The only way

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There's much on here, and elsewhere about the need to build a solid youth side, bring it through and win things as they are all pals together etc. This now seems to be a truism, the only way to succeed. Is it ?

Man U have brought thro a good set of young players, against a background of huge investment in key players Barthez, Stam, Pallister, Ince, Keane, Yorke. (To which Van Nistelrooy would have also been added).

Revie's Leeds was a team of younguns carried through from 15 year old to 35 at the club.

Name the other examples that show that youth is the only way. And if youth is the only way what do we do with all the late 20s players who must be no good. In fact the late 20s generation must be appalllingly bad as this is where the cheap foriegners have taken over

Discuss

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Answers

It's demonstrably not the only way - look at Blackburn and look at how fantastically well teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are faring in comparison to Man Uniteds, Leeds, Ipswich, Charlton and West Ham pound for pound. As I've said elsewhere, the reason we are in the psoition we are in is because we used the money we had a few years ago like pennies from heaven and used almost none of it for investment in the future. We are reaping what we sowed. Of course a spine of youth team graduates can be supplemented by bought-in star dust. Of course, should anyone doubt the value of a good youth policy, I suggest they look at the Man United third team playing the Makems' first team off the park.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000

Spending money on bringing in players and developing a critical mass of players via a youth system are not mutually exclusive, and I for one am not promoting the way forward as being to only concentrate on the youth. But I do see it as the priority. We'll still need to spend money, both on young players of potential from outside, and on experienced and expensive 'ready made' players. And the existing, experienced players are all vital in the deveopment and transition process. As Dougal implies, buying a squad outright is obviously a tried and to an extent tested method, but IMO doesn't lead to any long term stability or success. Similarly shoving a load of youngsters too early and too fast into the limelight won't achieve anything either - ideally they need a solid, successful team to assimilate into and carry them through the initial learning curve.

And I'm not implying that youth is better than the 21+ age group, in fact I would say the reverse. It's a question of how you develop a team in it's prime - ie a core of players probably 21-26 age group. By getting out the wallet and buying them, hoping your skills as a manager will meld them into a great team over a matter of a few years max., or develop the talented cream of a youth squad, who will have been bonding for years already as a team and suplemement them as needs be.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


I don't think anyone is advocating a drastic team change of bringing in a whole team of youth players to see out the season.

I said in another thread I would rather the youth team play on Saturday than the bunch on duty yesterday but that's frustration talking(I think).

However, I would like to see us playing the youngsters gradually by giving them a game or two once a month. We aren't doing that at the moment. Other than Caldwell, the others made ONE appearance each.

It's time to call on the players coming thru the ranks to play their part which will of course be a learning process but one which will be beneficial to both club and player. Some have said that one bad experience at the top level might ruin a promising future. I kinda disagree with that. And honestly, if that player loses all his confidence in just one outing, then mentally he doesn't have what it takes to make it to the top.

With the injuries we have had and the bad performances by certain players, I just feel it's time to give the youth more of a chance to prove themselves instead of dropping everthing and running to see if our piggy bank can buy us some candy.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


I think your general argument has validity Gene; however, where it falls down is that we simply don't have a conveyor-belt of top-class talent in waiting for the first team.

From my limited attendances at Reserve fixtures, I can only think of Gavilan, Caldwell and Amoebi that could realistically be considered for the first team - and I understand even Amoebi hasn't been doing it recently. In addition, the Reserve team results this season have been nothing short of disastrous.

I'm not sure how ready new imports like Bernard and Bonvin are for first team action.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2000


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