Reyes Cleary

[Omegstrat6]

More speculation about Cleary with Arsenal in the mix alongside the likes of Everton, Newcastle and Bayern Munich. Apparently he hasn't responded yet to Albion's offer. Difficult for us to compete financially with these other clubs I know and current situation at our own won't be attractive but I wonder how hard we will try and keep him?

Get a bit fed up of bigger clubs with more money constantly being able to sweep up the younger players with potential from the academy's of smaller ones who have spent time and money developing them. I am not sure of the current rules and I know that many of these young players get their heads turned by the money (and greed of their agents) but surely some sort of protection might be made for these smaller academy clubs so that they can at least charge more for their graduates?

Sadly, cases like Jude Bellingham are rare and too many youngsters chose to leave for the bigger club at the risk of sitting on the bench/ playing for second team/ farmed out on loan against staying with the parent club where they might play regular first team football and develop themselves further before moving on and seeking better career opportunities. Of course, like all of us, they should have a right to be able to make their own decisions about their future but maybe I'm old fashioned and still think that there is still a place for a degree of loyalty.

I get that working for many employers these days makes people feel that they are "just a number" which certainly won't engender loyalty, but if you treat people well, invest in them and value them then they tend to both perform better and have that sense of loyalty. No-one should begrudge others taking the opportunity to better themselves but just think that smaller clubs like ours lose our decent academy players far too easily and am unsure of how much this is the fault of the club or the system.

[Barrera]

Happens too frequently at our club ....too many young talents have left.... makes you wonder why we have an academy ... not sure what purpose it is serving ....

For example, Brentford don’t have one ....... they have a B team strategy and pick up players who are raw diamonds regardless of age and polish them up ....

[soulman101]

Happens too frequently at our club ....too many young talents have left.... makes you wonder why we have an academy ... not sure what purpose it is serving ....

For example, Brentford don’t have one ....... they have a B team strategy and pick up players who are raw diamonds regardless of age and polish them up ....

We should go down the Brentford route.

[wbaliquidator]

If I was part of the WBA setup I would instigate an enquiry into the club itself and instruct an outside consulting firm to come in independently and look at this and other factors .
I would like to explore why this has happening far too often.It’s almost like the kids can’t wait to leave, why?

Maybe it’s just the modern culture and that’s all .Or are there some agents and others inside the club with negative disruptive influences , if so who are they , What about the coaching staff are they driving them away?

Interview all the lads and every member of staff all separately and guarantee discretion .This enquiry would also include all the staff at club, get their view and idea.

We cannot assume it’s just money or opportunity.

The same would apply to the main squad, why have so many of our players underperformed this season in particular ?. Maybe they are that bad and they and ourselves have deluded each other. But then again interview them all, independently.

There is something toxic at our club and maybe it’s just all cascading down from our owner.

[kettering_baggie]

I’ve said it many times before, the rot starts at the top, with Lai.

FOL

[baggiematt]

We have to ask ourselves what is appetising about staying at the club over others. Why should Cleary sign a new deal?

Go to Arsenal - he gets paid more, he'll probably be loaned out for a few years and then he'll either move on to a different club or he'll feature for Arsenal

Stay with us - he might not play (depends on who is in charge), he'll be paid less and if he's good he'll want a move to Arsenal.

It's a bit of a no brainer from his point of view. We have to get better at providing the pathway to the first team. That normally happens when you have no choice such as when the parachute payments end; that's when Norwich got their act together around youth.

But I've mentioned before the academy only has to produce a player a season to be worth it's while. Or even one in two seasons. It's done that with O'Shea and TGH. Brentford are a very different side with loads of competition even for u14/u15 players so I can understand why they would abandon their academy.

[Omegstrat6]

Seems Ron Gourlay is well aware of this particular problem and says he is committed to trying to retain our academy prospects. He acknowledges the financial temptations for them to leave but suggests that one of the ways to help keep them is to provide a clearer pathway for getting them to play in the first team. Makes sense to me but we shall see.

[boingy]

How many of our youngsters have gone on to make a big name for themselves? like Bryan Robson? I can't think of any. First team football somewhere else but that's usually in fits and starts. Chris wood for Burnley maybe? but even he isn't a big money club well known name.