Moved house at the wrong time to invest in this, savings have dwindled due to moving costs and immediate home improvements.... but I hope this helps us churn out a few more Jamal Lewis's.
I think he sort of underlines the importance of having a productive academy really, when you see what you get for £1m (James Husband),if Lewis can keep improving them he can become a player that we wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford to buy.
Does anybody know if we have anybody a bit special projected to come through in the new few years? E.g. at Under 16 level? We seemed to hear about the Murphy's talent long before they'd made it to the first team, but haven't heard much hype about anybody recently?
Todd Cantwell seems to be the obvious one for a possible first team chance, but he's 20.... who else is tipped to breakthrough here?
I don't have any specific names but I think we are starting to churn out a decent standard, but more importantly, regaining our reputation as a club that develops young talent, and looks to give them chances. We have lost our way in recent years, in respect of this, and you only have to look at the case of Cameron McGeehan, a great young player that had to move on, as the club didn't give him a chance, and he was lost in the vacuum between youth football and making the first team. Obviously the fact we are short of money, and no longer in the Premiership means that there is a lot more onus on bringing the youth through, but it does feel that there is more of a structured approach to it all now, and we didn't seem to produce anything of worth for a lot of years before the Murphys. Obviously being in the Prem meant it were less likely that we would give youth players a chance, but it also shows really that we weren't producing the quality either.
I'm glad the club is placing the importance it is, on the academy, because we need it now, more than ever.