Academies

Curiously enough, I was having this conversation last night. I was saying about my two young lads, if either, or both of them, ended up scouted by clubs and had a choice of going to academies at City, United, Liverpool, Everton or Wigan, I’d choose Latics every time. Or even others such as Bury or Preston.
My reasoning being, it seems to me these clubs go to the extent of actually buying in foreign kids to put into their academies, making it all that much harder for local or homegrown lads to make it.

My cousins lad was really highly rated, and had spells at United and Liverpool. Was talked about as being something special, and even made a video with Ross Barkley. Fantastic ball skills and ability. But eventually, he got shown the door and as far as I’m aware, health about 15 now and I think he is playing back in Sunday league, if that.

It seems to me that clubs mass sign up youngsters, who have delusions of being the new Ronaldo or Messi, and then just sieve them out over a year or two. It’s cruel. My eldest went training at Everton, it was a great set up, but again, there were loads of kids there. Parents all giving, most of them at least, false hope. It’s put him off playing for anybody now and he said he “doesn’t want to be a footballer”.

The state of our game is a disgrace. Right up to the England team, it’s a mess. Ruined by money and mismanagement of youth development.

Latics? Doing pretty good with youth at the moment. Our relegation saw a big rethink….probably for the best.

Could you explain to me how it’s working? I’m looking at first team sheet this season and can’t see a single name on it who is homegrown? Any crackers come through in last 5 years?

Agreed but surely the whole idea of an academy is to produce first team regulars. Still don’t see one player in our line up. Look at young Flores. Looked really promising two years ago now floundering round the bottom division on loan deals. We don’t put any trust in these guys. Similar could be young Lang. Was involved in most of goals pre season. Season starts. Loan him out. I’m not saying its an easy task integrating academy lads into the first team but there has to be the simple equation given the cost that if it’s not producing first team players year in, year out its a complete white elephant. Brentfords model of letting the top clubs nurture talent and clubs like ours pick the ones that don’t make it at 16+ up has to be the way forward.