di santo

[skinnymate1690 566]

How the fuck does he get a game in the premiership, got like 1 goal in nearly 50 games , that's a worse rate than heskey !

[Scott-RFC 308]

How many as sub appearances? Plus the lads only 21

[broxibear87 129]

He was very highly rated when he came to Chelsea, doesn't seem to have made any progress.

[Muff 245]

Look's like a lost wee boy half the time.

[we_are_the_people 2]

Look's like a lost wee boy half the time.

^^^^ This

Not sure why these "kids" at clubs like Chelsea/Liverpool/United/Arsenal get so highly rated as most the time they are pretty average.

[sdunsmb 43]

^^^^ This

Not sure why these "kids" at clubs like Chelsea/Liverpool/United/Arsenal get so highly rated as most the time they are pretty average.

Yeh I can't think of any good players to come though Man Utd or Arsenals youth system!

[we_are_the_people 2]

Yeh I can't think of any good players to come though Man Utd or Arsenals youth system!

Is this were I ask you to name these young players that have come through then you reply with Scholes/Giggs/Neville etc from 15+ years ago?

[sdunsmb 43]

Is this were I ask you to name these young players that have come through then you reply with Scholes/Giggs/Neville etc from 15+ years ago?

I just found it funny that you included Man Utd and particularly Arsenal.

True Man Utd haven't produced as many academy players in recent years but they continue to bring in young unknown players and breed them into superstars.

Good point about Arsenal though

[we_are_the_people 2]

I just found it funny that you included Man Utd and particularly Arsenal.

True Man Utd haven't produced as many academy players in recent years but they continue to bring in young unknown players and breed them into superstars.

Good point about Arsenal though

What is so funny about it?

Maybe I should have made it more clear that I meant the current crop of the last 5-6 years.

How many years since Arsenal won a trophy? coming up for 6? Yes these kids are doing wonders for the Arsenal trophy cabinet.

What players have they turned into superstars then?

[sdunsmb 43]

What is so funny about it?

Maybe I should have made it more clear that I meant the current crop of the last 5-6 years.

How many years since Arsenal won a trophy? coming up for 6? Yes these kids are doing wonders for the Arsenal trophy cabinet.

What players have they turned into superstars then?

Personally, I'd say Arsenal has one of the best youth systems in the world but let's jus agree to disagree

[Orangeclement 555]

What is so funny about it?

Maybe I should have made it more clear that I meant the current crop of the last 5-6 years.

How many years since Arsenal won a trophy? coming up for 6? Yes these kids are doing wonders for the Arsenal trophy cabinet.

What players have they turned into superstars then?

So in your opinion the only succesful club at bringig on youth would be Barcelona then as they are the only club to win anything recently with players for the youth team , just going by your criteria

[we_are_the_people 2]

Personally, I'd say Arsenal has one of the best youth systems in the world but let's jus agree to disagree

Out of Arsenal's current squad there is only a few players who have directly come through their academy and they were signed at 15-17 outside Jack Wilshere.

I will name them for you.

Fabregas - Signed from Barcelona at 16.

Vela - Signed from Mexican club at 16.

Walcott - Signed from Southampton at 16 after playing in their first team.

Ramsey - Signed from Cardiff at 17 from their first team.

Szczęsny - Signed from Polish team at 16, yet to make an appearance for Arsenal

Wilshere - Been at club since he was 9.

Djourou - Signed from a Swiss club at 15.

Gibbs - Signed from Wimbelton at 15.

Bendtner - Signed from Danish club at 16.

Does signing a player at the ages of 15-17 constitute producing him through the youth system? I believe doing what Arsenal have with Wilshere is the right way to class a player as coming through the youth system.

Fabregas, Walcott, Ramsey and Vela are hardly players Arsenal have produced, ok they may have turned them into well known players, but their previous clubs have brought them through and produced them at a certain level.

I think the difference is that Arsenal have a great scouting system at picking up players at 15+ and helping them go further, but majority of their current squad are through signings.

I think the problem here is we have a different view on the process of producing a youth player. I agree Arsenal have a good overall youth system mainly due to their scouts.

Again you never named any superstars from United, I don't class spending £12 million on a player like Ronaldo at 18 playing in a decent Portuguese league as turning a young boy into a superstar.

So in your opinion the only succesful club at bringig on youth would be Barcelona then as they are the only club to win anything recently with players for the youth team , just going by your criteria

Did you read my original post?

I stated most of the time these youngsters are classed as very good players and never turn out to be, this is mainly due to them being at a 'big club'

Do we go by your logic and say that Arsenal signing Fabregas at 16 after Barcelona developed him is the same as Barcelona producing Xavi from 11 years of age?