Why have we not been more successful in bringing through our academy - for us?

[brontebilly]

What does it cost to run our academy on an annual basis? Over the past 15 seasons (having a lazy Friday evening!), we have generated about 35m from academy player sales in that time, list and approx values below (have excluded Gareth Barry). The likes of Gabby (86 goals) wouldnt be counted in that obviously, others like Albrighton no doubt contributed a lot more in his time than others below. The frustrating thing is the number of players who left on frees who are solid players at our level, Hogg, Robinson, Lichaj for example. Knowing when to sell players is something we havent been good at, particularly for our younger players.

Clark (5m), Baker (4m), Weimann (3.5m), Carruthers (250k), Johnson (100k), Bannan (2m), Lowry (250k), Moore (3.5m), Cahill (5m), Davis (5m), Ridgewell (3m), Whittingham (500k), Vassell (3m), Edwards (250k).

[SoccerHQ]

I can't.

Bournemouth were looking at Calum Robinson in October but he got injured after so possible January transfer didn't happen. Only got 1 year on his deal left so think PNE will cash in. I presume for all our youths we put in decent sell on clauses.

[Legion]

It would cost a considerable sum of money to have any of them released from their contract.

[brentastonb6]

Pretty sure he's from Leicester.

Thanks, you are right, I must have picked it up from the factually incorrect Meaning Evil lol 😂 

[MorrisNielson]

*Boring Post Alert*
If you are not of a nerdy or statto disposition, move away from this thread now.

Following on from the article in the OP, I thought it was worth exploring the success of the youth set up over the years. To do this, I’ve looked up our history in the youth cup as I assume we pick our best eleven youngsters available. Also, we’ve took part in it for the last 65 years so its something that can be compared with each season. Using the ENFA website, I’ve followed the careers of all those who have appeared in the football league.
Naturally, take this post ‘with a pinch of salt’. I haven’t included any match data from those who have played for Scottish clubs or who have made a name for themselves abroad. Also, not all our youngsters who make the grade played in the youth cup. The best example of this being Aitken & Briggs. Both came to the youth set up at the same time, with Briggs preferred at the left back at the time. It didn’t take long for Aitken to overtake Briggs in the pecking order and the rest is history.
So then, the youth cup. We’ve played 218 games, winning 117, losing 66, making 35 draws.
In terms of players, 548 have appeared in the competition. 228 (41%) have gone on to play in the football league, with 125 (23%) representing Aston Villa. In terms of 1st team league games, those who have played for us in the youth cup played a total of 7540 games for Villa, and 33522 games for other league clubs. That 7540 basically means that since the 1954/55 season, 24% of our league team played in the youth cup.
Hopefully the table I have uploaded is straight forward enough to understand.
The 1979-80 youth cup winners had the most players to represent football league clubs (13)
The 1962-63 team has the most players to go on and play for Villa (9)
The 1976-77 team has the most players to play the league games for Villa (983)
Note that none of the 1996-97 youth cup team played for a league game for our 1st team.

[cdbearsfan]

Some effort, that!

[Steve67]

That is actually quite interesting.  From 2008 onwards, we seem to have used fewer and fewer young players in the first team set up.  Does this correlate to the premier league really getting going with the money being available, is it to do with the fucking clowns running the club at that time (that said, I don't see too many kids playing first team football this season and I am really happy with those running the club).  I guess we are on something of a lull now until the new youth set up gets going?

[Gerrin]

*Boring Post Alert*
If you are not of a nerdy or statto disposition, move away from this thread now.

