Does anyone else think that we're terrible at grooming youngsters? We seem to develop them to a point and then sell them. We seem unable to take them to the next level. We're great at producing first division players like Elliot, Robinson, Clark, Thompson, Baherall etc. I don't really have much faith in the Caldwells coming good. Not because they can't - because WE can't. No doubt they'll get a few games under their belt and we'll sell to the first bidder. Bet we'd sell Hughes for a few million just to replace him with a player of similar ability and bad attitude.


-- Anonymous, May 07, 2001

Answers

Nick remember we told you to put a second answer on your threads to get them to the answers page!

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001

AP.

Doh!

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001

Hughes is probably the only one in recent times who has established himself in the side and he looks like reverting back to a utility player.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001

Nick, I couldn't agree more. The succession of the juniors to the reserves to the first team has been atrociously managed. We shouldn't be in this position. We were promised a European standard youth policy about ten years ago. I agree that there's every possibility that the Caldwells' greatness will never come to life at SJP. I also agree that the club would flog Aaron at the drop of a hat - player who shows real promise, loves the club and has stated that he'd sign a contract to stay here til he retired. Why would the club want to hold onto him when they could buy a Charvet?

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001

Is the problem not more due to poor scouting than failing to develop properly the players we do attract? I think we have made a reasonable job with the raw material available. The problem is that either:

• We are failing to identify the best youngsters ie Carrick, Owen, Gerrard, Cole, Brown
• We do spot the talented youngsters but aren't an attractive destinations compared to the like of W.Ham, Liverpool etc

Since being sold Elliot, Robinson and Clark haven't moved beyond being Nationwide players. Robinson can't even get into the Wimbeldon team at present. Thompson has done better but failed to make a signifigant impact in the Premiership and was then sold to Celtic. They weren't good enough to get into our side at the time of sale and their performance since then appears to vindicate the decision to sell.

The key in my opinion is to improve our scouting network and identify the reasons why talented youngsters won't join the club ( if this is happening ) and put in place measures to stop it happening in future.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001

Every youngster we sign, and we've signed two in the recent weeks, have 'always been chased by a host of Premiership clubs'.

It could be said that we are not developing them into Premiership players, only Nationwide players.

The way in which Ameobi and Caldwell have come into the side and achieved International U21 status is a good advert for the club in that youth will get it's chance if good enough.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001