2024/25 Harrison Armstrong


Lanolin said:
We do seem to have quite a weird fanbase in that regard, who make up all sorts of mad scenarios where a player who spends virtually their entire career in League One would actually have been better than Messi if the manager had put him in the first team when he was 17.
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I’m not actually sure of the evidence for academies being that significant.

It almost seems as though their purpose is just to ensure that already existing top talent is identified and isn’t blocked from coming through, but I don’t see them suddenly increasing the number of kids you get who can be top quality players.

Look at when the top clubs with the best academies. Barcelona have their choice of virtually any Spanish speaking player who doesn’t love Real Madrid yet they had a wonder crop with Xavi Iniesta Messi (who they bought) Busquets, then they had to wait about 15 years before another wave of Gavi Pedro etc. In between we had the likes of Bojan Deulofeu etc. it’s hardly a continuous production line.

Who have United had through since the class of 92? The odd one here or there. City have had Foden and Palmer. Liverpool have had Alexander Arnold as the only player of note since Gerrard. Spurs had Harry Kane, anything before or since? Who was the last academy player out of Real Madrid to nail down a place in the team?

Rooney came through pre finch farm on frozen pitches at Bellefield.

I’m sure academies can improve young players but I firmly believe it’s random distribution where this talent is in the world and Everton have done pretty well to have Rooney Osman Baines Jagielka (although both dropped out before coming back) Rodwell Barkley Gordon out their system recently whilst also scouting Coleman Stones Branthwaite and Calvert Lewin at pre-first team age.

Of course we can improve pathways and identification but this idea we’re blocking talent or not playing them is not for me. A lot of girls we have kids who are nowhere near being ready on the bench out of necessity and they’re either never getting on the pitch or won’t be in the team for long if they do. They nearly all end up in lower leagues.
 
davek said:
The squad is threadbare...and in any case, before the summer - if we're safe - wouldn't;t you like the option of putting Armstrong in for a few games and see what he could do? Might save a few quid in the summer transfer window if he had.

But Moyes is completely against players from the academy getting their chance. Rooney was a very exceptional talent and that saved him from going out to the lower divisions.

I mean, sending Barkely to the Championship...
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Just for the record why didn't Dyche play Jake O'Brien Dave and Moyes throw him right in, I sense a bit of double standards here..
 

Saint Domingo said:
I’m not actually sure of the evidence for academies being that significant.

It almost seems as though their purpose is just to ensure that already existing top talent is identified and isn’t blocked from coming through, but I don’t see them suddenly increasing the number of kids you get who can be top quality players.

Look at when the top clubs with the best academies. Barcelona have their choice of virtually any Spanish speaking player who doesn’t love Real Madrid yet they had a wonder crop with Xavi Iniesta Messi (who they bought) Busquets, then they had to wait about 15 years before another wave of Gavi Pedro etc. In between we had the likes of Bojan Deulofeu etc. it’s hardly a continuous production line.

Who have United had through since the class of 92? The odd one here or there. City have had Foden and Palmer. Liverpool have had Alexander Arnold as the only player of note since Gerrard. Spurs had Harry Kane, anything before or since? Who was the last academy player out of Real Madrid to nail down a place in the team?

Rooney came through pre finch farm on frozen pitches at Bellefield.

I’m sure academies can improve young players but I firmly believe it’s random distribution where this talent is in the world and Everton have done pretty well to have Rooney Osman Baines Jagielka (although both dropped out before coming back) Rodwell Barkley Gordon out their system recently whilst also scouting Coleman Stones Branthwaite and Calvert Lewin at pre-first team age.

Of course we can improve pathways and identification but this idea we’re blocking talent or not playing them is not for me. A lot of girls we have kids who are nowhere near being ready on the bench out of necessity and they’re either never getting on the pitch or won’t be in the team for long if they do. They nearly all end up in lower leagues.
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You're completely correct. Bringing players through is essentially a bit of a lottery. I don't think many premier clubs have out performed us in that area since Rooney. We've developed Rooney, Vaughan (who could have been a good premier league striker but for injuries), Anichebe (who was limited but useful for a period), Rodwell (could have had a great career but had the wrong mentality - still made a big profit on him), Barkley (a generational talent), Gordon (a champions league quality player). We also signed Stones, DCL and Branthwaite. That's a pretty strong record.
 

Kevsleftpeg said:
You're completely correct. Bringing players through is essentially a bit of a lottery. I don't think many premier clubs have out performed us in that area since Rooney. We've developed Rooney, Vaughan (who could have been a good premier league striker but for injuries), Anichebe (who was limited but useful for a period), Rodwell (could have had a great career but had the wrong mentality - still made a big profit on him), Barkley (a generational talent), Gordon (a champions league quality player). We also signed Stones, DCL and Branthwaite. That's a pretty strong record.
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Also Leon Osman?
 

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