Pathway for Youth.

[Woodwardfan]

Where is it?

I promise I'll keep it simple and occasional !!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It's called the Academy. It's served us well hasn't it? Next ones on the production line are Graham Kelly and David Brooks. Enjoy them soon before we sell them.

 

[Ricky]

Surprise surprise.

I think I predicted about October too...

 

[larkymasher]

Kelly is clearly not in favor........... next up Brookes & Semple

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Chapter 4 of Mein Kampf.

 

[Silent Blade]

It's called the Academy. It's served us well hasn't it? Next ones on the production line are Graham Kelly and David Brooks. Enjoy them soon before we sell them.

We signed Brooks after he was released by Man City and Kelly from an Irish club after their 16th birthdays!

 

[8lade]

I think Wilder is taking the 'win every match' attitude too far, if we had 5 youngsters in the team to play Checkatrade de-doo-dah games, it wouldn't feel so bad about getting turned over by other teams, they'd get experience and we'd see how they coped with playing against seniors. But I'm preaching to the converted here aren't I?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Where is it?

I promise I'll keep it simple and occasional !!

We are 7 league games unbeaten
We are playing some decent stuff - first in a long time.
We have a different and pleasing to see attitude in the squad
We appear to be going in the right direction with what CW & AK are doing.

So why bring up a question about pathway for youth?

You know as well as I do - it's not needed...........what's needed is to get out of this division, the way the CW & AK are now doing.

Unless you have a "class of 92" you'll win fuck all with kids at this level - think that's quite simple.

UTB

 

[Barney]

#FlounceFail #Irony

 

[Woodwardfan]

We are 7 league games unbeaten
We are playing some decent stuff - first in a long time.
We have a different and pleasing to see attitude in the squad
We appear to be going in the right direction with what CW & AK are doing.

So why bring up a question about pathway for youth?

You know as well as I do - it's not needed...........what's needed is to get out of this division, the way the CW & AK are now doing.

Unless you have a "class of 92" you'll win fuck all with kids at this level - think that's quite simple.

UTB

"Provide a pathway for youth"

It's exactly what McCabe and Wilder said on the day the manager was appointed just a few weeks ago. It was the stated strategy and the new manager's brief, otherwise I would not mention it at all.

If they had stated that we would battle it out with journeymen without any investment whatsoever in young players, other than a Middlesbrough youngster, then I'd understand. However the stated intention was to "provide a pathway for our own young prospects".

Wilder was appointed just a few weeks ago. We have young players every bit as good as maybe 4 of our new signings ( Hussey, Wilson, Lafferty, Brown).

Better to fail whilst giving our own young players game time rather than giving older journeymen further opportunity to fail.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

We signed Brooks after he was released by Man City and Kelly from an Irish club after their 16th birthdays!

So they don't qualify as Academy players then?

That also rules out Tonge and Jagielka then.

 

[Silent Blade]

So they don't qualify as Academy players then?

That also rules out Tonge and Jagielka then.

Correct. Tonge and Jags signed for us before we started having the Academy in 2001.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

"Provide a pathway for youth"

It's exactly what McCabe and Wilder said on the day the manager was appointed just a few weeks ago. It was the stated strategy and the new manager's brief, otherwise I would not mention it at all.

If they had stated that we would battle it out with journeymen without any investment whatsoever in young players, other than a Middlesbrough youngster, then I'd understand. However the stated intention was to "provide a pathway for our own young prospects".

Wilder was appointed just a few weeks ago. We have young players every bit as good as maybe 4 of our new signings ( Hussey, Wilson, Lafferty, Brown).

Better to fail whilst giving our own young players game time rather than giving older journeymen further opportunity to fail.

I don't agree with that Woody although I respect your point. If our own young players are good enough then they should be first choice- I'm totally with you on that. Our manager obviously feels they aren't there yet and I trust him to be right about that. After all it would make no sense to bring others in if they were and I'm sure Wilder doesn't want to spend money unnecessarily if we've got better inside the club already.

A team of Kids won't get us out of this league- it has to be a blend of youth and experience. I don't see any evidence that the pathway to youth is being blocked tbh and I think by the end of this season young Brooks will prove that.

 

[Barney]

Wilder was appointed just a few weeks ago.

Nearly 5 months. Few weeks.

