Ghost Rider
Player Valuation: £8m
It would explain why our best talent at that level are either leaving the club first chance they get for better academies (smalls) or why the young players we sign from other clubs tend to waste away until released at a much older age than you would expect. That is if the set up isn't up to scratch.….he’s been in charge of U23s for years, when was the last time we got to the latter stages of the FA Youth Cup at U18 level?
It’s an indicator the club are not recruiting top talent & there might be a number of reasons for this. Unsworth gets the stick because players are rarely coming through from U23s but the basic reason is because they aren’t good enough. It would be a valid excuse if our youth teams are successful in younger age groups.
Just saying none of our young players are good enough isn't really true if none ever have a pathway into the team. Harry kane is a prime example of this, loaned out and not given a chance , not really a player to look out for until he was thrown in at the deep end and was first choice by the end of that season.
Realistically we should be developing one player every 3 years. That is what better academies do. 3 years to determine whether a young lad has what it takes to step up or not. To my memory , I don't think we have ever promoted a player after a loan spell away.