Sormaz and Clarke

Jalo would be snapped up by every club in the division above if made available. We have the England U16 captain on his way through. Vimal Yoganathan will be a first team regular in the next couple of years. We’ve produced one of England’s greatest ever defenders. And had plenty of input into a plethora of others who’ve gone on to have good careers throughout the levels.

Strip back the first team spend and get more of these youngsters in the squad. I’d rather we give Dyer the minutes we are giving to a loanee from Corsica. Just one example.

The academy is never going to produce 23 first team players at once. Doesn’t occur at any club in the world, never mind at a provincial little club like ours, surrounded by bigger clubs who get first dibs on the best young talent. But I could reel off about 30 players we’ve signed over the last decade and then name an academy player I’d have used instead. And that’s my point - if you think the graduates aren’t good enough, fair enough. But give me Dyer, Marsh or Jalo over Aitchison, Humphrys, Watters, Shaw, Dallas, Tedic, Cosgrove and Rodrigues all day long. The spend on all of them would run the academy for a year.

 

My problem with the team is O'Keefe. Yesterday mirrored the Wycombe away game. When we're 1-0 up. The ball goes out wide to him and the number of times he doesn't beat the first man with a cross or takes too many touches, picks out the wrong pass is unforgivable. Then there was his attempt at a shot. Never believed he could score. Total inept footballer.

Clarke must be poor not subbing him earlier or picking him in first place. He (O'Keefe) has no bo llocks. However, he wasn't found out as much yesterday because Russell got across to intercept while he was jogging back after attacks broke down.

Poor, poor player. Stats say he's third in league for assists. If he was any good we wouldn't be where we are in the league.

Special mention for DKD. He needs to be greedier because when he looks to pass it he isn't the same player.

 

Ronnie Branson and Mark Burton need a call

 

Do you think Aitchison, Tedic, Dallas, Shaw, Watters, Cosgrove, Humphrys and Rodrigues are value for money? And that’s just up front in these L1 seasons.

 

Tedic scored for Fenerhbasche over night.

 

But why are these players not getting into our first team what is it in the make up of Barnsley FC that means the people running the first team would rather loan kids from other clubs or gamble on players from lower levels both here and aboard than bring players through from the academy. The academy's job is to produce players for Barnsley FC not for other clubs. Maybe Mr Hassel needs to be a bit more aggressive in his role and be in the face of those running the first team and then those above if he's not being listened to.

 

No I don't, but my question still stands why aren't our academy players getting a chance at first team level they either aren't good enough or aren't being given a chance something's is going wrong somewhere. What's is the point of the academy producing players for other clubs basically for free because Barnsley FC won't give them a chance.

 

You’ve lost me.

 

I haven’t got that answer.

 

Neither as the head of the academy it would seem hence the questions about the academy's performance and his.

 

I agree that the names you mention are no way near value for money. But that doesn’t validate the Academy, it is not producing first team players at all. That is surely it’s primary concern. It needs a review as to why we are not seeing results. When you say Vimal will be a first teamer in a couple of years, that only your guess mate. Obviously I hope your right but as of now the Academy is failing in my eyes. Maybe you are little bias pal as you probably on good terms with some that run the place but they are not achieving their objectives to me. Proof is in pudding as they say. Just my opinion and end of day we all want success for first team, It would be great if your belief in the Academy comes up trumps btw but I ain’t seeing it.

 

Dusan Tedic can't have been that bad. He's playing in the Europa league.

 

Fair enough. Only getting them motivated for half a game isn't enough though. I firmly believe with a decent manager we wouldn't have dropped so many points from winning positions this season, that comes down to man and game management - seen very little to suggest Clarke is good at either.

 

That’s a completely different footballer.

 

https://www.skysports.com/football/...onal-motivation-and-being-a-fraud-as-a-player

 

I'd agree with you regarding OKeefe, but the loanee who came on for him yesterday was even worse.

 

Looked like Christian Karembeu but played nothing like him

 

We’ve lost five and drawn one of the last six first team games to drop from four points clear in a playoff place to 10th and seven points adrift. I’m not sure the academy is a pressing issue. But I do appreciate the concerns regards a lack of academy representation in the current first team squad.

 

Dyer looked ok when he came on. Should have done better with his header. Maybe with experience he drops a yard instead of attacking it like a defender and has an easier header into the bottom corner.

 

I can’t fault Mladen’s CV. He has a PhD which by definition means he possesses an elite analytical mind. I’m pretty sure his data analytics experience puts James Cryne’s spreadsheet to shame but ultimately he’s an academic and to entrust him with dictating the style of play and personnel might be a step too far.

https://www.sloansportsconference.com/people/mladen-sormaz