From The Daily Wail..... Chelsea have won the race for one of English footballâs brightest young talents, Bristol City midfielder Jacob Maddox. The 14-year-old, has already appeared several times for the Robinsâ Under 18 side, and it was hoped that he may continue his development at Ashton Gate. The Blues were just one of a number of top flight clubs monitoring the situation with Maddox. The player has agreed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, with Bristol City due a compensation fee for his services. Meanwhile, the relegated League One side are snapping up Derby keeper Frank Fielding. The 25-year-old was a surprise inclusion in an England squad under Fabio Capello in August 2010 but has lost his place at Pride Park following the arrival of Lee Grant, who signed from Burnley
Think he started off in the Prem with Blackburn, though limited to appearances. Remember him breaking into the England set up but then seem to lose his way a bit- Im sure he played against us last season, but probably was on loan somewhere- League 1 and a bit of regained confidence Im sure would see a very good keeper.
From what I've seen of Frank Fielding he'd be a fantastic signing for us. However, given our limited transfer budget I'd rather sign a released player. That being said, SOD REALLY needs to start giving the academy kids a chance. If I were this kid I'd probably leave because history shows that he's more likely to get a game for Chelsea than he is for Bristol City.
Maybe that way of operating is now firmly in the past. I believe we will see a trickle of youngsters like Joe Bryan, Bobbie Reid and Wes Burns next season, turning into a flood of youngsters in three to five years. We must look forward and not dwell on the negatives of the past.
Cream will inevitably rise to the top! A 4 year deal, giving him top quality coaching till he's 18, its a no brainer, it guarantees him a pro career somewhere even if he does get released, I know what I would if it were my kid..!! Good luck Son .. at least a few local kids are getting noticed.
Shiny don't forget we can do to CAT 3 and CAT 4 Academies what Chelsea just did to us so it could be a lot sooner to get players through the academy into the first team.
That is being positive Cidered. The players we have at the academy at the moment will see us have them for about 4-5 years then the younger ones will come through with the benefit of a better academy set up.
Frank Fielding, was derbys number 1 keeper few seasons back, was once tipped for england but then something happened, an injury of some sort and he hasn't played for about 2 seasons now.. I'd take him in a heartbeat
My thoughts exactly. We've got a few good kids at the moment, but McInnes was the first manager in a long while to really look at the academy and say it needs improving. The improvements the club have put in place were only put in a few months ago so it would be foolish to assume that this would instantly make the current crop of kids world-beaters. Frankly, I think the club should be pushing for category one status, and should be bleeding as much youth as possible into League 1 football. I'm still yet to see a firm restructuring of coaching at the club, or any hint of a foundation towards how the club will play in the future. Since we're under significant financial restrictions this season Lansdown would have his money spent better on a top academy and on continental staff willing to take the kids and turn them into world-beaters.
Fileding would be a great signing. The Acadamy won't suddenly start producing loads of players - it does take time - evolution not revolution
Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, Fielding began his career at Blackburn Rovers. He joined the youth set-up in 2004, and made his way up the ranks. In September 2007 he went out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers. The initial three-month deal was later extended until the end of the season, following Fielding's impressive 16 games in which he kept six clean sheets and saved two penalties. The agreement contained an option to extend should the Chairboys make the League Two play-offs. "I make no apologies for saying that he's an exceptional talent who will go on to have an outstanding career at the highest level," said Wycombe boss Paul Lambert. Fielding also signed a new contract with Blackburn, due to keep him at the club until 2010. In September 2008 Fielding joined Northampton on loan. He was seen as a replacement for Mark Bunn, who had recently joined Rovers. "For a keeper so young he has a good deal of experience after a successful loan at Wycombe last season and he is coming here to add to our squad," said Northampton boss Stuart Gray. Fielding’s next move was to Rochdale in January 2009. The highly-regarded goalkeeper joined the League Two outfit on a one-month deal. Boss Keith Hill told the club’s official website he had been tracking Fielding for two years. Fielding’s stellar performances prompted Rochdale to extend the loan until the end of the season. In the summer of 2009 Derby boss Nigel Clough made his first bid for Fielding. He would see that, as well as a second approach in November, knocked back. The England Under-21 international was in September 2009 snapped up by Leeds boss Simon Grayson, who brought him in on a month-long deal. Fielding then returned to Blackburn but headed back to Rochdale on loan just a few months later, as the club sought to bolster their promotion push. In October 2010 Fielding took the unusual step of putting himself up for loan. The then 22-year-old told the media: "I'm loving this but it is the worst feeling when you are training all week and not playing - so if anyone wants me on loan, I'm available." Derby’s chance had finally arrived. They brought in Fielding on a month-long loan as cover for the injured Stephen Bywater. "It is a real coup for us to bring Frank in, as he is currently the first-choice England under-21 goalkeeper and been sought after by quite a few clubs," Nigel Clough told the club's official website. "He is a goalkeeper we've had our eye on for some time and we tried to bring him in last season, but the deal didn't materialise." The Derby loan spell was extended but Fielding returned to Blackburn in February 2011. Just weeks later, however, reports suggested Derby were lining up a loan move to bring the keeper back to the club. He rejoined Derby until the end of the campaign after Stephen Bywater and Saul Deeney were struck down by injuries. And the following month it emerged Nigel Clough was planning a bid to sign him on a permanent basis in the summer. It was a case of 'third time lucky' for Clough, as in May 2011 he successfully snapped up Fielding on a permanent deal. The goalkeeper penned a three-year contract, joining for an undisclosed fee. In October 2012 Fielding was struck down by a groin injury. He made his return in the Under-21 side the following month, appearing as a permitted over-age player. Clough said: "He showed a great attitude. His talking helped the young lads in front of him and he made some very good saves as well. "Frank is an excellent goalkeeper and we have got two excellent keepers, so he has just got to be patient. Frank has had it where he was number one for 18 months and Adam had to be patient. "Now Adam has got his chance because of an injury and Frank is the one who has to be patient and support Adam as best he can, and he does that." In May this year it emerged Fielding would be departing Derby following the arrival of Lee Grant. Clough said he expected both Fielding and fellow keeper Adam Legzdins to leave in the summer. "We would love to keep one of them as a number two but they don't want to do that," Clough told BBC Radio Derby. "They both want to be number one so they have an opportunity to see what is out there for them because Lee will be number one. "I think both will [leave] and that is probably best. Both have had a taste of first-team football and once you get that taste it will be backward step to go back and sit on the bench."
Just to let you all know. We ARE in talks with Frank Fielding NOW. A deal should be done next week, Monday or Tuesday expect to see him sign
