The Mail Bag
Moses Barnett & fellow youngsters
Comments (45)
I would like to know why many youngsters are released from Everton (for free) and little or no fee is ever recouped for all the hard work?
Furthermore I don't know why former England youth player Moses Barnett is about to leave our club for little or no money whilst Man U, Liverpool etc seem to sell youth players for quite handsome fees.
I used to attend youth games in the past. I was fortunate enough to see a young Rooney ply his trade. I have no idea what standard this current crop of players is like but I find it hard to believe that a former England youth player can't generate some sort of fee.
Does anyone go to these games? Are our youth players really that bad that we can't charge a single penny?
I guarantee in the Summer Man U etc will sell a couple of youngsters for handsome fees. Whilst former youth players of ours (Michael Johnson (City), Daniel Fox (Burnley & Scotland) to name but two) will generate further handsome fees for heir current clubs.
Any thoughts fellow Blues?
Henry Jones, Posted 19/04/2010 at 19:11:06
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They are released because they are rubbish and have no chance of making it at Everton.
John Paul Kissock
Scott Spencer
Peter Clarke
Mark Hughes
John Irving
Paul Hopkins
Nick Chadwick
Anthony Gerrard
Steven Schumacher
All these players were tipped as future Everton players but they were all released. Some have gone to solid lower league careers (Schumacher/Clarke) and some have just disappeared from football all together (Kissock). But none of them have ever moved for any money and none of them have ever done anything to suggest they could have ever played for Everton.
The truth is the club should stop writing about these kids as future Everton players because 90% of them have no chance.
John Paul Kissock
Scott Spencer
Peter Clarke
Mark Hughes
John Irving
Paul Hopkins
Nick Chadwick
Anthony Gerrard
Steven Schumacher
All these players were tipped as future Everton players but they were all released. Some have gone to solid lower league careers (Schumacher/Clarke) and some have just disappeared from football all together (Kissock). But none of them have ever moved for any money and none of them have ever done anything to suggest they could have ever played for Everton.
The truth is the club should stop writing about these kids as future Everton players because 90% of them have no chance.
There's got to be some sort of trade off if Everton don't view some of these kids as being good enough, because it's tough to sell something that you don't rate.
The irony therefore is that the only way of recouping some of the investment on these lads is by offering them a short term contract and trying to flog them for a fee, which kind of defeats the purpose.
The irony therefore is that the only way of recouping some of the investment on these lads is by offering them a short term contract and trying to flog them for a fee, which kind of defeats the purpose.
They're probably not good enough. Mind you, if our academy was as good as Clairefontaine maybe so.
Add Vidarsson to that list....
Our academy seems to be pretty poor at developing players.
Our academy seems to be pretty poor at developing players.
I'd have thought the only likely way of recouping any money on the investment made in these young players that don't make it at Goodison Park is to have some kind of sell-on clause, so that we get a slice back if they come good elsewhere.
Actually our Academy has a decent record of developing youngsters. I would guess every club has an Academy which released 90% of its kids. Everton have done well really when you look at it:
Michael Ball - Has career has run out of steam but he did play for England.
Francis Jeffers - A tosser but got a big money move to Arsenal and scored for England.
Richard Dunne - Carved out a great career at Man City and Aston Villa.
Leon Osman - Is it too much to call him an Everton legend? He must be close.
Tony Hibbert - Everton stalwart and a regular over the Moyes reign.
Wayne Rooney - Need I say anymore. Possibly the best player in the world right now.
Jack Rodwell - Big things expected. Already a regular Everton player.
Michael Ball - Has career has run out of steam but he did play for England.
Francis Jeffers - A tosser but got a big money move to Arsenal and scored for England.
Richard Dunne - Carved out a great career at Man City and Aston Villa.
Leon Osman - Is it too much to call him an Everton legend? He must be close.
Tony Hibbert - Everton stalwart and a regular over the Moyes reign.
Wayne Rooney - Need I say anymore. Possibly the best player in the world right now.
Jack Rodwell - Big things expected. Already a regular Everton player.
Not just Everton's academy, where have all the Liverpool players gone since Gerrard and Carragher broke into the team? It's a global industry now and the PL being the "richest" has the choice of kids from all over the world. Many of the youngsters might have broken into the first team before (although it was still only a small percentage) but now they're competing with 16 and 17 year olds from anywhere on the planet.
Didn't Man Utd let Beardsley go as a youngster by the way?
Didn't Man Utd let Beardsley go as a youngster by the way?
