Some really positive stuff seems to be emerging about the Academy of late (as it has been for a few seasons of course).
Is this crop (and the under 21s) the best bunch we've had? It seems to me that there are more being predicted for the first team than ever and a handful could be making debuts this season.
Is that actually the case? or is it just that they tend to get more exposure and coverage now so we tend to hear a lot about how the U21s etc are doing as opposed to in the past where we had a reserve team as a back up rather than the development squad. Genuine question......
I think the additional coverage is one of the reasons, but there's a number of factors in my opinion.
Obviously we're in a lower division so they're getting nearer the first team than they would if we were top-end Championship like we expect to be. But, the hard work that's been going into coaching from a young age and the work behind the scenes to improve the youth recruitment is increasing the standard that's coming through.
Also, the increasing reputation of our academy and the fact that they have a chance of breaking into the first team is helping us attract players too. We have players in our U18 squad that have come from Manchester United, Everton (long before Weir's arrival), Ireland, Wales, and various cities all over the UK so we're increasing our chances of finding players that can make it pro. On top of that we've obviously brought in Partodikromo so we're expanding it even more.
As for it being the best bunch we've had... It has the potential but living up to the side that made the Youth Cup Final will take some doing. Long, Maguire, Whitehouse, McFadzean, Ironside, Kennedy, Barry have all been around the first team with various degrees of success, Slew is at Blackburn (albeit on the downhill path with the sounds of it), Willis who was the back-up keeper that season is progressing really well, Matty Harriott was obviously released, Adam Hinchcliffe is doing well for Wednesday's reserves, Corey Gregory is at Matlock Town, Danny Deakin is plying his trade at an America University and two others decided to give up on football (Ben Montgomery & Connor Martin). If we get another group with that much success it'll be unreal.
