Lend Me a Helping Hand...

[EastStandBlue]

People of SZ...

As some of you may know, I'm in the middle of writing an investigative article about the state of the country's youth development schemes, tying in with the larger picture of the nationwide pool of talent.

I'm focusing heavily on none other than our own Southend, and have got to the stage now where I need to gauge some supporter opinion regarding the players that have made the grade, the ones that haven't and the overall success of the youth team that you feel is evident for supporters to see.

So, all i'm asking for is a quick comment, be it about Moussa's performances this season, Herd's impact from the youth team or just how you feel the youth team have progressed over the last 4 years or so. Leave your name if you want, and you might just be famous come October...

Cheers,
EastStandBlue

 

[Rayleigh boy]

everything here is cool - but if its investigative have you dealt with the scandal at col u ?

 

[fredheim_holm]

Personally the jury is still out. Franck Moussa has come on leaps and bounds, his progress summed up on Tuesday when he shrugged the Hereford right back to the floor and whipped in a good left footed cross. He has potential to develop further and he hasn't even been played in his favoured central midfield position. He hasn't yet got to a stage where I can say yeah, play him ahead of Grant/Macca/JFC, so we'll see if he can make that step-up.

Johnny Herd to me has a big future in the game, as long as he works on his defensive side a little then I can see him playing CCC football in the future. Good defensively as he is, surprisingly strong in the air, direct running forward and has one massive throw on him.

O'Keefe, I can't really comment, although he has impressed me on the rare occasion he has graced the field, even if he looks somewhat awkward in the warm-ups.

Overall, our youth has a big part to play in the future, not only those who make an impact at Southend but those who move on to bigger things (such as Femi). Ricky Duncan and Luke Hobbs have done amazingly so far and I believe there is more to come.

Yours Lovingly,
Fred Rivett.

 

[leeblue]

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that yoof will be given a chance here at the hall, especially in recent seasons the likes of lokando, admeno, o keefe, mooooooos, herd have been given first team oppurtunities and I think that fact itself helps inspire the yoofs to give a little bit more in the knowledge that a first team appearance is not out of the question, unlike those poor kids at lets say the liverpool youth set up, WTF is the point can anyone name any young LFC players to come through the ranks in the last 3/4 years, Moussa in my opinion has been brilliant since his return from wycombe and I for one cant wait till hes given the CM spot he is made for. lee connolly

 

[chapperzUK]

The academy was set up 6-7 years ago, so we will only be starting to experience the benefits of the programme. Wait a few more years and, hopefully, we will see players like O'Keefe, Herd and Moussa playing on a regular basis. Maybe players like Calver, Hazell, Ljungstrom etc. will be trying to break into the first team.

 

[EastStandBlue]

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that yoof will be given a chance here at the hall, especially in recent seasons the likes of lokando, admeno, o keefe, mooooooos, herd have been given first team oppurtunities and I think that fact itself helps inspire the yoofs to give a little bit more in the knowledge that a first team appearance is not out of the question, unlike those poor kids at lets say the liverpool youth set up, WTF is the point can anyone name any young LFC players to come through the ranks in the last 3/4 years, Moussa in my opinion has been brilliant since his return from wycombe and I for one cant wait till hes given the CM spot he is made for. lee connolly

Yeah, what has the Liverpool Youth set up ever done for itself...

You know, despite bringing through Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

 

[chapperzUK]

Yeah, what has the Liverpool Youth set up ever done for itself...

You know, despite bringing through Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

I think he meant in the last 3-4 years. Such as Jay Spearing and Charles El Zhar.

One of the best has to be Manchester United. Produced players such as Gary and Phil Neville, both captain top english clubs, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt etc. They are still producing players who could become amazing such as Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans and Frazier Campbell. I believe that we should try and copy their techniques.

 

[fredheim_holm]

I think he meant in the last 3-4 years. Such as Jay Spearing and Charles El Zhar.

Charles is miles off the first team.

Nabil on the other hand makes apperances.. :dim:

 

[EastStandBlue]

I think he meant in the last 3-4 years. Such as Jay Spearing and Charles El Zhar.

Liverpool still have one of the most productive youth programmes in the Premiership.

Nabil El-Zhar, Jack Hobbs, Kristian Nemeth are all considered to be exciting prospects within the Liverpool ranks.

I believe that we should try and copy their techniques.

That's all well and good, but United pump millions of £££'s into their youth academy each year.

 

[chapperzUK]

Charles is miles off the first team.

Nabil on the other hand makes apperances.. :dim:

:stupidme: d'oh, my mistake.

 

[Rob1920]

The academy was set up 6-7 years ago, so we will only be starting to experience the benefits of the programme. Wait a few more years and, hopefully, we will see players like O'Keefe, Herd and Moussa playing on a regular basis. Maybe players like Calver, Hazell, Ljungstrom etc. will be trying to break into the first team.

We don't yet have an academy, we have a centre of excellence which is the next step down. RM is gearing us towards academy status as soon as we can get there as it will only increase our pulling power for young talent. However it takes a lot of investment to achieve academy status & would be huge step for a club like us. Not sure if there are any other L1 or L2 clubs with academy status, apart from maybe the likes of Leeds or Leicester.

