Our Academy/Youth?

[kopdan]

yeah, i knew that you knew etc.

my brain has just switched off

g'night

sorry I sounded really ratty then

[Harv]

the most important thing for these youngsters is to play together IMO. The Arsenal players (while also being a tad more pricey than our lads) gel nicely together....which can only come from playing regulary be it in the reserves or whatever

alot of our young lads havn't been here that long, so its going to take time

[Kronenburg1892]

I doubt the kids he brought in cost that much

No they didn't, but it sure is a business model to pay for the Emirates Stadium.

[Morph]

I think Rafa and Wenger have different approaches to this anyway.

As far as squads go, Rafa likes a big first team squad, of say 22-24 players, who he thinks are all capable of rotating and playing all our games over a season between them and still getting us results. While any youth play in the reserves, and struggle to break through, but really should if they are good enough.

Wenger looks to have his main squad of about 16-18, and then builds a second team largely of youth mainly to play the early stages of the FA cup (generally) and the Carling cup, and then to hopefully make the step up.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, for me i prefer rafa's system but only if he actually has a squad of 22-24 quality players, which unfortunately he doesn't, maybe 15 at most. So for the time being, we are going to have to wait and see on Rafa youth recruitment ideas.

[IanTatt]

It just goes to show...

How fantastic Arsene Wenger is a Manager. Not only has he built three great teams but has brought in some of the finest young talent in europe to grome into first team players. Most of the youngsters could step into the first team no problem. They are all athletic, fast and talented ball players. Where as the mojority of our youngster are all quite poor. None of the FA youth cup winners will progress into first team regulars, according to steve heighway.
Half our first team aren't even good enough, so the only thing for Rafa to do is get the cheque book out and buy some talented young hungry players.....
That's the only way we will ever compete........

[rushscored4]

How fantastic Arsene Wenger is a Manager. Not only has he built three great teams but has brought in some of the finest young talent in europe to grome into first team players. Most of the youngsters could step into the first team no problem. They are all athletic, fast and talented ball players. Where as the mojority of our youngster are all quite poor. None of the FA youth cup winners will progress into first team regulars, according to steve heighway.
Half our first team aren't even good enough, so the only thing for Rafa to do is get the cheque book out and buy some talented young hungry players.....
That's the only way we will ever compete........

Credit due to Wenger but Liam Brady should have just as much credit as he is Arsenal's Head of Youth Development. A class player with great ability and clearly has the talent to pass that ability onto others too...

[SouthAfricaRed]

How fantastic Arsene Wenger is a Manager. Not only has he built three great teams but has brought in some of the finest young talent in europe to grome into first team players. Most of the youngsters could step into the first team no problem. They are all athletic, fast and talented ball players. Where as the mojority of our youngster are all quite poor. None of the FA youth cup winners will progress into first team regulars, according to steve heighway.
Half our first team aren't even good enough, so the only thing for Rafa to do is get the cheque book out and buy some talented young hungry players.....
That's the only way we will ever compete........

That is our Problem - Great Player, but not Good enough at his Current Job

[kurtangle01]

How much did we spend on the Academy and when was the last time we had a prospective first team player out of it? Stevie and Carra aside of course.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Credit due to Wenger but Liam Brady should have just as much credit as he is Arsenal's Head of Youth Development. A class player with great ability and clearly has the talent to pass that ability onto others too...

But mate how many of Arsenals kids have actually come through their youth academy?

Ashley Cole, Hoyte........., Bentley, Thomas at Charlton.

Nothing to write home about.

My point being that Wenger buys most of the talented kids from foreign countries. Credit to him though, he's good at it.

[Red Chilli]

I think academies are a huge false economy.

They have been a success at one club- Ajax.
Everywhere else they have made little difference. Fowler, McManaman to some extent Owen were all before the days of these all-singing all dancin academies.
The ManUtd team of Scholes, Giggs, Nevilles,Beckham, Butt was also before academies.
The old youth development systems used to work as well or even better.
The point is, I think Wenger's idea is better than wasting money on an academy.

[Dhav]

What amazes me is how quickly, efficiently and accurately they pass the ball. They always seem to make space for each other with their movement. They''re taught well

[redlancer]

I recon they clone em.
must do

Was saying after match if we're to have a chance of winning the PL we'll have to beat Arsenal, they'll be top dogs in a year or so the rate they're going.

[kurtangle01]

I recon they clone em.
must do

Was saying after match if we're to have a chance of winning the PL we'll have to beat Arsenal, they'll be top dogs in a year or so the rate they're going.

Well you would hope that some of the young players that Rafa is bringing in would develop in to first team regulars and that in 2-3 years we'll have a good blend of youth and experince like they have. What really frustrates me is that their passing and movement was excellent where as ours was practically non existant.

[redlancer]

Well you would hope that some of the young players that Rafa is bringing in would develop in to first team regulars and that in 2-3 years we'll have a good blend of youth and experince like they have. What really frustrates me is that their passing and movement was excellent where as ours was practically non existant.

what's the word - fluid

thought a few match's ago we were getting there.

as said they will be the team to beat.

[einar]

Rafas academy?

Just read that Rafa has no control over the Academy.

Is this true?