- May 26, 2004
- 4,797
- 2,139
I was very disappointed to see Gunter sold. A young, welsh international, who showed potential (at least to me) when he played, yet off he goes back to the championship. It begs the question – why bother with youth players?
When was the last time a player came through our academy and became a first team regular? Ledley King. Before that? Ian Walker? In the last five years, how many players have come through our youth academy and made a premiership appearance? How ever many you name, it is not comparable to other teams with a youth academy as heavily invested as ours.
Even players that we have brought in, like Gunter, Huddlestone, O’Hara, Bale, Taarabt have struggled to really break into the first team. Lennon is the only exception left at the club, but even he was at the expense of Wayne Routledge’s Spurs career. Young players will only improve with competitive first team football. I can see why Harry has cancelled participation in the reserve league, but we need to change the mentality of our club and our fans if we are ever going to bring through the numerous talented youngsters we buy and develop.
Gunter is a prime example. Hutton is first choice, but has a long time injury. Corluka is brought in; he is very tall, good on the ball and can cover several positions. I can see the value in his purchase. But why the hell are we bringing back Chimbonda? His signing shuts Gunter out from any first team football and his development is hampered. Unless we sell Chimbonda as well as Gunter, and maybe even another right back, what is the point in signing two more young right backs??? This is not even considering the effect it will have on the chances of someone like Adam Smith.
It is not just the right back position. It is hard to keep three established strikers happy, never mind four, so how is an Obika or Mason going to see any games at all? We brought in Bostock and Parratt for several million each, but they struggle to make the bench, and unless we have a few windows of selling more than we buy, its not going to change. They will be sold off, their potential unfulfilled, and we will spend a fortune on a player who cost £2 million 12 months ago.
We campaigned strongly for seven substitutes for league matches because we said we wanted to pick a youngster or two to bring on when the opportunities were available. I can count on one hand the number of times one of these youngsters has been picked on the bench. Selling Zokora was a good move, it moved Huddlestone a step nearer regular football and removes one obstacle for the kids. It also reduces our wage bill and makes money available to strengthen weak areas of the club, but we need to stop buying players that simply clog up the squad, providing cover if 5 or 6 players get injured.
Where is the value in bringing on a Bentley or a Pavlyuchenko or a Hutton for ten minutes at the end of a game you are winning 3-0?
The transfer window certainly doesn’t help. What if? scenarios can cause panic and lead to managers going for another experienced head instead of maybe giving a younger player a couple of games. Harry has sent more players out on loan in the last ten months than anyone else at the club over the last decade combined, but even still more can be done. Everton have led the way in this regard, even if their hand has been forced to a certain extent by injuries.
With Man City splashing the cash, Everton slowly improving and Aston Villa looking strong, it will be harder than ever to qualify for Europe, never mind break the top 4. It could be time to take a step back and take a longer term view.
Maybe we shouldn’t look to buy ‘teenage prodigies’. Our record over the years shows we really struggle to take players with big potential and turn it into ability. Unless we change our strategy, and also have some faith, we will have to spend big money on ready made players for seasons to come.
When was the last time a player came through our academy and became a first team regular? Ledley King. Before that? Ian Walker? In the last five years, how many players have come through our youth academy and made a premiership appearance? How ever many you name, it is not comparable to other teams with a youth academy as heavily invested as ours.
Even players that we have brought in, like Gunter, Huddlestone, O’Hara, Bale, Taarabt have struggled to really break into the first team. Lennon is the only exception left at the club, but even he was at the expense of Wayne Routledge’s Spurs career. Young players will only improve with competitive first team football. I can see why Harry has cancelled participation in the reserve league, but we need to change the mentality of our club and our fans if we are ever going to bring through the numerous talented youngsters we buy and develop.
Gunter is a prime example. Hutton is first choice, but has a long time injury. Corluka is brought in; he is very tall, good on the ball and can cover several positions. I can see the value in his purchase. But why the hell are we bringing back Chimbonda? His signing shuts Gunter out from any first team football and his development is hampered. Unless we sell Chimbonda as well as Gunter, and maybe even another right back, what is the point in signing two more young right backs??? This is not even considering the effect it will have on the chances of someone like Adam Smith.
It is not just the right back position. It is hard to keep three established strikers happy, never mind four, so how is an Obika or Mason going to see any games at all? We brought in Bostock and Parratt for several million each, but they struggle to make the bench, and unless we have a few windows of selling more than we buy, its not going to change. They will be sold off, their potential unfulfilled, and we will spend a fortune on a player who cost £2 million 12 months ago.
We campaigned strongly for seven substitutes for league matches because we said we wanted to pick a youngster or two to bring on when the opportunities were available. I can count on one hand the number of times one of these youngsters has been picked on the bench. Selling Zokora was a good move, it moved Huddlestone a step nearer regular football and removes one obstacle for the kids. It also reduces our wage bill and makes money available to strengthen weak areas of the club, but we need to stop buying players that simply clog up the squad, providing cover if 5 or 6 players get injured.
Where is the value in bringing on a Bentley or a Pavlyuchenko or a Hutton for ten minutes at the end of a game you are winning 3-0?
The transfer window certainly doesn’t help. What if? scenarios can cause panic and lead to managers going for another experienced head instead of maybe giving a younger player a couple of games. Harry has sent more players out on loan in the last ten months than anyone else at the club over the last decade combined, but even still more can be done. Everton have led the way in this regard, even if their hand has been forced to a certain extent by injuries.
With Man City splashing the cash, Everton slowly improving and Aston Villa looking strong, it will be harder than ever to qualify for Europe, never mind break the top 4. It could be time to take a step back and take a longer term view.
Maybe we shouldn’t look to buy ‘teenage prodigies’. Our record over the years shows we really struggle to take players with big potential and turn it into ability. Unless we change our strategy, and also have some faith, we will have to spend big money on ready made players for seasons to come.