LCFC U21 / Development Squad 2016/17

[Aus Fox]

7 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

The consequence of being relegated is that the players will all get blamed for "not being good enough" while the coaches responsible for their development from U14-U23 will probably keep their jobs and carry on failing to develope the next generation of young players properly

Talented kids being led by Talent-less coaches......simply wouldnt be tolerated in an academic or forward thinking business environment so why is it tolerated in a multi-million pound business where talent should be treated as an assett as opposed to a commodity...?!?

Personal experience with the youth set up? Or just what you think based on results?

Some strong words there, that are pretty damaging to professionals within the club.

I know very little of the youth set up, other than seeing the results and watching the goals, so it's always nice to read from people a little more itk on here what's happening.

Do you know we blame kids for relegation? Are all the coaches talentless? Or was your post aimed at an individual?

[jamesmilner]

When they reached the semi 's etc Iñigo Idiakez was the coach . He is a free agent after the nonsense at Derby . He has made it clear he would like to go back to coaching at the academy ,  which this has been rebuffed . i know he wants the ball on the floor at all times and was a success when here ,  coaching this way . Coaches like this might be what a lot on here want , i for one dont understand why he cant return . surely even tho he left ( for an opportunity most would take , if not all ), we need these kind of coaches in the academy . he was popular with the players , respected by them  and for me a success in getting the right kind of football played . i have no doubt he " developed " players .

[ramadaone]

The new guy brought in from Norwich will have his say at some point once he has got his feet under the table

 

wether he manages to upset the Peake / Beaglehole / Rudkin applecart remains to be seen

 

wild stab in the dark that Foxy Lady had a son that didn't make it as a professional footballer but she makes some very valid points regarding the lack of quality in some of the coaching staff within the Academy

 

 

 

[lgfualol]

28 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

The new guy brought in from Norwich will have his say at some point once he has got his feet under the table

 

wether he manages to upset the Peake / Beaglehole / Rudkin applecart remains to be seen

 

wild stab in the dark that Foxy Lady had a son that didn't make it as a professional footballer but she makes some very valid points regarding the lack of quality in some of the coaching staff within the Academy

 

 

 

Have we got a few 'dinosaurs' as coaches? I'm imagining a lot of guys picking players based on height and weight, rather than technical quality and playing long balls. 

 

Someone has done something right with Barnes and Chilwell though. I guess you could add Ndukwu and Choudhury if they get back on track.

[Thracian]

19 hours ago, EGBFitness said:

Why are people bothered if the 23's get relegated? It's about development not results at this level. 

 

Spurs went a whole season without a win a few years back with the likes of Kane, Carroll and Rose in their squad. 

 

Went to watch the Liverpool game last week and tbh was pretty flat with little encouragement anyone was close to breaking into the first team squad. Interesting watching Kupustka, you can tell he has no confidence! Played him as a holding midfielder second half and was missing. 

 

Interesting points. Not sure that a winning mentality shouldn't be the first emphasis in development. Without the need to win none of the factors in achieving that end would seem to have much point.

 

Time and again I've seen England trying to paint pretty pictures with their passing around the triangles in what was often an excercise in getting nowhere.

Oh yes, I'm a big believer in good passing but passing with a point.

 

For me the first aim of a footballer is to help his team win within the rules. The next is to score the goals needed to win and the third point is to concede fewer than you score. It's so simple really.

 

Everything should evolve around those three factors and developing them to best effect. Anyone lacking a passionate desire to win is wasting their own time and effort as well as their coaches' time.

 

As for Kapustka he's sounded like a fish in a farmyard puddle since he came here -  stranded in the wrong place and in ever deepening despair.

 

He's got ability no question but has he got the mental strength to overcome the problems he's facing?

 

It's easy to draw negative conclusions but i'm reminded of Kramaric and how he perked up almost from the moment he returned to mainland Europe.

 

Makes me wonder if we're doing something wrong. Either in terms of assessing our potential recruits or in the way we see they integrate.       

 

.  

