[Albion] Matt O Riley [26/08/24 - sings on a 5-year deal]

[The Fits]

It’s very, very tough here now. Even only a few years ago, when we arguably had better midfielders, you’d look at a player like O’Riley, and think yeah there’s something there, something worth persisting with. But we’re just progressing so rapidly. Look at Ayari- even now there’s still people that think we should sell him. An established Sweden international, someone who seems to perfectly fit Fab’s style of play, someone who’s only 21 and is likely to reflect a huge profit if we do sell them. And it looks like we’re just about to bring in one of the best midfielders at the last World Cup, and even he is unlikely to be guaranteed huge amount of minutes. So what do you do? We’ve got a huge squad, we’ve got limited places both in our Premier League squad and match day team, we’re focused on bringing you through, and we can now bring in genuine older quality. So there’s always gonna be something that has to give. Players that have to move on. I don’t think we have either the space in the squad or the patience for everyone anymore.
And that doesn’t even consider that some players will just get very unhappy about not getting a lot of football.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I was thinking something similar myself @The Fits . A very few years back, we'd have been pleased to have MOR (we had plenty similar - Moder, Davy Propper, Alzate, Dale Stevens etc all in the 20/21 squad). But we have seriously kicked on since then.

As you say, even a young player like Ayari, who had a great season, playing lots of games, is questioned by some. The pace of change and the standard across the whole squad, has never been higher. It's a tough business.

It does also make me wonder what happens to our youth system when we seem to be buying 18/19 year olds from across the world. It must make our academy a less attractive option (with less access to the first team) than a few years ago.

 

[The Fits]

I was thinking something similar myself @The Fits . A very few years back, we'd have been pleased to have MOR (we had plenty similar - Moder, Davy Propper, Alzate, Dale Stevens etc all in the 20/21 squad). But we have seriously kicked on since then.

As you say, even a young player like Ayari, who had a great season, playing lots of games, is questioned by some. The pace of change and the standard across the whole squad, has never been higher. It's a tough business.

It does also make me wonder what happens to our youth system when we seem to be buying 18/19 year olds from across the world. It must make our academy a less attractive option (with less access to the first team) than a few years ago.

What happens is Duffus but conversely Hinsh. A lot of them are going to have to leave. That’s top level football.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

What happens is Duffus but conversely Hinsh. A lot of them are going to have to leave. That’s top level football.

Yep. Hinsh feel like an exception rather than the rule though these days.

 

[JBizzle]

Yep. Hinsh feel like an exception rather than the rule though these days.

Howell and Tasker may be on hand to disagree

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Howell and Tasker may be on hand to disagree

And it's far from impossible Rushworth or Beadle end up first choice before long.

But as a general point, I do agree that spending big money on 18 year olds limits the academy player potential playing time, as you can't only play teenagers

 

[JBizzle]

And it's far from impossible Rushworth or Beadle end up first choice before long.

But as a general point, I do agree that spending big money on 18 year olds limits the academy player potential playing time, as you can't only play teenagers

Yeah I agree too. Kostoulas is a great example, along with Tzimas that makes Duffus think twice about extending his deal here

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Yeah I agree too. Kostoulas is a great example, along with Tzimas that makes Duffus think twice about extending his deal here

I guess then you have to ask the question is, does it matter?

Maybe the running costs of the academy are worth it, to bring through a first team player every 2 or 3 years. No other PL clubs are bringing through more. Then we're moving on the "not quites" for a small amount of money, and a small pure profit.

Every so often the likes of Duffus will go on to do a Gyokeres and we'll scratch our heads, but that's the risk right? we can't play everyone

 

[Bozza]

Capello saying he is what Atalanta need:

Capello avvisa l’Atalanta: "Juric non è Gasperini, ora serve Matt O’Riley. Non riscatterei Kossounou"

Il vtecnico analizza il futuro nerazzurro: «L’Atalanta dovrà cambiare strategia sul mercato».

www.tuttoatalanta.com

 

[chaileyjem]

It does also make me wonder what happens to our youth system when we seem to be buying 18/19 year olds from across the world. It must make our academy a less attractive option (with less access to the first team) than a few years ago.