Same thing.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don't agree with that Woody although I respect your point. If our own young players are good enough then they should be first choice- I'm totally with you on that. Our manager obviously feels they aren't there yet and I trust him to be right about that. After all it would make no sense to bring others in if they were and I'm sure Wilder doesn't want to spend money unnecessarily if we've got better inside the club already.

A team of Kids won't get us out of this league- it has to be a blend of youth and experience. I don't see any evidence that the pathway to youth is being blocked tbh and I think by the end of this season young Brooks will prove that.

No. Clearly Wilder should play them irrespective of whether he thinks they are good enough at the moment, because he said it. forget promotion and the current league run, let's them be true to their words.

 

[8lade]

Forget the current league run, you are only as good as your next result.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Brooks has made the bench in the league on an odd occasion but thankfully Whiteman has been a regular of late, albeit without getting game time. Reed not at all as I recall.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Has the OP seen the academy sides play?
It`s a good idea to have first hand knowledge where possible,which in this case it is. Then the question either has validity if there are clearly players of sufficient quality to be able to add to the first team;or there aren`t in which case it`s a non point.
Reed dosen`t feature on the grounds he is lacking in many areas.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Has the OP seen the academy sides play?
It`s a good idea to have first hand knowledge where possible,which in this case it is. Then the question either has validity if there are clearly players of sufficient quality to be able to add to the first team;or there aren`t in which case it`s a non point.
Reed dosen`t feature on the grounds he is lacking in many areas.

Fair comment but at any one time there surely should be a couple of young players making the bench and we seem to have have signed on contracts some players destined to be bench seat blockers.

Reed was playing first team football long ago under Clough but of course the managers make their own judgements about players. The bigger point has to be that a current England U-20 International should be getting first team football somewhere and away on loan if necessary. If he goes on loan in January all will be well and maybe Brooks will go too or maybe one or two of the older "bench blockers" may go out on loan.

Once Whiteman gets his first team chance I hope he makes it count.

 

[larkymasher]

All this pathway debate is a waste of time.

Any young player will eventually get his chance if the manager thinks he is good enough. He will bring them through as and when he thinks it is the right time or the right game.
CW rates Brookes and Semple. Hence Brookes making his senior debut and Semple being on the bench last Tuesday. This is CW introducing these two lads in a measured way.
It is very clear that Whiteman has not impressed CW nor has Reed.

Football is about opinions, whether a player is 17 or 35 the manager must make his own choice whether to play them.

 

[Pinchy]

Where is it?

I promise I'll keep it simple and occasional !!

It's there. It's the self-same path for all players. Prove you're good enough in training and in games at lower levels and take the right fork to First Team Avenue. Givemallarun Street is closed because it leads nowhere.

David Brooks got a start in the Ludicrous Trophy-Thing because he's given himself a chance. That's how it works. Little Louis, remember him? The best 17 year old we've ever had? He's done nothing to justify "game time". He's making his way slowly but surely to Conference Street.

We're too busy securing good results at the moment to indulge any X-Factor Bladey Boyband nonsense. However the Youth Cup Final team (remember them) will be appearing on the next edition of "Where are they now?"

Altogether now:

"Ironside....... Ironside....."

 

[Pinchy]

I think Wilder is taking the 'win every match' attitude too far, if we had 5 youngsters in the team to play Checkatrade de-doo-dah games, it wouldn't feel so bad about getting turned over by other teams, they'd get experience and we'd see how they coped with playing against seniors. But I'm preaching to the converted here aren't I?

Wouldn't feel so bad? Does anyone feel bad? I've spoken to people out there in the real world and the cumulative view amounts to less than half a fuck!

Personally I'd field a team full of Under 11s with seven Labrador pups on the bench.

 

[larkymasher]

As many will be aware, i enjoy the young players coming through the club and watch them play quite a bit.

can i just say that these young players have no god given right to play first team football. I will pipe up when i feel a player has earned the right for a chance at first team level......... but guess what, it matters not one bit what i think, as its CW who needs to introduce them. He watches them in training, games, personality etc when joe public is sitting eating lunch or walking in the park.

No matter what anyone says ,,, SUFC " does" give youth a chance. Its then up to said player to take that by the scruff of the neck and make the most of it.

