Remember, we made good money on the palmers, the keeper, the England u15 probably. As well a Tavenier and Spence, so it sure;y makes a profit and supplements the squad depth as well. Even sold a couple players to lower league club. So it’s doing very well. Maybe every generation you get a downing, fry or Hackney. No clubs have an endless supply chain, not even Man Utd in recent years
Academy Players
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futureboy
Well-known member
Not sure what the plan for George McCormick is.
He's had a few appearances here and there, but we've signed about 11 different left-backs while he's been in the picture, and each and every one of them has gone into the team (or onto the bench) ahead of him. Even when we get injuries, he never seems to move up the queue at all.
He's had a few appearances here and there, but we've signed about 11 different left-backs while he's been in the picture, and each and every one of them has gone into the team (or onto the bench) ahead of him. Even when we get injuries, he never seems to move up the queue at all.
15-20 years back some Northern League lads would play for Irish teams such as Waterford. Would fly across and then back after the games. That's about the standard. In my opinion this isn't a loan which suggests he's going places.
BoroPhil
Well-known member
Can't see him making it now, for us anyway. Think Fin Munroe coming in was the final nail in the coffin.
He was actually playing left mid for the u21s back end of the season.
Sometimes it's hard to predict. Man City paid £15m for Nypan and loaned him to us and he barely got a kick before being sent back.
guisborough_rob
Moderator
Yes, my mate Jim is a season ticket holder at Darlo and he said Howells was brilliant last year. He fears he will go on to a better club.
Academies pick up lots of top talent from local grassroots sides however they are then entering an environment where all players were “stars” in their local team. It’s cutthroat and only 1% of those picked up at a young age will end up making it as a professional. Sadly, you have families who seem to think they have made it just because their Jimmy plays for boro u10s.
If only one child makes it from a cohort then an academy has done their job with that side. 99% won’t make football as a career. Boro do well with our academy. You are always going to struggle when the top sides can poach your players.
If only one child makes it from a cohort then an academy has done their job with that side. 99% won’t make football as a career. Boro do well with our academy. You are always going to struggle when the top sides can poach your players.
AJ Bridge was initially at the Boro academy at a young age then got released, he was them picked up late (around 15) he knows my son well and they played in the same district and county teams, same as Oscar Fletcher, he's done really well to get a move to Norwich and was training with the first team for a while..whether he makes it is anyone's guess? Very talented player but the standard is so high these days, as English clubs are recruiting from all over the world, which was different from back when I played.
I think the overall problem with our U21s is they're loaned out too late, and Howells is a good example.
If he was loaned out a year earlier and recreated what he did at Darlington at 19 instead of 20, he'd have left with 20~ professional games in NLN and a year left on his contract.
That would have put him as one of the most experienced (pro games) in the U21 team, and we could have negotiated a loan move higher...
Hartlepool/Gateshead one step up from Darlington, or even Harrogate two steps up - then we could see some genuine progression, NLN -> NL -> L2.
Playing in NLN at 20-21 is too late because we have no choice but to either sign them up, or release them