Marsh,Jalo and Dyer

They couldn't sign expensive players on top of expensive players like United/City did at the time. They had the Emirates to pay for, it's all documented in the Wenger/Arsenal documentaries. Ozil, Xhaka, Sanchez, Mustafi, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan, were all 30 and 40 million plus signings, that's not including Aubameyang. All of them at the time they signed looked really good players, even Mustafi. So they did spend big, they just couldn't spend big all at once on multiple players. Even players like Welbeck, Chambers and co cost a substantial fee at the time, 15m+ etc. They definitely did spend, just not at the rate of other clubs, because they couldn't. He used to buy a lot of young french players, it was very successful, but when teams got richer and spent more, strategy changed and teams eventually bettered them

 

I hope so. I would like to win it, but it really took the shine of winning the trophy when Premier league youth teams were allowed to join. I'd rather we use it to let our youngsters gain some valuable experience. I think there's rules where you can only change so many of the players who played the previous league game, but i'd definitely shove as many as we're allowed in

 

Any idea if Hayden Pickard is in line for a contract offer. He was Last years Academy POY, He looks to have been leap-frogged by others in the pecking order.

 

I assume he will be mate (if he hasn't already and ive just missed it), he is still only 16 till later this year. I think we offered Jalo one at his age just because of how well he's done in front of goal, trying to hang on to him as long as possible (looks impressive even if you just look purely at stats). it's a big shame we 'bottled' it in the play offs after being 2-0 up - but suppose thats the danger of youth football, very raw. I reckon if he was a few years older, bit more physical in stature, he'd probably be understudy to Cadden as he's played a fair whack there for the young uns. He seems to really rate Jalo & Dyer so its nice to see the comradery. There was an article a few month ago about him iirc, saying he thinks hes improving and is excited.

I'm quite excited myself with the academy in recent years, I think there's a great atmosphere with the characters there. Hassell, Devaney, Harban, and then the lads all seem to really like each other. It might be the one positive of relegation - seeing some appearances from our academy slowly trickle into the first team squad

 

I used to work with Hayden’s mam and when I last spoke to her just before Xmas, they were hoping for a contract offer. She told me other clubs are also knocking on her door but she wants him to stay at Tarn. Not that they are from Tarn ( from South Elmsall area I believe)

 

Oooh, just down the road from me then! Wonder if I've ever walked past her haha. I do hope we give him a contact, I think there's definitely potential there. Obviously I don't see him every day though unlike the club staff, but maybe if there are other clubs sniffing we might be 'forced' into offering him one sooner rather than later. I'd be surprised if we didn't offer him one this year, unless something dramatic happens

 

Arsenal were unlucky with how crazy the TV deals got.

At the time of building the Emirates stadium it was widely seen that the only way they could compete financially with Man Utd & the Abramovich money at Chelsea was to build a much bigger stadium.

As it turned out the TV deals just got bigger & bigger & stadium revenue is minuscule compared to what Sky & BT pay.

By the time they’d paid for it they’d had years of falling behind Man Utd, City & Chelsea.

Wenger did an incredible job really. Losing his best players to City, United & Chelsea whilst still delivering cups & regular champions league football.

Emery & Arteta have come in with more money to spend & haven’t been able to replicate his success.

 

I liked the look of Marsh last season. I think he’s got something about him. I think he’ll have a football league career & hopefully he’s good enough for it to be with us.

For his age he’s got a bit of size & strength. You get a lot of kids his age & they’re all skin & bones & don’t look to compete physically.

He seems pretty comfortable where ever he plays as well which should give him more opportunities.

Not seen Jalo & young Dyer but fingers crossed they’re good enough too.