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Premier League Academies
Posted: 02 Apr 2026, 13:45
by The Mercernary
Interesting article on the BBC (shock/horror!) about PL clubs use of academy players:
Who uses academy players most in Premier League - and does it matter? - BBC Sport
We're ninth for minutes played by our graduates this season, and joint third for the number of grads who've featured. I was pleasantly surprised we're doing that well.
A big shock was that Brentford and Burnley have none in either table! You'd think they'd need a core given their modest budgets.
Re: Premier League Academies
Posted: 02 Apr 2026, 15:31
by The Mercernary
El Scorchio" wrote: ↑02 Apr 2026, 13:54
The Mercernary" wrote: ↑02 Apr 2026, 13:45
Interesting article on the BBC (shock/horror!) about PL clubs use of academy players:
Who uses academy players most in Premier League - and does it matter? - BBC Sport
We're ninth for minutes played by our graduates this season, and joint third for the number of grads who've featured. I was pleasantly surprised we're doing that well.
A big shock was that Brentford and Burnley have none in either table! You'd think they'd need a core given their modest budgets.
I feel a bit like 'academy' is a bit of a misnomer for some and certainly not to be confused with proper homegrown- particularly Chelsea who just nab teenagers for big money from all over the place so therefore they count- barely any are English. I think Man City have got far more of an academy in the traditional sense where more local lads Bobb, Foden, Palmer, O'Neill have come through for example.
It seems it's code for 'players form anywhere in the world we spotted at a young enough age', almost.
As far as we are concerned, it's good to see us up there, and ours aren't just kids brought in from all corners of the globe. (Although it does once again highlight how poor our wider talent spotting and recruitment is) Local lads, some of them. Props to the manager for using them, even if none are solid gold prospects to shine long term in this division- at least for now.
Agree with all of that Scorch.
Our youth will be "solid gold" in the Championship next season if the worst happens!
Re: Premier League Academies
Posted: 02 Apr 2026, 13:54
by El Scorchio
The Mercernary" wrote: ↑02 Apr 2026, 13:45
Interesting article on the BBC (shock/horror!) about PL clubs use of academy players:
Who uses academy players most in Premier League - and does it matter? - BBC Sport
We're ninth for minutes played by our graduates this season, and joint third for the number of grads who've featured. I was pleasantly surprised we're doing that well.
A big shock was that Brentford and Burnley have none in either table! You'd think they'd need a core given their modest budgets.
I feel a bit like 'academy' is a bit of a misnomer for some and certainly not to be confused with proper homegrown- particularly Chelsea who just nab teenagers for big money from all over the place so therefore they count- barely any are English. I think Man City have got far more of an academy in the traditional sense where more local lads Bobb, Foden, Palmer, O'Neill have come through for example.
It seems it's code for 'players form anywhere in the world we spotted at a young enough age', almost.
As far as we are concerned, it's good to see us up there, and ours aren't just kids brought in from all corners of the globe. (Although it does once again highlight how poor our wider talent spotting and recruitment is) Local lads, some of them. Props to the manager for using them, even if none are solid gold prospects to shine long term in this division- at least for now.
Re: Premier League Academies
Posted: 02 Apr 2026, 13:47
by Mad Ferret
The vast majority of our academy lads are simply not up to it.