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Salford City

Postby Dan » Wed Sep 09, 2020 9:45 am

Thought this was a good read and is Stags related when you look at what we're doing with our academy and what they've decided to do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54080695

Salford City co-owner Phil Neville says the club's focus "has shifted" away from developing its own players because it was "almost impossible" to attract the best 16-year-olds to Moor Lane.

By his own admission, Neville and his fellow Manchester United 'Class of '92' colleagues, brother Gary, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and David Beckham, made producing players one of their 'keystone values' when they took over the club in 2014.

However, speaking before a first competitive meeting with Manchester United in the EFL Trophy on Wednesday, Neville said one of the biggest lessons of the past six years was that the investment required to develop talent in an area of the country with three of the biggest clubs in Europe and countless well-honed academies was not going to pay dividends.

"We were really passionate about it because we were given such opportunities when we were young," said Neville, current head coach of the England women's team.

"But the investment was huge and if you are in League One or League Two, getting the best 16-year-olds is almost impossible because they have gone to Premier League or Championship clubs."

Salford have invested heavily in experience this summer, with former Rochdale striker Ian Henderson and Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson joining the club.

However, Neville, whose son Harvey could be playing for United's under-21s in Wednesday's match, is adamant Salford are still committed to development under the guidance of former United under-23 boss Warren Joyce.

"Our focus has shifted to the 18-to-21 age group," he said.

"If you ask any of the lads involved at Salford, those are the critical years when you have to become a first-team player. That is when people make decisions about you, whether you are at an elite club or our level.

"We will still have young players coming to our club but the likelihood of us having a team of Salford born and bred players coming to us at 14 and staying until they are 18 is very slim.

"We feel if we can cherry pick the best 18-20-year-olds, working with the best youth coach in Warren Joyce, it gives us a better opportunity to get them into the first-team quicker.

"These kids aren't exposed to senior football often enough. We feel through the EFL Trophy and our own games programme, it will give the club even more chance to be ."
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Re: Salford City

Postby MTFCMAD » Wed Sep 09, 2020 10:05 am

Now days it probably takes 10 to 15 years to re establish a competitive youth academy. It obviously helps not having some massive clubs on your door step too.

Looks like they are trying to go down the Brentford route.
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Re: Salford City

Postby Scothie the Stag » Wed Sep 09, 2020 12:43 pm

If he couldn't persuade his own son/didn't think it was right for, how did he ever think that they were going to pick up the best 14 year olds?!
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Re: Salford City

Postby I am Spartacus » Wed Sep 09, 2020 1:23 pm

As their focus is shifting towards the older age groups and ultimately the first team the club will lose part of its connection to the community of Salford. When forced growth of a club replaces ambition coupled with steady growth this is bound to happen.

What will the likes of Neville be saying when they lose interest, can’t take the club further etc.?

Would they and Salford have been better off being patrons and benefactors of an established non-league that occasionally, like all clubs, have a purple patch in their history and are still there tomorrow?

Or is the realisation of real football just not how Gary expected?
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Re: Salford City

Postby ST4GS » Wed Sep 09, 2020 1:38 pm

Not sure if the following statement I have heard is true or has been fact checked but tonight's game of Salford v Manchester United (U23's) is a first for:

"Salford City FC's permanent football ground is nearer to the centre of Manchester than it is to the centre of Salford and astonishingly Manchester United's permanent football ground is nearer to the centre of Salford than it is to the centre of Manchester"

Surely not??
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Re: Salford City

Postby Dave Wayne » Wed Sep 09, 2020 1:47 pm

ST4GS wrote:Not sure if the following statement I have heard is true or has been fact checked but tonight's game of Salford v Manchester United (U23's) is a first for:

"Salford City FC's permanent football ground is nearer to the centre of Manchester than it is to the centre of Salford and astonishingly Manchester United's permanent football ground is nearer to the centre of Salford than it is to the centre of Manchester"

Surely not??

Grimsby Town play in Cleethorpes, and Cleethorpes Town play in Grimsby. :lol:
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Re: Salford City

Postby Hon Sec » Wed Sep 09, 2020 8:53 pm

And Salford lost 0-6 tonight.
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