If the Messiah isn’t arriving at The Valley in the foreseeable future, how can Charlton compete and be successful in the ‘mad world of football’?
Recently in an article in the Telegraph, Simon Jordan talked about the devastating consequences of going into administration. Interestingly, he said to the administrator: ‘The biggest thing is that the club survives. And don’t touch that Academy’
Whatever you think about Simon Jordan (and I know the answer from many Charlton supporters would be ‘not much’), I think in this instance he’s right. Success at clubs like Charlton and Palace depends on how successful their youth development policies can be.
Our own youth policy has paid great dividends in our recent past with players like Steve Brown, Richard Rufus, Lee Bowyer, Scott Parker, Paul Konchesky, playing a significant part in that success.
Is investment in youth development the way forward for CAFC at this point in our history? As a committee member of Charlton Club, the organisation that runs Valley Gold, whose profits go on supporting young players at CAFC, I welcome your views.
Mick Gebbett
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Comments
On the more relevant point yes we need to keep the youth development programme going preferably as an Academy rather than the cheaper Centre of Excellence. Hopefully promotion will secure its funding but if not then fans need to lobby the club to retain it and be willing to financially support it via Valley Gold.
If the likes of Barry Fuller and Michael Turner were coming through now, they'd be important parts of the squad much like Solly and Wagstaff are. Instead they had to leave, find regular football, and they've worked their way up the leagues. We're a long way off being at that level in the Prem again. With seven subs in every league now, there's even more opportunity to bring these players through.
The club are doing a good job bringing them through, giving them experience out on loan, playing in the first team here and there. You can see in Wagstaff in particular he plays with confidence, something Pardew took out of him by playing him far to early.
There are still more coming through, Jordan Cousins captained England u16s to the Victory Shield and I'm sure there will be other prospects we haven't heard as much about. Also in that England team was Raheem Sterling, who recently left QPR for Liverpool. If we lose the academy and stop putting time and money into it, we could lose those future first team players when they are even younger. We couldn't hold onto McGinty, but we've done well to keep others here, Shelvey especially.
It's been great seeing Elliot wait for his chance and finally become a regular, and it's good to see the rest of them having significant roles in the squad. I'd hate to see us lose all that.
Of course it is imperative at a time when we are not going to be able to pay fees or high wages for players that we successfully develop our own, that is so obvious it goes without saying.
So is this just a plug for Valley Gold, in which case it is a bit of a sloppy one, or is it something else ?
Ps if we do wish to highlight the worth of our academy, there are enough in our current first team squad to use as examples. Banging on about the likes of the players listed above, who all come through before the academy structure was introduced isn't really a great example of our 'recent past', particularly Steve Brown who come through it 20 years ago !
If we fail to win promotion I think a lot of us would still take at least some pleasure in watching young players who've come through the ranks giving their all in the shirt even if the overall standard isn't as high as we'd like. People understandably get impatient when they make mistakes but most find it infinitely preferable to paying money we can't afford to cheats who achieve expensive contracts on the back of former glories. The extra effort we demand can never be guaranteed but can at least be ingrained together with pride from an early age with the affinity that comes from being part of a club.
Although the academy itself by no means cheap to run, suppying even moderate players who can manage at first team level is surely essential. And now and again, handled well, it can unearth a player of genuine quality like we all hope Jonjo becomes. At a time when so many genuine fans of every club feel detached and bitter over obscene wages and agents, perhaps the development of players who identify with the club helps to maintain at least some link at first team level. Hopefully it can be cost-effective too, but I feel the sense of affinity is as important in the long run.
I think he is trying to tell us we are in deep shit now.
BANG ;-)
Didn't think anyone was.
Just seem a rather oblique "message".
Who Mick you mean?.....He'd love to hear you say that!
You're thinking of Tony Garrett I think.
But for how much longer ? Easier to attract the best local youth with an academy set up. Both Millwalls local competitors in Charlton and Palace can offer that !
Yes I think he does still go and you are right about him being a trailblazer.
Does the football club think the profits from Valley Gold could be put to better use elsewhere then ?