The Academy - the future

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Thought I'd start a thread on the academy and it's the future.

The BeN has done a piece here - http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... elf_adrift_/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;? basically saying the academy could be downgraded. I think the saving would be half a million a year.

I understand the need to save money wherever we can, but I think the next few years is where the academy is most needed. To downgrade to put the money saved in to the 1st team is a gamble and I think short sighted. I like the idea of a supporter trust run academy affiliated to the club. The academy could be run by the trust with Jimmy running it and funded by the trust and sponsorship. The players could be loaned to the club or any other team and fees earned ploughed back in. I don't now the legalities of it, but might this be a way of helping the club without effectively funding a part of it?

[officer_dibble]

More might be routed straight into first team training - so does that mean that we can reduce parts of the academy?

[BWFC_Insane]

What do other teams do at this level? Similarly I'm not sure about downgrading it is a great long term plan but equally are there other ways of keeping the talent production going that work out a bit cheaper? I'm not sure down the years the academy has come close to justifying it's existence in terms of first team talent produced....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The argument against downgrading (besides unemployment etc) is that the lower your grade, the more severe a bumming you get if a Big Club want your academy lads. For that purpose the economics don't work out - I once calculated that you'd need to sell about 20 kids a year to cover costs. But that's also because the higher up the academy grading you go, the more funding you have to guarantee - in other words, in shock news, it's a rich man's game, but the Elite Player Performance Plan has made it even more so.

Here's a piece a Rochdale fan wrote for me on the EPPP.

[Hoboh]

I think it should be closed down completely.

Any cost is too much when down at this level and the chances of any decent prospects coming to a first division clubs academy, slim to say the least.

Didn't Newcastle whilst Keegan was there only run a group of about 20 players at one time? That was something to do with cutting their cloth wasn't it?

[BWFC_Insane]

I think it should be closed down completely.

Any cost is too much when down at this level and the chances of any decent prospects coming to a first division clubs academy, slim to say the least.

Didn't Newcastle whilst Keegan was there only run a group of about 20 players at one time? That was something to do with cutting their cloth wasn't it?

Isn't that backwards? Aren't you more likely to bring young players through at this level? And more likely to need to also?

Keegan did that when they were a premiership side. Keegan was also a mentalist...

[LeverEnd]

Wouldn't go as far as Hoboh but I do think too much is made of the academy. ED reportedly spent shit loads on it and what has it produced? A handful of players who became part of a joke of a team that shamed the club.
Holding looks promising but remember Dorian Dervite and Titus Bramble played international U21 football. Never got the fuss about Vela, Walker is rubbish. Love Clough's skill but he hasn't convinced me he's capable of performing consistently in the first team.
I'd rather downgrade and spend the money on hungry up and coming players from elsewhere like Rioch did and that seems to be Parkinson's way too.
Hope Jimmy, Didsy and Zico stay on and keep trying but it's not produced enough for the investment and if we're skint we have greater priorities.

[BWFC_Insane]

Wouldn't go as far as Hoboh but I do think too much is made of the academy. ED reportedly spent shit loads on it and what has it produced? A handful of players who became part of a joke of a team that shamed the club.
Holding looks promising but remember Dorian Dervite and Titus Bramble played international U21 football. Never got the fuss about Vela, Walker is rubbish. Love Clough's skill but he hasn't convinced me he's capable of performing consistently in the first team.
I'd rather downgrade and spend the money on hungry up and coming players from elsewhere like Rioch did and that seems to be Parkinson's way too.
Hope Jimmy, Didsy and Zico stay on and keep trying but it's not produced enough for the investment and if we're skint we have greater priorities.

Given they've been here for a while working for the relatively fruitless academy one might deduce they are part of the problem?

[Gary the Enfield]

I thought Lifeline and Goldline paid for the academy?

[TonyDomingos]

KA has decided not to downgrade the academy.
http://m.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1457 ... g_academy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bobo the clown]

KA has decided not to downgrade the academy.
http://m.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1457 ... g_academy/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good.




That's all.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Good news.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Not only is the Academy staying as category two, we're also hiring. And hiring openly, advertising and recruiting, rather than just filling the post with "someone the gaffer knows". Good.

• Professional Development Phase Coach*
• Academy Foundation Phase Lead Coach
• Various part-time Academy Coaches
• Senior Academy Performance Analyst

*Basically an U21/U18 coach – the Professional Development phase 17-21, the Youth Development phase is age 12-16, the Foundation phase is age 8-11. That said, I note that the Development phase is being tweaked slightly from next season, to more like U23 (at least at the top level, formerly known as the U21 Premier League, now to be known as the Premier League 2). Which sort of makes sense considering the average age of a player in the U21PL is 19.6 and the average age of a Premier League debut is 22.5: what should we do with those players in that gap, the cream of their generation but not yet trusted to play top-flight first-team football? Well, I guess some will stay in the Development league, but some will also be loaned out to lower-league clubs...

[TonyDomingos]

The u-23s - featuring Alnwick, Wilson and Derik - have beaten their QPR counterparts 6-1 this evening. Four goals for Alex Samizadeh.

[TANGODANCER]

The u-23s - featuring Alnwick, Wilson and Derik - have beaten their QPR counterparts 6-1 this evening. Four goals for Alex Samizadeh.

Arsene Wenger will be on the phone already offering us £200 and a free trip to the Emirates....

[plymouth wanderer]

Alex Samizadeh gotta be worth a look now surely?

[TonyDomingos]

Alex Samizadeh gotta be worth a look now surely?

I saw his brief cameo at Brentford towards the end of last season; looked a mile off there, although there were extenuating circumstances. He might do better in this league and in a winning (or, rather, not losing) side. But, he's tiny: at least 12 inches short of Parky's minimum height requirement.

[plymouth wanderer]

Looks a powerfull figure though.

[Riviman]

Saw him last night in the U23s, two superb goals and two typical poacher goals being in the right area at the right time. Yes he is small but he's a natural goalscorer and must be worth a place on the bench on Saturday. He would bring something entirely different and his speed and skill frightens defenders. The "crowd" last night were certainly remarking to Phil P that Alex was worth a shout and Parky did have a big smile on his face!!

[boltonboris]

Alex Samizadeh gotta be worth a look now surely?

I saw his brief cameo at Brentford towards the end of last season; looked a mile off there, although there were extenuating circumstances. He might do better in this league and in a winning (or, rather, not losing) side. But, he's tiny: at least 12 inches short of Parky's minimum height requirement.

He got about 10 minutes didn't he?

He'll get absolutely nothing out of that. we need to see this lad for 30/45 mins to see what he can do