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Why don't we do a Spurs? Even with the most optimistic outlook we are not going to set the world alight in the next two years. Why don't we pick up as many of the England youth & U21 players (like spurz have done with Etherington, Davies etc.)plus develop our own kids. We don't spending a penny on new players for a couple of seasons, let the current team play out a couple of mid-table seasons, take all the TV & gate money, perhaps play constant exhibitions games in Asia, US & oz drumming up a fan base overseas (more money) & then & only then buy a couple of real class players with the oodles of spare cash we have & win the title?

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2000

Answers

err easy? This idea would work in a non relegation competition... Agree with the underlying point though.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2000

Interesting idea Dave. Only flaw in the theory though is that Norf Lahndahn's 'other' club ain't gonna win the title - Not now. Not ever. At least in the forseeable.

Noble sentiments though about hoovering up talented bairns and playing the numbers game. Seems to be paying dividends for Heath and Leedsleedsleeds doesn't it ?

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2000


Yeah nice theory. One I mulled over for about 5 seconds. Then forgot. There are many problems with this idea.

As one of the others stated this is a relegation competition, we don't have the luxury of building a nucleus while being sh!t. We'd go down for sure.

It's harder to pick up the really good young kids from lower division clubs as they are spotted really early, 15 or 16, and targetted by the big 5 clubs. Look at Jermaine Pennant and Cherno Samba as examples. Also it's harder to get these kids as their managers have a fair degree of control over where they go. Dalgliesh tried for 6 months to buy Etherington when he was 16. Barry Fry was offered way more than what Etherington eventually was sold for, but told Dalgliesh that the kid would go when he (Fry) thought the kid was ready. Samba's manager has said the same thing.

Another problem is nabbing the late developers, kids who aren't identified by the scouts, but all of a sudden appear on the footballing landscape as great talents. Kids like Gareth Barry and David Prutton. Prutton appeared out of no-where last season for Nottingham Forest and now has a lot of clubs interested. We were in for him, but the lad himself said he'd move when he felt ready and where he thought he'd got regular games for the first team. I reckon he'll go at the end of this season, possibly to 'pool or Tottenham.

Speaking of Tottenham. They picked up all the best talent last season, and others on here can tell you I was guttered when they did. The best kids that were left in the lower divisions were 20 to 22 year old kids on the fringe of the england U.21 squad. Players like Hayden Mullins & Clinton Morrison at Crystal Palace; Lee Naylor at Wolves; Paul Powell at Oxford; and Lomano Tresor Lua Lua (french - LW) at Colchester. All of these kids have one or more knocks against their game, either as not fast enough, to small or slight of build, or some just aren't sure of their game. Now we waite to see which kids appear this season. I have already named two on here before, both strikers; Rory Fallon 18 at Barnsley, and Marvin Browne 17 at Bristol City.

I think it is imperative that NUFC does sign good young British kids. But the gamble is do you sign a heap at lowish prices like Dalgliesh did and hope one or two work out (only Griffin has, while Coppinger really remains as the one kid who might if given the chance) or sign them once they have somewhat established themselves like Dyer and Cort and pay really high fees.

Oh and Simon Davies is Welsh.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2000


You promised not to mention those 2 names again.

Now go and stand in that corner, by yourself!

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2000


Buying up-and-coming young talent or established stars can only be useful adjuncts to your main strategy. This MUST be to develop 75% of your own players - it is the only thing that makes commercial/business sense.
However, based on recent happenings in Europe, business sense in football seems to have gone out of the window.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2000


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