Transfer rumours, speculation and associated discussion - summer 2018 (Part I)

[fugazi3973]

Originally Posted by Jaded

So what happens if we don’t get back in the league? Has the recent focus on ignoring the youth and going all out on the first team looked like paying dividends? (I know our position seems strong last year until we fell apart, but as ‘frothers’ were constantly told it’s the final league position that counts.)

Is it so hard to believe that a focus on youth may actually HELP with a return to the league?

It would be wonderful, unfortunately, I have very real fears that the game has changed so dramatically that youth will always go to the big clubs with their academies, and then end up getting loaned out to us.

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by fugazi3973

I gave my opinion as to how long. When we're back in the league, and can then get funding. Plus we're then more likely to be an even more attractive proposition to local kids.
And yes. It's a big deal. A very big deal.

“When we’re back in the league” could be next year, 20 years from now, or never.

[Birdy]

Originally Posted by fugazi3973

Plus we're then more likely to be an even more attractive proposition to local kids.
And yes. It's a big deal. A very big deal.

Not when our youth system is the worst in the area and there is no route to the first team, why would kids come here?

[fugazi3973]

Originally Posted by Jaded

“When we’re back in the league” could be next year, 20 years from now, or never.

Unfortunately, that's the case. I don't like it, but it's realistic. The game has changed. The big clubs hoover up the local talent, with the aim not of playing them (unless they're exceptional) but developing them to sell on to Championship / League 1 clubs who sell their lesser players on to us etc.

Some of the youth get funnelled down to our level, but they tend to be the ones who have been released from the big boys' academies first (someone mentioned Neil Taylor. He's a good example, as he was released at 16 from Man City - another example is Vose who started off at West Ham. There are many many more - hell even Moult started 'in the Premiership' with Stoke)

As a league club, we'd be more attractive to those players, but in this area, we have a lot of clubs above us in the league, who if you are a lad from the Manchester / Liverpool area is still a better way into the league (Shrewsbury, Bury, Crewe, etc. Hell, even Rochdale!

I think it's telling that keepers tend to make it to us and then get sold on. I don't think that's a coincidence, but more to do with the fact that there is much more competition for places as it's such a specialised role. Keepers tend to drift down further as there are less available academy spaces.

It all depends on how much of the budget you're willing to take away from the transfer fund on the off-chance of us picking up one.

[fugazi3973]

Originally Posted by Birdy

Not when our youth system is the worst in the area and there is no route to the first team, why would kids come here?

That's why I said when we're in the league and you can get funding it would be worth starting up, and doing it properly. Then you'd have the added bonus of it being a possible route into the league, whereas now these kids would be more likely to look at Shrewsbury etc.

You're forgetting, however much we think of ourselves as a big club, the reality is kids coming through now at 16+ will have no memory of us as a league team.

[Teifi Red]

Two brothers aged 12 and 10 years have been on Shrewsbury academy books for last 2 years.
I suggested to the parents (who are friends) that they try the Wrexham academy. The mother told me she was more impressed with the Wrexham set up but due to Shrewsbury being a league team, they also went there and were accepted.
There's serious competition out there for these places and it takes a dedicated family to treck up and down the country taking the boys to games, competitions etc.
Maybe there's a way of finding a balance for this talent in our make up until we get back in the league.

[fugazi3973]

Originally Posted by Teifi Red

Two brothers aged 12 and 10 years have been on Shrewsbury academy books for last 2 years.
I suggested to the parents (who are friends) that they try the Wrexham academy. The mother told me she was more impressed with the Wrexham set up but due to Shrewsbury being a league team, they also went there and were accepted.
There's serious competition out there for these places and it takes a dedicated family to treck up and down the country taking the boys to games, competitions etc.
Maybe there's a way of finding a balance for this talent in our make up until we get back in the league.

Cheers, that does clear up in my head what I believed the case was.

[jonesfach]

Originally Posted by Birdy

Not when our youth system is the worst in the area and there is no route to the first team, why would kids come here?

So let's spend another 200k on youth, reserves etc.

Take that from the first team budget and there is no way we are getting out of this league!! Other than downwards.

Which route do you think most supporters would choose? It's not a nice choice but it has to be made.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by jonesfach

So let's spend another 200k on youth, reserves etc.

Take that from the first team budget and there is no way we are getting out of this league!! Other than downwards.

Which route do you think most supporters would choose? It's not a nice choice but it has to be made.

The COE funding is not supposed to be from the first team budget though is it? That's the point.
2017 then income was £213k and costs £268k compared to 2016 where it was £298k versus £236k.

We can therefore see that income does not cover costs for 2017 anyway.
We should be looking for sponsorship for the COE separately to WAFC - IMO.