 

[chapperzUK]

We don't yet have an academy, we have a centre of excellence which is the next step down. RM is gearing us towards academy status as soon as we can get there as it will only increase our pulling power for young talent. However it takes a lot of investment to achieve academy status & would be huge step for a club like us. Not sure if there are any other L1 or L2 clubs with academy status, apart from maybe the likes of Leeds or Leicester.

These would only have it because they were in the Premierleague and it was possibly cheaper back then. Hopefully we will gain academy status, not only will it attract players but also coaches. I am looking into a career in coaching so maybe I could be a youth coach at the academy :)

 

[Thorpe Groyney]

Very perceptive post Rob. I was lucky enough to chat with Ricky Duncan a while back (clang! - the sound of another name being dropped) and he said that, while things are coming along nicely, academy status would make so much difference.

Why? Because when we approach a local lad, we can only offer so much. When clubs such as West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal, etc, come in they can tempt the lad with their facilities, their on-pitch potential and so on.

If and when the new stadium comes to fruition and we achieve academy status, we can point to state-of-the-art facilities plus the distinct possibility of getting first team football much quicker than with other sides. The likes of Johnny Herd bears this out. We will be in a much better position to attract higher quality youths and, a few years down the line the whole club will be in a position of strength.

We don't have a great record with regard to youth policy, not bad but not great, however that could well change in the next decade.

 

[leeblue]

hang on a minute, gerrard and owen came out the LFC yoofs HOW MANY years ago, and the quote about them having one of the most productive youth systems must surely be a joke please give me the names of players who have come from the LFC academy and played in the prem in the last three to five years

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Liverpool still have one of the most productive youth programmes in the Premiership.

Nabil El-Zhar, Jack Hobbs, Kristian Nemeth are all considered to be exciting prospects within the Liverpool ranks.

How many times have they played this season?

Hobbs isn't a Liverpool product anyway, he was signed for big money from Lincoln.

I think he meant in the last 3-4 years. Such as Jay Spearing and Charles El Zhar.

One of the best has to be Manchester United. Produced players such as Gary and Phil Neville, both captain top english clubs, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Nicky Butt etc. They are still producing players who could become amazing such as Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans and Frazier Campbell. I believe that we should try and copy their techniques.

Excellent suggestion. I think becoming the biggest name in English football is definitely the way to ensure the most sought after talent comes to us.

 

[leeblue]

manchester city have a great record of academy players playing in the first team

stephen ireland, daniel sturridge, michael johnson, nedum onuha, micha richards, wright phillips to name a few now that is a productive academy, I think ched evans also as mentioned above LFC nowhere near this

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

manchester city have a great record of academy players playing in the first team

stephen ireland, daniel sturridge, michael johnson, nedum onuha, micha richards, wright phillips to name a few now that is a productive academy, I think ched evans also as mentioned above LFC nowhere near this

Yeah, I think Everton have a pretty decent record as well.

 

[maninasuitcase]

I was trying to think of players that have come through the youths to make say 25 or more appearances for the club in the last 20 odd years.

From memorable, so apologies if I've got a few wrong, but here goes:

Prior
Edwards
Roget
McSweeney
Johnson
Kightly
Moussa
Fitzpatrick

+ Lokondo, O'Keefe, Ademeno and Herd have all made recent appearances.

I think the problem is being able to keep players after they reach 18 but aren't ready to go in the first team squad. I think it is one of cost.

For example, when I saw Forshaw in the reserves/youth he looked a much better prospect than O'Keefe last year. But he will probably be let go at the end of the season as he just won't be able to get the games next year unless he gets promoted to the first team squad.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I was trying to think of players that have come through the youths to make say 25 or more appearances for the club in the last 20 odd years.

From memorable, so apologies if I've got a few wrong, but here goes:

Prior
Edwards
Roget
McSweeney
Johnson
Kightly
Moussa
Fitzpatrick

+ Lokondo, O'Keefe, Ademeno and Herd have all made recent appearances.

I think the problem is being able to keep players after they reach 18 but aren't ready to go in the first team squad. I think it is one of cost.

For example, when I saw Forshaw in the reserves/youth he looked a much better prospect than O'Keefe last year. But he will probably be let go at the end of the season as he just won't be able to get the games next year unless he gets promoted to the first team squad.

Also

Justin Edinburgh
Paul Smith
Steve Brown
Scott Ashenden
Jamie Southern
Matt Lockwood
Danny Foot
Declan Perkins
Yemi Aboudin

There will be a few more from our 4th division days under Alan Little when we had nothing to play for so we gave the kids a go, but I don't want to go there.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Also

Justin Edinburgh
Paul Smith
Steve Brown
Scott Ashenden
Jamie Southern
Matt Lockwood
Danny Foot
Declan Perkins
Yemi Aboudin

There will be a few more from our 4th division days under Alan Little when we had nothing to play for so we gave the kids a go, but I don't want to go there.

Add to that.
Peter Taylor
Phil Dudley
John Walker
Alan & Jeff Hull
Sean Rafter

If you work on the premise that we are a selling club, then the likes of Taylor, Prior, Edwards, Edinburgh & Roget have earned us decent transfer funds.