U23s & Academy

[Dokko]

DEsmond. Lovely run by Neave and great pass by Park.

[Bimpy474]

Just now, Geordie Ahmed said:

Late equaliser, deflected finish, might be an own goal but lovely pass from Park with the outside of his foot to set it up

 

Just about to say, that pass from Park was brilliant.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Had it on in the background so didn't watch it properly but was impressed with Munda 

 

Think at the age he is he should be looking for a loan stint in January to see if he can play at a higher level

[Bimpy474]

5 totally unstoppable penalties like, really good.

[Andy84]

Being shite in this competition isn’t  unique to us tbf. Almost all PL teams U23s are rock bottom of their groups and get pumped every game 

[SteV]

17 minutes ago, Andy84 said:

Being shite in this competition isn’t  unique to us tbf. Almost all PL teams U23s are rock bottom of their groups and get pumped every game 

Everton were 0-4 down to Bradford at ht yesterday. And they had a couple of first teamers playing in Patterson and McNeil, presumably coming back from injury, but still.

 

I also happened to notice that Everton’s keeper was called George Pickford, which seems an unbelievable coincidence.

[Rafalove]

 

[Paully]

 

[Groundhog63]

£1 

 

https://archive.ph/9gZoF

[PauloGeordio]

 

[The Butcher]

5 hours ago, PauloGeordio said:

 

 

[joeyt]

The word wonderkid gets banded around so often

 

Pretty grim practice football clubs paying a quarter of a million for 15 year olds

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025 by joeyt

[SteV]

5 hours ago, PauloGeordio said:

 

This is quite interesting because my cousin, lives next door to a family who’s son also came through the academy ranks at Barnsley as CB and has just recently left to join Ipswich.

 

My cousin was talking to his dad, and apparently we also made an him an offer, along with West Ham, but he chose Ipswich, partly due to a potentially quicker route to the first team, and also because (surprisingly) Ipswich offered the best financial package.

[joeyt]

So grim 

[PauloGeordio]

9 minutes ago, SteV said:

This is quite interesting because my cousin, lives next door to a family who’s son also came through the academy ranks at Barnsley as CB and has just recently left to join Ipswich.

 

My cousin was talking to his dad, and apparently we also made an him an offer, along with West Ham, but he chose Ipswich, partly due to a potentially quicker route to the first team, and also because (surprisingly) Ipswich offered the best financial package.

Good prospect this lad.

[Unbelievable]

I din’t understand what’s grim about it. It’s not like these kids move clubs against their (or their parents’) wishes and will be made to quit their education or something. 

[joeyt]

1 minute ago, Unbelievable said:

I din’t understand what’s grim about it. It’s not like these kids move clubs against their (or their parents’) wishes and will be made to quit their education or something. 

 

In what other profession do you get people buying 15 year olds and giving huge financial packages to the parents of these children?

[SteV]

Just now, Unbelievable said:

I din’t understand what’s grim about it. It’s not like these kids move clubs against their (or their parents’) wishes and will be made to quit their education or something. 

I suppose the question is, is it right for 15yo’s to effectively be poached by bigger clubs? Thus depriving the smaller club of a bigger transfer fee further down the line?

 

Although having said that, even if a player has been at a club from say 8-15, I’m a bit sceptical about how much actual ‘development’ takes place due to the coaching. Obviously there’s some, but good players are good players at that age.

[joeyt]

Just seems mad to me that a 15 year old has to make a decision to move his family and lose his friends to move from Barnsley to Ipswich because they've got a better route to the first team.

 

He's a child

[SteV]

5 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Just seems mad to me that a 15 year old has to make a decision to move his family and lose his friends to move from Barnsley to Ipswich because they've got a better route to the first team.

 

He's a child

The who’s gone to Ipswich is 16 I think, but I understand your point.

[leffe186]

Just now, joeyt said:

Just seems mad to me that a 15 year old has to make a decision to move his family and lose his friends to move from Barnsley to Ipswich because they've got a better route to the first team.

