Lewis Thompson: Notts County need to rethink youth strategy

I think we need to give Hardy's era time, it seems more focused on the right type of development and I think previously we did well. We just seemed to push youngsters a bit to much, choosing the wrong games to throw them and little rewards for if they did well.

John Sheridan was awful with regards to this, he'd drop 'em even if they did good which I think is wrong.

Yet we do need to be pushing players and helping them adjust, I agree with that. Just needs time really, that's all. If we avoid releasing 'em it should help too. Game time and experience!

I think time is going to be required under the Nolan/hardy era patients is required. So far for I'm happy with what's happening and the developements 

It's just very frustrating to see players released, especially when they end up being linked back to us. It makes you wonder if it was worthwhile.

Luther Wildin is a youth international and we got rid.

We should find the budget to see more flourish, maybe even sell some to progress.

If they're not ready they're not ready, someone has to foot the bills and unfortunately no club can realistically afford to keep players just in case they realise they're potential. Also a lot of very good young players peak at a certain age and never regain that level irrelevant of how many opportunities they are given, the best example of this is Spencer Weir-Daley, when he was 15 he was by far and away the most talented player in his age group country wide, he got several years as a pro out of his peak at 15 yet never even got close to that standard ever again.

Pierce Bird is a good example of letting them go and keeping track of how they do, he wasn't ready first time round yet he went away and developed his game at a level more suited to him at that stage and now he has returned, hopefully signing this week.

Of all the recent youth players you have mentioned the only one good enough at point of release / offer to train is Montel Gibson, the others irrelevant of what nation they represent just weren't / aren't good enough.

I take your point, but according to Wikipedia Terry Hawkridge played his youth team football at Barnsley and Tranmere. I think it was about when we scrapped our youth system.

It's quite rare for us to release a player only for him to make his mark elsewhere. Two do spring to mind - James Walker, a keeper we released as a 19-year-old in 1993 and went on to make over 400 appearances for Walsall. Another is a striker who went on to play for Rotherham whose name escapes me. But the vast majority end up in non-league.

Even if a player does make the grade after being released by a club, that doesn't necessarily mean that the club made the wrong decision. In some cases it's the wake-up call a player needs to kick on and be successful.

One problem nowadays is that young players have their heads turned by big clubs before they're even in secondary school. The Drapers and Johnsons are now more likely to end up at the big academies and many of them end up in the Football League after being released by a top club.

The most successful of all youth players released by us would have to be Wes Morgan, unless someone knows of another player?

Most of the head turning is done by the parents who just want to say my lad plays for .... most of them know the best option would be a smaller club but its about ego's now more than ever.

1 hour ago, Northants Pie said:

The most successful of all youth players released by us would have to be Wes Morgan, unless someone knows of another player?

Most of the head turning is done by the parents who just want to say my lad plays for .... most of them know the best option would be a smaller club but its about ego's now more than ever.

A  few friends have suggested that Montel Gibson had a bad attitude with 'smaller' clubs, it's a shame because footballers should just want to play and gain experience.

I think people are less motivated these days when it comes to self-improvements.

BTW, I've been told by a few people that Wes Morgan was poached from us and that we lost him due to him not being under contract. I can't recall the full details, I think Charlie Mcparland told me that none of the players had contracts due to cost saving measures.

19 hours ago, Chris said:

A  few friends have suggested that Montel Gibson had a bad attitude with 'smaller' clubs, it's a shame because footballers should just want to play and gain experience.

I think people are less motivated these days when it comes to self-improvements.

BTW, I've been told by a few people that Wes Morgan was poached from us and that we lost him due to him not being under contract. I can't recall the full details, I think Charlie Mcparland told me that none of the players had contracts due to cost saving measures.

I forgot about him! According to Wikipedia we let him go in 1999 and he went to study at South Notts College and play for Dunkirk. That's well before Charlie rejoined us.

2 hours ago, DangerousSausage said:

I forgot about him! According to Wikipedia we let him go in 1999 and he went to study at South Notts College and play for Dunkirk. That's well before Charlie rejoined us.

To my knowledge he's always been in the background, but I swear it was him who told me a lot about the failings of certain aspect. I could be muddled mind, I sometimes do but I know during a period we lost players due to them not having contracts. I was told about a lad who was picked up by a Championship side, though I don't remember his name now (not Wes Morgan) - a midfielder.

Do you know @Northants Pie?

On 14/07/2017 at 11:12, Chris said:

To my knowledge he's always been in the background, but I swear it was him who told me a lot about the failings of certain aspect. I could be muddled mind, I sometimes do but I know during a period we lost players due to them not having contracts. I was told about a lad who was picked up by a Championship side, though I don't remember his name now (not Wes Morgan) - a midfielder.

Do you know @Northants Pie?

Yeah one of the best prospects of our recent times, he went to Watford, can't remember his name at the min, think he was 14 years old, first name might have been Tom?? But can remember him going to Watford, three lads went to Derby , i think at least one went to Forest and a couple went to Mansfield.