Paul_Roberts":2271t6cy said:
Such a shame we aren't currently at a higher level. While a move to Liverpool, for instance, will always be a step up for an Argyle player, us being in the Championship would lessen our chances of losing some of our bright young things to Brighton or even Southampton.
I wonder how many of this Milk Cup squad will be prised away before they even turn out for our reserves?
I had the pleasure of meeting Lloyd Jones' father a couple of weeks ago in the same week thta his son had just made his 1st team debut for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly. He could not speak highly enough of Argyle's Academy set up. I believe he has another son at Argyle's Academy.
He said of Argyle's Milk Cup team of four years ago eight had gone on to sign professional contracts. To the best of my recollection they were, three with Premiership clubs (Lloyd Jones, Lee Barrow with WBA and Sam Gallagher with Southampton). One with a Championship club - Christian Walton with Brighton and four with Argyle - Harvey, Bentley, Purrington and Allen. So we have managed to keep hold of some of our promising youngsters beyond the reserve side.
The problem will remain though as the next level of Academy status in a quantum leap in terms of finance and facilities and i doubt whether it can be realistically achieved until we reap the reward of Championship level finances. In the meantime we will have to continue to bear the consequences of an Academy system skewed in favour of the Premiership and Championship.
As an aside Lloyd Jones was sold to Liverpool for £20,000 by Brendan Guilfoyle during our period of administration(with no add ons) on the advice of Paul Hart's son acting as agent. A scandalous decision without any justification particularly in relation to no future payments for 1st team appearances or the like. I wonder how much the agent's fees for that advice were!
