Swansea Cantera Policy?

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD READ, IT HAD TO GO UP!​

The incredible giant killing run for Athletico Bilbao in this year's Europa League will have caught the eye of many football fans across the world, and no doubt Swansea fans in particular will have seen similarities between the Bilbao fluid, short passing style and that of our own tiki taka game. But what some may not be aware of, is the fact that all of Bilbao's players from 1920 to the present day are from the Basque region or are direct descendants of Basques.

This policy is known in Spain as 'Cantera' which roughly translated equates to 'quarry' and in essence means only using players born in a particular geographical region and then developing them in a defined style of football so that they may replicate the overall philosophy of the first team. The hope is thus to create a never ending conveyor belt of local talent already versed in that clubs philosophy.

Cantera is equally admirable and controversial. On one hand it allows and encourages the local talent to play top class football for their local club, safe in the knowledge that a cheaper foreign player won't come in and stall their progress to the first team. It does however limit the club to a very small pool of talent, or lack their of if the new generation is not as talented. The other benefit of such a policy is to become self sufficient, self serving and more importantly an imbodiment of the local community and the beliefs and passion of the fans.

Cantera is used not just in the Basque region (Real Sociadad) also had the cantera policy until 1989. But Barca, Real and Gijon have tried in far looser ways to implement a policy of absorbing as many local talents as possible. To maintain this policy, a club obviously requires an effective/extensive youth academy to harness and attract local players. Where the Spanish clubs have also been successful in achieving this, is in the idea that the club from 7 year olds to the first team play a unified philosophy, much like the Swans wish to implement and based on the original Ajax methods of old. Usually in British football academies have created great talents but without a a clearly defined philosophy or structure so that when the club calls up a youngster, he enters into a system that may be alien to him or into a style of football that has differed from his youth and reserve teams.

Swansea are making strides in attempting to build an academy to mirror this model but in doing so should the club commit itself to a cantera style system where we attempt to absorb only Welsh players into our youth program then in the future we will see more Joe Allen's and Neil Taylors bursting through. I'm not saying we should only sign Welshmen for the First team because I don't think that is sustainable but on a youth level, could this be a sustainable and beneficial way of encouraging growth in Welsh Football and maintain a distinctively Swansea style of play and player? I admire the cantera policy as it creates togetherness at Bilbao that adds something special to their play. They clearly enjoy each others company and on the pitch there seems to be a telepathic understanding between players. Welsh Football has always produced skilled technical footballers yet sadly these lads have been rare and often once a generation. While Wales possesses a strong seem of talented young players with a strong Swansea element. Is now the time to try create a dynasty of Welsh players schooled in the Swansea way, with support from 'foreign' first team players who are selected (as now) for their unique abilities to compliment or add to our style.

We've always been different in Wales and unique still in Swansea. Should we then embrace and borrow the blueprint of our Basque cousins? I think its worth looking into for sure. And as a parting shot to doubters Bilbao are one of only 4 teams never to have been relegated from La Liga ( Real Madrid, Barcelona and Osasuna) since its inception. Bilbao has done this; remember with players brought through their system and all of Basque origin.

I shall put on my tin hat and await the abuse. - Thomas Rees/Twitter @swanseapassion

 

Good read and I hope we can emulate that at our club, it would be quite a thing to bring players on with an ethos to play football. An academy has surely got to be our priority now ?

 

Cannot disagree. The future can only be more secure the sooner it happens.

Eg. Even when the Southampton **** hit the fan, they new fresh blood was only a couple of years from frutition.

 

The " 67 " Celtic team is one for the ages , left no competition behind , won them all !!! . Every player lived within a hundred miles of some location in Scotland , or something like that ..... Hard to beat when it comes to district players

 

I really like this idea but limited to say half of our squad - its always good to have the influence of others coming in bringing fresh perspectives. lets hope the academy gets going soon, any news on that?

 

We will know that we are heading in the right direction when players prefer to come here, rather than other clubs with academies

 

Whilst youth development is going to be of critical importance to a club like ours (more to maintain a steady supply of players capable of playing our way than anything else) the idea of a club restricting itself to local players only is simply petty and insular.

It makes absolutely no difference where a player comes from as long as they can play our way. If they're local, fantastic. If they're not, who cares?

 

Well there's additional bonds between the players & the club created because of not only football links but cultural / social links , nothing would give me more pleasure than to see a team full of home grown talent .The academy is now well on it's way in the construction sense but time will tell how successful that will be but it's a start.The kids with the existing set up are coached in the same manner as the seniors which is the way it should be

 

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to see loads of talent coming from this area. The most important thing that we can and do apply is that the youth teams all the way up to the 1st team play the same style of football. When we add the academy it will really start to get into the swing of things!

 

I don't think the OP is trying to make a case for exclusive and all encompassing replication of the Athletico Bilbao system, he is simply focusing on the unique success of the model, which could well be a great format of a type, to adopt for our harnessing of local talent, and personally I see this as blueprint we can build on to shape our very own local and not so local talent. I think that the key here is the development of our style of game from young age, at Junior level, and if that can be achieved locally then it should be the first objective, as we have an obligation in this regard as a club, to Swansea and Wales, of course that does not mean we do not look at talent in Scotland or England, for development, but priority really should be given to the local home grown talent as Bilbao sets us the successful model to follow..............

 

Nah.

The priority of the club is to build a successful team. If that can be achieved best by fielding a team of Outer *****lians then that's what the club should do. Nobody cares that Leon Britton is a Cockney. Nobody cares that Nathan Dyer is a Wurzel. Nobody cares that Vorm is a Cloggy. They just care about them being good players.

Ultimately that's the only thing that matters.

 

I agree. When we're an established Prem side (hopefully that will happen) we can then look at our "obligations" to local talent. Until then the priority has to be to build a great team. Over the coming years I hope we can develop the academy and bring young Welsh players through, but that's little way off I think.

 

If we can develop our own players then great. From a financial point of view it's better than having to buy them.

I just don't see it as inherently preferable to have a team consisting of local lads, or that we have any obligation to anyone other than SCFC to bring players on. It's really not important where they come from.

 

Wanting an acadamy with a strong identity and style from 7 year olds to the first team is admirable enough. We'll always rely on other British and foreign imports but a few more Joe Allens couldn't hurt...
I think we would need to cast our net over a wider area though, mid wales, north wales and west england along with south west wales should trawl up plenty of (relatively)local talent.
for now though I'm pleased with chico and de guzman being added to the roster.