So it begins

[MikeSB]

Just a couple of points guys.

Maybe a question first?

What was the size and cost of the academy back in the eighties compared with now? Ten times less?

When a club our size has a plethora of non playing staff and possibly more coaches than the first team squad then summats wrong. I don't doubt that kids playing more and being fitter will produce better performances or should do. But the improvement in their talent is marginal. How many of say a hundred kids that we start end up good enough for the first team and then good enough for the million pound transfer to fund the whole enterprise?

The point I have made frequently is the academy whatever size it is will attract the local kids anyway unless they are really talented and they will go to the PL academy. Anyone done that recently? The reason? Working parents who just would not be physically able to hold down full time jobs and then after work take their kids 30 or 40 miles and then wait two hours and them bring them back

[whosbrianwilson]

That's all folks.

Please make that a promise.

[MikeSB]

That's all folks.

Please make that a promise.[/quote]

Haha! The truth REALLY does hurt I can see! Why not just refrain from posting if that is all you have to offer!

[spitfiresi]

Nexus, I have said in the past that without Dario and the Academy that we may not have a club to support. This may or may not be the case but I would prefer not to leave it to chance.

So if Dario dies(hopefully not for years) the club dies?

[Gobstopper]

We may not have all the players in place and the deal for Leigh might be dead in the water but its not all doom and gloom yet. We will get players in even if some are on loan. It looks like Coco wont sign unless he agent tells him to, there is not much the club can do about that, if Colclough hasn't the balls to stand up to his agent then there isn't much you can do, its just unfortunate that we have to pay him until he finds another club, but at least we are due compensation. It remains to be seen if Inman or Cooper can step into his shoes. At least Tate has stated he would like to come back after being released by Swansea which is one bit of good news and the club are in discussions with a midfield player who was released from a premiership club. The silly season is over just about and players and there agents have to make decisions so this is the time when deals are made.

[AstonAlex]

The club dies? Well if some of the ideas proposed on here are put in place it won't die but, as Dr McCoy once said "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it"!

I guess that's why Dario has seen fit to bring in James Collins and Kenny Lunt (and others) as Academy coaches, and why the Icelander got the sack as he didn't have Reaseheath on his satnav.

Incidentally, one club in our Division successfully applied for their Academy to be upgraded from Cat3 to Cat2 last season, knowing it would cost them more to run it and even more to upgrade their facilities. It wasn't a 'Moneybags' club like Fleetwood Town or Bury either - a community club called Colchester Utd. Good luck to them

[DaveWoo]

Like the line about the grass - last seen at Gresty Road in mid November, as I recall!!

On a general note, I've lived in the area now for the best part of 30 years and the local residents are, for the most part, friendly and welcoming, will stand their round and make you feel very much at home, even though I'm a (deep) southerner by breeding!

But by 'eck you like a good moan and the glass is three quarters empty, never mind half!!

Just an observation . . and please don't say we've got plenty to be miserable about, 'cos one place we haven't really is what I know think of as my football club.

I am a 45 year long supporter and I am generally a positive person, but the whole situation at the moment is a negative one at the club - players leaving, cant afford to attract targets, coaches handling the press... it goes on. This is beginning to be the 3rd pre season of the same mistakes - hence the title of the thread - so it begi