Francis Okoronkwo Now Official

[10 Gary Rowells]

He said prestigious

TBF though, different circumstance, he was already getting 1st team involvement, and already 19yo.

Yes, I did think that after posting. I guess the issue is that all careers are precarious and footballers even more so. The vast majority of young lads in academies won't end up having careers as footballers. The lads we have lost are the ones who actually have a decent chance. However, each move is a risk - just look at Will Grigg.

Some of the lads like Hugill look like their move is going to be fantastic. Others simply may not develop. We all know the story of Henderson who at age 15 was almost lost to the game. I would imagine the development that Neil is getting now is tremendous and he is improving before our eyes. Compare that to Broadhead who moved at a young age to Everton - he is 23 and hasn't played much first team football. If he doesn't make it here you'd have to wonder about his prospects for sustaining a career.

The top clubs are hoovering up talent and for some who go there it will make them and some they will fall through the cracks. Mainly, though, its a tragedy for our club.

 

[s1black2000]

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BHH

 

[KStephenson]

Yes, I did think that after posting. I guess the issue is that all careers are precarious and footballers even more so. The vast majority of young lads in academies won't end up having careers as footballers. The lads we have lost are the ones who actually have a decent chance. However, each move is a risk - just look at Will Grigg.

Some of the lads like Hugill look like their move is going to be fantastic. Others simply may not develop. We all know the story of Henderson who at age 15 was almost lost to the game. I would imagine the development that Neil is getting now is tremendous and he is improving before our eyes. Compare that to Broadhead who moved at a young age to Everton - he is 23 and hasn't played much first team football. If he doesn't make it here you'd have to wonder about his prospects for sustaining a career.

The top clubs are hoovering up talent and for some who go there it will make them and some they will fall through the cracks. Mainly, though, its a tragedy for our club.

Think I've said on a previous post.
There’s no harm in moving young, its worth the ‘risk’ given, as we know, most academy kids, at any level, don’t make it.
But it’s the choices you make later that matter most.
Staying at 23s for more than maybe one season (assuming you aren’t close to any 1st team involvement) means you should probably be either looking for a loan or a move.
Both of which is fine. That doesn’t mean it was a failure.

 

[10 Gary Rowells]

Think I've said on a previous post.
There’s no harm in moving young, its worth the ‘risk’ given, as we know, most academy kids, at any level, don’t make it.
But it’s the choices you make later that matter most.
Staying at 23s for more than maybe one season (assuming you aren’t close to any 1st team involvement) means you should probably be either looking for a loan or a move.
Both of which is fine. That doesn’t mean it was a failure.

I love it when local youngsters come through. I grew up watching Rowell, Arnott and Elliott - hence my user name. I remember Sunderland mishandling Bridges when he went to Leeds. There seems to be a mixture of luck, talent and attitude all tied up in who will make it.

The first one I took notice of was Michael Woods who was 'pinched' by Chelsea from Leeds. My mate worked with Michael's father hence my interest. It was big news at the time as Leeds were going mad about poaching. The lad was touted as the next Lampard. His career unfortunately was more Hartlepool and he is now at York. I think injuries played a part of his inability to fulfil his potential but it would need a crystal ball to see whether staying at Leeds at the time would have worked better for him. An interesting counter balance is Danny Rose who left at the same-ish time and has had a brilliant career.

It seems at the moment, and this may in part be due to Brexit, the big clubs (not Everton so much) are, as I said, hoovering up talent (from the likes of Newcastle as well as us) and I wonder if some of that talent will be lost in these big clubs where there are probably 3 potential wonderkids, from all parts of the globe, for each position. Like you say there is risk at every level and with every decision but I doubt find the top clubs attitude is a bit cynical - their risk is minimal.

 

[KStephenson]

I love it when local youngsters come through. I grew up watching Rowell, Arnott and Elliott - hence my user name. I remember Sunderland mishandling Bridges when he went to Leeds. There seems to be a mixture of luck, talent and attitude all tied up in who will make it.

The first one I took notice of was Michael Woods who was 'pinched' by Chelsea from Leeds. My mate worked with Michael's father hence my interest. It was big news at the time as Leeds were going mad about poaching. The lad was touted as the next Lampard. His career unfortunately was more Hartlepool and he is now at York. I think injuries played a part of his inability to fulfil his potential but it would need a crystal ball to see whether staying at Leeds at the time would have worked better for him. An interesting counter balance is Danny Rose who left at the same-ish time and has had a brilliant career.

It seems at the moment, and this may in part be due to Brexit, the big clubs (not Everton so much) are, as I said, hoovering up talent (from the likes of Newcastle as well as us) and I wonder if some of that talent will be lost in these big clubs where there are probably 3 potential wonderkids, from all parts of the globe, for each position. Like you say there is risk at every level and with every decision but I doubt find the top clubs attitude is a bit cynical - their risk is minimal.

Their risk is minimal.
But I don’t think there’s much sentiment at any level.
Footballers, young or old, are only ever part of a business model.

There’s a lot of positives in being at a top PL academy.
You don’t have to make it all the way through to 1st team level to get the benefit from them.

There’s plenty of kids in the big clubs academies who are local, not bought in, I don’t think anyone would expect them to move to a L1 academy at 14 incase they got lost in the system, they’ll just stay, do the best they can & if they’re good enough they’ll find their level in whatever league/club that may be.