: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:34 pm  

tvoc wrote:

What it highlights is the demise (in part) of the famed Leeds Academy production line which has left gaps that couldn't be filled internally.

I have no problem with Leeds making these signings but ultimately the proof will be in the 1st team pudding.

The vision of the Leeds Academy is hugely distorted by a once in a lifetime crop emerging around the turn of the decade.

Within the space of three or four years, the club brought through numerous players who have gone on to represent their country (Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Ward, Diskin, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield - off the top of my head).

I'd be surprised to see any club replicate that in the near future.

If an Academy system feeds one or two players in who go on to establish themselves in the first team every year, it's performing adequately IMO.

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:34 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

By the clubs own admission some of the young forwards are a "couple" of years off regular 1st team at SL level does that equate to a demise though?????

It's a demise in part which is what I said.

You don't think it's a demise in part when the club has to look outside it's own internal structures of several Academy teams?

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:35 pm  

I personally thin its refreshing to see our club looking at local talent rather than over the hill aussies, Im quite happy to see other clubs signing over rated aussies on stupid wages whilst we concentrate on getting the best local talent, it makes me laugh to see the hull fans creaming themselves over signing omealy when the couple of local youngsters we have signed will probably be far far better value for us

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:38 pm  

tvoc wrote:

You don't think it's a demise in part when the club has to look outside it's own internal structures of several Academy teams?

In which case around 12 of the current SL sides have Academies which are "demising in part".

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:40 pm  

tvoc wrote:

It's a demise in part which is what I said.

You don't think it's a demise in part when the club has to look outside it's own internal structures of several Academy teams?

If the aforementioned forwards don't develop then maybe,but to see other quality youngsters signed to add depth to the overall squad i wouldn't call a demise in any form.
Sometimes players take longer to grow into SL players i don't think it's a major problem and afterall looking at Ben-jones-bishop,kallum watkins,broughton at hull plus mcshane that indicates to me that the acadamy is still producing the goods.

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:43 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

The vision of the Leeds Academy is hugely distorted by a once in a lifetime crop emerging around the turn of the decade.

Within the space of three or four years, the club brought through numerous players who have gone on to represent their country (Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Ward, Diskin, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield - off the top of my head).

I'd be surprised to see any club replicate that in the near future.

If an Academy system feeds one or two players in who go on to establish themselves in the first team every year, it's performing adequately IMO.

Any club can do it.

Its a case of setting your goal out for what you want. What Leeds achieved was not by luck, it was by setting that goal, to devlop the players, with a plan for first team action.

They have not carried on the same way on such a scale over last few years.

Saints, Wakey, and Cas, can still repeat what Leeds did now, if they continue with the players they have been developing.

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:45 pm  

christopher wrote:

over the hill aussies

I don’t think we’ve had an over the hill Australian for years tbh and this is a myth. The only one I can think of from the top of my head is Bradley Clyde. But I’m sure some people on here will have more to offer than just that one player!

I can safely say though that we’ve had more decent signings over the SL era than terrible ones!

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:48 pm  

It is a shame that we cant produce our own players but we have brought players through from lower leagues and acadamy befoer with great sucess so fingers crosed in a few years time they will all be first teamers

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:51 pm  

deginner wrote:

It is a shame that we cant produce our own players but we have brought players through from lower leagues and acadamy befoer with great sucess so fingers crosed in a few years time they will all be first teamers

You are joking right?

: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:52 pm  

Pitts and Amor seem like really good signings.

The good thing is that these lads probably aren't on top money either, meaning there's nothing to stop us bringing in the so called big names.