[Official Site] ISAAC CHRISTIE-DAVIES DEPARTS OAKWELL

A failed signing, but I wouldn't say it was part of a scattergun approach. We signed two young midfielders from Liverpool, along with Matty James on loan, knowing that Mowatt would be out of contract in a year's time and we were trying to offload Ritzmaier.

While the signing didn't work out, I'd say the transfer window at the start of that season behind closed doors seemed more thought through than many others recently.

 

Wow! If those stats are correct, and I'm not doubting you, that is quite amazing.

 

I'd copy the link to the report mate. But it doesn't seem to work.
I just googled 'average number of players released every year' 1st article that popped up.
But I knew the figures were very high having come across articles in the past.

 

He doesn't pick the team.
It isn't his fault that whilst here our spreadsheet decided to bring others in ahead of him or that **** managers chose to reward laziness with more appearances rather than trying something new.
Personally I think I saw more hard work from him in one sub appearance than u did all season from benson

 

If you think about its not as extraordinary as you think. For 10 to 15 years a club plays with a squad of say 25 players yet we have academy players at every age group from kids up.

If you have an under 10s, 11s, 13s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16, 18s and 23s (I'm not sure what club's tend to have but I'm thinking similar to local football teams) and they all have 25 players in their squads that's 225 players graduating out of an academy to fit into a 25 man squad. That's just 11% of players making it.

 

This should be pointed out to young uns before they sign up for said academies. They've a higher chance of making it by working up the leagues.

 

I reckon it's the parents who should take note. But money talks. And they are shoved in that direction. Some of the money paid at such young ages is obscene. But that's football all over.

 

A good interview with a former child prodigy, just shows how much pressure there is on some youngsters

 

You're miles off the mark with that assumption mate

 

That's the problem though init. Perhaps he wouldn't have made it through the leagues and missed out on what money he did get through the academies and wage at Eupen now. I do agree with your sentiment though. Just look at what some of these 15/16/17 year olds are on with contracts/pre-contracts, it's insane. Especially when there's multiple clubs in for them, offering him mega money and to buy their parents houses and cars, etc etc. It's a hard thing to turn down if it happens

 

27% get given ridiculous money contracts and go from loan to loan. I'd take that!

 

Should imagine the stats would be worse.

 

He signed for Eupen this summer and is now playing regularly in the Belgian Top Flight.. I'd argue that Anderlecht are probably a tougher opponent than Accrington, so if he's good enough for the former, he's surely good enough for the latter.

Did we miss something?? Was it 3 or 4 managers that didn't rate him here? He was signed for the u23s so doubt he was on a big wage.

 

One or two sides aside, the standard of the Belgian league probably isn't that great. Cameron McGeehan is also playing regularly in that division, but struggled in the Championship with us (and league 1 with Pompey).

ICD appears to be playing on the right of a midfield 3 which might suit him. He was always pitched as a number 10 when he was here.

 

The level of opposition doesn’t mean much. Playing Celtic or Rangers is tougher than Accrington too, but that doesn’t mean somebody from Ross County would necessarily improve us.

 

He's one of those that just didn't get a chance at all. Up there with Mallan, Fry, Ashton, Miller, Silva, Rooney, Coffee, Tuton, Sodje, Kern Milller, Kayden Jackson. Lost count.