I firmly believe our academy is our only way of progressing, competing and ever establishing in the prem league. In our previous two visits two issues have been
- we didn't have enough money to spend (unlike other teams we are competing with)
- outside of money we didn't have any bonuses. By that i mean the ability to bring through players during our promo seasons so they are ready for the prem (see Swansea, saints etc)
The point being that if you are devoid of both, you are reliant on minimal spend, loan signings and effort to try and remain in the league. Part of the reason we struggled.
Therefore, given our owners are not like man city's we have the option to rely on the academy and hope the likes of mcalinden, Evans, price, Cassidy, batth, Doherty, Davis, mcarey and Ebanks landell come through, gain valuable experience in promotion seasons and turn into gems, gems that haven't cost a bomb and therefore give us a chance should we go back.
This for me us the reason that we have to keep playing the likes of the above, otherwise they will never progress, never have the chance to be the players they could be. This will mean maybe some more experienced players don't get picked, it might also mean we are more tactically naive and maybe a bit less consistent. But it's the right way, with this approach we are still doing well and giving valuable experience to some good prospects. I think we need to stick with this approach, it's our best chance of long term success, we may have to accept some below par displays however and keep the future in mind.
Keep the future in mind
posted on 9/11/13
I agree that we need to develop the young players and give them games and where they are not quite ready, send them on loan. And we do need to have in mind that in their early times playing for the first team they will show inconsistencies and make mistakes. We also have to accept that not all of the youngsters will end up making the grade.
But balanced against that are the results we need. It is essential that we get promoted this season because if we don't then the likelihood is that some of our best players will move on and come next summer we will be back at the square one we were at this summer. And like it or not Kenny Jackett will not keep his job just for playing youngsters, he will need to get results as well.
So as with most things in life its about getting the balance right. We need a balance of young players and good older players. And that will help us get results and get the young players developed. Earlier this season we got out played by Morecambe in a League Cup game because we played a too inexperienced team. And that doesn't help the club or help the confidence of the kids.
Danny Batth and Matt Doherty now look good players but its 3 years since their first steps in the first team and they have had loans to help them develop. For the likes of Evans and Price and McAlinden it will probably be another 2 years before we can expect them to become first team regulars. But if they become that and we get towards half our team being home grown then that academy investment starts to look very good value.
posted on 9/11/13
I agree, at present we are second in the league, doing well and playing a lot of these players. As long as this continues then great, but accept if results drop, we may see other changes and more experience brought in.
posted on 10/11/13
Couldn't agree more flloyd, it is clear we won't be spending the big bucks going forward so it is indeed time to utilise the Grade A academy, thats what we paid for.
Also it can be a good way to actually generate income when selling players on who cost zero, Southampton have made a fortune from it.
posted on 10/11/13
Home-grown talent, one or two gems discovered from the lower leagues, plus some "been there, done its" experience a la Emlyn Hughes and Dennis Irvin. The recipe for success.
posted on 10/11/13
Astute loan signings also.
Lukaku won Albion 27 points last season. When we were in need of a life-saving injection we ended up with an injury prone Twitter clown.
posted on 11/11/13
I had to filter herbert....his negativity drives me mad