Keeping The Young Players At The Clubs

[V for Vendetta]

The loss of Grimmer and potential loss of Fyvie got me thinking today about how we can keep these players interested and excited to be playing for Afc.

 

Now obviously the first thing is the club needs to be doing fairly well at least. A team in the top 6 pushing for 3rd or 4th might help keep these guys a few years longer before the inevitable move to England.

 

But it occured to me that what we may need to learn here is the art of bringing a group of youngsters through together rather than just 1 star youth who plays with journeymen before moving on from a stagnating club. If we can bring 3 or 4 through together who have grown up together then broken into the first team together I think we have a far better chance of getting them to stay. Or at least getting them to stay until they are a bit older and really need to move to develop - at which point we should have them contracted and be looking for a decent fee.

 

What with us now creeping away from the bottom of the league does anyone thing that Brown and Knox should be looking to bring a group of youngsters in and have them involved regulary, preferably getting a few starts but also seeing their teammates from the youth team getting a chance too.

 

The buzz around the place if we could have a few of these lads bouncing around the place could be fantastic for the team.

 

I don't know much about the youth players but might the likes of Megginson, Fraser, Storie and Smith all be ready for a few games, carefully introduced sure, but given a real chance in the form of a start here or there rather than sitting on the bench or whatever?

 

Thoughts?

[robbo]

its a valid point.

 

basic psychology - more likely to go somewhere with your mates. being sent from the u19 to join the seniors must be daunting. must take a strong character to go from being labelled as a the go to guy for your team to suddenly be bottom of the pack in a team of much older guys. send a couple together and they are more likely to start clubbed together (like the 1st day of school) then slowly integrate themselves.

 

its a hard one though because to my recollection, only fergie managed to bring through so many young players all at once and not have it bite him on the arse. you could argue hibs did well with the a similar philosophy when they were selling half their team for good money. conversely wenger has been trying for years and cant get the blend right so it cant be as easy as promote 3 guys and let them get on with it

[V for Vendetta]

its a valid point.

 

basic psychology - more likely to go somewhere with your mates. being sent from the u19 to join the seniors must be daunting. must take a strong character to go from being labelled as a the go to guy for your team to suddenly be bottom of the pack in a team of much older guys. send a couple together and they are more likely to start clubbed together (like the 1st day of school) then slowly integrate themselves.

 

its a hard one though because to my recollection, only fergie managed to bring through so many young players all at once and not have it bite him on the arse. you could argue hibs did well with the a similar philosophy when they were selling half their team for good money. conversely wenger has been trying for years and cant get the blend right so it cant be as easy as promote 3 guys and let them get on with it

 

Its a balance for sure. Wenger has too many youngsters sometimes but also too many players of a certain type - there's no balance sometimes.

 

I'm thinking more like having a "core" of 4 youngsters picked out now and integrated into the squad properly. Not just sat on the bench week after week but actually all given a chance in games ie a start.

 

Now that doesn't mean 4 in the same game. Could be 1 or 2. Then in another game a different 1 or 2. Whichover of the lads seems to cope best maybe get a few more and the others perhaps given more breaks, used from the bench etc.

 

Just basically a concerted effort to help lads come through by a) be brave enough to take a chance on them rather than give them 5 mins from the bench and b) having a few in and out of the side every week so we build up the feeling that they have a chance, that their mates are also getting a fair go etc etc

 

Way I see it this could stimulate a good response from the senior players and also stimulate the youngsters who are team mates of these 3 or 4 in the youth teams too as they must feel closer to getting a first team chance.

 

Morale starts to spiral up rather than down for a change.

[Ke1t]

First thing I'd do is make it club policy to insist on a 5 year contract for every 16 year old who wants to learn their trade at Aberdeen.

 

They can have a 1 million pound release clause if they want.

 

Certainly we'll miss out on some kids, but those we do sign will be under contract until they're worth real money.

 

If you don't want to sign up then Peterheid is just up the road.

[Miglo don]

Definitely a good point, however could our mongo fans cope with that? Taking in to account the fact that youngsters get a lot of negative remarks from fans. We would need to be patient with them.

[Roo]

First thing I'd do is make it club policy to insist on a 5 year contract for every 16 year old who wants to learn their trade at Aberdeen.

 

They can have a 1 million pound release clause if they want.

 

Certainly we'll miss out on some kids, but those we do sign will be under contract until they're worth real money.

 

If you don't want to sign up then Peterheid is just up the road.

 

A good idea in theory, but what about all the youngsters we've had from the ages of 16 onwards that haven't even been kept on until their 21st birthday because they haven't turned out to be good enough or haven't been given much of a chance. Certainly this idea would potentially get rid of the second issue as they may have to be played as under contract anyway, but we could end up with a lot of sub-standard youngsters on our books, or youngsters that are surplus to requirements (for instance the number of central mids vying for a breakthrough in recent years finding it harder due to the number of central mids we currently have)

[K-9]

Pretty sure not allowed to give 16 year olds five year deals anyway.

[Peterheid Loon]

A lot of young players nowadays see clubs they are at in Scotland as stepping stones to a move down south. Without going into to much detail, some of them see a move to say Huddersfield, Bristol or Derby as a big step financial wise and also a key part i keep hearing about is that they become bored going to the same places/playing same teams on such a regular basis. A refreshing challenege even though some of them know they wont play week in week out. There really isn't as much integrity from young players as there used to be, working with a couple of them on a regular basis this is clearly evident. I can see both sides of it really though as looked at it from both sides.

 

The level of training facilities, how to look after themselves etc is far far better than what is on offer in Scotland so in that context you cant hardly blame them. I really do think there will be a few more young players to leave Scotland in the next couple of years, it's already happened with a few other Scottish youngsters in recent times.

