Youth

[Kabba Kabba Doo]

Is it just me or is slightly worrying that no matter how bad we've been for the past 4 years, not one academy player has broke into the team and nailed a spot there?

They all seem to get a game, play well and play a few more, then bottle it and go backwards i.e. Reedy.

Really hope Wilder can start developing a few more in the first team like Brooks and Semple, because surely they can't be any worse than our current first team?!?!?!

UTB

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Is it just me or is slightly worrying that no matter how bad we've been for the past 4 years, not one academy player has broke into the team and nailed a spot there?

They all seem to get a game, play well and play a few more, then bottle it and go backwards i.e. Reedy.

Really hope Wilder can start developing a few more in the first team like Brooks and Semple, because surely they can't be any worse than our current first team?!?!?!

UTB

Yes this is keeping me awake on a night as well.

 

[Blade56]

Good call. And if they're any good we can sell them to an ambitious club.

 

[Ricky]

In recent seasons the academy's not even produced many L1 standard squad players, let alone first teamers. That's concerning.

 

[alcoblade]

Close the fucking thing and concentrate our efforts on youth from elsewhere, in positions we need.

UTB

 

[Slim Man]

David Brooks and Semple will break into the first team at some point in the near future.
DCL has a colossal year ahead of him, it's going to take some serious work on the training ground to firstly nail down a position rather than being a jack-of-a-few-trades and then fight his way into the team.

Reed has got to bulk up and decide a midfield role. Deep lying, good defensive midfielder. For that he needs to spend 6 months solely on defensive work and work his arse off. Or an attacking midfielder, which for that he needs to add goals and spend 6 months solely on attacking work in training.

Ben Whiteman for me can feel aggrieved not to have got a minute on the pitch yet after the start we've had. He's another though who needs to pick a position and stick to it. He can play right back, centre half, or where he's featured most for the first team in centre mid. It would be a smart move from him to fully learn right back in Brayford's absence. He looked solid at Southend, good defensively and wise going forward. He's a decent technical player, already has two assists to his name in a Blades shirt.

 

[metalblade]

Close the fucking thing and concentrate our efforts on youth from elsewhere, in positions we need.

UTB

Just one thing now, we can't go getting players from smaller clubs now we are down to their level, we can't even compete with the likes of Burton feckin Albion.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Are they past their prime?
Have they peaked yet?

 

[Kabba Kabba Doo]

In recent seasons the academy's not even produced many L1 standard squad players, let alone first teamers. That's concerning.

Be interested to see where all academy players that have made a debut while in L1 are now!

 

[Barney]

We shouldn't be looking towards Wilder or managers as to why he they're not playing academy players, they're not playing them because they're not good enough. Attention should be focussed on the academy itself and why it has performed so poorly in recent years.

 

[coolhandluke]

God help any of the younguns thrown into the first team right now . Miss a tackle , misplace a pass etc and they'll be absolutely slaughtered by a well informed home crowd who have every right to voice their displeasure .

It's the blades way , innit .

 

[Kabba Kabba Doo]

We shouldn't be looking towards Wilder or managers as to why he they're not playing academy players, they're not playing them because they're not good enough. Attention should be focussed on the academy itself and why it has performed so poorly in recent years.

I don't think it's the academy itself, as players keep getting highly rated and then seem to think they've made it already and never kick on, maybe they need someone to stop this happening like Ron Reid or Pemberton used to do

 

[coolhandluke]

We shouldn't be looking towards Wilder or managers as to why he they're not playing academy players, they're not playing them because they're not good enough. Attention should be focussed on the academy itself and why it has performed so poorly in recent years.

Whilst I agree in principle with what you are saying Barney , why shouldn't such a critical part of the club be performance managed , I can't help but think that the academy won't have been helped by our revolving door policy of first team management recruitment .

 

[alcoblade]

I don't think it's the academy itself, as players keep getting highly rated and then seem to think they've made it already and never kick on, maybe they need someone to stop this happening like Ron Reid or Pemberton used to do

Much of the "highly rated" bit comes because people get irrationally giddy about local youth. They get on the field, do nothing of note, and people over inflate their impact. They then extrapolate their career forward and decide that they will be much better than they are, and question why they aren't getting more time.

After a decade or more we've seen very few players from it, and the decent ones are sold to cover the enormous cost burden. Worse, the compensation that we saw for the likes of Mellis have gone, meaning were even more likely to lose the very best talent anyway.

UTB

 

[FTPE]

Would playing our entire under 21s side for the first 4 games have put us in a worse position?

