Notts looking for a striker

[The_Don_ORiordan]

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.

Only from what I was told at the time, needless to say, everyone has their point of view, he worked for the academy.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

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

Is that it’s sole purpose? Whilst admirable, we’d surely want at least the occasional player from it to progress, wouldn’t we?

[BanjoPie]

Is that it’s sole purpose? Whilst admirable, we’d surely want at least the occasional player from it to progress, wouldn’t we?

But surely the academy has produced players with great potential, thats why the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Wolves have paid good money for them. Not the players fault they were not given the opportunities to make their mark at Notts. I believe a major part of the problem is not having a Reserve side where the young players could be tested and nurtured in readiness for the 1st team.

[Elite_Pie]

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

I was tempted to find out, and it seems they are. Bearne made his Liverpool debut as a sub in a league cup quarter final at Villa, and is a regular for their under-21 side. Dongda He signed a new contract for Wolves keeping him there until 2023, and Etete is still at Spurs. I found this quite long report on him, although it is nearly a year old:

https://superhotspur.com/2020/01/22/...-notts-county/

[laddo]

Only from what I was told at the time, needless to say, everyone has their point of view, he worked for the academy.

Ahhh I see, safe to say he probably had a biased view on it which is understandable.

As I said earlier the (reputational) damage and loss of talent would have gone for years and years after the decision was taken.

If we can produce players that are good enough for first team and/or can sell to big clubs with a sell on % , then it sounds all good to me.

[Woodsetts_Pie]

I was tempted to find out, and it seems they are. Bearne made his Liverpool debut as a sub in a league cup quarter final at Villa, and is a regular for their under-21 side. Dongda He signed a new contract for Wolves keeping him there until 2023, and Etete is still at Spurs. I found this quite long report on him, although it is nearly a year old:

https://superhotspur.com/2020/01/22/...-notts-county/

Thanks Elite

[The_Don_ORiordan]

Ahhh I see, safe to say he probably had a biased view on it which is understandable.

As I said earlier the (reputational) damage and loss of talent would have gone for years and years after the decision was taken.

If we can produce players that are good enough for first team and/or can sell to big clubs with a sell on % , then it sounds all good to me.

I’m sure he did, but he also had ideas on how it could have been delayed, if not saved. Needless to say he felt they were ignored.

[drillerpie]

Thanks Elite

I think I watched him on TV in that Liverpool v Villa match, he didn't look out of place.

I also saw Etete in the recent video of Danny Drinkwater getting sent off for retaliation against a young kid in a Chelsea v Spurs u23 match. 90% of the video is of the ensuing melee but I did notice Etete had bulked up tremendously and looks a real number 9 now.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I think a club like Notts should have a youth programme. It was such a set back when it had to close and Charlie McParland was responsible for getting it going again.

The problem we have had in the past few years is the players in the academy have been that good they have been snapped up by premier league clubs before they have even played a game. This goes far back to Jermaine Pennants move to Arsenal over twenty years ago.

This is good though as I remember back when Derek Pavis was chairman the club would sell a player to help balance the books. So the academy could also end up being self supporting.

At the other end of the scale there are probably a lot of players that have not been good enough.

The ideal youth players are ones who are good enough to get into the first team and compete and who will develop and grow with the club to then later be sold to higher league clubs. It’s a small pool.

We also have to be realistic and be aware that Forest, Derby and Leicester all have academies and are local. Notts youth set up needs to be able to offer an alternative path into the game for young players who may not make the grade at the higher level and take them on. This is where the it would work in conjunction with the football radar philosophy.

That’s why I’ve always felt we should forge good relationships with our neighbours. With teams like Derby, Leicester and Forest on our doorstep we should never have got relegated out of the football league as there is a good pool of talent in the East Midlands. That’s why the likes of London, Manchester and Birmingham can sustain a lot of lower league clubs.

[Elite_Pie]

I think a club like Notts should have a youth programme. It was such a set back when it had to close and Charlie McParland was responsible for getting it going again.

That's as much of a myth as 'Charlie McParland played an attractive passing style of football'. Fake Munto money was responsible for getting it going again. Any manager we've ever had would have wanted a youth programme, and do you think Sven would have signed up if it wasn't part of the plan?