        

[bald reynard]

19 hours ago, ramadaone said:

The new guy brought in from Norwich will have his say at some point once he has got his feet under the table

 

wether he manages to upset the Peake / Beaglehole / Rudkin applecart remains to be seen

 

wild stab in the dark that Foxy Lady had a son that didn't make it as a professional footballer but she makes some very valid points regarding the lack of quality in some of the coaching staff within the Academy

 

 

 

Who is the 'new guy' from Norwich - I haven't seen an announcement anywhere ?

[Stadt]

11 minutes ago, bald reynard said:

Who is the 'new guy' from Norwich - I haven't seen an announcement anywhere ?

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dmitri-halajko-6b634988

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

http://mobile.canaries.co.uk//news/article/2016-17/dmitri-halajko-norwich-city-3553996.aspx

 

[EGBFitness]

On 26/04/2017 at 08:59, Thracian said:

 

Interesting points. Not sure that a winning mentality shouldn't be the first emphasis in development. Without the need to win none of the factors in achieving that end would seem to have much point.

 

Time and again I've seen England trying to paint pretty pictures with their passing around the triangles in what was often an excercise in getting nowhere.

Oh yes, I'm a big believer in good passing but passing with a point.

 

For me the first aim of a footballer is to help his team win within the rules. The next is to score the goals needed to win and the third point is to concede fewer than you score. It's so simple really.

 

Everything should evolve around those three factors and developing them to best effect. Anyone lacking a passionate desire to win is wasting their own time and effort as well as their coaches' time.

 

As for Kapustka he's sounded like a fish in a farmyard puddle since he came here -  stranded in the wrong place and in ever deepening despair.

 

He's got ability no question but has he got the mental strength to overcome the problems he's facing?

 

It's easy to draw negative conclusions but i'm reminded of Kramaric and how he perked up almost from the moment he returned to mainland Europe.

 

Makes me wonder if we're doing something wrong. Either in terms of assessing our potential recruits or in the way we see they integrate.       

 

.  

        

I don't think anyone within the youth development encourages a mentality of accepting to play not to win. 

 

The point im getting at is it's a development squad so results isn't the priority, there is a lot more to consider with an individuals development rather than picking up results. Hence the reason why we are doing things like playing Kapustka as a holding midfielder, it is challenging him mentally and physical. Yes it could affect the teams results because we potentially have better players in that position but we are looking at developing the players. 

 

The other point I was making was what difference does it make if we did get relegated? How many people here can truthfully say they follow the development squad to games etc to care if they are playing Chelsea under 23's or Cheltenham under 23's!? It makes no difference to the average fan apart from reading it on your twitter feed. As mentioned, as long as the players are getting the correct development results don't matter. 

[lgfualol]

18 hours ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

http://mobile.canaries.co.uk//news/article/2016-17/dmitri-halajko-norwich-city-3553996.aspx

 

Is this guy any good? 

[Foxy-Lady]

On 25/04/2017 at 20:15, Thracian said:

Do you know they're talentless? And as you mention it, lots of poor teachers and business staff are tolerated and for all sorts of reasons.

 

We've not done so badly as an Academy and have not had much time yet to adapt to the newly elevated status of our club. Hence my call for more coaches - including specialists - rather than the need for decent servants to be sacked.

 

Up-dated training might be in order but I presume that's already undertaken.    

  

In my experience, only a failing business with a poor Performance Review and/or T&D (Talent & devlopment) systems would continue to tolerate under performing employees.

 

And what exactly does LCFCs newly elevated status have to do with a structure/system that does not appear to have evolved for several years? Surely the key to success is to ensure that all aspects of the business (and coaches) are continually evolving

 

Simply employing "more" coaches does not necessarily guarantee an improvement in quality............but definitely agree that specialists might be a progressive step (eg specialist striker and/or centre back coaches in same way sports science is now seen as a specialist role).

 

[Foxy-Lady]

On 25/04/2017 at 20:42, Aus Fox said:

Personal experience with the youth set up? Or just what you think based on results?

Some strong words there, that are pretty damaging to professionals within the club.

I know very little of the youth set up, other than seeing the results and watching the goals, so it's always nice to read from people a little more itk on here what's happening.

Do you know we blame kids for relegation? Are all the coaches talentless? Or was your post aimed at an individual?

The set-up is wrong and out-dated with LCFCs current status and ambitions but it has simply not evolved with the clubs progress.  Same people doing sames jobs they were doing 10 years ago with same results.....even though the game in general and LCFC have moved onwards and upwards!

 

With regards blame-game, classic scenario of being easier to blame someone else to hide your own shortcomings (ie players not good enough!) and protect your own position with the result that nothing changes.......and nothing improves!

 

[Foxy-Lady]

On 25/04/2017 at 21:31, ramadaone said:

The new guy brought in from Norwich will have his say at some point once he has got his feet under the table

 

wether he manages to upset the Peake / Beaglehole / Rudkin applecart remains to be seen

 

wild stab in the dark that Foxy Lady had a son that didn't make it as a professional footballer but she makes some very valid points regarding the lack of quality in some of the coaching staff within the Academy

 

 

 

 

[Aus Fox]

4 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

The set-up is wrong and out-dated with LCFCs current status and ambitions but it has simply not evolved with the clubs progress.  Same people doing sames jobs they were doing 10 years ago with same results.....even though the game in general and LCFC have moved onwards and upwards!

 

With regards blame-game, classic scenario of being easier to blame someone else to hide your own shortcomings (ie players not good enough!) and protect your own position with the result that nothing changes.......and nothing improves!

 

Just to clarify is this written with inside knowledge of what actually happens? Or just your opinion?

[Dan LCFC]

8 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

The set-up is wrong and out-dated with LCFCs current status and ambitions but it has simply not evolved with the clubs progress.  Same people doing sames jobs they were doing 10 years ago with same results.....even though the game in general and LCFC have moved onwards and upwards!

 

With regards blame-game, classic scenario of being easier to blame someone else to hide your own shortcomings (ie players not good enough!) and protect your own position with the result that nothing changes.......and nothing improves!

 

I do get this kind of impression about our academy to be honest. I think there's a massive cultural problem in this country, nowhere near enough are bothered by what their own club brings through, or doesn't, in most cases.

 

As for Halajko, well, Norwich are quite good at youth level aren't they? So that's something in his favour.

[KFS]

Sorry boys, is it me having a few beers- but can't see anywhere in that article that he's destined for Leicester?

[Thracian]

On 27/04/2017 at 16:09, Foxy-Lady said:

In my experience, only a failing business with a poor Performance Review and/or T&D (Talent & devlopment) systems would continue to tolerate under performing employees.

 

And what exactly does LCFCs newly elevated status have to do with a structure/system that does not appear to have evolved for several years? Surely the key to success is to ensure that all aspects of the business (and coaches) are continually evolving

 

Simply employing "more" coaches does not necessarily guarantee an improvement in quality............but definitely agree that specialists might be a progressive step (eg specialist striker and/or centre back coaches in same way sports science is now seen as a specialist role).

 

One of the problems of running an Academy is that you're unlikely to attract the best coaches unless they're right at the start of their cycle in the job and looking to gain experience before quickly moving onto something better.

 

The sort of coaches you do get are what I'd call "ordinaries" - guys with a background as moderate players who haven't got enough of the many skills required to be  an outstanding manager yet wish to remain in the game at some level.

 

At first they might retain some ambition but gradually they realise that what they're doing represents the end of the line for them and they end up in a niche, just going through the motions, keeping their noses clean and picking up their wages.

 

For all the recruits passing through our system the number that graduate as Premiership quality - for us or anyone else - has been pathetic in recent seasons to the point where I'd likely have quit in despair if the Academy were my responsibility.

 

We really need to be looking at the standards set by Southampton for so long and why they continuously bring players through to be successful at top level.

 

Chilwell's about there but he's not the finished article and, before him, there's not been much, if anyone at all of any note, since Schlupp and that's over a lot of years.

 

As I've said we should be graduating at least two of Premiership standard each season or else what's the point in having an Academy?

 

Ours in not a Mickey Mouse set-up that's underfunded and struggling along with indifferent facilities. It's state-of-the-art. But something's not right and not working nearly well enough.

 

There needs to be an attitude of expectation from the management,  the coaches and the students themselves, starting with the simplest of sentences the first day they arrive....

 

"My job is to teach you to be winners within the rules - in football and in life. The work starts now, If you don't want to be a winner quit now and don't waste a minute of my time. If you do want to be a winner don't moan, complain, make excuses or tell us. Just show us - day in, day out in everything you do - and make us proud of you,"    

.

