SUFC Development squad boosted

[Grappler]

https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2018/july/development-squad-boosted/



Ahead of the new season, United's development squad has been supplemented with five new signings.

French defender Nicksoen Gomis joins from Evreux FC 27, whilst German stopper Jordan Amissah will add further competition to the goalkeeping ranks and lists Borussia Dortmund and Schalke amongst his former clubs.

Midfielder Zak Brunt, formerly of Matlock Town and Derby County, has penned a deal with the Blades, whilst Reece York and Harry Sheppeard join the club from Fulham and Tadcaster Albion, who the Blades face on Friday evening, respectively.

The aforementioned youngsters have linked up with the current first and second-year scholars for pre-season training and all will take part in the scheduled friendlies that kick-off later this week.

Academy Manager Travis Binnion remarked: "Preparations are underway at Shirecliffe as we look forward to hopefully another positive season for both development age groups.

"We'll be looking for progress from all those within the group and hopefully a few can impress the first-team management during the campaign.

"As always, I'm grateful to work of our recruitment team, led by Steve Holmes, as they continue to work hard behind the scenes to make our group stronger."

• Club News
  
• Development
  
• Nicksoen Gomis
  
• Jordan Amissah

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[SwissBlade]

Saw the Zac Brunt one a few weeks ago on the Matlock Town Facebook page, i think he was on trial first wasn't he?

Good that we're picking up some young lads from around the area, but also further afield.

We can just show them the likes of Maguire, Brooks, Jags, Cahill, Walker to see what is possible

 

[TJB.]

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Exotic name. Where'd we nab him from?

 

[bromtom]

Exotic name. Where'd we nab him from?

Ukranian international.

 

[Grappler]

Exotic name. Where'd we nab him from?

Ghana

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Zak Brunt has been at Derby, villa, Man City & Atletico Madrid. He was meant to be ‘the’ next big thing a few years ago.

 

[I should coco]

Zak Brunt has been at Derby, villa, Man City & Atletico Madrid. He was meant to be ‘the’ next big thing a few years ago

The lad will either be really hungry and desperate to make a pro footballer after his knockbacks, or a prize wanker 'look at me, I was at Athletico don't you know'.

He deserves a chance from us but I can't see any Billy Bigbollocks stuff going down well at Shirecliffe. Maybe Diego could give him some tips....

 

[Tom Bott]

Zak Brunt has been at Derby, villa, Man City & Atletico Madrid. He was meant to be ‘the’ next big thing a few years ago.

Did we not recently have one of Man City's cast offs and develop him, eventually selling for £ 12/15 million ?

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

IMHO it will be no bad thing if our Academy gets a reputation of happily taking players binned out of higher profile Academies, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, etc. And, rebooting their progress - as per ex Man City, ex England U21, current Wales International & now Premier League player David Brooks. I'm not close, but what I see with my own eyes is a simple, supportive, encouraging & explaining culture. Which the players buy in to.
I think "who they are & what's in their heads" is a key component of Shirecliffe recruitment.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Did we not recently have one of Man City's cast offs and develop him, eventually selling for £ 12/15 million ?

You've imagined it. The academy is just a huge Ponzi scheme to suck money out of the club. Shirecliffe is actually student flats and has been for years. ( paid for by United but owned by Kev).

Some of you will believe anything.....

 

[I should coco]

Did we not recently have one of Man City's cast offs and develop him, eventually selling for £ 12/15 million ?

Nah, I think we only got about £500k for Brownie.

Altogether now:

"Michael Brown my Lord, Michael Brown....."

 

[Sean Thornton]

Nah, I think we only got about £500k for Brownie.

Altogether now:

"Michael Brown my Lord, Michael Brown....."

He's coming back? Brill!

 

[Cutbush City Limits]

I know Zak and his parents reasonably well. He is a good lad and technically excellent. Has had contract issues at Derby which were well publicised, but if United can get the best out of him he is a real prospect and a good investment.

GLTTL!

 

[Kev Gee]

Good luck to them all & I hope they take their chance & progress through into the first team.

 

[Redhead]

I know Zak and his parents reasonably well. He is a good lad and technically excellent. Has had contract issues at Derby which were well publicised, but if United can get the best out of him he is a real prospect and a good investment.

GLTTL!

What were his issues at Villa, Man City and Madrid.

Very talented lad but very strange he moved so much for such a young lad.

Very good signing if he settles in.

 

[McGrath]

Yay... more players who'll have a few first team games, then swap agents when the dollar signs are waved and go play for a Premiership reserve team

 

[Redhead]

Yay... more players who'll have a few first team games, then swap agents when the dollar signs are waved and go play for a Premiership reserve team

If we make £12m every time then carry on.....

 

[Canterbury Blade]

What were his issues at Villa, Man City and Madrid.

Very talented lad but very strange he moved so much for such a young lad.

Very good signing if he settles in.

Search around the internet is enlightening and if to be believed Athletico, after trials at 2 other Spanish clubs ended due to EU laws linked to under 18’s. Again also appears he was on Uniteds books in some way when he was very young. Worth a search just to understand more about how football treats kids..

 

[robbiez666]

I agree with the compensation. It's like paying for a private education, but not upfront.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

Zak was one of the lads featured on the Sky or Bt sport feature on the academy system. He started off at the blades when he was really young.
I believe one of the issues at Derby that contributed to him leaving was his participation in the English Futsal team against their wishes in a tournament. He ended up at Matlock, because Derby were insistent on receiving a development fee for him if he signed for a pro club.....which i think was about £90k and nobody was willing to pay the fee to take a risk on him.
Would be interesting to know if we paid the fee, or if Derby in the end just gave up on it.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Fits in with our new strategy of signing older lads who have been dropped by other academies. The foreign element is suprising, and seems to be a development that may have happened after the Prince's intervention, or, more likely, after Federenko has been succeeded by Steve Holmes (Head of Academy Football Operations).It's interesting that Travis credits Holmes, as I was wondering if the Prince and Van Winkel were driving this.The British market has never been more saturated, and Holmes may see going abroad as a panacea.

A heads up: Sheffield United academy chief Travis Binnion is on. @sheffieldlive tv on Thursday at 7.There are normally replays on youtube.