Nothing particularly, apart from he was around Watford's Academy as well around 2012? (IIRC) so, been around some decent academies.
The Academy restructuring thread
- Thread starter KM
- Start date
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...th-yorkshire-s-number-one-boys-club-1-7701914
Decent interview with him. Seems to have done an impressive job according to the article. Also was trawling through Sheffield United forums and they also say that he has already joined United.
Decent interview with him. Seems to have done an impressive job according to the article. Also was trawling through Sheffield United forums and they also say that he has already joined United.
Seems pretty forward thinking, not that I know much about running an academy, but some nice ideas!
One thing clear from reading his interview is that major structural changes are being made in the academy. He seems like a pretty innovative guy as well.
Yes, good pickup. When people were complaining not long before they announced it I had the feeling a big "revamp" was on the cards, and when I say big I mean "big". I can imagine as a... 14 year old establishment that it would be easy to remodel and update.. (I had to look it up, I thought it was 2000 when it opened). These things take a thorough assessment to ensure things are done properly.
Interesting article, Nick Cox sounds like he's very switched on when it comes to implementing structural changes and practices. It will be very interesting how this pans out and what direction they are taking with it.
Sheffield United's academy director Nick Cox has joined United's academy staff
in b4 "I like Cox"
Well him working with Nicky will be the butt of many jokes I'd imagine, bit too blatant an opportunity to pass up for many.
Well done if you noticed that one haha
I'm sure that Cox will enter Butt's inner circle quite quickly, but if there's any resistance he'll drive his point home hard and fast.
In all seriousness, it seems that this division of the director role will be to separate the administrative side of the academy from the technical coaching side. Do we know yet who's likely to take which role?
It'll be Cox doing the more administrative side which will allow Butt to focus on the footballing side of things. Nicky's said he wants to get out on the pitch a bit more than he's been able to in recent times.
John Peacock (Former England and Derby) joins as Academy Consultant according to The Sun.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/foot...uth-bigwig-john-peacock-as-academy-consultant
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/foot...uth-bigwig-john-peacock-as-academy-consultant
What are the thoughts of united fans that follow closely the academy? There's obviously a general belief from rivals that from under 18s down you're pretty bobbins but is that true? Is there any individual players that stand out?
Peacock will not be working as tightly with Butt as Cox would have done.
There are always outstanding individual talents at the academy (not only at United but most of the "good" academies in England).The question is only about quantity of quality,best condition for development as well as talent retention.
Just bullshit . We have some special players already in the academy and if the reports are correct we have tied up deals for some of the best talents too. The talk our academy in serious trouble came up with the poor performance of our under 18's but there was lots of factors for that. If we have a full team at under 18's I believe we have the best talents at that level.
Right now Chelsea have got some serious talents with them . In terms of talent only Chelsea is comparable with United
At under 18s? Have you seen city's under 18s? I think your under 21s is comparable to Chelsea but lower down the age groups I wouldn't say you are the strongest from what I've seen. Who do you consider your top talents?
Ro-shaun Williams, Angel Gomes, Axel Tuanzebe, Callum Gribbin of those who have no first team experience.
Nope. Its just that our under 18's have moved to under 21's and first team . There were lots of reshuffling in the under 18's and they just lost their way.
Williams is best of the bunch to me . Tuanzbe is not far . Both are playing under 21's though along with Mensah and Rashford is with the first team. When you loose the best players all of a sudden you will struggle a little and thats what exactly happened with under 18's.
The best talents at under 18 is obviously Gomes closesly followed by Gribbin. Olosunde is another one to look . Kehinde and Warren could surprise everybody too
We have the biggest English talent below u18s.
We also have the best environment for youth players to develop in English football. Having the best facilities counts for little. Ours are hardly shabby and were improving all the time.
You've obviously bought into the media bullshit. Only believe it when it suits City eh?
No not at all, that's why I was asking for united fans opinion. I don't think you are in dire conditions like the press would have people believe but equally I don't think you have the best under 18s or under 16s either. However I don't extensively follow United youth hence why I was asking for more insight.
Thanks for the response, that's good to know and I'll keep an eye for these players. I rate gribbin from the few games I've seen him play.
City and Spurs have the best U16s I think, but United has a good number of talents at that age group as well after the recent recruitment.Chelsea is always great at every age group.Arsenal has Reiss Nelson who's really special.
Some players to watch out for at that level for those clubs:
City: Foden,Sancho,Campbell (if he doesn't leave),Dele-Bashiru,the CB whose name escape me.Think you might sign that Welsh winger from Cardiff Martondo.
