[Albion] Brighton And Hove Albion U23 v Benfica Premier League international cup 7pm Tonight

[One Teddy Maybank]

Indeed, and there are still some who will ridicule the idea of occasionally putting a youngster on the bench for the experience - and maybe 10-15 minutes on the pitch if we're 3-0 up (or 3-0 down I suppose) - 'oh no, they're too young, it's a different level of football, they're way off being anywhere near ready yet, won't be for two years or more' etc, etc.

Expect one or more on here in a few minutes actually.

Sanders was superb, and plays in a very similar style to Stephens.

Normann I thought was a little sloppy at times in the first half, but in the second his radar was spot on, and consequently creativity wise, we looked more dangerous.

Connolly missed a couple of good chances, but was very good throughout.

Barclay very capable throughout.

Very enjoyable evening and once again lots of promise for the future.

Re your post. I agree and given we have 7 subs these days, I really do feel teams should be forced to have at least one U21 on the bench....


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[blue-shifted]

Errrr. So yes, i'm saying the youth team is good now. Historically, we've produced the odd good player, but never (apart from under Wilkins) the sense that there's a whole youth team who are worth following closely

You do our youth teams a disservice. Christian Walton is a regular in a Championship side, JFC plays for Charlton, Elphick for Hull, and Cook who plays for Bournemouth. These were all British born and bred.

We have two home grown players in our first team in the Premier League. Very few teams can say that.

Now the Academy is up and running we can get the foreign players in and coach them to the standards we want, but it takes time.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Bar to get into the 1st XI is much higher now. It's a work in progress, but progress is what we are seeing. I'd like to think we get 1 or 2 into the first team squad next season...

That's the paradox. We have the money and the infrastructure to produce young footballers of a far higher standard than we've ever done previously. Yet their path to the first team is, logically, longer and harder than it's ever been before. I imagine we'll see more and more going out on loan, and some eventually being sold on. I'd like to think we'll value them highly when they do come to move on though.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Errrr. So yes, i'm saying the youth team is good now. Historically, we've produced the odd good player, but never (apart from under Wilkins) the sense that there's a whole youth team who are worth following closely

Then you've missed out watching the previous youth teams. They were always worth following.

 

[Kosh]

My oh my it’s fantastic to see how well the academy and our youth setup is progressing... for me the path over the past few years, has been akin to that of a really legendary band getting it together. Yes for example, two slightly dodgy albums, a promising third and then: a fragile work of genius bringing us closer to the edge of footballing brilliance.

Yes; yes... that’s how I see it.

To think I thought the Sam Rents debut suite (third movement, reprise) was as good as it would get!!

Pass me the ****ing Bong, Beram, tonight is going to be a night to remember...

I’ll get my cloak.

Yours is no disgrace

 

[timbha]

It’s a real pleasure watching the U23’s. They play with passion and style and correctly try and emulate the first team, albeit at a quicker pace. The standard of play is streets ahead of any Albion reserve or youth football EVER yet only a few, at most will make the first team.

We as fans can’t judge how well they would adapt to PL standard but I for one think they are at least a year in the cHampionship away from even a place on the bench.

 

[BrickTamland]

Could Rusk be a potential successor to CH? Getting some great results and would fit in with the model of continuity the club seem to be attempting to create with the employment of Ashworth

 

[Sheebo]

Lets see. Will be a complete failure if none make into the first team squad regularly. When was the last one ? March 4 years ago?


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Not necessarily. It would have been worth it to claim our top level status and to enhance our attraction for the future etc - it’s not allnjust first team this and that. Also, it may take some time before players start coming through - and it is rare even at the best academy’s - just look at Man City! Certainly isn’t and won’t be a failure imo.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Not necessarily. It would have been worth it to claim our top level status and to enhance our attraction for the future etc - it’s not allnjust first team this and that. Also, it may take some time before players start coming through - and it is rare even at the best academy’s - just look at Man City! Certainly isn’t and won’t be a failure imo.

Absolutely, IMO one gem and it becomes worth it.

Who is to say that:

Walton and Sanchez aren’t the next Ryan
Cox won’t go on to replace Bong
Barclay or White isn’t the next Dunk/Lawrenson
Sanders the next Stephens
Connolly the next Peter Ward?

Lots of potential and promise at the moment.




