(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Unless he's here with a view to joining our youth set-up permanently, I don't grasp what we stand to gain

 

i'd say its pretty clear - you help us, we will help you

 

hopefully they help us with somebody a few stages on from 16

Manure are ruthless. Sign 50 top kids a year whose parents are gullible enough to buy into the idea that their lad will play for ManU, weed a load out by the time they are 16, send the rest out on loan so some other club has to pay their wages, take back the ones that do well and try to sell on those that don't make the grade - often to the club they were on loan at. Bastards.

1 hour ago, Casino said:

 

i'd say its pretty clear - you help us, we will help you

 

hopefully they help us with somebody a few stages on from 16

Well, I think that's a bit shit if so

Places in our Academy teams should be for our own 

51 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Manure are ruthless. Sign 50 top kids a year whose parents are gullible enough to buy into the idea that their lad will play for ManU, weed a load out by the time they are 16, send the rest out on loan so some other club has to pay their wages, take back the ones that do well and try to sell on those that don't make the grade - often to the club they were on loan at. Bastards.

Isn’t that the way a lot of clubs work it? 

45 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Manure are ruthless. Sign 50 top kids a year whose parents are gullible enough to buy into the idea that their lad will play for ManU, weed a load out by the time they are 16, send the rest out on loan so some other club has to pay their wages, take back the ones that do well and try to sell on those that don't make the grade - often to the club they were on loan at. Bastards.

Whilst I agree these top clubs (Chelsea the worst surely) are guilty of stockpiling players who have about a 1% chance of making it, not sure why you've singled out Man U?

And the flipside is, every player that they let go, have "was brought up through the Man U academy" on their CV.  That undoubtedly gets your foot in the door elsewhere initially, you always hear managers referring to it when they justify signing a player.  "We know he's had a good apprenticeship" etc, when reality is its of zero significance.  

1 minute ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Whilst I agree these top clubs (Chelsea the worst surely) are guilty of stockpiling players who have about a 1% chance of making it, not sure why you've singled out Man U?

And the flipside is, every player that they let go, have "was brought up through the Man U academy" on their CV.  That undoubtedly gets your foot in the door elsewhere initially, you always hear managers referring to it when they justify signing a player.  "We know he's had a good apprenticeship" etc, when reality is its of zero significance.  

In this country it started with Ferguson so I always associate the practice with Man U, but you're right - they all do it now. I've played with loads a lads who were on their books over the years and going off what they said I guess I just associate Man U with being ruthless bastards when it comes to youth development.

19 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Whilst I agree these top clubs (Chelsea the worst surely) are guilty of stockpiling players who have about a 1% chance of making it, not sure why you've singled out Man U?

And the flipside is, every player that they let go, have "was brought up through the Man U academy" on their CV.  That undoubtedly gets your foot in the door elsewhere initially, you always hear managers referring to it when they justify signing a player.  "We know he's had a good apprenticeship" etc, when reality is its of zero significance.  

Mate of mine teaches sport in Surrey 

Says Chelsea just mop up everyone who looks decent at an early age

33 minutes ago, royal white said:

Isn’t that the way a lot of clubs work it? 

Aye every other kid round here is at an academy or being scouted by one.

They just flood the market and get as many half decent kids as possible.

Ferguson took it to a new level by raiding kids who were already at other clubs' youth academies. I think that generation were all with other clubs before he tempted them away. I think Beckham was at Spurs youth academy, Butt at Oldham, Giggs at City, Gary Neville at Bury etc.

I know RM and presumably others did it before Ferguson but he was the first in England. I just feel sorry for the families who invariably think their kid is the next Messi and will walk into the senior team but instead they get stuck into a glorified sorting office.

15 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Aye every other kid round here is at an academy or being scouted by one.

They just flood the market and get as many half decent kids as possible.

And they do it internationally these days with worlwide agents. Imagine how easy a sell it is to the impoverished parents of a talented lad in a third world country.

27 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Aye every other kid round here is at an academy or being scouted by one.

They just flood the market and get as many half decent kids as possible.

A lot of the time, they take on kids to fill teams in order to be a vessel for the few who they think have a chance - Cannon Fodder

Michael Calvin wrote a very good book on the subject a few years ago, called No Hunger in Paradise. Worth a read, explored the whole academy machine from different perspectives, parent, coach, club, successful product, failed product etc. One stat that stuck with me was the percentage chance of any of these young kids in an academy actually ending up being a Premier League footballer. Chances of lottery winning sort of ratios

2 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Manure are ... Bastards.

that's enough for me

3 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Ferguson took it to a new level by raiding kids who were already at other clubs' youth academies. ....

I know .... others did it before Ferguson but he was the first in England.

Bolton had Duncan Edwards on their books. Whilst at home ill with flu Matt Busby turned up and basically bribed his parents to join that lot.

He should never have been on that plane !

Don’t know if that particular story is true but, certainly, the family connection was with Bolton. As well as being the younger cousin of Dennis Stevens, Edwards’ uncle was Ray Westwood, who played for Bolton and England, and was one of the Wartime Wanderers. In turn, Westwood’s uncle was David Stokes, who made nearly 400 appearances for the Whites.

So, with those connections, the Wanderers knew all about Duncan Edwards and were poised to sign him, until Matt Busby pinched him!

Off with his head! oh wait....... 🤭

31 minutes ago, TroySwoosh said:

Off with his head! oh wait....... 🤭

Shocked. Shocked I tell you.

21 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Well, I think that's a bit shit if so

Places in our Academy teams should be for our own 

Yep.

Don't see what he get here that is better than what he gets now.

Still, we've got bigger things to worry about currently. 

4 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Yep.

Don't see what he get here that is better than what he gets now.

Still, we've got bigger things to worry about currently. 

It's just a work experience loan. They happen all the time. Young Andy Kellett went to United on one.

It's part of their scholarship where they just gain experience in different surroundings. Different ways of working and meeting new people etc. 

Any idea how many reading have sold?

9 minutes ago, Mutley said:

Any idea how many reading have sold?

416

1 hour ago, boltonboris said:

It's just a work experience loan. They happen all the time. Young Andy Kellett went to United on one.

It's part of their scholarship where they just gain experience in different surroundings. Different ways of working and meeting new people etc. 

Kellet went to United at their request, though, to fill a position they were short in

This one involves a youngster from another club playing in our youth teams to get minutes under his belt whilst players signed to our Academy miss out

I can see how he benefits but I can't see how we do

Another embarrassment by BWFC 

Ex DMBs to play for Bolton....

Jason Lydiate

Barry Fry

That Janko lad.

John O'Kane

Quinton Fortune