 

He's a child

 

There's a Spurs podcast "The Lab" that's put together by Flav who's the Spurs fan on the Overlap. Last episode was about Spurs in the 80s and a reminder that two of my favourite players ever - Graham Roberts and Tony Galvin - came directly from non-League, Weymouth and Goole Town. I was thinking that wouldn't happen nowadays, it's a different game now etc etc but they also talked about another of my favourites, Micky Hazard. He was a mackem who we spotted at school but who was apparently too young to be offered a trial at the time. Eventually we got him, but he was about the same age as this kid.

 

It's not necessarily grim, but it's a real pity. Big clubs have thrown vast sums and incentives at kids and their parents forever - some clubs way more than others - and I get that this has always been the case to some extent but it seems like such an enormous industry now. That's without even considering things like the systematic importation of young African footballers to places like Belgium over the years. I think it's OK to say that it's a damn shame that these kids generally don't develop at clubs in their home town and it would be great if we could get back to that. 

 

Sometimes it's right for us old men to yell at clouds. You're an old man Joey, right?

[Monters]

7 minutes ago, leffe186 said:

 

There's a Spurs podcast "The Lab" that's put together by Flav who's the Spurs fan on the Overlap. Last episode was about Spurs in the 80s and a reminder that two of my favourite players ever - Graham Roberts and Tony Galvin - came directly from non-League, Weymouth and Goole Town. I was thinking that wouldn't happen nowadays, it's a different game now etc etc but they also talked about another of my favourites, Micky Hazard. He was a mackem who we spotted at school but who was apparently too young to be offered a trial at the time. Eventually we got him, but he was about the same age as this kid.

 

It's not necessarily grim, but it's a real pity. Big clubs have thrown vast sums and incentives at kids and their parents forever - some clubs way more than others - and I get that this has always been the case to some extent but it seems like such an enormous industry now. That's without even considering things like the systematic importation of young African footballers to places like Belgium over the years. I think it's OK to say that it's a damn shame that these kids generally don't develop at clubs in their home town and it would be great if we could get back to that. 

 

Sometimes it's right for us old men to yell at clouds. You're an old man Joey, right?

Shaun Murray was another one you guys chucked the kitchen sink at to move from the North East to North London. Rumour at the time was his cousin got a contract as well but purely to keep him company!

 

Like you say it’s gone on for years… plus you turn full time at 16 so it’s a move away regardless unless you’re at your local club. 
 

Being dumped with zero support at 16 or 18 was always more grim than someone throwing cash at you & your parents

 

 

[leffe186]

18 minutes ago, Monters said:

Shaun Murray was another one you guys chucked the kitchen sink at to move from the North East to North London. Rumour at the time was his cousin got a contract as well but purely to keep him company!

 

Like you say it’s gone on for years… plus you turn full time at 16 so it’s a move away regardless unless you’re at your local club. 
 

Being dumped with zero support at 16 or 18 was always more grim than someone throwing cash at you & your parents

 

 

https://superhotspur.com/2018/04/26/my-interview-with-former-spurs-academy-player-shaun-murray/

[Monters]

Cheers, enjoyed reading that!

 

Couple of years older than me (I think) loads of skill and an unreal first touch but probs not quite quick or strong enough for the very top. Similar to Lee Clark really. 
 

Nice lad, though always enjoyed playing against him!

 

Cheers again, I’ve enjoyed the nostalgia hahaha 

 

Us oldies need to stick together 

[madras]

40 minutes ago, Monters said:

Shaun Murray was another one you guys chucked the kitchen sink at to move from the North East to North London. Rumour at the time was his cousin got a contract as well but purely to keep him company!

 

Like you say it’s gone on for years… plus you turn full time at 16 so it’s a move away regardless unless you’re at your local club. 
 

Being dumped with zero support at 16 or 18 was always more grim than someone throwing cash at you & your parents

 

 

A couple of years below me at school but we played a bit on The Gala field. Nice lad, no Billy big bollocks about him.