What do you feel about
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- #2
Firstly, welcome to the forum 
Secondly, I think you'll get some very interesting responses to this one.
Personally, I think it's a fairly interesting thing to be involved in, but that certainly at the moment, Chengdu and Fradi seem to be getting the best out of the deal.
Initially, the foreign clubs were scared of us coming in, nicking their decent players and buggering off, when, as I've said on the Fradi preview on the main site, the opposite seems to be the case. We're sending coaching staff and players over to the other teams to improve them with little gain to Sheffield United as a football club.
Also, Fradi are going to get a brand new ground complex out of us and I think Chengdu are also getting ground developments paid for.
Obviously, if there are developments in place that would see the best young talent from these places brought over to play for United, it would take time to see the results come to fruition... just as the academy has done.
I'm not under the impression that money spent on these other clubs is money that would've been spent on SUFC... just that it would be nice to see some positive results for our team.
Don't forget as well, our involvements with Central Coast Mariners (Australia), White Star Woluwe (Belgium) and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Secondly, I think you'll get some very interesting responses to this one.
Personally, I think it's a fairly interesting thing to be involved in, but that certainly at the moment, Chengdu and Fradi seem to be getting the best out of the deal.
Initially, the foreign clubs were scared of us coming in, nicking their decent players and buggering off, when, as I've said on the Fradi preview on the main site, the opposite seems to be the case. We're sending coaching staff and players over to the other teams to improve them with little gain to Sheffield United as a football club.
Also, Fradi are going to get a brand new ground complex out of us and I think Chengdu are also getting ground developments paid for.
Obviously, if there are developments in place that would see the best young talent from these places brought over to play for United, it would take time to see the results come to fruition... just as the academy has done.
I'm not under the impression that money spent on these other clubs is money that would've been spent on SUFC... just that it would be nice to see some positive results for our team.
Don't forget as well, our involvements with Central Coast Mariners (Australia), White Star Woluwe (Belgium) and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
SwissBlade
Well-Known Member
I think the link ups will prove to be a great thing and I'm glad that we're well ahead of the game, because other clubs will no doubt follow our lead in the future. Man U did (still do?) a similar thing with Antwerpen and some excellent players have been through this system. I know that we don't see the true benefits at the lane just yet but I believe that its only a matter of time.
We spent just one season in the PL but it was clear that we weren't prepared, unless we spent big and thats a gamble, huge outlay for limited returns unless you get a lot of luck. NW repeatedly said how hard it was to establish an international scouting network and I believe that this is just one benefit of the foriegn clubs.
More importantly is the way we run our business, we're adopting a philosophy of the Blades brand, "the blades way". We've been very clever in putting our own people in place at Fradi and Chengdu etc, meaning that they can nurture the talent in these clubs in the blades way. The onfield success of both Chengdu and Fradi to me is a sideline, more importantly its about getting locals in these teams up to our standard and giving them chance to shine. Crucially it should give our own academy youngsters the chance to develop. Everyone knows that the British players lack technical ability compared to our European counterparts so exposed to a more technically minded game is again a huge plus.
We can also add a Spanish team to the connections (can't remember their name, but Terry Robinson was there sorting a deal a couple of weeks ago, similar to the White Star Woluwe (Belgium) set up I think).
I don't think that we'll ever be Champions League (perhaps Fradi will make the qualifiers in a season or two) but we'll be able to attract good youngsters and also have the infrastructure to ensure that we don't lose good youngsters.
SUFC are in transition at the moment, but in order for us to be able to take the next step we need to be a PL team, otherwise we won't attract or retain the quality players
I think Wedgebury and Lowton will be the first examples of how this works and judging by James Ashmores reviews he is becoming a fans favourite in Fradi. Under our previous system we would have released him and got nothing back. If he goes on to demand a transfer fee then the money comes back into the coffers.
Finally I think that its harder for youngsters to break the first team at any club nowadays, most teams loan out their youngsters to lower leagues to give them experience, a lot of these youngsters will question their future when (without disrespect) they're sat at Mansfield, Chesterfield etc not knowing where their future lies. Under our system, we can control the facilities they play at and perhaps they can feel like they're part of the bigger picture. It'd be interesting to know how Lowton, Abdi, Ashmore, Wedgebury etc feel about the loan system
We spent just one season in the PL but it was clear that we weren't prepared, unless we spent big and thats a gamble, huge outlay for limited returns unless you get a lot of luck. NW repeatedly said how hard it was to establish an international scouting network and I believe that this is just one benefit of the foriegn clubs.
