Foxy-Lady

All very good points and very understandable. Wouldnt disagree with anything you say but your well constructed argument doesn't actually address my main point which was "why arent we producing any forwards through our own heavily funded Cat1 Academy programme" as you would have expected some return on our investment through our own professional coaching structure? Most of the successful 'graduates' through our own Academy programme in recent years have turned out to be defenders and a few midfield players with Barnes being the only recent notable exception. Do we have any ex-forwards coaching in our Academy/Youth development who can pass on their expertise and, if not, why not?

Just a thought.... Why are we having to sign young talent from other/non-league Academy's? I thought the purpose of us having an expensively funded Cat 1 Acadmey was so we could recuit and develope young talent through our own system to save us having to spend money on players at a later date? Got to ask the question....if Solihull Moors with their limited resources can develope 17 year-olds good enough for a premier league/Cat 1 academy, isnt it their Coaches that we should also be recruiting as well as they appear to be capable of "turning lead into Gold" if the press release above is to be believed...? The artilce indicates he was not good enough for Birmingham City and released less than 2 years ago but 'somehow' in the sapce of 2 years, the part-time coaches at Solihull Moors have now developed him into a player worthy of a 2 year professional contract at LCFC...! What is happening to all the young forwards within the LCFC academy structure as i believe this is the 4th recent signing of a forward player from 'elsewhere'?

He would stab himself in the back if only he could reach...!

If I am correct, Rudkin is responsible for devlopment and recruitment at the club. From what I understand, the academy is in a mess and performing badly with poor coaches and our recruitment has been less than spectacular in past 12 months (Ndidi, Gray excepted!) during his tenureship Bearing in mind the current team is still largely a legacy from the Pearson/Shekespeare/Walsh era before Rudkin took over (in what way did his background of Director of an underperforming Academy qualify him to be DoF at a Premier league club?!?), the big question is "what is going to happen if/when this current team stars to break-up in the summer once we are not assured of ECL football next season?" Likes of Mahrez, Gray, Slimani and possibly even Schmeichel might well move on for greater riches/glory and Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, SImpson, King & Ulloa will very shortly need replacing so my assumption is John Rudkin's incompetence and scheming will only be finally/fully exposed next season when he has to try and rebuild a team rather than inherit one.........possibly without the added attraction of ECL football to offer to any potential targets! If he doesnt know how to develop or buy players, how the f*** does he intend to re-build the team...?!?