What are people's expectations of the Academy?

[scoobiewhite]

In my opinion, outside of the fight to build the stadium, the academy getting the highest score in the country is the clubs greatest achievement since the early eighties.

I'm sure many will have the opinion that playing achievements such as staying in the league or the league 1 championship outweigh this but bear with me.

I realised the other day that I was just thinking 'good academy = better players coming through'. So I started to think about what this success will really translate to in the coming years.

A team of Sussex born players in or around the premiership?
An academy graduate playing for England within a decade?
More income for the club to be able to compete against parachute payments?

So my question is this...

What are your expectations?

I'm really interested to understand more about how the EPPP effects us now, how long you think it might take for academy prospects to come through etc. etc.

**Warning** Angry one line comments such as 'its all just a scam so that premiership can nick all the best talent cheap' May not be read... or may be chuckled at.

 

[Return of the Rev]

In the near future nothing,long term WE COULD PRODUCE ENOUGH PLAYERS TO KEEP US IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT LOSING MILLIONS EACH SEASON

 

[ditchy]

The Academy is great for BHAFC and a great achievement but the talent coming through will only be as good as the coaching they receive to bring on their talent

 

[Lego-Stand]

I was there Friday with my 6 year old son for an under - 7 tournament he was representing Pro-Direct. There were 11 other Academy teams including Albion’s own. I am know expert but the facilities quite simply blew me away I could not believe the size and intricate layout of the site. Indoor / outdoor pitches astro turf pitches, specialised training areas man-made slopes covered in astro turf for recovery work, fusball pitches, goal keeping areas, set piece areas etc.

There were plenty of Albion coaches refereeing and observing the games. There must have been 80 odd boys from all over Sussex competing and suffice to say this exercise was designed to spot talent early. I am in no doubt that we will be producing home grown players along with those from further afield over the next 10- 12 years.
We were not allowed to take photographs so unable to post here

 

[middletoenail]

Is it really the best academy in the country?

 

[dingodan]

Who is going to run it in the long term?

 

[algie]

Quite excited and grateful but it will take time to bear fruit i guess. Relying on the academy alone won't work. We need to get the balance right and that means we have to spend money as well.

 

[Acker79]

Is it really the best academy in the country?

At the fans forum it was stated that it got the highest mark in the entire country. Though, since it's only just opened, that will just be a rating of the facilities/staff structure, rather than process or output.

 

[Zebedee]

I really don't give a toss about the Academy at the moment. Building a competitive squad for the current season is much more important, at least in the short term.

 

[middletoenail]

At the fans forum it was stated that it got the highest mark in the entire country. Though, since it's only just opened, that will just be a rating of the facilities/staff structure, rather than process or output.

Thanks.

 

[desprateseagull]

View attachment 57288

 

[scoobiewhite]

I really don't give a toss about the Academy at the moment. Building a competitive squad for the current season is much more important, at least in the short term.

But my question was 'what are your expectations for the academy?', there are plenty of other threads related to the squad for this season.

If you don't have any, no worries, but I think there is enough room for 1 thread about the medium/long term!

 

[Zebedee]

But my question was 'what are your expectations for the academy?', there are plenty of other threads related to the squad for this season.

If you don't have any, no worries, but I think there is enough room for 1 thread about the medium/long term!

Sorry to have been so blunt and not to have answered your question. With the investment we have made, I would very much hope that we would see a minimum of 3-4 players graduating to the first team each year from the Academy.

 

[Marshy]

Mine would be that eventually we get 2 academy players come through each season into the first team squad

 

[GT49er]

I expect Bournemouth will be expecting some good young defenders!

 

[shaolinpunk]

Give it a few years and then I'd like to see two graduates a year that are good enough for a regular place in the first team squad and two that aren't quite good enough but can be sold for a decent price which can then be reinvested.

 

[scoobiewhite]

It seems everyone is focused on perhaps 2/3 players coming through each year at the level we are playing at and some additional talent to be developed further down (hopefully down) the league pyramid.

I for one would also love to get a player into a home nations squad within 6-7 years. Its great that Greer, CMS, Bridcutt, Ward, Max etc have done this whilst at the Albion but it would be even better to have saySolly March get into the England squad whilst still at the Albion, having come right up through the Academy (Before you say it I know Lewes developed that particular player and that he has got into the under 21s as well!).

Does anyone have any insights as to how the category 1 status effects us and what we can expect in terms of recruiting young talent?

 

[scoobiewhite]

Who is going to run it in the long term?

John Morling is the Academy Manager, although I assume he reports in to Burke (who despite what a lot of people say on here, I believe to be doing an excellent job).

Dont know enough about the Academy industry to know if this is likely to remain in the long term.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

What are your expectations?

Realistic

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The big challenge will be to retain any future stars the academy may happen to produce who express a desire to play at the highest level. Unless of course we are already established at the highest level. Don't want to be producing a conveyor belt of young talent only to sell them on earlydoors.