Signing young players with potential who won't be expensive.

Of course not everyone will be happy as there is always someone calling for a big name marquee signing.

I think teams like wigan tend to miss a trick with signings llike this, i know it's become sort of a cliche to say this but they are always going after a big name, whether it be aussie or english, who commands top wages and often fails to deliver.

Bradford arguably make the [iworst[/i type of signings. The average experienced journeyman, that can still command a decent wage because of his experience.

I'm happy with our recruitment.

Once again a settled team, with more young players with potential knocking on the door.

That's like a big tent, right?

We keep hearing that there's plenty of talent in the lower leagues, but they never get a chance. Well, at this moment in time the back to back champions have signed 3 such players, so if we get nothing else then it's a good opportunity to test this theory out.

As you say, there will be detractors. Some will say we should be signing big name players, to add to the squad immediately. Others will say it's a kick in the teeth for the players in our academy, or the fringes of the first team.

Others, like you, will congratulate the club on going out and getting young, British players, which is what the franchise system is meant to encourage.

Time will tell who is right there, but from my point of view, I hope it's you.

Do we have any French lads in the academy atm?

yes - one played in the reserve game & one in the academy game last weekend

If one out of the three can make it into a 1st team regular then thats as good as the 1 in 3 big name signing that used to live upto expectation at Leeds.

Lovely.

I think all this young opportunity activity is a lot more promising by Leeds than signing (we very rarely do anyways) an over the hill expat. At least at Leeds the management have patience unlike some of the fans for such players to develop in this instant gratification era of entertainment.

1 already has


It's down to the other 2 now,and i think both will prove worthy signings.

What it highlights is the demise (in part) of the famed Leeds Academy production line which has left gaps that couldn't be filled internally.

I have no problem with Leeds making these signings but ultimately the proof will be in the 1st team pudding.

By the clubs own admission some of the young forwards are a "couple" of years off regular 1st team at SL level does that equate to a demise though?????

The vision of the Leeds Academy is hugely distorted by a once in a lifetime crop emerging around the turn of the decade.

Within the space of three or four years, the club brought through numerous players who have gone on to represent their country (Mathers, Calderwood, Walker, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Ward, Diskin, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield - off the top of my head).

I'd be surprised to see any club replicate that in the near future.

If an Academy system feeds one or two players in who go on to establish themselves in the first team every year, it's performing adequately IMO.

It's a demise in part which is what I said.

You don't think it's a demise in part when the club has to look outside it's own internal structures of several Academy teams?

I personally thin its refreshing to see our club looking at local talent rather than over the hill aussies, Im quite happy to see other clubs signing over rated aussies on stupid wages whilst we concentrate on getting the best local talent, it makes me laugh to see the hull fans creaming themselves over signing omealy when the couple of local youngsters we have signed will probably be far far better value for us

In which case around 12 of the current SL sides have Academies which are "demising in part".

If the aforementioned forwards don't develop then maybe,but to see other quality youngsters signed to add depth to the overall squad i wouldn't call a demise in any form.
Sometimes players take longer to grow into SL players i don't think it's a major problem and afterall looking at Ben-jones-bishop,kallum watkins,broughton at hull plus mcshane that indicates to me that the acadamy is still producing the goods.

Any club can do it.

Its a case of setting your goal out for what you want. What Leeds achieved was not by luck, it was by setting that goal, to devlop the players, with a plan for first team action.

They have not carried on the same way on such a scale over last few years.

Saints, Wakey, and Cas, can still repeat what Leeds did now, if they continue with the players they have been developing.

I don’t think we’ve had an over the hill Australian for years tbh and this is a myth. The only one I can think of from the top of my head is Bradley Clyde. But I’m sure some people on here will have more to offer than just that one player!

I can safely say though that we’ve had more decent signings over the SL era than terrible ones!

It is a shame that we cant produce our own players but we have brought players through from lower leagues and acadamy befoer with great sucess so fingers crosed in a few years time they will all be first teamers

You are joking right?

Pitts and Amor seem like really good signings.

The good thing is that these lads probably aren't on top money either, meaning there's nothing to stop us bringing in the so called big names.

Mark O'Neill?

What does the Pitts signing say to the likes of Worrall, Allan and Manning?




There are several other Academies that never reached a position they could, in part, demise from.

It says "Earn your place, don't expect to be given it"

If you read the article in the yep and watch the bluey interview pitts is seen as a prop!!!
I know what you mean though and as has been stated before the coaching staff feel the younger forwards are a couple of seasons away from SL at the elite level.
I have posted previously that i think the dual registration will work in those players and the clubs favour next year and everyone knows that the reserve league has been pretty ordinary overall.

they are not big enough to play at prop when needed?