 

 

 

        

[EGBFitness]

2 hours ago, Thracian said:

One of the problems of running an Academy is that you're unlikely to attract the best coaches unless they're right at the start of their cycle in the job and looking to gain experience before quickly moving onto something better.

 

The sort of coaches you do get are what I'd call "ordinaries" - guys with a background as moderate players who haven't got enough of the skills required to be  an outstanding manager yet wish to remain in the game at some level.

 

At first they might retain some ambition but gradually they realise that what they're doing represents the end of the line for them and they end up in a niche, just going through the motions, keeping their noses clean and picking up their wages.

 

For all the recruits passing through our system the number that graduate as Premiership quality - for us or anyone else - has been pathetic in recent seasons to the point where I'd likely have quit in despair if the Academy were my responsibility.

 

We really need to be looking at the standards set by Southampton for so long and why they continuously bring players through to be successful at top level.

 

Chilwell's about there but he's not the finished article and, before him, there's not been much, if anyone at all of any note, since Schlupp and that's over a lot of years.

 

As I've said we should be graduating at least two of Premiership standard each season or else what's the point in having an Academy?

 

Ours in not a Mickey Mouse set-up that's underfunded and struggling along with indifferent facilities. It's state-of-the-art. But something's not right and not working nearly well enough.

 

There needs to be an attitude of expectation from the management,  the coaches and the students themselves, starting with the simplest of sentences the first day they arrive....

 

"My job is to teach you to be winners within the rules - in football and in life. The work starts now, If you don't want to be a winner quit now and don't waste a minute of my time. If you do want to be a winner don't moan, complain, make excuses or tell us. Just show us - day in, day out in everything you do - and make us proud of you,"    

.

 

 

 

        

I can't define how much shit you are talking. 

 

Im guessing you have never got anywhere near a football pitch to get involved with coaching in any capacity. 

 

I'd suggest you get involved with your local grass roots club minimum to get on a level with all the other 'ordinaries'. See how well you get on after you've given your braveheart speech. 

 

Clubs have different objectives/ philosophy's when it comes to coaching, the fact Southampton produce a few through their academy suggests they invest heavily to develop youth. 

 

No club is going to be producing one premier league standard player every season, so 2 is ridiculous. Class of 92 was basically a freak but probably won't happen again. 

[filbertway]

13 minutes ago, EGBFitness said:

I can't define how much shit you are talking. 

 

Im guessing you have never got anywhere near a football pitch to get involved with coaching in any capacity. 

 

I'd suggest you get involved with your local grass roots club minimum to get on a level with all the other 'ordinaries'. See how well you get on after you've given your braveheart speech. 

 

Clubs have different objectives/ philosophy's when it comes to coaching, the fact Southampton produce a few through their academy suggests they invest heavily to develop youth. 

 

No club is going to be producing one premier league standard player every season, so 2 is ridiculous. Class of 92 was basically a freak but probably won't happen again. 

He has a good point then, what's the point of having an academy if it's not going to be producing players good enough to play at the level we require?

[Foxy-Lady]

12 minutes ago, EGBFitness said:

I can't define how much shit you are talking. 

 

Im guessing you have never got anywhere near a football pitch to get involved with coaching in any capacity. 

 

I'd suggest you get involved with your local grass roots club minimum to get on a level with all the other 'ordinaries'. See how well you get on after you've given your braveheart speech. 

 

Clubs have different objectives/ philosophy's when it comes to coaching, the fact Southampton produce a few through their academy suggests they invest heavily to develop youth. 

 

No club is going to be producing one premier league standard player every season, so 2 is ridiculous. Class of 92 was basically a freak but probably won't happen again. 

Is THRACIAN he really talking that much shit???

 

Agree that the expectation of producing at least 2 premiership standards per season is rather unrealistic but he is correct that simply managing to produce Chilwell in past several years is not excatly a statement of success after all the money that has been invested and he is absolutely right that if a club like Southampton can evidence success on the scale that they have with Yth Development, then why cant LCFC?

