12-05-2022, 21:25
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2022, 21:30 by Slick_Footwork.)
(12-05-2022, 17:40)BaggieSteve Wrote: I agree, Slick, that there is absolutely no guarantee of any academy players making it at the highest level and the examples you cite are very relevant. I think my biggest beef - apart from the ludicrous situation of 18/19 years old players with no senior track record making exorbitant demands - is our inability to make us an attractive club in which to develop your young career. I appreciate this is the result of the growing pressure of elite clubs with massive reserves who are prepared to offer eye-watering deals to players with 'potential' and whose advisers only have an interest in the short term money benefits. But I'm coming round to your last point of the value of an Academy, although my understanding is that this is a requirement for the club, certainly if it wishes to be in the Premier League.
The question is, is there anything we can do as a club to make us attractive or are these players simply attracted by the dollar signs?
I'm starting to think the only thing that makes a side attractive to the modern day player is their pay cheque...
With Cleary for example, I do think we'd be a decent option if he genuinely cared about career development.
As a Championship side, it would be easier for him to make the step up into our first team than if he goes to Premier League or European equivalent. Especially as we're short up top and aren't likely to splash the cash. It might be the case that he thinks he'll be farmed out on loan to League One or Two either way, but even then, he'd be more likely to step up through the leagues if he stayed here.
And while I've got no idea what we offered him financially, I'm sure he'd be pretty wealthy as a Championship squaddie. But of course, not so much as a Premier League one.
I'd suspect that's all he cares about to be honest. Probably the same for all of them except the few who are West Brom fans.
I'm not sure about Academies being a requirement. I seem to remember reading something about Brentford ditching their academy for this very reason and focusing on scouting talent instead. That was some years ago though, so it might've changed since. Personally, if it's not required, I don't really see the point in having one until laws are changed to better protect sides in the lower half of the Premier League and below.