Heighway gone?

[Nicey]

Its a shame about Steve Heighway. From listening and reading about him with some of the younger lads that have come through, they have all spoke very highly of him.

The only kids that we are really talking about are those that we have actually paid for so there must be something wrong within the academy.

Shame they were all crap though ...

Seen nothing from the Academy since Stevie

[Nicey]

Perhaps I should be more pissed at the scouting if he was not responsible for getting the players.


Break the bank and lets get Liam Brady in here Pronto !

[bazza76]

Rafa has no involvement in the Academy.

I'm guessing their were words and points of views exchanged about our youth setup after the Arsenal match then between Rafa and Heighway.

[Kaip]

Is this from the same source that gave you the cahill off to the mancs info

[Mumsafan]

[Mumsafan]

Altho that could still happen!

[SCarter]

The thing with Liam Brady at Arsenal is that the actual Arsenal youth development is pretty poor, I mean they have had Ashley Cole come through in recent years. They are buying players in to train and play with the reserves. We need people in who can spot and nuture talent.

[Neil Young]

In fairness to Heighway he could only work with the players he had. Its the scouting system that seems to be failing us.

Incidentally we did win the youth cup last season

True although if Micah Richards had played in the first leg as well I have no doubt we'd have lost. He was in a different class to everyone else and frankly the only one on either side who would improve the squad. Of course they're all young and things can change but the ones who stand out at any level are usually the ones who might succeed at a higher level.

Shame about Heighway, a favourite of mine when I was a lad but there's clearly a significant change needed somewhere in the youth development system.

[Guest]

The thing with Liam Brady at Arsenal is that the actual Arsenal youth development is pretty poor, I mean they have had Ashley Cole come through in recent years. They are buying players in to train and play with the reserves. We need people in who can spot and nuture talent.

That's a very valid point mate and I thank you for making it.

The 'major' English players who have come out of the Arsenal Youth development system are Ashley Cole, the lad who now plays for Blackburn (I forgot his name) and Jermaine Pennant (who was brought in by Wenger when he was 15 or 16).

So basically, Wenger scours the world for the best young talents, and nutures them into the style of play Arsenal has been famous for in recent years. No rocket science really.

As for Rafa, I think he has a point ! During the GH years, there was a conflict of personalities between Heighway and Houllier and that didn't help the Academy or the club. Now, with Rafa in charge, he has completely revamped the scouting system and he now now overseas all recruitment in that area, explaining the influx of young foreign players during the last couple of years.

We'll reap the rewards for that in the next 2-3 years IMO.

[steveheighwayrobbery]

Heard a rumour hes quit the Academy today, finally accepted a financial pay-off thats been on the table for "sometime".

But I've only just got here!!!!


(Waits for Dunk to post it on KT now)






Credit to he wont mind.

[desertscouser]

Our academy's done f*ck all since Carragher, Fowler,Mcmanaman,Matteo and Owen came through. Warnock's the only other player I can think of who's made the first team and he's rubbish.

Changes at the academy need to be made and I guess sacking Heighway is the first step.

[The Wolfman]

the glove, was YOUR info right then?

I haven't heard any news from LFC about this yet.....

[Red_Polo]

Us having said all this, Lindfield and Hammill will probably turn themselves into £15m players in the next year

One can dream

Bottom line is that hopefully things are going to improve if/when DIC come in and also when Elias takes over the academy.

[Jack D Rips]

True although if Micah Richards had played in the first leg as well I have no doubt we'd have lost. He was in a different class to everyone else and frankly the only one on either side who would improve the squad. Of course they're all young and things can change but the ones who stand out at any level are usually the ones who might succeed at a higher level.

Shame about Heighway, a favourite of mine when I was a lad but there's clearly a significant change needed somewhere in the youth development system.

No arguments here but I still think that if the scouting isnt right the academy wont work

[Guest]

Our academy's done f*ck all since Carragher, Fowler,Mcmanaman,Matteo and Owen came through. Warnock's the only other player I can think of who's made the first team and he's rubbish.

Changes at the academy need to be made and I guess sacking Heighway is the first step.

I think with the fact we were nurturing local talents only, we've done fairly well with the likes of Peltier, Guthrie and Warnock being decent players.

Having 11 world class players in a team (or potential WC players) is very difficult mate. The key is to groom them into playing into the same style as the first team, which Wenger did.