’s because a striker is such a crucial part of a team’s success so most teams, including us, would rather sign a senior professional than look to our academy for someone step up in an injury crisis. If a team has poor strikers, it’s expected they just go out and sign another, better striker. I can’t really think of many teams in the Championship or Prem who have an academy graduate leading their line. Rashford at Man Utd seems the most notable example and even then he’s an inside forward/winger, not an out-and-out striker. Evan Ferguson at Brighton is an example of an academy player who broke into the first team, but even he came from Bohemians’ academy originally.
Tyrese Campbell at Stoke is another one off the top of my head. Other than that, there seems to be a lot less trust in academy forwards to step up to the first team across the board than say, wingers or attacking midfielders who are given more freedom to make mistakes that aren’t as costly to the team overall. If Man City had both Haaland and Álvarez injured and Delap was still there instead of being out on loan with us, I reckon they’d just play a midfielder like Foden or someone as a false 9 than give Delap a run of games.
I think we had KLP and Bowen, then before that I think you’d have to go back to Jonny Edwards (now at St Neots Town) to find a striker that broke through from the academy. And he didn’t last long. Callum Jahraldo-Martin retired in 2019 to open a luxury blind company after being released by Hemel Hempstead. Johan ter Horst last played for Maidstone United on contract terms, now at Ashton United. Sure he played for us in a cup game. Oh I forgot Greg Luer. Joined Woking after he left us, then went to Eastbourne Borough (National South) before joining current club Worthing. Before then I guess you’re looking at Mark Cullen, who managed a goal in the Premier League for us. Now at Bamber Bridge but spent most of his career in the EFL. I mean you look at the sheer number of forwards who have left us in the last 20 years, I’ve only managed to remember 5 of them who barely played for us. Maybe a bit unfair on Cullen who did have a few appearances for us post relegation. Think Ryan Kendall left us that season we first went down. Did okay for Ferriby.
There was Johnny Margetts, who couldn’t stop scoring for the U21’s, he’s now 30, been at 20 clubs and is currently plying his trade at Kings Lynn Town.
Aye, but I was only including players that broke through into our first team picture, think he trained with the first team but he never played in any cups or the league. Managed 1 in 3 throughout his career, not bad going. It was the move to Scunthorpe when he was doing well at Lincoln that killed his career.
O'right indeed, an' nay sa' baad a' said b' da' ne'er da whe'l Hairy Maclary. Sorry. Repressed memories from reading to daughters at bedtime.
https://x.com/rtidkeaton/status/1776641209504502108?s=46 Another one for TLT. Big pre season ahead for him up against Pandur.
