England's real Academy of Football is

[KevinGage]

Forgive me John, when I see articles headed England's Real Academy of Football and plenty of fans on this thread seemingly in agreement it kinda runs contrary to that.

[pedro25]

Chelsea wouldn't have been interested in them, they weren't in our plans and went to Bolton and Blues.

[pablopicasso_10]

I think Man Citeh have had a pretty good track record of bringing kids through; SWP, Richards, Ireland, Hart, Onouha, Johnson, Sturridge, Boyata, Etuhu.

I also don't think it can be just written off as 'luck' that we haven't had a major talent making the grade since Barry (Cahill possibly excepted).  Part of the function of any good academy worth it's salt- as well as actually training these players- should be sourcing them in the first place. How did Lee Sharpe fall through the cracks all those years ago? How come the likes of Lescott (who was a Villa fan) ended up at Wolves, Sturridge at Man City and so on. And that's just the players on our doorstep.

daniel sturridge is a villa product...

he was poached when 14 by coventry with house and cars, and then sold to man city...

he is no more a man city product than barry or lloyd-samuel are ours...

[PeterWithe]

Also I dont think that Lescott slipped through the net, more that we didn't rate him as highly as Wolves did. It can happen.

[pablopicasso_10]

joleon lescott wasnt happy with villa due to some treatment of his older brother aaron while he was in the academy...

think it was something to do with his injury treatment.. cant remember the exact details though...