First of all, surely the main reason why we don't command a fee for these players is because they're out of contract when we release them!?
And I agree with Dick on this one, Everton really does have a decent record as far as developing youngsters is concerned, and more to the point Henry, mention a PL club with a huge percentage of home grown talent in the side?
It all boils down to a lottery. I have worked with some extremely talented youngsters in my club in Denmark, one crop of players won the Danish Championship for U-12s, as U-14s they won the bronze. A large group looked destined to become top players... the result; not one is currently playing in the best Danish League.
It really is a lottery, and all the big clubs have huge dossiers of players all over the world, most of whom could become the 'next big thing'. But how can you tell at the age of 12, or sooner, because there are so many factors you can't predict.
In my club in Denmark, currently 2nd in the best Danish league, we have a very good youth set-up, and basically we hope that we can introduce one player per season into the first team squad, competition is that hard.
Final, mindbogling fact for you about finding the right talent: Chelsea has a dossier consisting of 80,000 players world wide — talk about finding a needle in a haystack!
I wouldn't consider either Rooney or Rodwell as being developed... Highly talented individuals who were always going to make it.
We buy highly rated youngsters for the academy then end up letting them go... That says more about our academy than Rooney or Rodwell.
We buy highly rated youngsters for the academy then end up letting them go... That says more about our academy than Rooney or Rodwell.
If that is the case, Ciarán, could you name me one academy that does have a good record of developing youngsters? Surely you could make your argument for all players that make it and say, they were all "highly talented individuals who were always going to make it."
"Rooney or Rodwell as being developed... Highly talented individuals who were always going to make it."
Nonsense. No youngster, no matter how talented, is 'always' going to make it. The academy teaches a lot more than football skills — diet, education, discipline for example. In the modern game, all these are important factors in a youngster breaking into the first team.
Nonsense. No youngster, no matter how talented, is 'always' going to make it. The academy teaches a lot more than football skills — diet, education, discipline for example. In the modern game, all these are important factors in a youngster breaking into the first team.
I actually think that our academy is one of the more successful at the moment. I don't see any of the big clubs awash with home grown talent.
United- don't remember anything of significance since the generation of Scholes, Beckham, Giggs etc; the Shite — nothing at all; likewise Chelsea; Arsenal only because they buy in young talent from across the world.
United- don't remember anything of significance since the generation of Scholes, Beckham, Giggs etc; the Shite — nothing at all; likewise Chelsea; Arsenal only because they buy in young talent from across the world.
Henry,
There's lots of players released by Man U, Liverpool etc for nothing. The ones that go for money are the only ones you hear about — because you support Everton, you know and hear more about the youngsters. That's the difference...
Ciaran, I read somewhere that there are more professional footballers in the English football league system who started at Everton's Academy than anywhere else. Not sure if that's still true. I think it speaks volumes about the quality of the academy... not to mention the number of current, established first team players who are in it.
There's lots of players released by Man U, Liverpool etc for nothing. The ones that go for money are the only ones you hear about — because you support Everton, you know and hear more about the youngsters. That's the difference...
Ciaran, I read somewhere that there are more professional footballers in the English football league system who started at Everton's Academy than anywhere else. Not sure if that's still true. I think it speaks volumes about the quality of the academy... not to mention the number of current, established first team players who are in it.
Arsenal are the benchmark for buying youth players and developing them to a high standard. Their scouting system is vast and very impressive. They do actually spend a hell of a lot of money in this area though.
"Nonsense. No youngster, no matter how talented, is 'always' going to make it. The academy teaches a lot more than football skills — diet, education, discipline for example. In the modern game, all these are important factors in a youngster breaking into the first team"
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I beg to differ. Cetain players are simply the result of prodigious talent...others are the result of potential and good coaching.
Our academy has recently seemed unable to develop players with potential...not only with players who have come through the system..but also players who have been purchased for the system.
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I beg to differ. Cetain players are simply the result of prodigious talent...others are the result of potential and good coaching.
Our academy has recently seemed unable to develop players with potential...not only with players who have come through the system..but also players who have been purchased for the system.
I agree with earlier comments as well. Rodwell and Rooney are exceptionally talented beyond their years and were always going to make the grade. A lot of it is down to their impressive physique and strength.
Ciaran — Anichebe, Jeffers, Vaughan, Ball, Dunne, Osman - were these players simply the result of prodigious talent or result of potential and good coaching?
I do agree that our overseas recruitment seems useless but I have no idea how much we spend on this.
I do agree that our overseas recruitment seems useless but I have no idea how much we spend on this.