 

[Bartleby]

I can't help but think that the academy won't have been helped by our revolving door policy of first team management recruitment .

I agree, managers don't get enough time these days to worry about developing academy players.

 

[Barney]

I can't help but think that the academy won't have been helped by our revolving door policy of first team management recruitment .

That is a good point and one I agree with, however I still don't think the academy has been up to standard.

 

[larkymasher]

I watch our under 18s, u23s and first team as many of you know.

Wilder championed Brookes and Semple in the summer. Not me ......

Chapman is signed in front of Brookes and Wright is sitting on the bench doing nothing when Semple should be gaining that experience. Basham can fill in at centre back so Wright is a total waste of a subs spot. These lads should be involved.

Whiteman can be totally pissed off at not getting a look in...... he is L1 standard without any shadow of a doubt. So thats 3 so far.

The only reason they are not involved is that CW dare not introduce young players for fear of the sack.

Charlton have 5 18/19 year olds in their match squad 18. Bolton have 4, Coventry have 4, Chesterfield have 2, Forrest have 3, West Ham have 2, Huddersfield have 3. need i go on. We have one, Ramsdale.

They have not peaked, they are certainly good enough and prove week in week out that they are as good as any other young players out there.
They are just not given a chance. It is as simple as that.

I would hazard a guess that quite a few posters on here who say shut the academy, they are must be shit, etc etc have never even watched these young players and have no idea what they are about and what kind of players they are. Opinions on Brookes and Semple are quite uniform. It says they are good enough. If the manager is scared to involve them due to be 17 or 18 then thats the end of the discussion really, but show them a bit of respect and understand the reasons they are not involved.

 

[BushBlade]

I suspect CW is waiting for the EFL trophy to give them a run out. He's just signed a load of players and is trying to integrate them. Bringing kids into the situation we're in right now won't help anyone.

 

[coolhandluke]

I watch our under 18s, u23s and first team as many of you know.

Wilder championed Brookes and Semple in the summer. Not me ......

Chapman is signed in front of Brookes and Wright is sitting on the bench doing nothing when Semple should be gaining that experience. Basham can fill in at centre back so Wright is a total waste of a subs spot. These lads should be involved.

Whiteman can be totally pissed off at not getting a look in...... he is L1 standard without any shadow of a doubt. So thats 3 so far.

The only reason they are not involved is that CW dare not introduce young players for fear of the sack.

Charlton have 5 18/19 year olds in their match squad 18. Bolton have 4, Coventry have 4, Chesterfield have 2, Forrest have 3, West Ham have 2, Huddersfield have 3. need i go on. We have one, Ramsdale.

They have not peaked, they are certainly good enough and prove week in week out that they are as good as any other young players out there.
They are just not given a chance. It is as simple as that.

I would hazard a guess that quite a few posters on here who say shut the academy, they are must be shit, etc etc have never even watched these young players and have no idea what they are about and what kind of players they are. Opinions on Brookes and Semple are quite uniform. It says they are good enough. If the manager is scared to involve them due to be 17 or 18 then thats the end of the discussion really, but show them a bit of respect and understand the reasons they are not involved.

So in essence , job insecurity at first team manager level is the reason why the lads aren't getting a runout ?

I'm inclined to agree with you there .

I also believe that's also the reason the Academy appears to be underperforming . A close look at the first team fortunes and management merry go round quite clearly shows close a close correlation with the Academies production of first team players .

I'd like to add aswell ..... anyone clamouring for the Academy to close is , frankly , off their fucking head . This is one facet of the Club where KM got it right .

 

[larkymasher]

I suspect CW is waiting for the EFL trophy to give them a run out. He's just signed a load of players and is trying to integrate them. Bringing kids into the situation we're in right now won't help anyone.

I agree with the EPL Trophy, but i even have my doubts about any playing in that.

We are not taking about 5 or 6 youth players though, we are talking about the two the CW was waxing lyrical about in the Summer.

 

[larkymasher]

So in essence , job insecurity at first team manager level is the reason why the lads aren't getting a runout ?

I'm inclined to agree with you there .

I also believe that's also the reason the Academy appears to be underperforming . A close look at the first team fortunes and management merry go round quite clearly shows close a close correlation with the Academies production of first team players .

But look at Charlton. New manager, relagated, finances in a mess.

They have bought players in who will without doubt get them up. Good players with pedigree to get them out of this league. with this they have introduced 5 u21 players at 18/19 to supplement the team.

Their youngsters are gaining value with the experiences of being around the first team and value in terms of assets for the club in the future.

We however could end up with youngsters who are untried with no value in the future.