Following on from the article in the OP, I thought it was worth exploring the success of the youth set up over the years. To do this, I’ve looked up our history in the youth cup as I assume we pick our best eleven youngsters available. Also, we’ve took part in it for the last 65 years so its something that can be compared with each season. Using the ENFA website, I’ve followed the careers of all those who have appeared in the football league.
Naturally, take this post ‘with a pinch of salt’. I haven’t included any match data from those who have played for Scottish clubs or who have made a name for themselves abroad. Also, not all our youngsters who make the grade played in the youth cup. The best example of this being Aitken & Briggs. Both came to the youth set up at the same time, with Briggs preferred at the left back at the time. It didn’t take long for Aitken to overtake Briggs in the pecking order and the rest is history.
So then, the youth cup. We’ve played 218 games, winning 117, losing 66, making 35 draws.
In terms of players, 548 have appeared in the competition. 228 (41%) have gone on to play in the football league, with 125 (23%) representing Aston Villa. In terms of 1st team league games, those who have played for us in the youth cup played a total of 7540 games for Villa, and 33522 games for other league clubs. That 7540 basically means that since the 1954/55 season, 24% of our league team played in the youth cup.
Hopefully the table I have uploaded is straight forward enough to understand.
The 1979-80 youth cup winners had the most players to represent football league clubs (13)
The 1962-63 team has the most players to go on and play for Villa (9)
The 1976-77 team has the most players to play the league games for Villa (983)
Note that none of the 1996-97 youth cup team played for a league game for our 1st team.

Great post, I'm always interested by why so many clubs don't seem to be developing players from academy to PL standard. Who do we hold as best in class for doing this though? Spurs have brought through some young top talent, but who else in the PL. How many other clubs in the PL have brought through a player like Jack?

[paul_e]

*Boring Post Alert*
If you are not of a nerdy or statto disposition, move away from this thread now.

Following on from the article in the OP, I thought it was worth exploring the success of the youth set up over the years. To do this, I’ve looked up our history in the youth cup as I assume we pick our best eleven youngsters available. Also, we’ve took part in it for the last 65 years so its something that can be compared with each season. Using the ENFA website, I’ve followed the careers of all those who have appeared in the football league.
Naturally, take this post ‘with a pinch of salt’. I haven’t included any match data from those who have played for Scottish clubs or who have made a name for themselves abroad. Also, not all our youngsters who make the grade played in the youth cup. The best example of this being Aitken & Briggs. Both came to the youth set up at the same time, with Briggs preferred at the left back at the time. It didn’t take long for Aitken to overtake Briggs in the pecking order and the rest is history.
So then, the youth cup. We’ve played 218 games, winning 117, losing 66, making 35 draws.
In terms of players, 548 have appeared in the competition. 228 (41%) have gone on to play in the football league, with 125 (23%) representing Aston Villa. In terms of 1st team league games, those who have played for us in the youth cup played a total of 7540 games for Villa, and 33522 games for other league clubs. That 7540 basically means that since the 1954/55 season, 24% of our league team played in the youth cup.
Hopefully the table I have uploaded is straight forward enough to understand.
The 1979-80 youth cup winners had the most players to represent football league clubs (13)
The 1962-63 team has the most players to go on and play for Villa (9)
The 1976-77 team has the most players to play the league games for Villa (983)
Note that none of the 1996-97 youth cup team played for a league game for our 1st team.

Great post, I'm always interested by why so many clubs don't seem to be developing players from academy to PL standard. Who do we hold as best in class for doing this though? Spurs have brought through some young top talent, but who else in the PL. How many other clubs in the PL have brought through a player like Jack?

Southampton probably deserve credit for their youth programme, they've had some fantastic players come through in the last 10-15 years.

[Steve67]

Southampton, like Watford, have a plan of a action and use a particular model, which should be applauded.  Hopefully, having a settled enough club will yield dividends in the longer term. I think this is why I think the likes of Mourinho is over-rated, he buys his way to success and sod the youth set up!

[paul_e]

Southampton, like Watford, have a plan of a action and use a particular model, which should be applauded.  Hopefully, having a settled enough club will yield dividends in the longer term. I think this is why I think the likes of Mourinho is over-rated, he buys his way to success and sod the youth set up!

In a list of many things this is one of my biggest complaints about Bruce. In pre-season 17/18 Mitch Clark, JDH and O'Hare played quite a bit and looked easily good enough to play senior football regularly, at some level. All 3 should've either been out on loan or training with the first team and getting places on the bench. Instead they played in the league cup and spent a year with the reserves which held all of them back for absolutely no reason.

[dcdavecollett]

Unfortunately, you are correct.