Really kind draw for Derby - IA from Iceland next unless Levadia pull off a 4-0 comeback tomorrow. Smallers teams treat these competitions differently so I wonder if they'll bring Buchanan + Knight back in for later rounds. Spurs, PSG, City, Atletico, Genk, Dortmund/Barca, Lyon, Chelsea - could all be in the play-off round this year. Traditional sides haven't had a good start this year.
I turned down £2 million for a scholar 16 year old kid 5 days ago from a top 4 prem club. We don’t sell our talent cheaply 👍🏻 https://t.co/12t71mzX3N— Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102) October 23, 2019
I agree, he says he has them tied down on a pro deal - that hasn’t stopped a whole host of players going for smaller fees. Just thought it was interesting, and if anyone knows anything about their youth team it would be obvious who he is talking about which heaps pressure on them in a way
Harrison Burrows or Jones presumably. Apparently Grant McCann's son is useful, already been around NI squads at u16s. Darragh is a salesman. Did this same thing with another group of Peterborough kids a couple of years ago, saying how they were sure things and he was batting back interest. Obviously everything he says needs to be taken with a field of salt.
Palace going for Cat 1 https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/oc...academy-redevelopment-plans-category-1-status
Piece in The Athletic analysing Palace going for Cat 1 and a look at the chance to build a legacy as well as the current state of the academy and how much potential there is. https://theathletic.com/1336462/201...ountry-now-they-want-the-facilities-to-match/
Interesting piece, but parts of the whole thing seem a bit of a muddle - Hodgson's quotes leap out "but you have to make certain they are capable of handling it" "Putting them in too early can hinder their progress" "when we bring players over...they come straight in and start to dominate." This isn't a manager that is engaged in this project and will make the best of it, There's no way Palace shouldn't have a Cat 1 academy, with the PL riches and how long they have been there, the catchment area they have and their history - it's a bit shambolic it has taken so long in all honesty as not like they've been investing in the infrastructure at Selhurst Park. But I can't see being Cat 1 as opposed to Cat 2 making a huge difference without different people at the head of it.
Totally hear what you say. It's unlikely Hodgson will be at Palace beyond next season unless something significant happens, I think. There's no way that they are looking at him as the manager to take them forward in the long run, or to be the manager to bring these players through. It's absolutely true that there won't be a huge difference without different people, but again, that's likely to happen. But will it happen soon enough to make the most of this opportunity? Probably not.
Are there big underlying reasons as to why this has taken so long? Palace obviously went Cat 1 before the audit then dropped down because didn't have the facilities. Seems crazy that a club who has been in the PL for 6-7 years haven't managed to get all their facilities upgraded whilst taking the PL coin, from the outside looking in it is just rank bad management to have not secured the future of the club in this way
They didn't own the site until last summer and were trying to buy the HSBC sports ground which backs onto New Beckenham station, but they couldn't agree a price. The club will argue that finding land somewhere near the main training ground in London/Kent where you can build is almost impossible hence coming back to this site. That's probably true but they've rented this site for several years and it's almost an excuse because they should have just bought out Goals sooner. They should have done this at least two seasons ago.
It feels inevitable that this good U16 group ends up getting their breakthrough at senior level for Palace because of mismanagement at the first team level, probably in the Championship. Like Joe says, easy to be sceptical about the plan in place at the top. Hopefully it doesn't undermine the work of their academy and a few of them do get a real shot.
Wigan has stepped up nicely to Cat 2 when I think the category needed new spark added with some clubs falling by the way-side or nothing compared to their past achievements. Now not only Weir and Gelhardt in England squads but also Winstanley & Devine in the recent England u16 squad.
Ultimately Palace's academy won't fulfil its potential until there is a change in attitude towards long-term thinking - as Parish alludes to. That means a manager who takes a chance on youth, and a change in personnel in the upper reaches of the academy staff too.
English sides really struggling in the UYL this season. Chelsea drawing 1-1 with a weakened Ajax side, City losing 1-0 to Atalanta & Liverpool likewise to Genk. Spurs with a tricky trip to Serbia but if they win they should probably have 2nd secured. Will be an uphill battle for any of them to get through & I can't see any of the English sides finishing top of their group. Derby could be our only hope assuming they get through.
Chelsea had chances to win against both Lille and Ajax, and were undone by two long-range goals against Valencia, so it's a bit weird for them. They've not been bad by any means, but haven't hit their true form, and are also yet to play with everyone available, though that's no excuse given Ajax's issues. Two wins from two qualify them for at least the playoffs but there's a lot of work to do. Given the quality of the group I think it's arguable Chelsea have still been the best of the English sides so far.
Derby are gonna be an awkward side for any of the teams that come 2nd to face in the next round. Especially if they decide to treat it as a really big night for the club and drop players back down. Does clash with a league game though.
I'm a little behind, and the league doesn't get much talk here, but the EFL Alliance went a bit nuts last weekend. Salford 6-0 Blackpool Tranmere 9-0 Morecambe Leyton Orient 0-10 Wimbledon Peterborough 2-11 Stevenage Southend 5-8 Northampton I've not seen anything like it
Northampton seem to be doing well. They've got the older (presumably?) Chukwuemeka brother. United v City in the U18s was great to watch. 10/11 English starters for City, United filling more gaps with foreign players but they're focusing on top standard ones and the substandard ones get quickly overtaken by the homegrown players if they're found out. Just hope they don't get too enamoured with mediocre players from elsewhere as has been too common in the last decade. Reece Devine is very much like Brandon Williams but actually left footed. Having a strong season.
In the grand scheme of things, this means little, but it'll be a bit of a shame if Leicester are one of the English sides in the UYL. A few interesting players in them age groups but a slight waste of a spot.
1194609602672889858 is not a valid tweet id 📰| City are now set to do battle with Liverpool as they aim to beat them to the signing of West Brom's wonderkid Jovan Malcolm.Malcolm (16) is regarded as one of the best talents as he recently beat the Reds 6-3 recently where the striker scored 4 goals.[Football Insider] pic.twitter.com/ldHD6V5Tfm— City Chief (@City_Chief) November 14, 2019 Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all monitoring West Brom teenager Jovan Malcolm (16).The Baggies Under 18s striker has scored seven goals in five games including four goals against Liverpool last week.[@MirrorFootball] pic.twitter.com/WvP2CrxFPW— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) November 13, 2019