Spurs: Oakley-Boothe (I rate him as high as Pogba),Kirby,Skipp,Thorpe,TJ Eyoma
United: Gomes,Barlow,Chong,O'Connor,Bukhart
Last edited:
Chelsea have some terrific players in the Youth level. They gubbed us in the FAYC last season but most of our team on that day were 16 year olds I believe. And how many Chelsea youth players actually break into the first team. Loftus-Cheek is the only one, I believe. So our Academy must be doing something right. I just hope Mourinho will keep promoting youth. Apparently he has done in the past, but he didn't at Chelsea. We have recognised that we have been falling a bit behind , hence the restructuring and the new appointments, but that will all be wasted if we do not give our kids a chance. I am genuinely excited with the kids coming through ( hope that doesnt sound too Savilley), and really believe we are on the verge of something really exciting.
The success of an academy is not defined by results at age level, instead whether it provides players for the first team or not.
The reporting last year just smacked of opportunism for some cheap shots at united for the press.
The reporting last year just smacked of opportunism for some cheap shots at united for the press.
Last edited:
It's quite strange that just because we don't spend as much money as City - our academy is in total shambles. It's not like the worlds best football players have been living in luxury surroundings for their entire life
Isnt Tanner quite highly rated as well, and Boonen, or are they a bit older?
Boonen is not U16,he's a first year U18.Tanner is good but just for opinion's sake,if we list him we might need to list the whole City U16's starting XI.Barrett is also a decent CB,very good on the ball.Never seen Ercolani play before so I can't tell anything about him.
Last edited:
It was complete opportunism considering most of the problems the press were highlighting had already either been fixed or were in the process of being fixed before the articles were written. Most of the stories were at least 6 months behind what was actually happening
Agree, the indicator of a successful academy or not is the final product. So when we look at United we have Rashford, Fosu-Mensah, and Borthwick-Jackson, who have all gotten places in the squad. Pereira and Wilson are also in the background and Januzaj can still come good if the right moves in his development are made. I don't doubt there are improvements still needed in the program and we don't know if these players will actually work out in the end, but when you are fielding that many academy products at one time and most are not looking out of place, than the program is doing things right as well.
With John Peacock having been in since Feb, does anyone know about his input then and now? What would be his remit as a consultant?
New scout from Everton joins united.Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
I would actually say it's both.
The periods when we produced our best ever youth products came when our junior teams where winning everything in sight AND getting through to the first team.
Look at the records in the 1950's and 1990's to back that up.
Confirmed that Langley has left the club. No mention of a successor as of yet, my bet would be De Regt.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...x?newsid=F4E1CAED-9583-4BE9-828D-97A962D5B5D2
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...x?newsid=F4E1CAED-9583-4BE9-828D-97A962D5B5D2
But I think this is why we are falling behind. Clinging on to past methodologies and success stories, refusing to change progressively and be one step ahead in a business that is always changing is a sure way to get left behind.
Definitely agree with that. We obviously had talent outside of these eras but the periods of time where we produced the best talent and had our most successful academy grads come into the first team were the times when we were winning youth tournaments/cups i.e. the busby babe era and Co92 era. In fact those youth players that were winning competitions were the players and eras that really put us on the map.
Take it most of restructuring has happened?
There has been significant restructuring over the last 6-12 months but I still don't think there is clarity (at least from the outside) about who is doing what.
We have Nick Cox, Nicky Butt, John Murtaugh and John Peacock with what I would describe as more strategic roles.
Then we have some other new recruits on the talent recruitment side with Derek Langley going. I haven't heard anything definitive but Steve Brown at Everton and Stephen Hopcroft at West Brom are names which are being discussed.
In addition, there are still some moves being discussed about some of the coaching staff at some levels. There was a tweet last week about the U/18's role being looked at but again nothing definitive.
With United being less than open about the changes it is hard to actually determine the exact structure.
Other clubs websites name all the coaching and Academy staff pretty clearly but we rarely tend to do this.
I only see these as moves in the right direction but time will tell.
We have Nick Cox, Nicky Butt, John Murtaugh and John Peacock with what I would describe as more strategic roles.
Then we have some other new recruits on the talent recruitment side with Derek Langley going. I haven't heard anything definitive but Steve Brown at Everton and Stephen Hopcroft at West Brom are names which are being discussed.
In addition, there are still some moves being discussed about some of the coaching staff at some levels. There was a tweet last week about the U/18's role being looked at but again nothing definitive.
With United being less than open about the changes it is hard to actually determine the exact structure.
Other clubs websites name all the coaching and Academy staff pretty clearly but we rarely tend to do this.
I only see these as moves in the right direction but time will tell.
What about this Atletico lad who was meant to come here with Jose? One that was responsible for all those great transfers Atleti have done recently?
He seems very passionate about the talents coming through at West Brom on Twitter.Can't see him making move.
Has he not already joined, but in a more senior capacity? Also, who would be candidates for u18 role, with the season already started?