Under 23s League

Is it improving the standard and preparing players to come into the professional gam and EPL in particular?

I was chatting with a couple of Spurs fans and they were adamant the league was holding players back and the user 23s were no better than the old under 21 players who played friendlies.

Given how few players are coming through at any level it did make me question the value of the academy.

If their unders are failing to come through how long will it be before ours start repaying the outlay?

 

I watch a lot of U23 matches on here and the standard is high and competitive.....Swans are at derby tonight and are winning 1 - 3 .....

 

3-3

 

3-1 up then same defending probs,seems,as 1sts.....

Check out @SwansOfficial’s Tweet:

 

good game...very entertaining...

 

At present I'd argue it's a waste of money because we keep signing crap from Falkirk.

Where's the young Welsh lads coming through? Our only real success the last 10 years have been Joe and Ben.

 

Valley my under 19's at garden village, played swans under 19's and over half were from abroad the rest are made up of british lads. I was amazed at how poor they were even though they beat us. These lads were all on scholarships or pro contracts and are training everyday together, my boys work allday and train once a week for an hour, whilst they beat us 4-1 with the second half being 1-1 there was not that gulf I expected, I firmly believe that if half or so of my boys played and trained every day they were capable of reaching the level we played against. I suppose what I am trying to get at is that they have no interest in local boys now, they trawl the world for so called talents whilst ignoring what is on their doorstep.

 

I agree.

My lad played for Pompey development 19's and played Chelsea Academy, god they were useless. Beat them home and away with a GD of +9. I do wonder what goes on at these academies.

 

It is almost like if they have brought you from another club and paid for you then you must be better. Anyway we will eventually have to go back to local boys soon.

 

Fully agree. There's bundles of talent out there, I've seen it with numerous footie games/tournaments at secondary school level over the last 5-6 years.

 

Good, at least they'll fight and give a toss about the jersey.

 

Problem is the local scouts.They do not know what they are looking for.
Also with local its not what you know but who you know.

 

Same with rugby too.

 

OMG Everyone on a downer on here

 

Do you think the academy is a success then Dai?

 

Yes it is producing some very good players.....It is not the fault of the academy that the first team dont give these players more of a chance than they are getting, How are these lads suppose to progress if they are not used.....Right through the academy in the last few seasons have been success after success.....

 

Difficult to bring youngsters in when we have been struggling. That would be the benefit of a cup run to provide some opportunities for them.

 

The boards fault,again.
Mid table stability and you can give them game time for experience.

 

I think you have to accept the U23s is a good thing since t has got you TWO players for your premiership team. I am not aware of the success rate that is acceptable but general info says that the success rate for any budding footballer is miniscule. I'm also not sure what your academy has achieved with other players into lower, but professional, leagues. Finally, aren't academies a contribution to the overall development of football and is there not some FA money paid into the system in recognition of this.
I think it would be foolish to expect that any academy would provide a full team for you or even a part of it. Seems to me you've done rather well.

 

I agree with you Frankfurter, only a small number will make it to the first team and it's the same for most clubs . However if we can bring players through to have a career at other clubs this should make the academy self funding. The influx of foreign players and desire for instant success because of the money in the PL, also has a detrimental effect on more British youngsters making the grade.