Academy downgrade

[gazan]

So, some people will be happy that the club has decided to ditch grade 2 for grade 3. With recent financial losses, I suppose this was inevitable but will the 'saving' be worthwhile. I assume the downgrading will also lead to a reduction in staff, which again will probably please some people, but that will probably mean a few redundancy payments which will have to be factored into costings. However, once a club/organisation starts cutting, a pattern seems to set in and things may be cut more and more.
To me the one thing that will slow down the loss making is promotion and I do not see that as likely under the current manager.
However, there have been rumours that investment may be coming in and the academy decision could be a condition of investment. Who knows? I'm only speculating.

[Timmy58]

So, some people will be happy that the club has decided to ditch grade 2 for grade 3. With recent financial losses, I suppose this was inevitable but will the 'saving' be worthwhile. I assume the downgrading will also lead to a reduction in staff, which again will probably please some people, but that will probably mean a few redundancy payments which will have to be factored into costings. However, once a club/organisation starts cutting, a pattern seems to set in and things may be cut more and more.
To me the one thing that will slow down the loss making is promotion and I do not see that as likely under the current manager.
However, there have been rumours that investment may be coming in and the academy decision could be a condition of investment. Who knows? I'm only speculating.

It is a good question. Downgrading the Academy should cut costs but we have to remember that players coming through to the first team save us a considerable amount of money in wages while they establish themselves as part of the first team squad. Players of a similar standard would cost the club much more initially. I think it a little harsh to say this manager can't get us promoted. You may as well say this crop of players won't get us up. Recruitment under Bell's stewardship has been largely very good and aside from some awful luck with injuries we have managed to remain somewhere in the regions of the playoffs. So never say never!

[MikeSB]

It is a good question. Downgrading the Academy should cut costs but we have to remember that players coming through to the first team save us a considerable amount of money in wages while they establish themselves as part of the first team squad. Players of a similar standard would cost the club much more initially. I think it a little harsh to say this manager can't get us promoted. You may as well say this crop of players won't get us up. Recruitment under Bell's stewardship has been largely very good and aside from some awful luck with injuries we have managed to remain somewhere in the regions of the playoffs. So never say never!

What do you mean by ?some people??

I think I was the only Crewe fan that was insistent that the Cat2 level academy was not suitable for our club as 95% of all the other clubs in the lower leagues did not have one at that level even those with a lot more money and fanbase than us..

So what about giving some praise to those who have far more foresight than almost the rest of the fans and including the Board of Directors and Chairman. I have just heard his speech on the downgrade on the official site and they made no sense to me whatever.

This club was never an academy based club and we only went to Cat2 because Dario was on the FA committee on the new system and was essentially all for it despite the costs and employing a load more staff for Cat2?.It seems as though according to the Chairman, club personnel will be spoke to in the next few days were his words. Of course Cat2 was acceptable as we were selling players at around a million pounds and one for 5 million was it? But that sort of transfer income died a long time ago, possibly ten years or more?

Some fans here seem to forget that the academy graduates that made the first team had millions spent on them via the academy Cat2 system and so they were not free or cut price at all. Those millions would have provided plenty of experienced players.

Its the same with managers being appointed for 2 and 3 years when they should be taken on for 6 months contract or 12 months. It will come eventually and save tens of millions in redundancy pay..I?ve been saying this for years as well.

Like having three or four forwards on the pitch and creating loads of goal chances and bigger scores.

Our managers were far too inexperienced to be appointed but possibly was done as the cheaper option?

Any applause for me being dead right on the academy level?

Can someone take over this piss poor site where its almost impossible to log on or make comments and having two or three contributors and thousands of views is disgusting as well.

[Timmy58]

What do you mean by ?some people??

I think I was the only Crewe fan that was insistent that the Cat2 level academy was not suitable for our club as 95% of all the other clubs in the lower leagues did not have one at that level even those with a lot more money and fanbase than us..

So what about giving some praise to those who have far more foresight than almost the rest of the fans and including the Board of Directors and Chairman. I have just heard his speech on the downgrade on the official site and they made no sense to me whatever.

