Some good points made, particularly regarding the youth team. Over the years there appears to have been no shortage of players who have appeared on the fringes of the first team, but who have not then gone on to make a name for themselves with us, for example: Luke and Stefan Moore, Barry Bannon, Marc Albrighton, Steven Davis and Jack Grealish looks like he might go the same way. So it appears to me that the problem with development of home grown players is the coaching set up at first team level. So I guess that if you are the owner then looking to bridge the gap from development squad to first team should be a priority. As another poster pointed out go see how Southampton or Ajax do it.
Another colleague has a son aged 9 or so who is attracting interest from local clubs and tells me that the scouting representatives of Villa come across as amateurish and flash, whereas Albion and Walsall academy scouts seem to know their stuff and are able to offer much better better advice to parents on their development programmes. He said he wouldn't want his kid go to Villa's academy, and he's a Villa fan.
Simple Rebuild the Holte in a single tier 20,000 like Dortmund. Massively reduce prices like the German league. Encourage walk up support on the day and reduce the perception of need of booking tickets online except for sellOuts. Invest in the kids and local and British talent.Keep Jack.
Quote from: ktvillan on May 30, 2017, 11:59:16 AMAnother colleague has a son aged 9 or so who is attracting interest from local clubs and tells me that the scouting representatives of Villa come across as amateurish and flash, whereas Albion and Walsall academy scouts seem to know their stuff and are able to offer much better better advice to parents on their development programmes. He said he wouldn't want his kid go to Villa's academy, and he's a Villa fan.I've heard the same but you never know if it's the dad getting a bit arsey because his lad got dropped by the Villa!
Quote from: TonyD on May 30, 2017, 07:10:58 PMSimple Rebuild the Holte in a single tier 20,000 like Dortmund. Massively reduce prices like the German league. Encourage walk up support on the day and reduce the perception of need of booking tickets online except for sellOuts. Invest in the kids and local and British talent.Keep Jack. Like the thought of the Holte End being restored to something like it's former glory. Wasn't it the largest behind the goal terrace in the country / world with a 29,000 capacity? 🤔