Academy and Development Squad Developments 2017-18

ASLEFshrugged

We've got Cullen
Joshua Cullen
I just don't think you understand
We got him from West Ham
He's better than Zidane
We've got Joshua Cullen

Awwwwww

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

He's the one that can really make the jump up imo

He is a on the older side of our youth players at 21 but he looks to have that bit of class about him. He still has a lot of maturing to do physically but has the attributes to be a deep playmaker, a guy who can dictate tempo which we only really have Lanzini who can do that but we want him further up the pitch

Him and Burke will have preseason to impress, would like to see their performances as we are stacked in their positions but both could save us some money long term

NEoldiron

Alderz, it's the only one with the words "Joshua Cullen" in, therefore it is unique. ;biggrin

NEoldiron

If Slav is not going to give Academy players a first team start, what is the point of the Academy? ;hmm

Hamstew

I'll just leave this here

TwistandShout

He really shouldn't be on twitter

grey_til_I_dye

Why?

It's a perfectly reasonable comment, specifically referring to 'teenagers'.

It really doesn't happen that often at other clubs.

Hamstew

Are we a team of seasoned internationals then?

Hamstew

And other clubs do play teenagers

ASLEFshrugged

The question was about "youngsters" not "teenagers, Oxford is 18 but Burke is 20 and will be 21 in September.

As for "seasoned international" (singular???) that certainly applies to our centre backs, Collins, Fonte, Reid and Ogbonna have over 100 caps between them.

TwistandShout

grey_til_I_dye said:

Why?

It's a perfectly reasonable comment, specifically referring to 'teenagers'.

It really doesn't happen that often at other clubs.

Close the academy down then? ;hmm

MrsGrey

Only if you think the only purpose of the Academy is to produce 1st team players for West Ham?

grey_til_I_dye

Hamstew - often enough to stop it being 'extremely unlikely' - given how many youth players each team has?

ASLEF - the question used 'youngsters' - Gold used 'teenagers.

Twist

Yes, as that is clearly what I meant.

I really don't get the point of that type of response.

Have a look here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3774724/Premier-League-graduates-players-come-club.html

and here:

www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/10058264/hold-hold-hold

McHammer

Problem is of late how many youngsters that we have released recently have gone on to prove that decision to be wrong. Very few in recent years.

McHammer

I thought Zavon Hines was the next world star!!

grey_til_I_dye

Anyone doubting the club's commitment to developing young players is clearly not following what is going on. In addition to our own academy products, we have signed a fair few promising players between the ages of 17 and 19 in the last few years.

Hamstew

I will never be persuaded that giving Calleri game after game and sending Martinez out on loan was a good idea. Then seeing a tweet like that? Sorry just my opinion ;ok

grey_til_I_dye

Ham

If they didn't want them to come on into the team, they wouldn't sign them in the first place, would they?

alderz

I don't expect to persuade you, but I think there is an argument that had Martinez gotten such few minutes in our team (as Calleri has) he wouldn't have had the same opportunity to develop as he did being a first teamed at Oxford

grey_til_I_dye

Ham

To clarify:

I'm not suggesting you don't have the right (or are necessarily wrong) to criticise decisions the club make regarding youth players; I'm only saying that, imo, the club are committed to trying to bring on young players.

It's a bit like the transfer argument: if people think our transfers have been rubbish, that's fair enough (even if I disagree), but if people say the club aren't spending proper money on transfers, then I think that is simply ignoring the facts.

Hamstew

Grey im not suggesting that the club are not to commited to bringing on youth players ive simply shown Daves imo strange tweet and also highlighted the Calleri Martinez situation that I feel strongly about and imo makes no sense. Alderz, Martinez has made 14 appearances for Oxford and Calleri 15 for West Ham. Imo Calleri has had loads of chances. I mean Zaza (an actual international) played 8 times for us and then was shipped out as he was deemed not good enough.

I also get that not many teenagers hold down regular spots in the Prem but as I say I think its a bit of an odd tweet , especially as most of our young players are on twitter. Not the most motivational of things to say.

Adam

Hamstew said:

I think its a bit of an odd tweet , especially as most of our young players are on twitter. Not the most motivational of things to say.

^This^

I'm not against the chairmen in general but he simply should not be saying something like this.

Gold needs to be mentally stronger and not respond to these tweets, unless he genuinely thinks it's fine to say these sorts of things about our players publicly.

MrsGrey

But it's not like the Academy players aren't aware of the difficulties.

Lukerz

I agree with Ham ;ok

Lukerz

MrsGrey said:

But it's not like the Academy players aren't aware of the difficulties.

But telling someone who's obese and knows they are obese, that they're obese, probably won't make them feel better, regardless of whether they already know it.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

Yea it's just an unnecessary comment

baracks_a_hammer

A comment (by DG) which has zero percent chance of having any benefit whatsoever and more than likely would do the opposite.

IronHerb

Declan Rice has been called up into the Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifier against Austria. ;clap

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40011682

MrsGrey

;nonono

;clap

alderz

Wow