This club was never an academy based club and we only went to Cat2 because Dario was on the FA committee on the new system and was essentially all for it despite the costs and employing a load more staff for Cat2?.It seems as though according to the Chairman, club personnel will be spoke to in the next few days were his words. Of course Cat2 was acceptable as we were selling players at around a million pounds and one for 5 million was it? But that sort of transfer income died a long time ago, possibly ten years or more?

Some fans here seem to forget that the academy graduates that made the first team had millions spent on them via the academy Cat2 system and so they were not free or cut price at all. Those millions would have provided plenty of experienced players.

Its the same with managers being appointed for 2 and 3 years when they should be taken on for 6 months contract or 12 months. It will come eventually and save tens of millions in redundancy pay..I?ve been saying this for years as well.

Like having three or four forwards on the pitch and creating loads of goal chances and bigger scores.

Our managers were far too inexperienced to be appointed but possibly was done as the cheaper option?

Any applause for me being dead right on the academy level?

Can someone take over this piss poor site where its almost impossible to log on or make comments and having two or three contributors and thousands of views is disgusting as well.

The "some people" quote wasn't mine Mike. Although I do see where it was coming from. You are so anti academy it has become somewhat predictable. You wade in about it when we lose or play poorly but fail to comment when we play well and win. I guess that is because you might have to acknowledge that the coaching works which I know you can't bring yourself to do. You are right in that the lads in the academy have time and money invested in them, but the truth is that regardless of any graduation that money has been spent anyway. The gain from the youngster getting into the first team is that some of that investment is recovered by the club not paying top dollar for experienced and aging pros which is what we did 40 years or more ago, It goes over your head that the many other clubs envy our set up and have done for many years. It is true that we don't get the big money sales these days but that is less a fault of the system that we have worked with but more to do with the insane money sloshing around at the upper levels where Prem clubs scour the continent for development players. Enjoy revelling in being "right" as that is how you obviously see it. But at the end of the day, it is just your opinion as this is mine. Not fact!

[ShropshireAlex]

Charles Grant implied staff wouldn't be lost, as we'd have more coaches and facilities than fellow Cat 3 clubs. If true the major benefit will be not having to travel nationwide for U21 games, that we have to play the U18s in. If thqt means the U18s spend more Saturdays playing other boys in their age group that must be to their benefit, and the U16s don't have to play U18 football in their places.

[gazan]

It is a good question. Downgrading the Academy should cut costs but we have to remember that players coming through to the first team save us a considerable amount of money in wages while they establish themselves as part of the first team squad. Players of a similar standard would cost the club much more initially. I think it a little harsh to say this manager can't get us promoted. You may as well say this crop of players won't get us up. Recruitment under Bell's stewardship has been largely very good and aside from some awful luck with injuries we have managed to remain somewhere in the regions of the playoffs. So never say never!

But I'm not knocking the recruitment. That has been a real bonus. My criticism is aimed squarely at the management not taking advantage of the talent available. I've said a number of times that we have the talent in a fairly ordinary league and should be doing better. There often does not appear to be a plan. Formations change frequently. Substitutions have often been mystifying and sometimes disruptive to momentum. These are a few of the things that convinced me have reached the peak of the current managers ability. I do not criticise him lightly. I supported his appointment against a large number claiming he was the cheap option. He's had more than 3 years to stamp his imprint on the team yet, as I said, there is no discernible style of play other centre halves playing long balls to the lone forward and the absence of a developed midfield. This season was our big chance as the quality of L2 is not great but we are unlikely to take advantage. Now the club are looking to save money so maybe the chances of more O'Reillys and Tezgels appearing next season are likely to be slimmer but the approach to running the 1st team probably won't change so what of the future?

[gazan]

Charles Grant implied staff wouldn't be lost, as we'd have more coaches and facilities than fellow Cat 3 clubs. If true the major benefit will be not having to travel nationwide for U21 games, that we have to play the U18s in. If thqt means the U18s spend more Saturdays playing other boys in their age group that must be to their benefit, and the U16s don't have to play U18 football in their places.

Not sure that was what he implied. I think the implication was that as there wouldn't be the travel to and from U21 matches, then the time could be spent coaching.