 

On the point of "different objectives /philsophies when it comes to coaching", I would be interested to hear your view on LCFCs coaching objectives/philospohy ibefore you start crictiscing others as the evidence would suggest that they are not producing many/any players and the U18s and U23s are both near the bottom of their respective leagues so if they are neither Winning or Developing, what exactly is their objective,,,?!?

 

Finally, be careful not to fall into the "closed loop" thinking trap that everyone seems to do with the Ben Chilwell situation. Chilwell was a quality player when he was recruited at 14 and was always destined to succeed in football. if anything, the credit for Ben Chilwell belongs to the recruitemnt staff who identified him at an early age and brought him to LCFC and the player himself as he would probably have succeeded at any PL academy.

[Thracian]

1 hour ago, EGBFitness said:

I can't define how much shit you are talking. 

 

Im guessing you have never got anywhere near a football pitch to get involved with coaching in any capacity. 

 

I'd suggest you get involved with your local grass roots club minimum to get on a level with all the other 'ordinaries'. See how well you get on after you've given your braveheart speech. 

 

Clubs have different objectives/ philosophy's when it comes to coaching, the fact Southampton produce a few through their academy suggests they invest heavily to develop youth. 

 

No club is going to be producing one premier league standard player every season, so 2 is ridiculous. Class of 92 was basically a freak but probably won't happen again. 

Your "guessing" is a little wide of the mark but thanks for your advice. 

[EGBFitness]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

He has a good point then, what's the point of having an academy if it's not going to be producing players good enough to play at the level we require?

It's not quite as simple as just producing players good enough or as previously suggested to a premier league level like they come off a conveyeur belt. 

 

Multiple reasons why it doesn't happen from the player themselves maybe not reaching the potential expected due to numerous reasons, player simple not good enough as expected or the club itself. 

 

Players will come through the academy and have come through (not all to eventually play at City) but it's not quite a point of asking what's the point in the academy excisting. 

[Thracian]

1 hour ago, EGBFitness said:

It's not quite as simple as just producing players good enough or as previously suggested to a premier league level like they come off a conveyeur belt. 

 

Multiple reasons why it doesn't happen from the player themselves maybe not reaching the potential expected due to numerous reasons, player simple not good enough as expected or the club itself. 

 

Players will come through the academy and have come through (not all to eventually play at City) but it's not quite a point of asking what's the point in the academy excisting. 

You're not convincing me at all.

 

I'm well aware of the "social service" aspect of running an Academy in turning youngsters - sometimes from difficult backgrounds - into constructive, hard-working and successful youngsters who either earn a living from playing at some reasonably respectable level of football or go on to be involved in other aspects of the sports industries whether it be as physios, coaches, PR people, journalists, agents, dieticians or any of countless other things.

 

But to take in the cream of youngsters in so many age-groups from junior school upwards, developing them through to Under 23 and even senior level in some instances and fail to produce a couple of Premiership players per year - or even more than one over several years - is pretty disappointing.

 

"Multiple reasons"  is as easily translated as "multiple excuses" because, while I well understand that every coaching Academy has drops outs and disappointments, the proof of an Academy's excellence is in the successes they produce.

 

Yes, I do count success in other spheres but a football academy is also measured by the standard of its football graduates. In other words, producing players of Premiership standard, seeing as that is the level we're competing at..

 

Over many years I've often drawn attention to coaching shortcomings in our first team - never mind our Academy teams - so I don't just think there are mistakes being made, I've know there are because I've seen them, seen them repeated and have even gone into detail on occasions.

 

I've also criticised the qualifying of people as grass roots coaches who didn't even have the basic skills to be a coach let alone the tactical, organisational and inspirational ability...because it affects standards in the end and we don't seem to be doing very well as a nation anymore, which also bothers me.

 

I don't pretend to judge the standard of specific coaches at Leicester but there was a time not so long ago when we did produce talent in reasonable numbers, and played some exciting football in doing so.

 

Guys like Max Gradel, Andy King, James Wesolowski, Richard Stearman,  Joe Mattock, Levi Porter, Alan Sheehan and Geoff Schlupp  all went on to play fairly regularly in the first team and some of those, later, in the Premiership. We're looking for better than that now, not worse.   