Walker, Naughton, Maguire, Jags, Tonge, Lowton all did

Ironside, Slew, Reed, Whiteman, Italian Stallion, Dimaio plus many many many more have not.

And there is the fact of life as a footballer" NOT MANY MAKE IT " but dont say the ones who didn't make it were not given the chance.

 

[alcoblade]

"Provide a pathway for youth"

It's exactly what McCabe and Wilder said on the day the manager was appointed just a few weeks ago. It was the stated strategy and the new manager's brief, otherwise I would not mention it at all.

If they had stated that we would battle it out with journeymen without any investment whatsoever in young players, other than a Middlesbrough youngster, then I'd understand. However the stated intention was to "provide a pathway for our own young prospects".

Wilder was appointed just a few weeks ago. We have young players every bit as good as maybe 4 of our new signings ( Hussey, Wilson, Lafferty, Brown).

Better to fail whilst giving our own young players game time rather than giving older journeymen further opportunity to fail.

The mistake was talking about pathways for youth in the first place.

Wilder should concentrate on getting out of this division at all costs.

Those who want to get all gooey eyed about teenagers trying to win a contract in higher divisions, like any successful predecessor, should go elsewhere for it.



UTB

 

[PeteBlade]

I absolutely hate the suggestion that youth should be in the squad or "at least on the bench" simply because they are young.

The daft suggestion that 'we must have youth players better than X, Y and Z' us exactly that, daft.

If they're good enough, they'll get a chance, if they aren't, they won't.

It's interesting to see how the youth we let go are doing, mostly in the lower leagues like superstar Diego.

No idea why some have an obsession with it.

 

[coolhandluke]

The Academy is the best cash we have ever spent during my time watching the Blades .

How we use the Academy , and the Academy graduates , however , is a different subject all together .

The only thing I'll say on the matter is this - there is a undeniable correlation between the Academy producing quality graduates and the first team having a stable management team . Consequently , the longer Wilder's here the more good quality academy graduates it will produce .

As a footnote - our academy taking other clubs " cast offs " and turning them into good players shows the Academy in a positive light . How can anyone say otherwise ?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think part of the issue is that Wilder likes his teams to be full of aggressive, strong characters. It’s not often you see that in teenagers. It’s something they learn with experience which is a bit of a catch 22 in the sense that whilst they’re not playing, they won’t develop it and whilst they don’t have it they won’t play.


It’s worth noting that Wilder let a young Matty Taylor leave Oxford deeming him surplus to requirements. Look where he is now.


Wilder seems very much a square pegs in square holes kind of guy. He signs the players to play the way he wants and youth development might be sacrificed for a short term gain. This theory is further supported by the fact that we’ve generated around £3million selling off our most promising talents in the summer to fund the building of a squad that can compete this season.


It’s not how I’d ideally like to see us go about things but I’ll be willing to overlook it if Wilder can deliver promotion as that moves the goalposts of where we can shop when it comes to squad building.

 

[alcoblade]

How many youngsters turn down contracts from elsewhere because they want to stay with us?

It's a really easy one - none, ever. They look after themselves, as should we.

Why anyone would put any weight whatsoever on bringing youth through, for the sake, of it is beyond me.

The academy is a failed project that has sold everything it's generated for nothing more than to pay for its own existence, serving to do nothing else than piss just about everyone off when it happens. Time, and time, and time again.

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

Whilst Brooks' inclusion in the week was a pleasant (and very strange decision) surprise, I can't understand why Whiteman didn't start. It makes no sense. If he's going to play Basham, and then Basham is suspended/injured, he's the only obvious replacement. Semple as well. I thought he was meant to be ready by November.

 

[Chali 2na]

There is always a pathway for youth: play well in the U23s, take any chance you get. Wilder doesn't hate young players, and if one makes an impact at U23 level, they can expect to be around the first team (see David Brookes)

The reason why we don't have a team full of youngsters is because teams full of youngsters don't do very well. Crewe are the epitome of this.

Young players should only play if the manager believes they can have some impact on the game (or the game is meaningless).

Look at Kelechi Iheanacho at Man City: he's not involved because he's young, it's because he's a good player, same with Rashford at Man Utd. If we produce players good enough to play, they'll play.

It seems like this thread is just here to satisfy the moaners who haven't been able to whinge about results of late.