Do you consider the production of a handful of average players over a 20 year period as some sort of success story Peter?
Hardly the calibre of the West Ham academy is it?
Hardly the calibre of the West Ham academy is it?
I disagree personally. I don't think even prodigious talent alone is a guarantee that a player will make it. I think possession of the right mental attributes is also a factor.
Is that coachable Geoff?
They obviously can't be given attributes they don't already have, but i think they can be taught about the mental approach to the game, how to approach certain obstacles and deal with pressures etc, which could help them develop psychologically.
What about the most expensive player in transfer history? Mr Anelka?
From what I remember he was a sulker and not much of a team player etc. But I don't remember any stories about him misbehaving off the pitch or not making the required sacrifices to make it as a pro.
Not much of a team player? Is that the kind of mental attitude you regard as necessary for a career in football?
Anyway, we're off the beaten track here...It's clear that some people think our academy is great on the basis of producing Dunne, Osman and co..
I think we have a meagre return...especially considering that we've spent money on what were clearly considered very good potential..
He one for you....in the England underage teams..Leon Osman was considered the shinning star..head and shoulders above anyone else..including one Joe Cole...
Did our academy in fact inhibit little Leon's development?
Discuss.
Anyway, we're off the beaten track here...It's clear that some people think our academy is great on the basis of producing Dunne, Osman and co..
I think we have a meagre return...especially considering that we've spent money on what were clearly considered very good potential..
He one for you....in the England underage teams..Leon Osman was considered the shinning star..head and shoulders above anyone else..including one Joe Cole...
Did our academy in fact inhibit little Leon's development?
Discuss.
Ciaran - Don't remember Osman being the darling of youth football and a better prospect than Cole - your recollection is distorted.
I think our production line over last 10 years for home grown players has been very good - Rooney and Rodwell are the outstanding talents. Jeffers was also outstanding and so was Ball. Their careers went downhill after they left us - they were certainly not average players when they left - or does Wenger buy average players for 10m plus and did average left backs used to get bought for £6m 10 years ago ?
I think our production line over last 10 years for home grown players has been very good - Rooney and Rodwell are the outstanding talents. Jeffers was also outstanding and so was Ball. Their careers went downhill after they left us - they were certainly not average players when they left - or does Wenger buy average players for 10m plus and did average left backs used to get bought for £6m 10 years ago ?
Ciaran,
Leon Osman's development was affected by a terrible injury he picked up when he was in Everton's youth team.
Leon Osman's development was affected by a terrible injury he picked up when he was in Everton's youth team.
I also think Dunne is a top class centre half and would be ideal for us but we went for Distin instead.
I think our recruitment away from the British Isles is appalling as per my previous post.
I think our recruitment away from the British Isles is appalling as per my previous post.
Peter,
My recollection is not distorted.
David,
That's a possible mitigation..I'd forgotten about that.
My recollection is not distorted.
David,
That's a possible mitigation..I'd forgotten about that.
By the way Peter..perhaps you'd wanna check your own recollection-o-meter...to suggest that Jeffers and Ball were 'outstanding' - seems to me to be a gross distortion of the facts. For me, they were decent players with potential.
Ciaran,
Joe Cole was thought of as being one of the most procious talents of the past 20 years. I heard of him when he was about 15. Apart from Rooney, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs I don't think any youngster has been built up so much in recent history (or perhaps ever as currently youngsters are far more under the microscope).
Joe Cole was thought of as being one of the most procious talents of the past 20 years. I heard of him when he was about 15. Apart from Rooney, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs I don't think any youngster has been built up so much in recent history (or perhaps ever as currently youngsters are far more under the microscope).
Leon Osman was never talked about on a national level and even in his own age group at Everton in the 1998 FA Youth Cup winning side Francis Jeffers, Phil Jevons and Richard Dunne were all thought of in higher regard and in fact I don't think Michael Ball played because he was already in the first team. To compare with Joe Cole is a little unfair.
Henry,
The point of academies is not to make money from every youngster but to produce enough from the crop that do raise money or make a significant contribution to the first team. Players are released when there contracts are up and clubs don't want to renew them — it would be churlish to suggest that even though we don't want the player we still want a transfer fee for them.
The point of academies is not to make money from every youngster but to produce enough from the crop that do raise money or make a significant contribution to the first team. Players are released when there contracts are up and clubs don't want to renew them — it would be churlish to suggest that even though we don't want the player we still want a transfer fee for them.