More importantly is the way we run our business, we're adopting a philosophy of the Blades brand, "the blades way". We've been very clever in putting our own people in place at Fradi and Chengdu etc, meaning that they can nurture the talent in these clubs in the blades way. The onfield success of both Chengdu and Fradi to me is a sideline, more importantly its about getting locals in these teams up to our standard and giving them chance to shine. Crucially it should give our own academy youngsters the chance to develop. Everyone knows that the British players lack technical ability compared to our European counterparts so exposed to a more technically minded game is again a huge plus.
We can also add a Spanish team to the connections (can't remember their name, but Terry Robinson was there sorting a deal a couple of weeks ago, similar to the White Star Woluwe (Belgium) set up I think).
I don't think that we'll ever be Champions League (perhaps Fradi will make the qualifiers in a season or two) but we'll be able to attract good youngsters and also have the infrastructure to ensure that we don't lose good youngsters.
SUFC are in transition at the moment, but in order for us to be able to take the next step we need to be a PL team, otherwise we won't attract or retain the quality players
I think Wedgebury and Lowton will be the first examples of how this works and judging by James Ashmores reviews he is becoming a fans favourite in Fradi. Under our previous system we would have released him and got nothing back. If he goes on to demand a transfer fee then the money comes back into the coffers.
Finally I think that its harder for youngsters to break the first team at any club nowadays, most teams loan out their youngsters to lower leagues to give them experience, a lot of these youngsters will question their future when (without disrespect) they're sat at Mansfield, Chesterfield etc not knowing where their future lies. Under our system, we can control the facilities they play at and perhaps they can feel like they're part of the bigger picture. It'd be interesting to know how Lowton, Abdi, Ashmore, Wedgebury etc feel about the loan system
Vistoma
Member
I think the link between United and both Chengdu Blades and Ferencvaros can only be a good thing in the long run. Right now, we may not be seeing the benefits of the partnership between the clubs, as at the minute, the clubs aren't to that good enough standard for them to nurture players that could become good players for Sheffield United. However, this is being seeing to gradually, and the club's sending staff and players to both teams to help aid that development process. I feel that there will be some good young players being fed in to the United team from both of these clubs in the future.
snb69
Active Member
I think it has to be seen in the same light as the Academy - it took a good few years before it produced the two Kyles. The true value of these deals is 5-10 years off. As long as it doesn't dilute the resources available to SUFC in the short to medium term, then it shouldn't be a bad thing. It just needs that timeframe to assess the benefit
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- #8
Some good answers there I think.... I guess it would be interesting to see what Sixat or Feriboy say as Ferencvaros fans. I think they were very much all for our involvement in the way it came about, McCabe riding in on his white horse and having them from near extinction... plus the promotion this season can only have added to the reputation we have with them.
I suppose the same could be said for Chengdu who got promotion to the top flight two seasons after we took over.
I suppose the same could be said for Chengdu who got promotion to the top flight two seasons after we took over.
Regarding Chengdu, i can't see us getting many, if any real quality players through the system there. But that's no real worry if we can get our brand spread across Chengdu and the rest of China. The commercial benefits of that could be huge. But i think Sheffield United F.C needs to become an established Premier League team for it to work to its full potential.
silverfox
Well-Known Member
I think you're right short term.....but people said the same about the Academy.
As many have already said I think the deals need to be looked at long term......as McCabe seems to be doing in everything he does.
Us fans are too eager to see instant results. (I'm still waiting since I started watching in the 60's!
)
shorehamview
Pink Sambuca drinking World Champion.
Honestly? Long term the link-ups might prove to be very shrewd business, with the chance to let developing players show their merit at one of our sister clubs. The short term benefits seem to be based entirely around how many pictures of himself on overseas jollies Terry Robinson can get in the match programmes.
I think in another three or four years we might start seeing the fruits of the sister club scheme, but not before then.
I think in another three or four years we might start seeing the fruits of the sister club scheme, but not before then.
I'd agree. But China is hardly the epicentre of footballing excellence. Although i do believe it is improving. So who knowsI think you're right short term.....but people said the same about the Academy.
As many have already said I think the deals need to be looked at long term......as McCabe seems to be doing in everything he does.
Us fans are too eager to see instant results. (I'm still waiting since I started watching in the 60's!
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