Shopping in the Lower Leagues

[N'ZMAV]

Matt phillips at blackpool also a few of the stevenage players looked good in the cup game against spurs.

Looks a useful player. As does Ricky Lambert.

[myf]

Whittingham.  He has turned out into a decent player.

[knowsleyvillain]

Thats possible villanic, there was a lad playing wide that had a cracking game lawrie Wilson i think.

[ozzjim]

Matt Phillips looks like he has a great future to me from the few times I have seen him. There must be quite a few. Clyne would be top of my shopping list this summer. Speedy, good full back that can play both sides. Yes please.

[Dave Cooper please]

One reason is Premier League Acadamies. The best young players are at Premier League clubs as soon as they show any glimpse of talent, there's not a lot left for lower league clubs. Players like Jordan Rhodes have shown their talent at a slightly later age and were probably missed by the PL scouts.
 Southampton are a rare example of a lower league club bringing through a conveyor belt of talent, but they have the advantage of being in an area with only Portsmouth having been a PL club recently.

[nigel]

I'll probably get crucified for this, but, the young lad at Blues, Redmond looks half decent. Villa fan, too, apparently.

Why would you get crucified for that? Redmond is an excellent prospect.

There are those out there, Legion, who wouldn't consider him simply because he's a Blues player.
There are those who aren't that shallow though, I suppose it depends on who's reading the thread.
Peter Whittingham, another former Villa player who was allowed to go too cheaply, in my mind. He's certainly developed into a fine player.

[Legion]

I'll probably get crucified for this, but, the young lad at Blues, Redmond looks half decent. Villa fan, too, apparently.

Why would you get crucified for that? Redmond is an excellent prospect.

There are those out there, Legion, who wouldn't consider him simply because he's a Blues player.

Then they need to grow up a bit and stop being so narrow-minded. Anyone remember Peter Withe?

[eric woolban woolban]

I guess long gone are the days when someone who played on the Hackney marshes made it big.

Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Stuart Pearce spring to mind.

But I guess, as pointed out earlier, that the scouting systems in place now, pick up the majority of talent at an early age.

Though for some reason I was overlooked...

[Grande Pablo]

I've said on here before that we should get first in the queue for Adam Lallana.

Joe Mason at Cardiff looks OK.

[Legion]

Any chance of someone called Messi?

[Brian Taylor]

Dean Cox..not Croft. Great winger who can beat his man and gets the ball into the penalty area. Classic player!
Most impressed. Right age at 23 and an improving player who also scores a few.
http://www.leytonorient.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10439~33198,00.html

[spangley1812]

Tom Lees (centre-half) and Adrain White (left back) @ Leeds 

[Mister E]

I think there are some interesting issues here. Why is there not more coming from the lower leagues? -
- laziness on the part of managers / coaches.
- not 'glamour' signings.
- a risk, similar to the risk taken on promoting kids from the Academy (at leas tthe Academy kids know the club, the set-up, etc).
- not 'instant' enough, compared to a seasoned cheaper import.

I think, like many business or investment decisions, that a manager should have a mixed squad originating from several sources and the lower leagues is just another player-source.

Players mature and peak at different times and it may take a spell in the lower leagues for them to mature and develop as Ricky Lambert has.

Nothing wrong with measured speculation on experienced players, IMHO.

[PaulWinch again]

Redmond does look great, couldn't care a less that he plays for Blues. However I think he'd cost a lot.

[Concrete John]

Redmond does look great, couldn't care a less that he plays for Blues. However I think he'd cost a lot.

Given their financial situation and presuming they don't get promotion, I actually think he might represent a good little deal, value wise.