[King Street Loon]

.

[King Street Loon]

Pretty sure not allowed to give 16 year olds five year deals anyway.

 

Did Jim McLean nae try this with the likes of Drunken Duncan, Paddy Connolly and Christian Dailly etc?

[StandFree1982]

The only way Scottish clubs will be able to keep their decent young players is if the English league imploded with the amount of cash in it. Until then, we're ALWAYS going to lose our best players to clubs down there.

 

That or they make a ruling that prevents clubs from poaching youngsters, which wouldn't work.

[ollie1903]

Did Jim McLean nae try this with the likes of Drunken Duncan, Paddy Connolly and Christian Dailly etc?

He tried to get Scotty Buchan to sign a 10 year contract. Scotty B refused.

 

Scotty B had a good junior/highland league career.

[Dandyesque]

We could try not abusing them for no apparent reason

[fifered]

We could try not abusing them for no apparent reason

What, like actually support them? What a moronic idea.

[Dandyesque]

What, like actually support them? What a moronic idea.

 

I'm sorry.

 

Rest assured I am giving myself a well deserved slap right now

[King Street Loon]

Yes, let's give continual backing to a young player with ideas above his station, who has been pretty poor most of the time, who can't even get a corner past the front post, miss places passes. I could go on.

 

It's alright Fraser, chin up loon. Keep up the good work. Sterling effort.

[Dandyesque]

Yes, let's give continual backing to a young player with ideas above his station, who has been pretty poor most of the time, who can't even get a corner past the front post, miss places passes. I could go on.

 

It's alright Fraser, chin up loon. Keep up the good work. Sterling effort.

 

Ever heard of Paul Kane?

 

And I'm sure Fyvie could knock the ball in the close vicinity of the penalty spot every time if that was what he wanted. But he is actually trying to whip the ball in to make it harder to defend, which is not as easy. I'm sure his own fans getting on his back while trying to do so wouldn't be massive help.

 

Ideas above his station.....fucking magic

[King Street Loon]

Aye, I've heard of Paul Kane.

Saw him a lot too.

He was shite. I think even Willie Miller would admit that signing him didn't work out quite how he'd have liked.

 

I admire your defence of Fyvie.

It's only opinions at the end if the day.

You think he's a decent and promising player, as do many others I'm sure.

I've yet to be convinced, and I'm sure there are many others of that viewpoint too.

[Dandyesque]

Aye, I've heard of Paul Kane.

Saw him a lot too.

He was shite. I think even Willie Miller would admit that signing him didn't work out quite how he'd have liked.

 

I admire your defence of Fyvie.

It's only opinions at the end if the day.

You think he's a decent and promising player, as do many others I'm sure.

I've yet to be convinced, and I'm sure there are many others of that viewpoint too.

 

Kane stuck a shed load of corners in the side netting. Every week. And we were a lot, lot better then than now.

[King Street Loon]

Bloody right we were a lot better then.

That team would romp the league in this day in age.

 

Kane stood out like a sair thumb in that team, and not in a good way.

Utter root.

[zander]

Yes, let's give continual backing to a young player with ideas above his station, who has been pretty poor most of the time, who can't even get a corner past the front post, miss places passes. I could go on.

 

It's alright Fraser, chin up loon. Keep up the good work. Sterling effort.

 

Hes young KSL gee him a break I'm sure if he was playing in a 7 a side game he'd clear the post.

 

Old enough good enough etc etc

[Miglo don]

We should be taking young players from smaller clubs than ourselves in the same way that it is happening to us.

[minijc]

If we had a reserve league the likes of Robertson, Jack and Fyvie would be much better.

[Stoneybloke]

If we had a reserve league the likes of Robertson, Jack and Fyvie would be much better.

 

I agree. But since it's highly unlikely that there will ever be a reserve league, there doesn't seem to be any way of the youngsters getting experience in fully competitive games.

 

Would it be against the "rules" to set up a team in the Highland league and loan them out to it in rotation. Their development could be closely monitored and they would get plenty of match practice.

 

EDIT: at one time many years ago, there was an Aberdeen "A" team in the Highland League

[ollie1903]

If we had a reserve league the likes of Robertson, Jack and Fyvie would be much better.

Not necessarily better, but we'd know if they were completely ready for the step up.

 

Bring back the reserve league.

[V for Vendetta]

If we had a reserve league the likes of Robertson, Jack and Fyvie would be much better.

 

 

Not necessarily better, but we'd know if they were completely ready for the step up.

 

Bring back the reserve league.

 

Its pretty much a done deal already that we will have reserve league again I believe.

 

However it'll be some sort of compromise between the u-19 (u-20?) league we have now and something that older players can be used in.

 

Seems pretty sensible compromise to me.

[vanderark14]

Its pretty much a done deal already that we will have reserve league again I believe.

 

However it'll be some sort of compromise between the u-19 (u-20?) league we have now and something that older players can be used in.

 

Seems pretty sensible compromise to me.

 

Under 21with a couple of eligible over 21's isn't it?

[V for Vendetta]

Under 21with a couple of eligible over 21's isn't it?

 

Something similar yes.

 

Personally I think they should allow a few more than 2 over 21 but its an improvement for sure. Clubs wouldn't need to decide on lads making it at 19 - they could be given a chance to develop in the "reserve" league for a year or 2 more. Also allows a couple of overage players the opportunity to get match fitness.

[K-9]

Under 21with a couple of eligible over 21's isn't it?

They could call it the reserve league?

[ollie1903]

Under 21with a couple of eligible over 21's isn't it?

The SFA are pushing for an under 20 league as opposed to under 19, with two overage players permitted, or three if the keeper is over 20