When exactly do our youth get their chance if the manager decides they are too young to cope with the pressures of playing with SUFC.

Please remember i am talking about 1 or 2 players, not just an influx of 5 or 6.

 

[coolhandluke]

But look at Charlton. New manager, relagated, finances in a mess.

They have bought players in who will without doubt get them up. Good players with pedigree to get them out of this league. with this they have introduced 5 u21 players at 18/19 to supplement the team.

Their youngsters are gaining value with the experiences of being around the first team and value in terms of assets for the club in the future.

We however could end up with youngsters who are untried with no value in the future.

When exactly do our youth get their chance if the manager decides they are too young to cope with the pressures of playing with SUFC.

Please remember i am talking about 1 or 2 players, not just an influx of 5 or 6.

I'm in complete agreement with you Larky old boy .

However , as an aside , I'm just concerned that the atmosphere at the Lane right now is so poisonous I'd hate to see the younguns exposed to it .

 

[larkymasher]

I'm in complete agreement with you Larky old boy .

However , as an aside , I'm just concerned that the atmosphere at the Lane right now is so poisonous I'd hate to see the younguns exposed to it .

Its all part of the process though isn't it. On the bench at the Lane, crowd not happy, needing to win. etc etc.

I notice again that Ramsdale 18, Cummings 17 & Semple 17 all got a special mention after the U23s game last night......

 

[coolhandluke]

Its all part of the process though isn't it. On the bench at the Lane, crowd not happy, needing to win. etc etc.

I notice again that Ramsdale 18, Cummings 17 & Semple 17 all got a special mention after the U23s game last night......

Maybe you are right there mate . Perhaps a baptism of fire is more conducive to sorting the wheat from the chaff than wrapping them in cotton wool .

Either way though , it's a futile discussion when none of them ( Ramsdale excluded ) are anywhere near the first team .

Come on CW , I know you want to do it . Time to make men from boys !

Edit : not only Ramsdale but DCL aswell

 

[BushBlade]

I agree with the EPL Trophy, but i even have my doubts about any playing in that.

We are not taking about 5 or 6 youth players though, we are talking about the two the CW was waxing lyrical about in the Summer.

Two or six, it makes no difference to my point.

 

[BushBlade]

Its all part of the process though isn't it. On the bench at the Lane, crowd not happy, needing to win. etc etc.

I notice again that Ramsdale 18, Cummings 17 & Semple 17 all got a special mention after the U23s game last night......

What's this u-23s? Is it new? Is it a full league like the u-21s?

 

[larkymasher]

What's this u-23s? Is it new? Is it a full league like the u-21s?

It replaces the U21s league.

Don't know why it's been done.

 

[Rodley]

I watch our under 18s, u23s and first team as many of you know.

Wilder championed Brookes and Semple in the summer. Not me ......

Chapman is signed in front of Brookes and Wright is sitting on the bench doing nothing when Semple should be gaining that experience. Basham can fill in at centre back so Wright is a total waste of a subs spot. These lads should be involved.

Whiteman can be totally pissed off at not getting a look in...... he is L1 standard without any shadow of a doubt. So thats 3 so far.

The only reason they are not involved is that CW dare not introduce young players for fear of the sack.

Charlton have 5 18/19 year olds in their match squad 18. Bolton have 4, Coventry have 4, Chesterfield have 2, Forrest have 3, West Ham have 2, Huddersfield have 3. need i go on. We have one, Ramsdale.

They have not peaked, they are certainly good enough and prove week in week out that they are as good as any other young players out there.
They are just not given a chance. It is as simple as that.

I would hazard a guess that quite a few posters on here who say shut the academy, they are must be shit, etc etc have never even watched these young players and have no idea what they are about and what kind of players they are. Opinions on Brookes and Semple are quite uniform. It says they are good enough. If the manager is scared to involve them due to be 17 or 18 then thats the end of the discussion really, but show them a bit of respect and understand the reasons they are not involved.

I'd have Whiteman over Basham every day of the week.

 

[Pinchy]

Dear oh dear. The Bladey Boyband strikes up again. Full of wisdom about what our club should be doing for these snotty nose kids and even how we should "respect them".

I've just had a word with the real world and he takes the view that these respectable kids get plenty of chance to excel at youth levels and that its up to them to force the manager to pick them by sheer weight of performance in matches and on the training field.

He says it's professional football not the fucking X-Factor. He says he'll respect complete novices when they achieve something respectable.

He remembers De Juve, Ironside, Chappell, Di Maio, McFadz, Khan, Whitehouse to name but a few, so I think he knows what he's talking about. He hopes the youngsters respect that...