Inevitably there are going to be players who are released from any academy that do well in the future and the simplest reason might be that staying at a football club without regular first team opportunities will inhibit their development.
Jeffers should have been outstanding, and as 17 year olds in our relegation threatened first team, both he and Ball could be described as outstanding. As it happens, neither of them turned out that way of the course of their careers. In Michael Ball's case this was mainly due to his being injured that season, but playing with painkilling injections. His knee was never right again, and Walter Smith may have ruined the career of a potential England stalwart, but we'll never know. Jeffers had serious talent, comparable to Owen, and his off the ball movement and footballing/striking intelligence were definitely outstanding at that age, but he seemed to let his ego get ahead of him in a way Owen never did. You can help people develop mental attributes, but ultimately its down to them.
Having said that I'm more in Ciaran's camp than anything else. I think our academy does okay, it produces players, but it could do better. I think the old boy's club and the hiring of loyal ex-pros rather than the brightest coaching minds inhibits almost every club. I remember saying a year or two ago that we should expect more from our academy, simply because its our only hope for a top level future as things stand. Merseyside, along with London's East End and Tyneside are the traditional hotbeds of English player development, and with the RS signing mostly foreign players for their academy and us having a better record of actually playing youngsters we've got a pretty free reign over the talent. With this in mind I think we should expect a little more than we've had, maybe a first team (squad) player per year.
I would mitigate criticism of our academy based on the failure of players like Barnett and Vidarsson simply by pointing out that the development from 14/15-18/19 should not be taken for granted, and that showing potential early on definitely does not mean you will make it later on. There are so many factors that go into it, not all of which are under the clubs control.
PS> Not sure what point this makes but I remember that Dunne looked awful when he played for us, slow, awkward and the turning circle of a super tanker.
Having said that I'm more in Ciaran's camp than anything else. I think our academy does okay, it produces players, but it could do better. I think the old boy's club and the hiring of loyal ex-pros rather than the brightest coaching minds inhibits almost every club. I remember saying a year or two ago that we should expect more from our academy, simply because its our only hope for a top level future as things stand. Merseyside, along with London's East End and Tyneside are the traditional hotbeds of English player development, and with the RS signing mostly foreign players for their academy and us having a better record of actually playing youngsters we've got a pretty free reign over the talent. With this in mind I think we should expect a little more than we've had, maybe a first team (squad) player per year.
I would mitigate criticism of our academy based on the failure of players like Barnett and Vidarsson simply by pointing out that the development from 14/15-18/19 should not be taken for granted, and that showing potential early on definitely does not mean you will make it later on. There are so many factors that go into it, not all of which are under the clubs control.
PS> Not sure what point this makes but I remember that Dunne looked awful when he played for us, slow, awkward and the turning circle of a super tanker.
I can't honestly think of any academy that has done much better, apart from West Ham, who seem to have consistently produced talent.
City? Maybe better, with Richards, Onouha, Wright-Phillips, Johnson before his injury, sturridge. But none as good as Rooney or Rodwell.
Boro? 2 players in Downing and Johnson, the rest got them relegated and finished outside promotion places, I imagine many of these players wouldnt make the cut at Everton.
Liverpool? Anyone since Gerrard?
Man U, developed some good squad players in last 10 years, O'Shea, Fletcher, Richardson, Eagles etc but nothing spectacular or above what we've produced, and thats with the finaces and coaches at one of the Best clubs in the world.
Arsenal...bought everyone, never produced, apart from Wilshire.
Chelsea? Bought everyone.
Spurs? Ruined everyone.
Villa? Agbonlahor, Barry and???
I think people sometimes ask too much, everyone wishes to develop new quality every season for free, but its very very difficult and involves alot of luck. An injury could end it all, a player may simply stop growing or may start drinking//smoking etc and stop trying.
Our squad currently has Osman, Hibbert, Rodwell and Anichebe as first team squad members. Add to tht youngsters bought in with Gosling and Coleman. Along with the maybe players of Wallace (looked good before his injury), Duffy, Baxter.
It is too much to expect you youth to provide you with the star players, if it happens you should look at it as lucky. You should hpe that the acacdemy provides the squad players, happy to make up the numbers, work hard and not demand big wages etc, players happy to be there. This way you can focus all transfer fees on the most important players, this is what man u, and with Anichebe, Gosling etc I see Moyes is trying to do it also.
City? Maybe better, with Richards, Onouha, Wright-Phillips, Johnson before his injury, sturridge. But none as good as Rooney or Rodwell.
