Re: The wigan youth system : Sun Jul 06, 2014 7:32 pm  

jonh wrote:

The point is we put a lot if faith in our young players. Sometimes too much at the cost of not recruiting when proven too players are on the market.

We seem to be putting a massive amount if faith in Powell and Williams for example both if whome I feel need a lot of work. Now you consider there is a player signed by Hull proven at SL level as a top performer in Snyed, it is a massive gamble by Wigan.

its a gamble, but its one that has paid off for you, for decades. 2005/06 were notable exceptions but apart from tht you've got the balance right.

Re: The wigan youth system : Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:00 pm  

I'm a big believer that your youth system can only take you so far. It's incredible what has happened at Wigan. There is an element of luck with kids and to have so many successful transitions from academy to first team is ridiculous.

You just have to wonder how long they can keep churning them out.

Re: The wigan youth system : Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:39 pm  

Top Saint wrote:

Actually it got me thinking. Could a youth system be too good.

If a club consistently produced a very good standard of player from its own academy system, eventually the first team squad would be saturated and any new players would have no route into the first team squad. This club would then, essentially, be producing players for other clubs.

That's already happening, which is not too bad if not for the fact that it allows the lower clubs to get away with not having a youth setup to equal those of Wigan, Saints or Leeds, for example, as they know those clubs will always produce more than they can find places for.

Re: The wigan youth system : Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:14 pm  

Top Saint wrote:

Actually it got me thinking. Could a youth system be too good.

If a club consistently produced a very good standard of player from its own academy system, eventually the first team squad would be saturated and any new players would have no route into the first team squad. This club would then, essentially, be producing players for other clubs.

You could not make it up....

Re: The wigan youth system : Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:20 pm  

Top Saint wrote:

Would they though. If they have a top drawer 22 year old scrum half and an excellent 19 year old backup, would they keep an excellent 18 year old as a further backup. there may not be any noticeable difference between the 18 and 19 year old's, but in a salary capped sport, one would have to go. If he then went on to sign for their greatest rivals and become their first choice scrum half it would feel like they were producing players for other clubs rather than themselves.

This is a very unlikely scenario at the moment with any club, but if an academy setup became good enough it could happen.

That's been happening for ages. Ducky ODonnell, Bobby Goulding, wide to West, David Lyon, Stuart Jones spring to mind.

Re: The wigan youth system : Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:44 pm  

tugglesf78 wrote:

You could not make it up....

In what way? or are you implying that wigan already do this?

Re: The wigan youth system : Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:48 pm  

Finfin wrote:

That's been happening for ages. Ducky ODonnell, Bobby Goulding, wide to West, David Lyon, Stuart Jones spring to mind.

They were one offs. I'm talking about 4 or 5 players every year.

Re: You couldn't make this up!!!!!!! : Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:04 pm  

Top Saint wrote:

Well, obviously, Goons complaining that there superb, must be envied, best in the world youth system is holding them back. I wonder if Rogues has read it?

I've read it.
It's that stupid it's not worth a reply.

I'll leave you to guess why it's on here.

Re: You couldn't make this up!!!!!!! : Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:10 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I've read it.
It's that stupid it's not worth a reply.

I'll leave you to guess why it's on here.

It's on here because I put it on here you silly old sod!!!!!!!!

I find it quite amusing that your beloved little group of boys is being blamed for some of your failings.

Now get back to watching Hollyoakes.

Re: You couldn't make this up!!!!!!! : Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:43 am  

Top Saint wrote:

It's on here because I put it on here you silly old sod!!!!!!!!

I find it quite amusing that your beloved little group of boys is being blamed for some of your failings.

Now get back to watching Hollyoakes.

And some fell on stony ground!!!!!