Just seen the video on iFollow which asks the question whether the academy is an expense or a benefit. It mentions a change in academy rules that allows players to swap academies if they get a better offer. It goes on to say that Huddersfield scrapped their academy because of this new rule. I'm presuming that whatever the change was it was implemented to favour the bigger clubs? With this kind of video are we preparing to scrap our academy? Have the FA killed a golden goose that produced English talent?
That allied with the cap on transfer fees for young academy graduates just demonstrates where the power lies between the PL and FA and who the rules are designed to favour. Complete p-take. Thankfully BFC have decided for our long term benefit that we need to try and produce as much 'in house' talent as we can, and the new ownership seem behind this too, all common sense and avoiding falling into the naive trap of just looking at the bottom line of The Academy. There is a bigger picture and those with the vision to appreciate that have made the correct decisions. It's difficult but we have to sell our Academy as a definite route into 1st team football as we can't compete on a cash basis with the PL clubs.
This ^^^. Barnsley can't offer the same kudos as the Manchester clubs, but what they can offer parents is more personal service, with fewer players, meaning their kids are more likely to get a game - even at academy level there are so many kids at places like Man City they never play meaningful games. What we have to ask any perspective parent is - "do you think your son is going to be as good as Alexi Sanchez?" Because if you do, then by all means let them go to ManUtd, otherwise they're never going to get near the first team because teams like Man Utd will always buy instant success. If you want your son to have a good shot at a professional contract with every likelihood that they will improve as a result and if they're good enough will get a golden ticket to the premier league, then stick with Barnsley.
I doubt we're planning to can the academy, far from it. The video was produced by ITV and the lede will have been written by the reporter. I think the club have posted it on iFollow merely for fans to have a look at the good work they're doing more than anything. Wouldn't read too much into it.