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[Sarisbury Seagull]

Not necessarily. It would have been worth it to claim our top level status and to enhance our attraction for the future etc - it’s not allnjust first team this and that. Also, it may take some time before players start coming through - and it is rare even at the best academy’s - just look at Man City! Certainly isn’t and won’t be a failure imo.

Exactly. It’s all part of creating an elite level environment for players to come in to and if we do get the odd player coming through to become first team players, it’s a bonus. How many times do you hear players talk about facilities and the future etc when they sign, modern players do care about these things.

It is also about creating an additional income stream, bring players through who maybe aren’t good enough for the first team but we sell for profit - see Chelsea. Cynical to some but the way of the modern football world and sensible from my point of view.

 

[jasetheace]

Good win , good performance & a clean sheet ... maybe a bit picky but probably should have been even more comfortable with a 3rd if not 4th goal. Could not see Benfica scoring if they played til midnight as Albions defence was mighty impressive and matching their 1st team counter parts for determination.

Does rather beg the question, did we really need Dan Burn when we have Ben White and others?

 

[Seasidesage]

That's the paradox. We have the money and the infrastructure to produce young footballers of a far higher standard than we've ever done previously. Yet their path to the first team is, logically, longer and harder than it's ever been before. I imagine we'll see more and more going out on loan, and some eventually being sold on. I'd like to think we'll value them highly when they do come to move on though.

I'm sure paying the running costs via sales of the academy will be part of the objectives of the project. The London clubs have a steady stream of players coming through that don't quite make the 1st team but command fees or sell on clauses when they drop into the lower leagues. The U23's and youth teams are becoming steadily more competitive and this can only be a good thing. If we are to ever make the jump from also rans to challengers for even the european places we need to find stars from our own ranks as we will never make that jump via the market alone.

 

[Uncle C]

I would absolutely hate to be a defender up against Connolly he just doesn't stop pressing , excellent display so far .

Reminds me a bit of Rooney when he started out - and remember be is still only 18.

 

[y2dave]

We’ve had some bargains but the average cost of signing a first team squad player has got to be in the region of 10m. One player every 2 years making the grade should represent value, especially if we sell others for profit with sell-on fees. I think we have 3-4 players who are possibly one beneficial loan move away from being ready. Great progress.

 

[Taybha]

Reminds me a bit of Rooney when he started out - and remember be is still only 18.

Blimey that’s exactly what I said to somebody last night , won’t really know just how good he is until used in the 1st team but he is relentless in his work has a excellent first touch holds the ball up well wins fouls from giant CB’s and obviously knows where the net is , he even tried to chip the goalie from 45 yards last night , we shall see .

 

[BNthree]

Presumably the reason Dan Ashworth has been signed as Technical Director is to help getting academy players ready for first team or senior football. Let's see how he does.

 

[blue-shifted]

We’ve had some bargains but the average cost of signing a first team squad player has got to be in the region of 10m. One player every 2 years making the grade should represent value, especially if we sell others for profit with sell-on fees. I think we have 3-4 players who are possibly one beneficial loan move away from being ready. Great progress.

Agree. Just think of how much we'd have to pay on the open market for a player of Dunk or March's quality? I wouldn't want to hazard a guess at annual academy running costs, but my guess is that the model is something like ... Not many academy players need to make it through for it to pay for itself. Two or Three £200k sales with a 20% sell on clause to a league 1 side every year will also help to reduce annual losses while we wait for the 1 big breakthrough every couple of years which will help it at least break even

 

[Jim D]

Agree. Just think of how much we'd have to pay on the open market for a player of Dunk or March's quality? I wouldn't want to hazard a guess at annual academy running costs, but my guess is that the model is something like ... Not many academy players need to make it through for it to pay for itself. Two or Three £200k sales with a 20% sell on clause to a league 1 side every year will also help to reduce annual losses while we wait for the 1 big breakthrough every couple of years which will help it at least break even

Not so sure of the economics of selling players for £200k when we're buying them for well over £1m each.

 

[perseus]

We might have to beat Bayern by more than Everton do

Second time Benfica have lost at Lancing

 

[Frankie]

For what it’s worth I think Cox , Connolly , and Gyokeres will at least make the bench for the FA Cup 3rd round game if we face lower opposition teams like Wednesday for example .