Was that a few years ago when we we signed 18 year old Julio Enciso, 19 year old Facundo Buonanotte, and a few years before that ; 16 year old Evan Ferguson, and 15 year old Robert Sanchez. ?

 

[timbha]

Was that a few years ago when we we signed 18 year old Julio Enciso, 19 year old Facundo Buonanotte, and a few years before that ; 16 year old Evan Ferguson, and 15 year old Robert Sanchez. ?

Our youth system is not solely to provide players for the first team but to develop and sell on to other clubs. I’d suggest it’ll be rare for us to take on a 10 year old who develops into a first team player. Better to see what a player is like at 16/17 and pinch him from another club.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Our youth system is not solely to provide players for the first team but to develop and sell on to other clubs. I’d suggest it’ll be rare for us to take on a 10 year old who develops into a first team player. Better to see what a player is like at 16/17 and pinch him from another club.

Ironically the Chelsea model which still continues raise lots of money for them.

What our youth system is provide a pathway to a career in football, whether or not that is at the Albion is up to the player.

The difficulty for the academy players is that the Albion are now playing at a much higher level than they ever had. You now have to be good enough to play for a team with genuine European aspirations, this is the main reason it is tougher to breakthrough now.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Capello saying he is what Atalanta need:

Capello avvisa l’Atalanta: "Juric non è Gasperini, ora serve Matt O’Riley. Non riscatterei Kossounou"

Il vtecnico analizza il futuro nerazzurro: «L’Atalanta dovrà cambiare strategia sul mercato».

www.tuttoatalanta.com

I suspect they want to copy what Napoli have done with McTominay.

Essentially, a No.8 converted into a No.10 who is able to ghost into the box late and score a lot of goals but can fall back into midfield and be very effective both in passing, tackling or defending set-pieces.

From his record at Celtic, it's clear he has a good chance of being very effective in this system in Italy.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Was that a few years ago when we we signed 18 year old Julio Enciso, 19 year old Facundo Buonanotte, and a few years before that ; 16 year old Evan Ferguson, and 15 year old Robert Sanchez. ?

That's kind of my point. Local lads coming here will think twice - but I guess they'll still come if they see it as a way into football, even if it's not the way into the Albion.

 

[GT49er]

Howell and Tasker may be on hand to disagree

Hope so. We want success - but it is important that we keep the 'our club' feeling by having some of our own coming through.

 

[dazzer6666]

I guess then you have to ask the question is, does it matter?

Maybe the running costs of the academy are worth it, to bring through a first team player every 2 or 3 years. No other PL clubs are bringing through more. Then we're moving on the "not quites" for a small amount of money, and a small pure profit.

Every so often the likes of Duffus will go on to do a Gyokeres and we'll scratch our heads, but that's the risk right? we can't play everyone

True - we won’t get them all right and some will slip through the net - late developers, those we can’t accommodate due to too much competition in certain positions, those who see their future elsewhere etc. We do though get paid (pretty well) for any academy kid that makes it into full time football in England. There’s a whole series of graduated payments made depending on level, appearances etc. Also, the whole ethos of the academy is to produce pro players, not necessarily pro players for us. The level is now so high it’s accepted and expected that only a tiny minority will end up playing for us. You don’t need many Ben White-type stories for the academy to be economically viable.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I suspect they want to copy what Napoli have done with McTominay.

Essentially, a No.8 converted into a No.10 who is able to ghost into the box late and score a lot of goals but can fall back into midfield and be very effective both in passing, tackling or defending set-pieces.

From his record at Celtic, it's clear he has a good chance of being very effective in this system in Italy.

Defensively though, isn’t it tougher in Italy?

The PL is very open, and the Scottish league is a much lower standard than both IMO.

 

[Flounce]

O’Riley going the same way as Gilmour?

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

O’Riley going the same way as Gilmour?

Sideways and backwards?

*ducks for cover*

 

[Greg Bobkin]

O’Riley going the same way as Gilmour?

To the Champions League? Hopefully he's still at the club when it happens!