Boro? 2 players in Downing and Johnson, the rest got them relegated and finished outside promotion places, I imagine many of these players wouldnt make the cut at Everton.
Liverpool? Anyone since Gerrard?
Man U, developed some good squad players in last 10 years, O'Shea, Fletcher, Richardson, Eagles etc but nothing spectacular or above what we've produced, and thats with the finaces and coaches at one of the Best clubs in the world.
Arsenal...bought everyone, never produced, apart from Wilshire.
Chelsea? Bought everyone.
Spurs? Ruined everyone.
Villa? Agbonlahor, Barry and???
I think people sometimes ask too much, everyone wishes to develop new quality every season for free, but its very very difficult and involves alot of luck. An injury could end it all, a player may simply stop growing or may start drinking//smoking etc and stop trying.
Our squad currently has Osman, Hibbert, Rodwell and Anichebe as first team squad members. Add to tht youngsters bought in with Gosling and Coleman. Along with the maybe players of Wallace (looked good before his injury), Duffy, Baxter.
It is too much to expect you youth to provide you with the star players, if it happens you should look at it as lucky. You should hpe that the acacdemy provides the squad players, happy to make up the numbers, work hard and not demand big wages etc, players happy to be there. This way you can focus all transfer fees on the most important players, this is what man u, and with Anichebe, Gosling etc I see Moyes is trying to do it also.
Also on Richard Dunne, if I remember rightly wasn't he an alcoholic, and that was one of the reasons he left us. He gained weight and when getting off the booze he felt he needed a change in surroundings to aid this effort. It seemed to work so good on him.
Ciarán, Wayne Routledge was thought to have more potential than Wayne Rooney at Youth level but who has done better? So you could argue Rooney was better coached.
By coincidence I have just seen James Wallace jogging up my road with what must have been a training coach. What happend to him, has he been injured?
I also read in the Liverpool Echo that Lucus Jutkiewicz has only one year remaining on his contract and would be happy to stay at Motherwell, I wonder if we will recieve any money for him or if he will have improved enough to break into the Everton squad.
Jose Baxter had a lot of promise and as much potential as Rooney, Owen and Rush, breaking all their youth goal scoring records and was considered to be more highly rated than Rodwell. However, for all his talent, it appears he might not have the right attitude to succeed going by the people he mixes with and the drug allegations in the past.
Hopefully he is still young enough to turn it around but ultimatley I think it depends how much Everton continue to improve which will make it easier or harder for youth prospects to break into the team.
By coincidence I have just seen James Wallace jogging up my road with what must have been a training coach. What happend to him, has he been injured?
I also read in the Liverpool Echo that Lucus Jutkiewicz has only one year remaining on his contract and would be happy to stay at Motherwell, I wonder if we will recieve any money for him or if he will have improved enough to break into the Everton squad.
Jose Baxter had a lot of promise and as much potential as Rooney, Owen and Rush, breaking all their youth goal scoring records and was considered to be more highly rated than Rodwell. However, for all his talent, it appears he might not have the right attitude to succeed going by the people he mixes with and the drug allegations in the past.
Hopefully he is still young enough to turn it around but ultimatley I think it depends how much Everton continue to improve which will make it easier or harder for youth prospects to break into the team.
Ian, I think Wallace had a problem with his hernia and had surgery. This is why he seemed to vanish from the squad for a while, as he was a regular bench warmer last season. I was hoping to see a lot of him this season as he has impressed me more than our other teenagers (apart from Rodders obvioulsly) and seemed to have good potential. Decent passing, could play wide and central, decent if not electric pace...
He has returned to squad recently however; hopefully an injury free pre-season and he'll be making the step up next season.
He has returned to squad recently however; hopefully an injury free pre-season and he'll be making the step up next season.
If we are going back 20 years then dont forget David Unsworth, John Ebbrell, Tony Grant and Gavin McCann. They might not be superstars but were all reliable squad members either at Everton or other cubs, McCann and Unsworth both England internationals.
Plus in about 3-5 years who knows what Bidwell, Barkley, Hope and Duffy might achieve? Personally I think we are on the verge of another crop coming through like 1998.
Plus in about 3-5 years who knows what Bidwell, Barkley, Hope and Duffy might achieve? Personally I think we are on the verge of another crop coming through like 1998.
Routledge? Was thought of more than Rooney?
Not from where I was standing.
Not from where I was standing.
Having been a junior pro and knowing a number of former youth internationals, it means shit. Not one of them, or indeed us, had a career in reality and only one was sold for any money, leaving Man Utd and disappearing from the game within two seasons. Just the way it is...
