07 Sep 2025 07:42:12
Anyone think that we have youth that can step up this season? Rather than grasping at free agents? There is Harry of course but also Connor Douglas who could compliment offence.
07 Sep 2025 09:27:52
Always hopeful Vid, we have some potential but in reality that’s statistically unlikely given the significance of the jump to epl level.
Realistically, I believe the only two capable of bridging the gap to matchday squad at this time, are Gray and Cresswell, but I believe both have greater potential than their respective brothers.
And so lots to be excited about going forwards, but it’s asking a lot just now and shines a light that says recruitment isn’t where it should have been.
07 Sep 2025 11:23:30
All are youth players are gone! We develop them for other Clubs to benefit. How many of our first team players came through our Academy? I'll answer for you, ZERO! Archie Gray was our next Leeds Icon and we sold him.
07 Sep 2025 13:33:30
To be honest BT who does play academy players?
I would guess statistically it might be Citeh and Chelsea, but they both skew the figures, as these aren’t home grown locals, or even British lads, but the most expensive crop of the brightest talent in world football, bought for ridiculous sums at a very young age.
Liverpool spring to mind for regular examples of true academy players coming through TAA, Bradley etc but I don’t believe it’s common in the epl, but that’s more personal perception on my part.
07 Sep 2025 15:54:12
Class we didn't play them in the championship. My point is that the academy is no longer for players to develop for the first team its for profit. I don't care what other clubs do, the Big money clubs can afford not to play them cause they pay for success. We obviously don't have the money to compete, so the Academy is the way we have to go to have a chance. Charlie Cresswell is a good example!
07 Sep 2025 17:12:15
The academy may not be a source of young players that can go on into the first team, maybe it never was, but it can be a valuable income stream to develop them and then sell them for a good price to other teams. Chelsea have been doing it for years, hoovering up promising kids, developing them and then selling them on at a good price. Google former Chelsea academy players and look at the list of familiar names there.
07 Sep 2025 19:50:34
JR, we are not using that money on quality players which defeats the purpose of selling them. Hence, that's why we are where we are.
07 Sep 2025 21:37:37
Sadly true, an opportunity missed.