Notts looking for a striker

[The_Don_ORiordan]

He's played young players in pressurised situations
Recent young players at Notts not good enough.
Decent ones snapped up by Prem

Thought it was pretty clear

So do we close the academy? It hasn’t produced a single player good enough for Notts County in the fifth tier in all the time NA has been here.

[Elite_Pie]

So do we close the academy? It hasn’t produced a single player good enough for Notts County in the fifth tier in all the time NA has been here.

I'd love to know the finances involved. When we were a football league club I'm sure academies were given a degree of financial backing, but I don't know what the situation is at this level. It's a long time since we produced anything of real benefit to the first team, but we have sold some kids (or rather had them pinched) for decent money like Bearne, Dongda He and Etete. I presume we would have add-ons if any of them made the grade in the Premiership. I know the idea is to produce your own talent, but the academy might be a decent earner in other ways. MiG seemed to know how it works, maybe he could give some idea of figures if he reads this.

[laddo]

Hey Don,

When you say you "don't buy the fact it was necessary at the time" that intrigues me , what do you base that statement on? Had you seen the books or know someone who had seen the balance sheets during that time?

I have no knowledge of the annual cost of running the youth academy nor the grants received back then but I was told first hand from someone who knew the details of Notts finances just how dire the situation was and why such a drastic cost cutting decision was taken to end the programme.

I didn't agree with it, I still don't but desperate times means desperate measures.

[matt_magpie]

So do we close the academy? It hasn’t produced a single player good enough for Notts County in the fifth tier in all the time NA has been here.

Well who has it produced for him to play?

[magpie_mania]

It's hard to justify player wise, not sure how it works out financially.

Tiernan Brookes looks like he may be a possibility, but I guess that goalkeeper is quite a difficult position unless you are really good and can become a first choice quite young.

When they do come through though, it needs some patience from supporters - remember Curtis Thompson. Now playing in the championship.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

Well who has it produced for him to play?

No idea. Must be pretty bad though if no one is good enough to make a tier 5 squad.

[Notts78]

So do we close the academy? It hasn’t produced a single player good enough for Notts County in the fifth tier in all the time NA has been here.

It’s only been 18 months. The last 10/11 being with COVID. I don’t know if this has had an impact on whether they train or play.
Normally when someone questions the academy and it’s usefulness to Notts we get a number of players recommended on here. That hasn’t happened this time around which says it all really.
That all said, how often when we were in League 2 were youth players sent out on loan and came in to the National League?

I find it difficult to comprehend having an academy when the first team doesn’t have its own training complex. How could we possibly entice decent 14/15 year olds to the club? Look over the river and you will see how an academy should look.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

It’s only been 18 months. The last 10/11 being with COVID. I don’t know if this has had an impact on whether they train or play.
Normally when someone questions the academy and it’s usefulness to Notts we get a number of players recommended on here. That hasn’t happened this time around which says it all really.
That all said, how often when we were in League 2 were youth players sent out on loan and came in to the National League?

I find it difficult to comprehend having an academy when the first team doesn’t have its own training complex. How could we possibly entice decent 14/15 year olds to the club? Look over the river and you will see how an academy should look.

And that’s a very valid point. Just to be clear, I’m not advocating closing it. I guess I am just expecting more from it.

[Woodsetts_Pie]

Out of interest, where are Bearne, Dongda He and Etete now? Are they still at Liverpool Wolves and Spurs?

[BanjoPie]

Having an Academy is part of the ethos of the club that probably has paid for itself over the last few years.