Sadly, just being associated with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal even Chelsea means even their rubbish youth products receive a fee. Where as most others teams release players at the end of there youth contracts.
Jay Spearing is the latest Echo hyped Reds players who in reality isn't good enough, He'll be sold to a Leicster or somebody like that for a decent fee then drift down the leagues. Like John Welsh (the next Gerrard) did.
Our players just head straight for the lower leagues. The difference is we find nuggets on a more regular basis than our neighbours,
My main complaint about our academy/youth scheme is the physical side of things. I presume our intake of youngsters is as it should be, based upon skill. But we have seen youngsters kept on the books long after it was clear they lacked the physical requirements of the Premier League.
I am sorry if that upsets the purists but, for the benefit of the kids and their parents, that kind of hard decision should be made early in the piece.
I also believe that we should much more often place youngsters out on loan.
How can you decide if they have the physical attributes?
Some players are late developers, you can't really tell the stature of a young person until lthey are 18, also for every Jack Rodwell there is a Jack Wilshire. I know which one will win in a fight, but which one will play for England first?
I agree on the loans though. Players like Jose Baxter I feel need games, would have liked to see him go to Pompey. He would have got games, in a team that actually attempts to pass, would have been free from stress and would have gave him Premier League experience. If not there, I think maybe a move abroad would be good for him, maybe Belgium/Portugal, he could develop the cultured side of his game, while the change in environment could improve his ethic. He has the talent, it's just finding a way to make him realise it.
I would like to see Baxter, Bidwell, Duffy and Wallace go on loan to decent level teams for next season, with the possibility that we can recall them if needed.
Some players are late developers, you can't really tell the stature of a young person until lthey are 18, also for every Jack Rodwell there is a Jack Wilshire. I know which one will win in a fight, but which one will play for England first?
I agree on the loans though. Players like Jose Baxter I feel need games, would have liked to see him go to Pompey. He would have got games, in a team that actually attempts to pass, would have been free from stress and would have gave him Premier League experience. If not there, I think maybe a move abroad would be good for him, maybe Belgium/Portugal, he could develop the cultured side of his game, while the change in environment could improve his ethic. He has the talent, it's just finding a way to make him realise it.
I would like to see Baxter, Bidwell, Duffy and Wallace go on loan to decent level teams for next season, with the possibility that we can recall them if needed.
The harsh reality is the majority of youngsters will fail at the highest level.
Many will filter through the lower leagues and the rest will drop out of football altogether.
While I agree our academy is not the best, it has probably paid for itself with the sales of Rooney and Jeffers alone.
Also Man Utd rarely get any fee's for releasing youngsters, they may well sell a young player who was tried at first team level but who seemed out of his depth - Eagles for example, but this is not releasing a youngster.
It could be said if we sold Vaughan and Anichebe in the summer that we get fee's for releasing youngster's but again this is not the case.
In my eye's every PL club will release approx 10 players each summer who they believe not worth investing time and money into as they are simply not worth a crack in the team.
So I conclude, look through who we have released over the last couple of years and name one player who has bettered himself or one we could have demanded a fee for... I think that number will be zero.
Many will filter through the lower leagues and the rest will drop out of football altogether.
While I agree our academy is not the best, it has probably paid for itself with the sales of Rooney and Jeffers alone.
Also Man Utd rarely get any fee's for releasing youngsters, they may well sell a young player who was tried at first team level but who seemed out of his depth - Eagles for example, but this is not releasing a youngster.
It could be said if we sold Vaughan and Anichebe in the summer that we get fee's for releasing youngster's but again this is not the case.
In my eye's every PL club will release approx 10 players each summer who they believe not worth investing time and money into as they are simply not worth a crack in the team.
So I conclude, look through who we have released over the last couple of years and name one player who has bettered himself or one we could have demanded a fee for... I think that number will be zero.
Christ Dave have you said that before it sounded like my manager when releasing me at 17. I showed him though i now work in an office so there!
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1 Posted 20/04/2010 at 05:02:43
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Lots of players don't make the grade at youth level, then redouble their efforts. We bought Mark Ward from West Ham having released him as a kid. Baines was the same (?)
From memory, and not following the youth set up as closely due to now being expat, most of the youngsters we've released have "found their level". The only one in the PL now is Fox at Burnley — and he won't be in the PL for much longer.
We actually have a pretty good record for youth players — whether they come up from the bottom or brought in from other clubs. We've certainly received plenty of money down the years — not just for Rooney.