Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Good topic. Raises lot of thoughts.
First of all, I don't think it's likely that we ever again sign player below Championship level that would go straight in the first team. The gap between divisions has become bigger and bigger over past ten years. And it's not just Premiership and rest anymore. The step up from 2nd division to Championship for example is giant one.
Regarding youth players in general. The new player restrictions were created to offer young domestic players better chance. I think that it might have opposite effect! While before one of the most common routes to the top was through making your name in lower divisions at early age, now players are recruited before the age of 18 (UEFA homegrown rules). This leads into young players being stuck in reserves and youth teams. Short loan spells help and obviously they receive better coaching in Academies. However as a player nothing improves you more than playing regularily against grown men even in lower leagues. Academies can't offer you that.
Also this has made youth player recruitment more ruthless than ever. While in the past young Finnish players usually stayed at home to do their high school graduation (=a-levels) and did their obligatory army service before going to professional game, now they are recruited straight from the school leaving them with little education in case they don't make it in game.
the only thing i would add to this is the longer term effect.. the ' what goes around comes around '. For instance if there are too many kids in academies of top clubs to make it at top level, then the surplus will go find work with lower div clubs and go from there. So there is a chance that initially well trained kids that were not good enough at 19 - say bcos mental attitude or physique let them down will then learn their trade at a lower club.. the late developers and better ones getting picked back up by top clubs in the future if they begin to stand out.
just a thought.
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