SHA Small Heath Alliance

Recently there was a lot of discussion about Davies not giving youth players more game time. I just spotted a post about total minutes given to players aged 21 and under and we are ninth.

I know a lot of the discussion was about our own academy players, but I think it's important to that he has shown he is willing to play younger players 'if' they are good enough.

I think it's also interesting that the teams who gave the least minutes to younger players are also the ones who finished higher up the table. Millwall being the only team in the top six who gave more minutes than we did.

1st: Sheffield Wednesday = 15,749
2nd: Norwich City = 12,994
3rd: Watford = 12,381
4th: Leicester City = 9,854
5th: Stoke City = 8,590
6th: Oxford United = 8,454
7th: Millwall = 7,626
8th: Preston North End = 6,801
9th: Birmingham City = 6,333
10th: Derby County = 6,259
11th: Sheffield United = 6,041
12th: Portsmouth = 4,485
13th: Southampton = 4,111
14th: QPR = 3,911
15th: Charlton Athletic = 3,394
16th: Hull City = 3,043
17th: Blackburn Rovers = 2,398
18th: Swansea City = 2,381
19th: West Brom = 1,740
20th: Ipswich Town = 1,490
21st: Bristol City =1,322
22nd: Middlesbrough =1,055
23rd: Coventry City = 876
24th: Wrexham = 243

Looking at this, should we sign more experience this summer? As teams with less minutes given to U21 players typically finished higher? As great a prospect as Priske is, there's no guarantees he will start banging in goals and we've seen Jay struggling at times carrying the expectations of his price tag and responsibilities on the pitch.

Realistically, are there many standout players in the academy who are ready to step up and be a part of the squad.

Playing Koumas abit would have helped him with that stat tbf

Beadle is the difference maker for us

He probably is, but there were a lot of calls for Allsop to be reinstated in goal, but he stuck by Beadle to be fair.

Whilst their may not be a pathway for our own academy players, surely other clubs will be looking at us as a potential destination for their better academy players to get game time. Although with hindsight, I think we would have finished higher with a more experienced keeper and Osman rather than Koumas.

bruggeaway

Playing Koumas abit would have helped him with that stat tbf

And Solis, Osman and Priske (who is now 22)

Beadle makes up half of those numbers though.

Sure, still doesn't suit the narrative that he doesn't play youngsters though. Given they're good enough of course.

Le Mod

bruggeaway

Playing Koumas abit would have helped him with that stat tbf

And Solis, Osman and Priske (who is now 22)

Yep. It’s not age that’s the barrier for our academy prospects

Exactly, shows that if our youth weren't a crock of shit, they'd make the cut.

Unfortunately they aren't League 1 level or above.

Good job CD didn’t listen to the many voices calling for 33 year old Ryan Allsop to play then.

B47blues

Le Mod

bruggeaway

Playing Koumas abit would have helped him with that stat tbf

And Solis, Osman and Priske (who is now 22)

Yep. It’s not age that’s the barrier for our academy prospects

Training at a completely different venue also doesn't help.
Jordan James got his chance with the first team after Bowyer noticed him training so well for the 21's.

It's the perfect way to test individuals to see if they can make the step but we don't have that accessibility in the currently facilities.

Super Hans

Sure, still doesn't suit the narrative that he doesn't play youngsters though. Given they're good enough of course.

I think the narrative is more that he won't play our youngsters, instead bringing in players that other teams have developed.

That's definitely a problem.

Another is the lack of alignment at the club, something our DOF ought to be doing, if the club wants lots of U21 minutes for the current crop then demand it, and afford the manager the rope to do it, a 'win now' or you're sacked culture isn't conducive to it, by all accounts our DOF has had no interest in the Academy either and has been trying to get us up ASAP by spending KH's millions, so why would the manager want to play them when the bloke above isn't arsed and just wants promotion.

Get a fixed, aligned strategy and plan in place, make giving U21 minutes a key part of it with the leeway that they will make mistakes, or don't.

Judging by some comments on here, it seems to have created a ‘disconnect’ between the youth set up and senior team, which surely can’t be helpful when you’re looking to retain the best kids.

Makes a bit of a mockery of going all out for Cat 1 .

Le Mod

That's definitely a problem.

Another is the lack of alignment at the club, something our DOF ought to be doing, if the club wants lots of U21 minutes for the current crop then demand it, and afford the manager the rope to do it, a 'win now' or you're sacked culture isn't conducive to it, by all accounts our DOF has had no interest in the Academy either and has been trying to get us up ASAP by spending KH's millions, so why would the manager want to play them when the bloke above isn't arsed and just wants promotion.

Get a fixed, aligned strategy and plan in place, make giving U21 minutes a key part of it with the leeway that they will make mistakes, or don't.

We also need to be getting players in from other clubs who can break through if our own aren’t good enough. It’s clear a pathway is important for kids, parents and competition and emergency injury cover through older age groups into the senior team