01 Feb 2018 10:40:22
Willthewhite agree with you on those points also think there is an educational process involved in developing talented young players, bringing them through the academy and producing players who can play at the top level . This is most likely part of the clubs long term strategy, just like the Barcelona system to produce sustainable home grown talent, supplemented with expensive additions in positions where we do not have that quality coming through. Think this strategy is an important element for the club going forward and we might just be sowing the seeds for future success. Good plan if it comes off. When you look at it with the money spent on the ground, development players etc if this had been just spent on 6 or 8 first team players we would most likely be top of the league but the club might not think this is the sustainable way forward. There is likely the chance that when all this development structure is in place we will then go out and buy those extra players that will make the big difference. Which most likely the easiest piece in the jigsaw. Hope we do anyway.


1.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 11:01:48
Good post PA. I think this is quite clearly the plan, and like you, I really hope it pays off in the next 12 to 24 months!


2.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 12:13:18
I agree a good plan to build the foundations of future success. My only question, again, is why are we so s**t in the development league?


3.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 12:50:21
I was wondering the same! Maybe there are so many players to choose from and it is difficult to keep them all happy.


4.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 14:21:02
Probably because of the way we use the development league Leodis - if we aim to win it, we would want to have a sustained effort with the same players for consistency. If, on the other hand we are using it for experience and fitness and trying out different things then the overall league position would suffer. question is are we using it to develop players or to win the league? The development squad league position isn't really a reflection on anything in particular - Chelsea are 8th in Premier League 2 so does that mean all of their youth players are no good? not likely.


5.) 01 Feb 2018
01 Feb 2018 14:23:31
We have brought a hell of a lot of players through over the last 20 yrs, from Milner, Delph to woodgate, Jewell, Kelly, smith, batty, speed, byron, Taylor, phillips, viera, what's going to happen to all our young lads in the academy system now? . all these foreign imports for the under 23's is going to have a massive knock on effect all the way through the academy ages 16 upwards.