As some of you may be aware, it was the cut off point for professional contracts with the second year academy players a few days ago. A few of the players were showing very good promise and one or two were being looked at by other Premier League clubs. Dave Parton GK Laton Wint CB Alex Hedley CB Cameron Mitchell RM All four of these lads could have had a professional contract. If we had a reserve team it may have been different, we have far too many players who have no future at the club and need match fitness therefore a reserve side made sense. I've no idea what is going on with the academy set-up about now it's a bit all over the place with Steve Martin leaving and Pulis refusing to blood youngsters such as Shotton, Marshall, Cuvelier and also Dave Parton who has previous England caps I believe. Who was the last Stoke City player who was promoted from the academy in to the first team and managed to hold down a first team spot? I for one cannot remember but the last one may have been out of Dickinson, Wilkinson or Henry.
Shame you don't have one of the bigger acedemies mate, Love your club. Shame you don't have players coming through like Soton or Man Utd
And if we're not careful we're going to let someone like Ben Marshall go. Need to get Lund out on loan as well.
I will take that as not to well, **** I was suprised about Norwich they must be good to be above Soton mate.
Yours are doing very well I see. Mind you it's not a surprise as your academy has churned out some good talent the last few years, i.e. Ferguson, Carroll and Ranger
Yup, we need to have a team for the younger lads, and fringe players. Either bring back the reserves, or else adopt a lower league team to send players out on loan to. Actually, Man Ure have Belgian and Dutch teams they are partners with, why can't Stoke do the same thing? Form a partnership with a Scottish, Swedish, Danish, or even Irish side. I know we already have the Aztex, but they're a bit too far to be sending the young lads on loan to for a few weeks.
Just show that our academy has never really been that great, it was us who rejected Phil Jagielka as a youngster, great decision!! We've also got that young kid Cuvelier who a lot are raving about. Sounds like the lad is a handy passer of a ball. I hope we try and nurture these young players, if we don't then there is a serious possibility that youngsters will join other clubs rather than us after hearing what we do to young Academy players.
No world beater, but a good player in my opinion. Would much rather have him in the England team than Lescott. Not saying much I know!!
He was great when he was at Everton but since he moved to Man City he hasn't been the same. Just my opinion of course. If he got back to his best, i'd love him in the England team, even if he is ex Wolves