The way forward.

[mellowmiller]

We need to get back to having a strong academy and bringing our own players through. Veteran last chance men have deflected us from this.

I don't disagree with the sentiment but I'm struggling to remember when we've ever had a strong academy. We bring so few of our own players through and that's been the case for years, maybe even decades.
Personally I think we would probably get a better return from strengthening our scouting network to cover non-league and overseas opportunities but that's probably a bit of a stretch for a club that doesn't seem to do much in the way of forward planning.

[Steve Miller]

I don't disagree with the sentiment but I'm struggling to remember when we've ever had a strong academy. We bring so few of our own players through and that's been the case for years, maybe even decades.
Personally I think we would probably get a better return from strengthening our scouting network to cover non-league and overseas opportunities but that's probably a bit of a stretch for a club that doesn't seem to do much in the way of forward planning.

Bang on in all respects. Phenomenal teams we had in the past came from superb scouting... we were just a little outfit then, too.
There are handfullofrice stars across the world just begging for a chance.
But our infrastructure, in fact our whole imagination for future planning, is more myopic than Elton John...

[avondalemiller]

I don't disagree with the sentiment but I'm struggling to remember when we've ever had a strong academy. We bring so few of our own players through and that's been the case for years, maybe even decades.
Personally I think we would probably get a better return from strengthening our scouting network to cover non-league and overseas opportunities but that's probably a bit of a stretch for a club that doesn't seem to do much in the way of forward planning.

Will Hoskins, Chris Sedgewick, Shaun Barker, Andy Monkhouse, and the guy what got injured at MK, they weren;t too bad?