The Large One
Who's Next?
We had John Morling the Albion Academy Manager on the show this week, and he came in to tell us about the setup at Lancing, and across Sussex and Surrey.
For me, this was a genuinely fascinating show as I had little idea as to how the whole set up works, and John gave us great insights. What he said afterwards (an hour really is a short space of time to let everyone know things) was to give an insight as to how a player can make it from U23 to senior level.
He said him and Chris Hughton and the senior management team have regular meetings, and at certain times Chris will ask John if there is anyone he believes ready to make the step up. If John suggests someone, they will be invited to train with the first team. When - and only when - Chris implicitly trusts them to do exactly what he wants them to do, he will consider them for the first team - of which the bench is usually the next step, when there's a space available.
For example, one player who has made the step up to the senior side 'would have trained 30 or 40 times with the first team squad' before being considered by Chris. It's not just a case of them being a decent footballer - it is totally the case that Chris has to trust them (he used that word deliberately) to do his given job(s).
So whenever anyone says '...why not try X, Y or Z player from the U23 team?', the answer is they will do if and when they are ready - not before. Except in a dire emergency.
Anyway, you can hear the show here... https://audioboom.com/posts/6476704...ith-guest-albion-academy-manager-john-morling
For me, this was a genuinely fascinating show as I had little idea as to how the whole set up works, and John gave us great insights. What he said afterwards (an hour really is a short space of time to let everyone know things) was to give an insight as to how a player can make it from U23 to senior level.
He said him and Chris Hughton and the senior management team have regular meetings, and at certain times Chris will ask John if there is anyone he believes ready to make the step up. If John suggests someone, they will be invited to train with the first team. When - and only when - Chris implicitly trusts them to do exactly what he wants them to do, he will consider them for the first team - of which the bench is usually the next step, when there's a space available.
For example, one player who has made the step up to the senior side 'would have trained 30 or 40 times with the first team squad' before being considered by Chris. It's not just a case of them being a decent footballer - it is totally the case that Chris has to trust them (he used that word deliberately) to do his given job(s).
So whenever anyone says '...why not try X, Y or Z player from the U23 team?', the answer is they will do if and when they are ready - not before. Except in a dire emergency.
Anyway, you can hear the show here... https://audioboom.com/posts/6476704...ith-guest-albion-academy-manager-john-morling
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