[Albion] Who was the last player to break through from the youth team/development squad?

portlock seagull · May 7, 2019

Springal said:
You're aware we've only had 2 seasons in the Premier League aren't you? We have been capable of producing top flight players and I think it is a little bit unfair within 2 seasons to expect an academy player to have burst through and established themselves already.

What’s the excuse with L2, L1 & Champ level then? I’m also sure we played 4 seasons back in the 80s?

Springal · May 7, 2019

portlock seagull said:
What’s the excuse with L2, L1 & Champ level then? I’m also sure we played 4 seasons back in the 80s?

But there currently are 3 players from our academy in the Premier League week-in-week-out.

Elphick has had some sort of career at the top level, but perhaps not established.

It could be better but not far to say there is nothing.

Justice · May 7, 2019

I believe Tau will walk straight into the first team if we can get him a permit.

Turkey · May 7, 2019

blue-shifted said:
What is slightly odd to me is that we have the 3rd best u23 team in the country and as far as I can tell none of them are anywhere near to genuinely challenging for a premier league place. Our best player from that team couldn't get a game in League 1 when on loan

Not that I'm saying we shouldn't bother with the Academy or that the players are no good. But you can't ignore that the gap between our u23 and first team seems unbridgably large and you can't blame comparable teams for thinking maybe the money could be better spent, picking someone up from Italy or somewhere when you need to.

Our best player from that team made 15 appearances since January in League One for Peterborough. :wink:

To be fair, it is a big gap and who knows if any of the current crop will make it with us. However success could also be financial in fees received if some of these lads are sold. Gyokeres, Molumby and White have stood out for me. I like what I've seen of Ostigard too. We've got so many young internationals below U23 level now as well. As others have alluded to it, it's not going to happen over night.

portlock seagull · May 7, 2019

Springal said:
But there currently are 3 players from our academy in the Premier League week-in-week-out.

Elphick has had some sort of career at the top level, but perhaps not established.

It could be better but not far to say there is nothing.

It is in the context of 118 years! We’ve always bought players in, that all I’m saying. We’ve certainly never produced an attacking player of any real note as far as I’m aware. The odd centre bank and that’s it. Pretty piss poor really but then Sussex isn’t a traditional hotbed of football so it’s tough. When geordies were kicking tin cans around backstreets, our local yoof was probably in Tuscany on an exchange...

TSB · May 7, 2019

blue-shifted said:
What is slightly odd to me is that we have the 3rd best u23 team in the country and as far as I can tell none of them are anywhere near to genuinely challenging for a premier league place. Our best player from that team couldn't get a game in League 1 when on loan

He joined a team that were top of the league and had six strikers on the books. He was also injured for the first two months of the loan.

portlock seagull · May 7, 2019

Justice said:
I believe Tau will walk straight into the first team if we can get him a permit.

Really? I’d be amazed if he did. Not saying he wouldn’t but what makes you so sure given far higher profile / signings that have flopped?

nwgull · May 7, 2019

blue-shifted said:
What is slightly odd to me is that we have the 3rd best u23 team in the country and as far as I can tell none of them are anywhere near to genuinely challenging for a premier league place. Our best player from that team couldn't get a game in League 1 when on loan

Not that I'm saying we shouldn't bother with the Academy or that the players are no good. But you can't ignore that the gap between our u23 and first team seems unbridgably large and you can't blame comparable teams for thinking maybe the money could be better spent, picking someone up from Italy or somewhere when you need to.

The gap is bridged to an extent by loans to Championship/League 1. The U23s finishing 3rd in the top division of PL2 is obviously great, but it doesn't mean that we have the 3rd best group of young players in the country. Chelsea, for example, have some outstanding young talent loaned out to various teams. If they were to have kept all those players in their U23 squad, they'd have probably torn PL2 a new bum-hole.

durrington gull · May 7, 2019

Justice said:
I believe Tau will walk straight into the first team if we can get him a permit.

Would be amazed although if we dont strengthen significantly then who knows!

TSB · May 7, 2019

The club have today appointed a new Under 23's Recruitment Manager.

Watch this space.

BLOCK F · May 7, 2019

Tommy Cook circa 1920? :wink:

Sussex Nomad · May 7, 2019

I know it is negative and I apologise but we will not see a player breaking through all the time we have a manager that is just shit scared of taking a gamble.

Horton's halftime iceberg · May 7, 2019

Grombleton said:
Steve Cook?

Walton at Wigan as well

AZ Gull · May 7, 2019

Bold Seagull said:
This summer the Academy at Lancing has been open 3 years. I think it might be in the coming years until we really see how well it's working.

Nonsense. The Academy was granted Category One Status in July 2014 - ALBION ACHIEVE CATEGORY ONE STATUS

Perkino · May 7, 2019

The biggest crime to me is us signing players like Steele & Burn last summer. Both were clearly not going to get a run in the first team and would only be squad players, why didn't we leave the space for Sanchez and White to gain some matchday experience?

Bold Seagull · May 7, 2019

AZ Gull said:
Nonsense. The Academy was granted Category One Status in July 2014 - ALBION ACHIEVE CATEGORY ONE STATUS

Blimey, got that wrong, 5 years it is then. :thumbsup:

Worthing exile · May 7, 2019

The problem we have is that every time we get a match ideal for blooding a few youngsters, Chris has to field predominantly a team of seniors to keep the remainder of his 25 man squad happy and near match fit.

HastingsSeagull · May 8, 2019

We need them to be good enough to play in the Champ on loan, at that point we can start talking about will they break through.

A lot of names mentioned on this thread are there or there abouts and we really didn't have anyone remotely close to that level in the last 10 years except Dunk and March.

So I'd say clear improvement!

Machiavelli · May 8, 2019

Perkino said:
The biggest crime to me is us signing players like Steele & Burn last summer. Both were clearly not going to get a run in the first team and would only be squad players, why didn't we leave the space for Sanchez and White to gain some matchday experience?

A crime? You'll find that clubs need to name eight home grown players (HGPs) in order to name a 25 man squad. Signing Steele, Burn and Button last summer was a master stroke on that front, as it filled up those HGP slots without costing us a fortune. And Sanchez will benefit more from playing games at a lower level than sitting on the bench here.

Perkino · May 8, 2019

Machiavelli said:
A crime? You'll find that clubs need to name eight home grown players (HGPs) in order to name a 25 man squad. Signing Steele, Burn and Button last summer was a master stroke on that front, as it filled up those HGP slots without costing us a fortune. And Sanchez will benefit more from playing games at a lower level than sitting on the bench here.

Not quite true. the club can only have 17 non HGP's in the squad, we don't have to fill the extra spots instead just name a smaller squad. Considering the game time that players like Steele & Burn were likely to get was only ever going to be a cup run or being on the bench I would rather we gave those spots to U23's to help them gain experience. Otherwise they will never get a chance

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