Will the academy suffer ?

[weggy1976]

So with MA's latest blog he states "the scholars will get changed in the scruffy huts", and will have to earn the right to get changed in the main building. Would seem logical to MA's playing days.......however.......:-

Last season we had the best academy in the Country.

This topic is to discuss if there are ANY benefits to change a winning formula ?

I personally think that getting the scholars to change in the rat infested huts will have a huge impact when showing possible new scholars around the club. Yes in years gone by the scholars would be treated in this manner. But we live in the 21st century and any spotty teenager wannabe who visits our facilities in company with parents may now be put off by our proposition. Will the huts attract kids to LCFC in the 21st century?

In the past years we have managed to attract some great kids ahead of some of the big premiership clubs and local clubs of good youth set ups such as Villa. Time will tell, but I don't think we will be attracting the best kids anymore, which will have a HUGE impact on the whole set up of the club. MA or MM's decision who knows, but it could be very costly, and something that we don't see the impact of until 4 years time.

Brave Martin very brave - but good luck to ya.

[Wooly]

Change a winning formula?

To me, a winning academy is one where the players progress to the first team and add some value to the squad.. we've probably had the least acadmy graduates go on to have a meaningful career of any club in the top two leagues in the last 6 years!

[Joe.]

Change a winning formula?

To me, a winning academy is one where the players progress to the first team and add some value to the squad.. we've probably had the least acadmy graduates go on to have a meaningful career of any club in the top two leagues in the last 6 years!

Last season alone we had Logan, Porter and Mattock enter the first team.

The season before that we had Stearman and Wesolowski.

5 players going into the first team squad on a regular basis in two years isn't bad.

[Toby or not Toby]

Last season alone we had Logan, Porter and Mattock enter the first team.

The season before that we had Stearman and Wesolowski.

5 players going into the first team squad on a regular basis in two years isn't bad.

last season odihambo made his debut and also the year before that ashley chambers made his debut. they could turn out to be good players for us in the next couple of years to

[Ric Flair]

So with MA's latest blog he states "the scholars will get changed in the scruffy huts", and will have to earn the right to get changed in the main building. Would seem logical to MA's playing days.......however.......:-

Last season we had the best academy in the Country.

This topic is to discuss if there are ANY benefits to change a winning formula ?

I personally think that getting the scholars to change in the rat infested huts will have a huge impact when showing possible new scholars around the club. Yes in years gone by the scholars would be treated in this manner. But we live in the 21st century and any spotty teenager wannabe who visits our facilities in company with parents may now be put off by our proposition. Will the huts attract kids to LCFC in the 21st century?

In the past years we have managed to attract some great kids ahead of some of the big premiership clubs and local clubs of good youth set ups such as Villa. Time will tell, but I don't think we will be attracting the best kids anymore, which will have a HUGE impact on the whole set up of the club. MA or MM's decision who knows, but it could be very costly, and something that we don't see the impact of until 4 years time.

Brave Martin very brave - but good luck to ya.

The scholars that have signed professional contracts won't be in the Academy any longer. Hence them signing professional contracts, most of them will be in the reserves next season. They will earn the right to train and play with the first team. Fair do's, i'm sure they are all desperate to prove their worth.

Our academy probably won't be as strong as last year because we now have a reserve team and the older kids will be playing in midweek for the ressies and very unlikely to play for the academy as well.

[davieG]

Depends what he means by scholars, I assumed he meant the new intake of youngsters not the Academy level players

[mancunianfox]

Depends what he means by scholars, I assumed he meant the new intake of youngsters not the Academy level players

Think so too. I assumed he meant the academy graduates who have recently signed professional contracts.

[Thracian]

Depends what he means by scholars, I assumed he meant the new intake of youngsters not the Academy level players

That was the impression I got too.

On last season's showing the Under 18's should have been changing at The Walkers and the first team should have been in the scruffy huts.

[Blue Bob]

I think it is a good idea, it grounds the players and stops them thinking they are going to be superstars.

I think he is showing them that they need to work hard and earn what they want not just have it given to them.

I think it is a good move, keep it up MA.

[Geo V]

Its a good idea by MA and will help the whole club to get out of this depression its in and start having realtic aims and targets. These little things should inspire the younger players to do well although the fact that they have been so succesful recently will raise question marks if they dont reach similar heights next season. I think its a positive step as the youth management structure is still the same anyway!

[Simi]

Depends what he means by scholars, I assumed he meant the new intake of youngsters not the Academy level players

Correct

[weggy1976]

[quote name='apexgeo'

I think its a positive step as the youth management structure is still the same anyway!

The structure might be the same but will the personnel? Guess we will see how the man behind the success (Steve Beags) sees it if he stays around.

I have read some replies and agree with the "should work for it ethic", however alot of these kids don't just have an offer from us. These days most will have a couple of options. Not sure how we will compare to the next club who are still offering proper human facilities. Therefore think we will end up in years ahead with youth players that no one else wanted.

[weggy1976]

Correct

No youth players will be in the main changing rooms at the training ground. Take Martin's invite to attend and you will see.

[Simi]

No youth players will be in the main changing rooms at the training ground. Take Martin's invite to attend and you will see.

That wasn't the impression I got from reading what he said.

I shall be heading down their tomorrow to take a look.

Did you just walk in and have a look around ?

[weggy1976]

That wasn't the impression I got from reading what he said.

I shall be heading down their tomorrow to take a look.

Did you just walk in and have a look around ?

