10 Nov 2015 20:36:36
I just heard a discussion on the radio about non league footballers who became Pl players like Vardy.

They talked there about statistics of Academy players going on to play professionally and they said 96% of those playing in the academy at 16 don't play football at 18 and only 2% of those left (so 2 in every 10,000 of those there at 16 ) play football professionally at 21 (at any level).

I think they got it wrong with the second number - it has to be higher than one in 10,000 especially with big clubs who can attract more talented youngsters and have more to choose from but no doubt very very small minority of academy players become professional players let alone play for a PL club.

For the attention of all those moaning here about us not promoting kids from the academy to the senior team.

1.) 10 Nov 2015
10 Nov 2015 22:41:23
There is a disconnect between the ethos of developing young players and the instant success craved by some supporters and club administrators.

It takes a brave CEO to stick to their guns and develop young players. It's one of the reasons why we could do with a "director of football". Managers find it hard to take a risk on youth with their job on the line. DoF's don't have quite the same pressure.

2.) 10 Nov 2015
10 Nov 2015 22:41:40
Sorry mate, your maths is wrong. The result is 8 in every 10000 if these stats are true.

3.) 10 Nov 2015
10 Nov 2015 23:07:24
Young English players need to leave England if they want proper development and better chances. If there passion or aim is money then, they can risk wasting their career here if that's their main objective, which I know a lot of them are. Which is why a lot of them aren't good enough to make the steps up, not hard working enough or the wrong attitudes. English football is light years away from the rest of Europe because the rest of Europe has established a more global apparoach whereas our coaches and players only stay in England. Which is why we are so behind. Traditional football is dead, and there's more tactics and skill involved in football now, which doesn't exist in abundance in England at early stages. A 16 year old Spanish kid threats played football all his life is almost always better than an English kid that's played football all his life.

4.) 11 Nov 2015
11 Nov 2015 00:55:04
I know either personally or friends of friends through locality and work a number of people that were on the books for varying clubs from an early age; what has surprised me is the number that didn't make it first time and either decided on another career or just ended up satisfied with playing semi pro.

One particular friends friend was at Coventry a couple of years ago and basically couldn't motivate himself to get himself a contract with a lower level team (despite offers) and now plays on a Saturday for £50 per week.

I can imagine being on the books for 10 years since the age of 8 can be a huge disappointment for someone to be let go and know your not going to make it.

Also another friend was on the books - played with a keeper that was amazing (in their eyes) and that keeper has done little in his career - 2nd or 3rd choice most weeks.

Coaching would improve things but I think it needs to go lower than that - back in my day we would play on full size pitches and goals even if we was under 14 - no training on holding players off / sheilding the ball and anyone who can gather 11 kids together can manage a team - not knocking anyone but assistance / support should be assisted from local clubs (paid for by the grass roots funds) - it would also help with players networking etc.

5.) 11 Nov 2015
11 Nov 2015 01:49:47
Maybe they meant 2% of the first lot, meaning 96% of under 16s don't play at under 18s and two percent of them make it to pro, meaning, obvisouly, 2 in 100 make it.
Also the statistic might not include players leaving or arriving, so 96% don't play under 18s for THAT specific club.
The figures could be very misleading, but 2 In a hundred academy players make it sounds more realistic. Again it could include trials and stuff.

6.) 11 Nov 2015
11 Nov 2015 10:05:27
The figures are easily manipulated, what constitutes some 1 at an academy, A player having a trial, being there for a certain amount of months as fencey says players move clubs during youth levels all the time Sterling being an example and Jordan Ibe.
This is just press hysteria creating an issue out of manipulated stats.
There's also a vast difference in not making it in the UK as a footballer and other countries.

I wouldn't worry about those stats being thrown out, it's like almost every job, market atm, you apply for 1 role and realise you've got to compete against 120 other candidates for it.