 

Yet, gradually the success rate slowed to a trickle and now it's hardly noticeable at all. Why? I don't bother watching anymore so can no longer comment on specifics but that's far too big a change for there to be no reason and I'm not convinced it's necessarily down to individual coaches either because at least some of those guys were involved in previous successes for both teams and individuals.

 

 You're passionate enough to have called me loudly enough, so what's the reasons in your view? Especially given that you mock my focus on "winning", for all that Southampton seem to apply it seriously enough and bring players through at a rate that you try to tell me is not practical.

 

I think it should be, but I'm sure interested to hear why I'm wrong about that.                      

      

[EGBFitness]

2 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

Is THRACIAN he really talking that much shit???

 

Agree that the expectation of producing at least 2 premiership standards per season is rather unrealistic but he is correct that simply managing to produce Chilwell in past several years is not excatly a statement of success after all the money that has been invested and he is absolutely right that if a club like Southampton can evidence success on the scale that they have with Yth Development, then why cant LCFC?

 

On the point of "different objectives /philsophies when it comes to coaching", I would be interested to hear your view on LCFCs coaching objectives/philospohy ibefore you start crictiscing others as the evidence would suggest that they are not producing many/any players and the U18s and U23s are both near the bottom of their respective leagues so if they are neither Winning or Developing, what exactly is their objective,,,?!?

 

Finally, be careful not to fall into the "closed loop" thinking trap that everyone seems to do with the Ben Chilwell situation. Chilwell was a quality player when he was recruited at 14 and was always destined to succeed in football. if anything, the credit for Ben Chilwell belongs to the recruitemnt staff who identified him at an early age and brought him to LCFC and the player himself as he would probably have succeeded at any PL academy.

Well when you think that coaching youngsters is as easy as giving an ultimatum do or die speech at the start of season and that we should be producing talent to a premier league standard (two minimum) every season then yes. 

 

A youths development isn't a case of a seeing success through winning and losing, all factors should be considered physically, socially, psychology and tactically - to get a player to first team standard is a long drawn out process and however much coaches/club could be blamed it can also lie with the player. It's easy to use Southampton as an example but it's also just as easy to use a Hull, Watford, WBA, Stoke, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Swansea and Arsenal as an example of little/no talent coming through - maybe as little as Leicester if you could use Schlupp, Moore and King in recent years. I'm guessing you may use Chelsea and Arsenal against me as they have endless amount out on loan or made it at other teams, this is an example of them having players not to first team standard as making a point with Leicester. Southampton heavily invest into the youth academy as they see it as a great way to make money. Putting a player through an academy comes at a high cost and they clearly believe in their structure to get players through and to make money by selling them (same as they do with players bought) effectively speaking, they are happy to become a selling club. It's only since Klopp has been at Liverpool have they been more focused on their own youth academy too (Klopps own philosophy as it was in Dortmund) - I struggle to think of anyone with any real potential that has came out of their academy since Gerrard/Owen. Shelvy maybe? Sterling although all his development came at QPR.  That is a club you would consider to be one of the biggest in the country who should have money, time and resources with a stable premiership status? 

 

In regards to playing style the clubs philosphy has to be align to the first team throughout the whole youth set up to comply with EPPP to maintain their category status. It's easy to say the club have heavily invested into the club and little return but how long does it take to see the talent come through? Is the clubs youth recruitment spotting these players before other clubs? Are we not producing these players because we are missing out initially through the scouting network? Yes we are good at recruiting for the senior side (under Walsh) we are currently buying a lot of youth players too for the development squad. Man City have heavily invested into their youth set up which I can guarantee is a lot more money than us. They have practically taken Uniteds academy and then added even more to the players development in and out of football but they haven't seen success through it yet? They have even said it will be about 10 years until they see success from it, so when are we seeing success from our investment and how interested are we to see youth break into the first team? 

 

As mentioned above with youth results/development. 

 

Chilwell has probably one of the best work rates going which is part of the reason to his development (part of what I put at the top) but although he arrived at the club later in his development the club have also helped develop him during some of the maybe more difficult stages in a players development. However much it is easy to say he could of probably succeeded at any PL academy it's also important to recognise the clubs contribution when others may have overseen his potential or denied him progression into senior side. For however many footballers there is there is also just as many who was always destined to be a footballer, the club have managed his progression. 

