We might see it happening more often now, due to no relegation.

Clubs were reluctant to put their faith in juniors previously, now they dont have something hanging over them. Lets see what happens.

no, these guys aren't probably going to be ready for 1st X3 action next year. But we will still have Peacock, Leulaui, Burgess & Bailey in the front row. 2011 will be the cruncher, as we'll lose Peacock & Kyle, probably together.

Peacock will be able to do kylie minutes till he is about 36 maybe longer if he wants!

That's a bit harsh wilko.
Kylie is stepping up his workrate and he did very well against the giants when we didn't have peacock and lost bailey.

I was been serious mate and not having a pop at kylie!! Peacock could do a big 40 to 50 minutes for a long time to come. The bloke is a machine!!

You see, finally, even the esteemed CEO can acknowledge the true pack situation this season.

Sorry mate mis-read yer post as having a bit of sarcasm in it!
I agree though about peacock going on for a lot longer yet as long as we don't try to squeeze 70+ minutes per game out of him.

I suspect when Kylie/Peacock leave at least one will be replaced by a big name signing.

I've said for a while that the batch of youngsters that currently form the backbone of our side (plus the ones who have left like Mathers, Calders, Ward, Scruton, Walker) formed a truly exceptional group of similar age. If we're being honest, the 'production line' of real talent hasn't been that productive for some time.

Lee Smith, Ryan Hall, Ablett and Burgess are about the only regular first teamers to have come through since 2003. You could probably add Watkins to that list and hopefully Jones-Bishop, so its not too shabby, but there tends to be abit of a holier-than-thou attitude with respect to other clubs' youth development, when over time I'd say Sts for example have been at least as good.

The fact that Leeds signed Ambler, and now Pitts and Amor says a lot about the young forwards knocking around the place IMO. I just hope that we don't end up with lots of depth and not enough quality.

You mean like Bradford. Actually they don't have the depth...

You can definitely end up with too many average players. Unless someone other than Smith is leaving we'll get maybe one more signing and that'll be it for next year.

So, you're dis-satisfied with the 1st team squad and the Academy structures...

Imagine how dis-satisfied if you supported a team that hadn't won 3 championships in 5 seasons (with a shout for an unprecedented 3rd in a row) with man of the match in all three of those Championship finals coming from the clubs Academy.

If you take a 'helicopter' view (dreadful business jargon I'm afraid

)of Leeds' recruitment it's really hard to fault given actual results.

I don't know much about the Academy structure, but I'd bet that having had the lads come through that form the spine of the team, its very unlikely that the club decided to not try as hard to develop more quality youngsters. More likely is simply that for whatever reason the quality of players coming through simply isn't there or the scouting not as good or simply more competition from other clubs for the best juniors.

Given that, and the fact that Bluey obviously wants a bigger squad, the recruitment of these younger players is really good work IMO - and plenty of evidence of Leeds getting in early for next year.

I suspect they'll do the right thing by Eastwood in terms of letting him decide if he wants to play for Leeds (he finds out about his visa mid August), but I'd be shocked if they didn't have other irons in the fire if they really believe they need him or someone similar.

Mixed bag this strategy for mine,

Dissapointing we haven't got the lads in the academy system, but also pretty understandable,

Ambler, pitts and amour are all young forwards and over the next 3/4 years while thses guys mature we will likely lose peacock, kylie, Ali, kirke, along with losing ellis last year and him being replaced by ablett, so we do and will have a lot is space in the pack for any academy prospects to come through

The issue from my point of view is whilst I'm sure these lads could do a job in time, and I'm sure that they could replace kirke and kylie, are any of them going to get close to peacock or Ali?

It's the right way to go, and I'm happy we are giving these guys a shot rather than a winterstein, korkidas, lovegrove, fisher type player

Gary Hetherington wrote: "Bringing in quality young players will boost our squad. There's no doubt we have been running light, particularly with our forward options this year."


Indeed. A point most forward looking posters on here have already noted Gawwy!

Shouldn't you be asking the CEO who stated as much last night and has been actively recruiting work-in-progress future potential players to plug the gaps.

Think we've been there before on this one, with the Eastwood position rightly or wrongly dictating whether we coud recruit this year without affecting the overall salary cap for next year.

The moment Eastwood was refused a UK employment Visa was the moment Leeds needed to end the deal on the grounds of his non availability (something which must have been covered in the contract) to avoid any such effect occurring.

I'd expect that the contract also had a "subject to appeal" clause in there.

Bradford were able to cancel Toupou's contract due to his inability to train with his teammates.

But that's Bradford and that was on medical grounds as per his contract, which I understand tupou challenged and lost.

Anyway speaking of Bradford, GH has a high moral standing on contracts and players/clubs should renege on them. There may be a solicitor with a sports background only too willing to take on the case on behalf of a disgruntled player.

TVOC does that included all of the bulls teammates's inability to train with each other

He certainly as.


Regards


Andy Hay
Karl Pratt

Yes but they can't sack everyone.

You forgot Ryan Sheridan and Darren Fleary I think.

Could do a lot worse than Justin Hodges.