With the recent talk of Gomez going and the Arter thread I had the thought about how a first 11 of our academy players would stack up against other teams and surely there can't be many better? United, Arsenal, West Ham, Leeds? I can't think of many more off the top of my head. Of current players we could have:
Randolph/Elliot
Solly
Gomez
Jenkinson
Fox/Konchesky (No idea how good Paul is nowadays)
Parker/Poyet
Cousins
Arter
Shelvey
Harriott
Defoe
Have the likes of Kasey Palmer in a few years, Wagstaf, Wilson, Jamaal Campbell-Ryce as well (lolz jk)
Disclaimer: It is current players before someone brings up Rufus and I was referring to English clubs, Barcelona would probably beat us yes.
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Solly - Gomez - Rufus - Minto
Bowyer - Parker - Cousins - Lee
Leaburn - Defoe
Has to be the best Charlton Academy XI since we started Valley Gold?
Jenkinson - Rufus - Gomez - Minto
Parker - Cousins
Lee - Shelvey - Bowyer
Defoe
Is it because, as strikers, they get half inched by the London Premiership sides?
Defensively, there is a case that Solly could replace Jenkinson. Considering his later career, you could also say perhaps Turner over Gomez?
In midfield, either Parker, or more likely Cousins could be replaced by Poyet.
The 3 attacking midfielders look top notch, but if Harriott had pushed on from last season, would he not be worthy a place on the bench?
But up front, we struggle to even find a second striker. The only player that came through our academy, which I would consider for that side is Kevin Lisbie. And I was struggling to remember even that! Maybe it's my memory. Can anybody think of anyone else?
Another was Paul Williams? (Is that right?) Played for the England U21s, and was sold to Wednesday?