[EGBFitness]

53 minutes ago, Thracian said:

You're not convincing me at all.

 

I'm well aware of the "social service" aspect of running an Academy in turning youngsters - sometimes from difficult backgrounds - into constructive, hard-working and successful youngsters who either earn a living from playing at some reasonably respectable level of football or go on to be involved in other aspects of the sports industries whether it be as physios, coaches, PR people, journalists, agents, dieticians or any of countless other things.

 

But to take in the cream of youngsters in so many age-groups from junior school upwards, developing them through to Under 23 and even senior level in some instances and fail to produce a couple of Premiership players per year - or even more than one over several years - is pretty disappointing.

 

"Multiple reasons"  is as easily translated as "multiple excuses" because, while I well understand that every coaching Academy has drops outs and disappointments, the proof of an Academy's excellence is in the successes they produce.

 

Yes, I do count success in other spheres but a football academy is also measured by the standard of its football graduates. In other words, producing players of Premiership standard, seeing as that is the level we're competing at..

 

Over many years I've often drawn attention to coaching shortcomings in our first team - never mind our Academy teams - so I don't just think there are mistakes being made, I've know there are because I've seen them, seen them repeated and have even gone into detail on occasions.

 

I've also criticised the qualifying of people as grass roots coaches who didn't even have the basic skills to be a coach let alone the tactical, organisational and inspirational ability...because it affects standards in the end and we don't seem to be doing very well as a nation anymore, which also bothers me.

 

I don't pretend to judge the standard of specific coaches at Leicester but there was a time not so long ago when we did produce talent in reasonable numbers, and played some exciting football in doing so.

 

Guys like Max Gradel, Andy King, James Wesolowski, Richard Stearman,  Joe Mattock, Levi Porter, Alan Sheehan and Geoff Schlupp  all went on to play fairly regularly in the first team and some of those, later, in the Premiership. We're looking for better than that now, not worse.   

 

Yet, gradually the success rate slowed to a trickle and now it's hardly noticeable at all. Why? I don't bother watching anymore so can no longer comment on specifics but that's far too big a change for there to be no reason and I'm not convinced it's necessarily down to individual coaches either because at least some of those guys were involved in previous successes for both teams and individuals.

 

 You're passionate enough to have called me loudly enough, so what's the reasons in your view? Especially given that you mock my focus on "winning", for all that Southampton seem to apply it seriously enough and bring players through at a rate that you try to tell me is not practical.

 

I think it should be, but I'm sure interested to hear why I'm wrong about that.                      

      

As you put with some of the names graduated, some have gone on to premier league football Schlupp, Gradel and King (clubs ambition last 5 years) and other players mentioned play/played at championship level which is where the club was and maybe unfortunately was fortunate to be playing when those players broke into the first team - doesn't that mean the club have produced players in the academy good enough to play into the senior side depending on the ambition of the club at the time? As I've put in other posts (not to you) although we are investing financially into the academy now it doesn't mean we are going to see the success tomorrow, the club have ambitions of playing more European football in the next few years so we will be having to produce players that are good enough. The clubs rise has been unbelievable and can have a knock on effect to the clubs youth expected level, does someone like Chilwell not have the potential to play for a top half prem side? 

 

Some me of the points you are making I agree with but I don't think the issue lies just with Leicester. Is English football producing enough talent through the youth set ups? I'd say no and it is a concern - clubs are more concerned on short term success. What has happened to the success of the likes of West Ham's academy? United? The only reason they have pushed players through to first team is because of injuries. There should be more done at grassroots level too, more coaches should be educated to a higher level which is easier said than done as grassroots is ran of voluntary work and without them we would have even less talent coming through - if personally like to see pro clubs work more with grassroots through funding/coaching to catch and develop more talent, similar to Athletico Bilboas approach to only developing players in the basque. 

 

Its not not for a fact I'm mocking you for believing players should have a winning mentality it is for the fact that youth football isn't built on just winning games, I understand what your saying that players shouldn't have a losing mentality, the main focus is the players development and challenging them - hence why you see players played in so many different positions etc to help develop them even though it could potentially effect the result as the players are learning. 

 

How are are you so sure Southampton provide a winning mentality within their academy?