Academy

[blades58]

Brilliant init!

Shame what happens after we get them through the academy like, but still

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/report-sheffield-united-best-outside-premier-league-in-producing-top-flight-talent-1-8659410

[sharrowboy2]

Where's ours? I thought we spent millions on the academy over the last ten years.

[BlockD]

Brilliant init!

Shame what happens after we get them through the academy like, but still

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/report-sheffield-united-best-outside-premier-league-in-producing-top-flight-talent-1-8659410

It is a very productive Academy,one parents around the country are happy to send their kids to,it also has permanent buildings

[rodcurrie]

It is a very productive Academy,one parents around the country are happy to send their kids to,it also has permanent buildingsDid ya go to Matlock Blockers? Tufty weren't there was he? Just shows what happens when the boss aint there,Owd jake loses his unbeaten record.UTCB

[BlockD]

Did ya go to Matlock Blockers? Tufty weren't there was he? Just shows what happens when the boss aint there,Owd jake loses his unbeaten record.UTCB

Yes i did,very insipid display,but credit Matlocks goalie,he pulled off a couple of very good saves when it was 0-0 and United were on top,good to see Duffy playing,he is just brilliant at finding space even when surrounded by defenders,young David had a very so so night

Jake Wright Junior man of the 1st half,must have got a knock because he didnt reappear after the break

[rodcurrie]

Yes i did,very insipid display,but credit Matlocks goalie,he pulled off a couple of very good saves when it was 0-0 and United were on top,good to see Duffy playing,he is just brilliant at finding space even when surrounded by defenders,young David had a very so so night

Jake Wright Junior man of the 1st half,must have got a knock because he didnt reappear after the breakPhil Barnes is the Matlock keeper,dinyt ya recognise him? His brother used to play cricket for Treeton and his Mum&Dad are luvly folk.UTCB

[BlockD]

Phil Barnes is the Matlock keeper,dinyt ya recognise him? His brother used to play cricket for Treeton and his Mum&Dad are luvly folk.UTCB

I thought he looked familiar

[Mansfield_Blade]

SSN has just covered the story, but only showed the top 7! It must be very embarrassing that someone outside the Premier League who isn't even a Cat 1 academy is at Number 8

[JosteinTime]

Brilliant init!

Shame what happens after we get them through the academy like, but still

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/report-sheffield-united-best-outside-premier-league-in-producing-top-flight-talent-1-8659410

It's crazy that we've come above Chelsea, the amount they throw at young players.

[Currieisgod]

It seems to me that the likes of Chelsea just churn out academy players at a loss as many of them end up plying their trade in the lower leagues and the fact that they are or were on Chelsea's books keeps their value higher.

It can be looked at in different ways, either we are still a selling club who will always sell our best players (Currie, Hamson, Deane and the like) or do we look at it like we have a productive academy and benefit from sell ons over the medium to longer term.

The only stumbling block to the latter would be if (or when) we actually get into the Premier League, then we would actually need to keep the type of players we are currently always looking to sell and profit from,

[Carpe_diem]

Whether we actually benefit or not remains to be seen. If the add-ons we get allow us to be more competitive, then yes. If they just go to servicing debt or replacing talent with lesser players, then I'd argue no.

[CHIPBUTTYBLADE]

We are just a puppy farm.

[GrayBlade]

We are just a puppy farm.

Good pedigree though.

5517

[Carpe_diem]

Good pedigree though.

5517

Very much so, but whom does that benefit? It's good for the premier league teams, and brings us in a few quid, but is it actually worth the bother?

Unless our academy is working for us, I would argue no. It's not incumbent on us to service the needs of the Premier League and their desire for British players.

[GrayBlade]

Very much so, but whom does that benefit? It's good for the premier league teams, and brings us in a few quid, but is it actually worth the bother?

Unless our academy is working for us, I would argue no. It's not incumbent on us to service the needs of the Premier League and their desire for British players.

We should try to emulate Southampton C_D. A similar club with a great academy, but they seem to use it as a cornerstone for the first team, if not directly by having their own good young players in the squad, then indirectecty by financing quality signings from their sales.

Some would argue that they've also got more financial clout and this enables them to be more bullish with the academy, but if that's the case we should explore every avenue to get similar backing. There can't be many more attactive UK propositions than United right now when the local and world media has been waxing lyrical about our, performances, ground, academy and most of all support.