Probably seeing the boys they skud at youth level all over the world getting a chance.Not necessarily NYC, but too many ego's thinking they should be in the first team squad?
Some amount of well wishers happy to see a decent prospect go, someone find a Billy Gilmour thread to compare and contrast
I'm pissed off tbh always will be when we lose decent prospects for feck all before they kick a ball for us.
We have a number of youths who have contract extensions on the table and aren't signing them.
Somethings going on.
We will be, I'm sure Rudden and Dallas have those clauses so likely most of our academy players will. The academy isn’t run by mugs anymore and is finally getting to the functional level it should have been prior to Sinclair.We surely have to be insisting on a minimum 10-15% sell-on clause for any player being sold to a team down south, especially English youngsters.
Would be crazy not to with the amounts they tend to go for after even one or two decent-good seasons down there.
Little done alright, poor standard etc. Mckay if we count him was alright also. Aside from that I can’t think, many leave and have good careers alas McLean and Mcswegan.
We will be getting a fee.
I'd be insulted if someone tried to tell me the likes of Dapo Mebude don't have the tools to contribute to the first team.Agents promising them the world elsewhere no doubt.
Some of youths want instant success now instead of realising they aren't yet at 1st team level of ability and clearly attitude too at times.
Nathan and Lewis Mayo signed new deals and are probably the 2 out of our current crop most likely to have the tools to make our 1st team.
Others may think they're ready, but they're not.
Aye we signed him to our academy, still technically our graduate though. A centre forward is the hardest position for us to bring through IMO by some distance.Think McKay was Killie youth product mate?
Another crop of youths slipping away.
Probably seeing the boys they skud at youth level all over the world getting a chance.
Good shout with Fleck, just before my time.
Miller was a midfielder....Spencer & McSwegan were never really established players.
I'd be insulted if someone tried to tell me the likes of Dapo Mebude don't have the tools to contribute to the first team.
We'll never know if we don't give them a chance. Someone else will.
What if it is about first team opportunities?Reasons behind this one will be interesting.
If it's a simple case of homesickness, then it's understandable. He's a young boy that made a big move.
If it's about pathways or first team opportunities...
Robert Fleck, Charlie Miller?
John Spencer and Gary McSwegan to a lesser extent.
I'm probably missing a more recent standout, but he's escaping me at the moment.
The one obvious stand out is DJ.
Unquestionably our best ever youth product, but that was 1970.
We are not in a uniquely difficult situation here. Every single football team has ambitious goals that they want to meet.What if it is about first team opportunities?
We’re not in a position to just play youngsters because they want to play.
I'd be insulted if someone tried to tell me the likes of Dapo Mebude don't have the tools to contribute to the first team.
We'll never know if we don't give them a chance. Someone else will.
Fleck was ’83 so we’re approaching 40 years without producing a proven goalscorer, terrible.
I think you’re right that some will make of this more than is needed but it’s also wrong to say that a 17yr old isn’t making it with us.He wasn't one of our best prospects.
He was one who did well through the age groups, but his progress was stalling..
Some will no doubt try to make a big deal out of this, but anyone who watches our youths regularly will know NYC wasn't making it with us.
Good luck to him though and hopefully he can still make a career out of the game.
Of course he's going to struggle with the intensity of what was effectively a 2 week preseason camp. It's the first time he's done it and he's competing against fully grown adults.Dapo isn't ready yet.
He went to Dubai in January and struggled with the intensity of a 2 week 1sr team training camp.
He's certainly way closer than NYC though.
We will be, I'm sure Rudden and Dallas have those clauses so likely most of our academy players will. The academy isn’t run by mugs anymore and is finally getting to the functional level it should have been prior to Sinclair.
Trying to think of the most recent mentally challenged one too.
Any since Charlie Nicholas?
We have to win every game and we have to win the league. It is pretty unique.We are not in a uniquely difficult situation here. Every single football team has ambitious goals that they want to meet.
Young players actually enhance your ability to meet those goals, because they contribute to the team at a vastly reduced wage cost, allowing you to invest that money in other parts of the team.
The idea that young players are a liability to our ambitions is a fallacy, and I'd be extremely concerned if our management team believed in that.
I think you’re right that some will make of this more than is needed but it’s also wrong to say that a 17yr old isn’t making it with us.
Players at that age develop at different rates....some can develop quickly then drop off.....then come good again all of a sudden. It’s the consistency that is always difficult for the youngsters to maintain and at 17 this young lad had easily 4 yrs ahead of him of development time before we could safely say he was or wasn’t up to the jersey.
I do wonder how much of a fee we will get from West Ham for his potential.
It's really not unique, there are loads of clubs in that position. Every single league has title challengers that are expected to win every game. The vast majority are capable of bringing young players through, because they recognise the value that it brings to a squad. Academies take advantage of market inefficiencies when deployed correctly.We have to win every game and we have to win the league. It is pretty unique.
just because a player is young and wants to play in the first team doesn’t mean the manager should just play them. If the manager thought he was ready to play in the first team and cope with everything that comes with it, including the abuse for making a mistake he’d be playing. They all would be.
Of course he's going to struggle with the intensity of what was effectively a 2 week preseason camp. It's the first time he's done it and he's competing against fully grown adults.
The point is not to expect him to breeze it, and then you know he's ready for the first team. The point is to recognise his potential, and deploy him in matches in a way that hides his weaknesses. Doing so allows him to develop rapidly.
Writing off 18/19 year olds as not ready because they aren't matching the physical performance of 22/23 year olds is daft. Of course they aren't matching that, they shouldn't be expected to. Some will, such as Patterson, but it's no wonder Gerrards youth development record is woeful if that's the test he's setting the youngsters.
Lindsay is a midfielder mateWe might have lost young Coombes but we have signed 2 young strikers recently. The lad from Ross County and the boy lindsay.
Another potential impact factor for this move could be how he felt during lockdown.
Being so young, away from family, being in a publicised vulnerable category group, must have been mentally horrendous for someone so young.
If he does go then good luck, I'd be surprised if he's critical of the club.
Another potential impact factor for this move could be how he felt during lockdown.
Being so young, away from family, being in a publicised vulnerable category group, must have been mentally horrendous for someone so young.
If he does go then good luck, I'd be surprised if he's critical of the club.
This season is going to be a real litmus test for Gerrards ability to bring through young players. If Patterson doesn't see meaningful game time, then the excuses will have run out for Gerrard.I know all about how young athletes develop mate.
Dapo isn't ready to be a 1st team player yet, but he could well become one.
NYC was never going to be one.
Are these young players going to bring us the league title? Because that's what we're chasing.This season is going to be a real litmus test for Gerrards ability to bring through young players. If Patterson doesn't see meaningful game time, then the excuses will have run out for Gerrard.
It's actually a great move for him.if he had been considering a move back home then a move to West Ham is a decent one. Countless worse London clubs to join at academy level.
Good luck to him if it happens.
If we don't bring through young players, we are setting ourselves up to fail in the medium and long term.Are these young players going to bring us the league title? Because that's what we're chasing.
It's not a case of giving the youngsters a chance for the sake of it - it's a case of Gerrard winning trophies. That's what he's paid to do. That's what he needs to deliver.
If we win the league and not one 'young' player features, personally I won't give a f.uck.