We've always had the top PL clubs cherry picking the best of the younger lads but at least we actually tried to convince them to stay and the pathway to first team football was there. By the end of the Short era we just accepted that they'd go and stopped before Donald et al actively started hawking them out. Looks like we're on the right track again though.
I totally get that mate but there are never any guarantees he'll develop on. My point was a different one and it was about the cynical exploitation of the the 'big' clubs. They probably spend millions every year on youngsters some of whom don't develop on. Liverpool took 3 of ours and 3 from Newcastle. It will be interesting to look in 3 years time to see if any of them play first team. For the big clubs it's a mass harvest spending for them little money on low risk gambles. Then they moan they need more income. I'm sure you are correct that Rigg is different class but for some of the lads who have left and will leave it may not be the best decision.
If you had a son/relative in that situation, would you advise on leaving?
Again, I get that but football is like any walk of life. When a lad has been here 10 years or 5 years the club knows them and knows their development trajectory. When they go to a new, massive club competing with international youth purchases it can potentially be deterimental. Michael Wood who was poached by Chelsea from Leeds all those years ago is a good example. Admittedly he had injuries but his career was effectively York and Hartlepool. I am sure he must wonder what his career would have been had he stayed at Chelsea. For any footballer the key period for development must be between about 15 and maybe 19 or 20. If you don't develop as you should or could then your career will be affected accordingly. All I am saying is leaving for some will be the right but for some staying at a place which has looked after you for years and knows you inside and out could be a better option. Anyway, us being Championship now changes the outlook considerably.
I'd hazard a guess that Patrick Roberts regets leaving Fulham for Man City. Yes he may have made money but football wise his career never took off the way it should have.
If you had a son at the club you would judge how the club treated him, how happy the son was etc. If he was happy then why not look at Anthony Patterson and say look at that as a future. I know a bloke who's son was in the Sunderland Development Squad at age 14 or 15. This is 24 players below the Elite squad of 24. Obviously the chances of making a career were tiny and both the lad and the Dad were aware of this but enjoyed the experience for what it was. He said it was amazing how many parents thought their son was going to make riches despite only being in the Development Squad. I would guess that the ambitions of the parents will lead to wrong decisions. Again, like in any walk of life as a parent you need to be measured and the key measure is whether your kids are happy where they are.
Gardiner is a good example as I believe, although I may be wrong, he rejected the chance to join Academy football and only joined Sheilds as a 16 year old then Sunderland from there.
My question was aimed at the point of the football pyramid and money driven for the potential of a short career.
Again, despite us think football is different to real life I think there are parallels. Two of my kids have left university and have started jobs. Both could get more money elsewhere but both are happy where they're at and my view is don't chase the money. I get that the money in football is mind boggling. However, Hugill has gone to MAn U on great money for an 18 year old. That money though won't change his life. It will only change his life if he's getting top money in a few years time.
So all young players should just look for as much money as possible at the detriment of the footballing career
If money is the only motivation for moving then it's the wrong decision