Yeah - no problemss. Might be worth a phonecall first to check they are training. But then again reading MA's blogs I wouldn't be surprised to see them there 0800 till 2000 daily.

[ivarti]

MA is out there to change the small details and improve things. Kevin Keegan, when he took over at Newcastle, started with improvement of the toilets, a year after they were competing against the best. So every detail is important. Sam Allardyce did wonders at Bolton, focusing on details that made the "small suburbian Manchester club" become one of Englands top six teams. Small details are important, but it doesn't count much if the real work and details during training and during games are overlooked. Things look promising at the moment and so hopefully the change of flowers will end with a promotion in May 08.

[Simi]

MA is out there to change the small details and improve things. Kevin Keegan, when he took over at Newcastle, started with improvement of the toilets, a year after they were competing against the best. So every detail is important. Sam Allardyce did wonders at Bolton, focusing on details that made the "small suburbian Manchester club" become one of Englands top six teams. Small details are important, but it doesn't count much if the real work and details during training and during games are overlooked. Things look promising at the moment and so hopefully the change of flowers will end with a promotion in May 08.

I was reading an article that Allardyce wrote, the other day. He's started to make a bunker sort of thing at Newcastle where everything is prepared. Interesting read. Sounded sort of similar to what Allen has made in the old cafe.

[Sir Fynwy]

To be honest I don't care if the academy boys suffer as long as the first team gets better.

We don't have a great history of producing world class talent.

[AyewJoking]

I think if you REALLY wanted to be in Leicesters academy you wouldnt give two monkeys where you get changed.

[Simi]

I think if you REALLY wanted to be in Leicesters academy you wouldnt give two monkeys where you get changed.

This will certainly separate some of the men from the boys. (Even if they're young ).

If any of them start to moan about the changing areas I'm sure Martin will be pleased to show them the door.

[Guest]

To be honest, should the lads in the academy be mollycoddled? Perhaps if the clubs stopped treating the prospects in the same way as the full professionals, they might have a bit more respect and a better attitude.

[Manwell Pablo]

To be honest, should the lads in the academy be mollycoddled? Perhaps if the clubs stopped treating the prospects in the same way as the full professionals, they might have a bit more respect and a better attitude.

Exactemundo, no more Al opening his mouth and no more Levi playing when he can bothred.

[Thracian]

To be honest I don't care if the academy boys suffer as long as the first team gets better.

We don't have a great history of producing world class talent.

That really disappoints me. One thing connects with another and I'm with MA on this. If you're going to have success you need everyone to be involved and you need to pay attention to every detail from the cleaning staff through to the first team captain.

And let's develop Championship or Premiership class talent before we worry about world class because that's where we are or are aiming right now.

The Academy have picked up the club flag and given us something to be proud of again - the only harvest in the leanest of years I can remember. They've shown the way really - in achievement and in approach.

And yes our long term developmental history may have been ordinary but by any reasonable yardstick the throughput of Academy scholars through to the first team squad - nine altogether - has been extraordinary these last two seasons.

There seems every prospect that others will follow despite the bar being raised and if we could get half that throughput in the next two years it would still be an excellent achievement.

There's no reason it shouldn't happen.

MM assures us the scouting system is being improved and presumably spread wider. The success we've already had should breed further success as will having better senior players around the club, the added momentum generated by our new owner and the larger-than-life personality of the manager.

I believe the fans should play their part too by showing pride in every achievement of our club and its players.

Some already have that pride and it was clearly the case with Sunderland fans at the Academy play-off final when close to 5,000 turned out to watch their under 18's.

That's the sort of spirit we need to build, the sort of commitment and togetherness that was apparent when we played Birmingham, Preston and Barnsley.

If this club is going to be great we need to care. About the kids, the reserves, the pies, the beer, the programmes, the Garden of Rest, everything to do with our club.

It's not what's happened in the past that matters SF. It's what happens next.

[potter3]

Why does everyone feel the need to post stuff three times recently?

[Sir Fynwy]

That really disappoints me. One thing connects with another and I'm with MA on this. If you're going to have success you need everyone to be involved and you need to pay attention to every detail from the cleaning staff through to the first team captain.

And let's develop Championship or Premiership class talent before we worry about world class because that's where we are or are aiming right now.

The Academy have picked up the club flag and given us something to be proud of again - the only harvest in the leanest of years I can remember. They've shown the way really - in achievement and in approach.

And yes our long term developmental history may have been ordinary but by any reasonable yardstick the throughput of Academy scholars through to the first team squad - nine altogether - has been extraordinary these last two seasons.

There seems every prospect that others will follow despite the bar being raised and if we could get half that throughput in the next two years it would still be an excellent achievement.

There's no reason it shouldn't happen.

MM assures us the scouting system is being improved and presumably spread wider. The success we've already had should breed further success as will having better senior players around the club, the added momentum generated by our new owner and the larger-than-life personality of the manager.

I believe the fans should play their part too by showing pride in every achievement of our club and its players.

Some already have that pride and it was clearly the case with Sunderland fans at the Academy play-off final when close to 5,000 turned out to watch their under 18's.

That's the sort of spirit we need to build, the sort of commitment and togetherness that was apparent when we played Birmingham, Preston and Barnsley.

If this club is going to be great we need to care. About the kids, the reserves, the pies, the beer, the programmes, the Garden of Rest, everything to do with our club.

It's not what's happened in the past that matters SF. It's what happens next.

Q. Do I care what you think?

A. No