Sustained Premier League Club = Academy Players

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Without stating the obvious; if we can secure a place in the league this season and beyond - we may see players like Walker, Jagielka, Brooks, Maguire, Calvert-Lewis stay at the club for the longer than usual time frame.

Imagine an existing Blades Academy Premier League XI.

That could be our future with new prospects. (Like Capello, Slater) arriving, with the potential of a Premier League platform for these youngsters.

The future is bright, the future is red & white.

 

[Davalon]

Why no Monty? ☹

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Nicky Law? Over Michael Tonge?

 

[Silent Blade]

Simon Francis was signed from Bradford City and wasn't from our Academy

 

[sufcboy95]

Simon Francis was signed from Bradford City and wasn't from our Academy

Was also let go by United because he wasn’t good enough, rather than moving upwards up the ladder

 

[Silent Blade]

Was also let go by United because he wasn’t good enough, rather than moving upwards up the ladder

That's right but the OP states that he was from our Academy

 

[Sheffsteel]

Without stating the obvious; if we can secure a place in the league this season and beyond - we may see players like Walker, Jagielka, Brooks, Maguire, Calvert-Lewis stay at the club for the longer than usual time frame.

Imagine an existing Blades Academy Premier League XI.

That could be our future with new prospects. (Like Capello, Slater) arriving, with the potential of a Premier League platform for these youngsters.

The future is bright, the future is red & white.

It’s all if, buts a maybes though.

Players need developement at different levels.
In league 1 we can give any young prospects regular game time
In the Championship we can give our young prospects occasional games and sub appearances.
However in the PL our young prospects won’t get any games and will need to be loaned out.

Also some of the players on that list have developed even further because they’ve played for teams challenging for the title something we can’t offer.

So the irony is now we’re in the PL we are more able to hold on to our top talents
But in the PL unless we have a big network of loanees out (being developed by other clubs) then it will be more difficult to have young talents playing for us.

 

[true99blade]

Simon Francis was signed from Bradford City and wasn't from our Academy

Brooks originally came from the Manchester City academy also.

 

[Woodwardfan]

If such as the Mancs want a Leicester player they get him. If they want a certain Bournemouth player they'll get him as well.

There are at least two divisions of power within the P.L., maybe three. Players cannot say 'no' if the big boys come knocking.

We can demand loads more cash for them though and that's more reassuring.

 

[Bill Johnson]

If such as the Mancs want a Leicester player they get him. If they want a certain Bournemouth player they'll get him as well.

There are at least two divisions of power within the P.L., maybe three. Players cannot say 'no' if the big boys come knocking.

We can demand loads more cash for them though and that's more reassuring.

We can be like Southampton in that regard.

 

[Silent Blade]

Brooks originally came from the Manchester City academy also.

Yes but Brooks did play in our Academy matches before playing for our 1st team. Francis had already played for Bradford City's first team before joining us and played in our 1st team without having playing in any of our Academy matches but controversially at the end of the 2003-04 season he played for us in the u18s final against Southampton. Wouldnt surprise me that some of the u18s parents werent happy about this.

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Nicky Law? Over Michael Tonge?

Obviously not, however Michael Tonge has been retired a while I believe.

 

[jono_t2000]

I think i saw somewhere (unless I dreamt it) that last season we were ranked 8th in number of academy players playing in the Premier League.

We were also the only team in the top 10 that wasnt a Premier League team.

 

[Champagneblade]

I think i saw somewhere (unless I dreamt it) that last season we were ranked 8th in number of academy players playing in the Premier League.

We were also the only team in the top 10 that wasnt a Premier League team.

It was 6th!

Redirect Notice

www.google.com.sg

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Obviously not, however Michael Tonge has been retired a while I believe.

Released by Port Vale at the end of last season, not retired.