As has already been suggested on here, he can assess the academy players by attending their games. It would seem that SA is giving a higher priority to looking at some of the less-used squad players today and also wants a positive result. I'm sure he'll get round to the younger players at some point, but I reckon he's probably got quite a lot on at the moment. To answer the original question, no I don't think the academy is a waste of time.

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)

Quite correct MKCPFC and that's my point.Was our scouting system so much better then and why given the money put into the academy why aren't lads given any opportunity especially on a day such as this.
Be interested to hear why you think academy is working though

Well TBH , I do not follow the academy much any more and I just trust whoever is running it to guide the best players through it and hopefully produce the odd first team player now and again.
I think it is working in that respect as we have had a few come through over the last 10-12 years that are playing in the Prem. (Zaha , Moses , Routeledge)
What I do not believe in is just playing kids just because they are in our youth system and therefore must be god enough. They have to be good enough and fight for it.
We had a great crop of youth players all at once back in the day you describe , so did Man U with their class of 92 or whatever it is, these opportunities for clubs come along once in a blue moon for most clubs , currently I only see Southampton producing a line of talent.
Playing a load of kids today against a third tier team misses an opportunity to try and get the first team getting used to a new style of play, maybe?
TBH , I just don't know and have no strong feelings on it.
What I do want Is for us to survive in the Premier which I believe , probably naively , will attract better quality youth players into out club , and the stronger we get the better the opportunities to play them and bed them in in non vital games at top level.
Sorry waffle over.

I don't know how Bobby Charlton, Pele and Maradona coped when they were kids without the nice, warm hi-tech facilities we apparently need to make footballers better at controlling the ball these days.

Big chest and massive boobs

[Link]

i think the academy is definitely not a waste of time & money.

in recent years we have had the following come thru it

clyne
moses
wilf
williams
kai-kai

thats probably only bettered than southampton in recent years.

its the nature of being in the promised land that the numbers would dwindle, but if kai-kai actually gets a chance and comes good then obviously its worth it, and it shows the lads in the academy theres a chance of breaking through if your good enough.

all be it because of injury but in recent games i am a little suprised none of the lads who made the bench wernt even given a few minutes as you dont know unless their given a chance, and with all due respect the likes of mutchh/campbell/sako have had theirs and some.

if we end up going down then obviously the real worth will be highlighted more as we will be able to give more players a chance.

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway

he was the one that got away wasnt he...warnock well & truly "knocked the tricks out of him" didnt he?

remember how good he looked during his cameos as a 15 year old?

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway