Reserve Team

[Imy]

Do we know that isn't happening?

Although it appears Rafa thought something along teh same lines in terms of teh younger players as he completely overhauled the academy in the summer.

We don't really know whats happening at that level, was the last success Steven Gerrard? If so thats really poor for the amount of resources poured in at the lower levels.

[dww]

We don't really know whats happening at that level, was the last success Steven Gerrard? If so thats really poor for the amount of resources poured in at the lower levels.

I accept that point but what I was getting was that we might not be able to tell if changes made under Rafa have been effective as the lag between their implementation and the appearance of results in the first team may be a number of years.

[Imy]

I accept that point but what I was getting was that we might not be able to tell if changes made under Rafa have been effective as the lag between their implementation and the appearance of results in the first team may be a number of years.

Yep i agree with that, the first influx of Rafa youngsters haven't really made a mark...yet.

The newer influx are different and seem to have a bit more quality.

I think Steve Heighway leaving maybe a blessing in disguise.

[bazza76]

Style of play at Arsenal also makes it easier IMO for youth players.
We are based more on being strong with good closing down, which means you need physically strong players.
Where as at Arsenal, the team relies more on movement and pace, which makes it easier for the young quick players with technique to break into the team.
Unfortunately, I see too many lightweights in our reserves to be confident of them making a real impact any time soon, Spearing, for all of his efforts, I will be surprised if he makes the break through etc. same can be said of Linfield....................................

[carheex]

We don't really know whats happening at that level, was the last success Steven Gerrard? If so thats really poor for the amount of resources poured in at the lower levels.

That's the point I was trying to make.
I'd rather we signed 1 x £10million pound player than signed 10 x £1 million prospects. Neither guarantee our success but people seem more concerned about "building for the future" than the building for today. If we build for today and we're successful we won't have to rely on profitting from the youth set up in years to come.

[dww]

That's the point I was trying to make.
I'd rather we signed 1 x £10million pound player than signed 10 x £1 million prospects. Neither guarantee our success but people seem more concerned about "building for the future" than the building for today. If we build for today and we're successful we won't have to rely on profitting from the youth set up in years to come.

I'm just not sure that the ~£2m we spend on players that can genuinely be described as prospects alone is that much of a loss to the first team kitty. Lucas cost money and is a squad member who has started to show his worth.

There is a genuine question of whether Rafa looks for too much depth before top quality but that IMO is a very different debate.

I think there is an underlying problem that people on internet message boards tend to get carried away looking at our youth purchases and expecting too much from all of them (this isn't particularly aimed at anyone in this thread - but you can guess who I mean).

[akjs123]

That's the point I was trying to make.
I'd rather we signed 1 x £10million pound player than signed 10 x £1 million prospects. Neither guarantee our success but people seem more concerned about "building for the future" than the building for today. If we build for today and we're successful we won't have to rely on profitting from the youth set up in years to come.

Mate, the thing is, firstly, the £10million player is what you are looking for and secondly the £10million player is available for sale. We bid for Mancini, Malouda and maybe others but for some reason we couldnt get them. We didnt get those players NOT because we spend remaining money on youth players.
Plus our youth players dont cost £1million each. Lucas and Leto excepted(who have played in the first team), the dont think we have spend more than £3-4million on youth players this season.
Moreover, Rafa is thinking long term by signing so many youth players. If he thinks that 3 years down the line, we can have our own Messi/Fabregas/David Silva then why give up that chance.

[carheex]

Mate, the thing is, firstly, the £10million player is what you are looking for and secondly the £10million player is available for sale. We bid for Mancini, Malouda and maybe others but for some reason we couldnt get them. We didnt get those players NOT because we spend remaining money on youth players.
Plus our youth players dont cost £1million each. Lucas and Leto excepted(who have played in the first team), the dont think we have spend more than £3-4million on youth players this season.
Moreover, Rafa is thinking long term by signing so many youth players. If he thinks that 3 years down the line, we can have our own Messi/Fabregas/David Silva then why give up that chance.

Because it so rarely happens.

On a slightly different tangent but still relative to the reserve team...if none of our rserves are good enough to replace Sami in his current form then we might as well release them from their contracts now!

[Woobus]

Scott Carson would be a good example of why to buy these kids, he might never play for us but the last two seasons we have made money on him by loaning him out and if we go to sell will make a lot of money on him.

[akjs123]

Because it so rarely happens.

On a slightly different tangent but still relative to the reserve team...if none of our rserves are good enough to replace Sami in his current form then we might as well release them from their contracts now!

Our reserve team is made of some U-18 players. Lets not forget, we have started buying youth only 3 years back. It will take another couple of years to pay dividends. Hobbs has been very highly rated by our staff and he is expected to make the grade in 2-3 years. Forget Messi/Fabregas but if Insua goes on to become our left back for the next 10 years, there is certainly no harm in getting him so young, is there.
Edit: On another note, it also helps with the homegrown players quota of UEFA