The General C. Krulak Thread XV

[Toronto Villa]

It is no coincidence that the two most consistently good teams in Europe over the past few years, Man Utd and Barcelona, are also two teams with two of the best youth systems in the world (Barca's is literally the best).

How many regular first teamers have Manchester United brought through over the past 14 years?

Well I was speaking about their old golden generation and now this one coming through, but the point is taken.

One of the great myths of football is that Manchester United have this conveyor belt of talent coming through their youth policy. In reality, since the 1995 lot (which was probably the best crop of kids any club has ever produced) they aren't up to much.

If you can bring through two who play for your first team or get sold to a club at that level every two years you've done well. In the past decade Villa have produced Gabby, Cahill, Steven Davis, Gardner, Ridgwell and arguably Luke Moore. Have I missed any out? 

I'd say along with us, Everton, Boro and man City must be right up there also. Much better than Man U in playing their own. A lot of Man U kids leave the club and have modest to good careers at other clubs which may give the impression their system is more productive than the other teams I've mentioned.

[stevo_st]

It is no coincidence that the two most consistently good teams in Europe over the past few years, Man Utd and Barcelona, are also two teams with two of the best youth systems in the world (Barca's is literally the best).

How many regular first teamers have Manchester United brought through over the past 14 years?

Well I was speaking about their old golden generation and now this one coming through, but the point is taken.

One of the great myths of football is that Manchester United have this conveyor belt of talent coming through their youth policy. In reality, since the 1995 lot (which was probably the best crop of kids any club has ever produced) they aren't up to much.

If you can bring through two who play for your first team or get sold to a club at that level every two years you've done well. In the past decade Villa have produced Gabby, Cahill, Steven Davis, Gardner, Ridgwell and arguably Luke Moore. Have I missed any out?

And you can add to that other products of the academy within the past decade who have gone on to forge good careers without us cashing in on helping to 'raise them' with Hitzlesperg, Myhill, Whittingham.

[sfx412]

If you can bring through two who play for your first team or get sold to a club at that level every two years you've done well. In the past decade Villa have produced Gabby, Cahill, Steven Davis, Gardner, Ridgwell and arguably Luke Moore. Have I missed any out? 

Whittingham is getting plenty of notice across this way after a good season last time, so perhaps

[hipkiss92]

While Barca's is probably the best around, I would argue that Ajax are probably second best to them, with what must be at least half of the Dutch team coming through their ranks, but because they no longer play together, don't get much recognition.

[Dick Edwards]

West Ham had a spell when good quality kids like Lampard, Ferdinand, Defoe and Cole all came through their youth set up at a similar time.

[Drummond]

I'll be the first.

General, how quickly is Mr Lerner looking to appoint a successor and thus try and ensure we can have a stable start to the season?

Has O'Neill gone because of Mr Lerner's transfer policy?

[London Villan]

Going to be a busy couple of weeks General.

[luke95]

General with all due respect to your previous posts on this board ....


What the hell is going on at our club ??

[howesy]

General - can you please explain to all villa fans exactly why MON has resigned?

[Simon Ward]

Seconded howesy

[cheltenhamlion]

It's not the best timing is it General. 3 weeks before the window shuts and 5 days before the season starts. Why he went and why at this particular point in time would be interesting to know?

[rutski]

rumours flying about general that martin jumped before he was pushed! Any truth in that??

[manic-road]

General, will you let the fans know if the club is now going to become a selling club? At the moment, the bright future slogan doesn't look so good

[villa `cross the mersey]

Best player going, manager now resigned - any chance of me getting my season ticket money back?

Unless of course the club appoint a better manager, buy better players etc.

What exactly does our bright future constitute right now?

[bakerbob]

I hope the management stop all sales of players until the new manager is appointed or is this a fire sale?