Posted by scouseclaret I'm not totally convinced by this argument that all the best kids want to go to the top teams. Its certainly a problem, but Crewe seem to manage OK, and the "glamour" clubs have always had an advantage anyway. I think the important thing is being seen to be a club that has a good reputation for bringing through kids (which we no longer have) and for giving them a chance in the first team, which we don't - certainly not under Stan. Trawling for big-club cast-offs might be more successful, but even then I doubt Stan's committment to taking chances on them. Look at Alan Lee - bought in from Villa, but never given a chance, now proving he can score goals in the first division. I fear Papa might be about to go the same way. If Wayne Rooney was a Claret, he'd probably have been loaned out to Stalybridge by now. I think the biggest problem we have is bridging the gap between promising youngster and first team player. Loads of players have dropped through this - Shandran looks like being the latest - and it suggests that swomething is lacking in our coaching at the 18/19 year old level. If this is the case, getting cast-offs at this age will also be fruitless. Much as we love him, I can't help thinking this is Stan's big weakness as a manager. Does anyone know if he has any track record of bringing players through at other clubs?
on 3/1/2003, 10:30 pm, in reply to "Interesting AGM comments on the youth set-up"
Actually, CBH, the youth set-up has already been dismantled once - by John BOnd in the early 80's - for reasons of cost, although even then, it was producing the occassional gem such as Trevor Steven and Mike Phelan. It was restarted by Frank Casper around 1990, but its record since then is so pittiful, it does beg the question is it worth it.
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