The academy 'n' all that.

[Deleted]

I could be wrong but I have a strong feeling that Lee & Terry aren't too impressed with the quality our academy graduates, with the obvious exception of the goal keeping situation. Recent comments by the manager seem loaded with criticism of players who don't show any intelligence in games. Not that he actually names them but reading between the lines you can pick them out. I reckon Holdsworth, Collins and both Clarke brothers fall into this category as does Williams who’s not home grown.

Is it the case that while Gerry did very well at developing and improving the academy lad’s technical skills there is a distinct lack of ‘on the field’ intelligence and above all emerging on field leadership.

I make these comments in the belief that we have players who are technically (with the ball at their feet) as good if not better than most clubs in League One and… because I am baffled as to why we’re not up in a promotion race. I’m sure Lee and Terry are just as bewildered.

AcT

[Scissett Terrier!]

so why has he offered them new contracts?

[Deleted]

He obviously thinks they can be taught how to influence games by using their intelligence. Personally, I don't!

I think those types of qualities are inate and aren't something that can be trained into them or learned. It's like the killer instinct in front of goal either you have it or you don't.

AceT ;D

[terrierspam]

"Is it the case that while Gerry did very well at developing and improving the academy lad’s technical skills there is a distinct lack of ‘on the field’ intelligence and above all emerging on field leadership."

so when gerry won 6 on the bounce with some of these lads in, would you have said the same?
gerry had a way of leading from the changing rooms and getting these players thinking. as for what we have now im not sure as i havnt been there. but if you look at the way town are playing they are leaderless like you say! lucketti aint a leader, neither is holdsworth, the only one that comes close is goodwin and he was a real miss saturday!

i think clark has every intention of keeping these kinda players like the clarke brothers and berrett holdsworth, as they all are good enough for this league. specially as back up.

just hope this mangement staff can start turning things around and begin to win games ugly!

[Nickhudds.UTT]

Exactly, and the lad Novak defo seems to have the goal scorers instinct..... even if hes a raw talent he has got it and as Clark has said numerous times its something you cant coach or teach. Obviously when he comes in he will then get excellent coaching to improve himself as a footballer but he wont lose the killer instinct he seems to have in abundance.

[Deleted]

From Clark's comments he's clearly a massive fan of Collins. I'm sure he rates Nathan Clarke as well. Hard to tell with Holdsworth, but I'm sure he'd tell you himself he's not been on top of his game since Clark came in.

[Captainslapper]

Wasn't Clark refering to Jim Goodwin when he made the lack of intelligence comment? After he got his booking for kicking out at that Colchester player right in front of the ref?

Id take issue with the comment anyway if Clark was having a go at our academy graduates footballing intelligence, especially when one of his first signings is Lionel Ainsworth ,who for all his speed, lacks any footballing brains at all in a similar way that Kamara does or that Lucas kid he keeps picking, who seems to lack everything, including intelligence.

[shawsie]

Not sure if clark was indicating the academy lads or more recent signings, but he is right that our team lacks a true leader (how good would barry horne be in this team??!) and also lacks the killer instinct/intelligence required both defensively and offensively to win promotion from this league.
Personally i think our academy lads need a steadying influence and a couple of moaning nasty players down the spine of the team to bring the best out of them - to me, they are all well schooled and technically ok but seem to lack the appetite for the fight and that killer instinct to see games out. That might be harsh, but i think clarke and collins in particular would have benefited from playing alongside sinnott/horne type figures who werent perhaps as individually talented but demanded high standards and concentration.
What concerns me more about the academy right now is we have nobody really pushing the current lads in the first team. Killock has gone, codman, denton and broadbent are all on loan at non-league outfits and that doesnt augur well for 19yr olds and no sign of anyone else.
Hopefully its just a blip but we need better quality from this source going forward - hopefully mitch and his staff will deliver.

[LordyOfTheManor]

Clark has spoken on many occasions about Collins' attitude and application in training and is clearly a huge fan of the lad. He offered new deals to MC as well as both the Clarke, Smithies, Berrett and Eastwood and Holdsworth is still captain of the 1st team even though it was the previous management that appointed him.

So in terms of that, I think Lee Clark at least rates the current crop of academy graduates.

Beside I thought it was Hoyle who wasn't very impressed with the academy with him previously stating that the scouting system was a 'shambles'? Although I could be mistaken on this.

[tnk]

Isn't that Jimmy Spencer kid meant to be the dogs bollocks?? 17 years old, might be worth giving some of these lads a baptism of fire before the end of the season...

[LordyOfTheManor]

Mar 10, 2009 21:04:29 GMT 1 tnk said:

Isn't that Jimmy Spencer kid meant to be the dogs bollocks?? 17 years old, might be worth giving some of these lads a baptism of fire before the end of the season...

He was before he got a serious knee injury at the back end of last year for the academy at Rochdale.

He won't back, until pre-season now.