More Talent Going to Southampton

[PL2 3DQ]

Running a youth academy is, in my considered opinion, a very good long-term investment.
My understanding is that it costs approx. £400,000 per year to run a Category C academy like Argyle's.
Of that, approx. £270,000 is funded by grants from the F.A. and Premier League, leaving the club to find the other £130,000 (which is to some extent subsidised by sponsorship and donations).
Therefore, over the last two seasons the Academy has cost Argyle less than £260,000.
In that period the club will have received approx. £280,000 in transfer fees and/or compensation under the EEP as a result of Sam Gallagher and Ollie Gardner joining Southampton and Christian Walton.
So, it has been able to recruit the likes of Ben Purrington, Aaron Bentley and River Allen for nothing - and it is distinctly possible that the club could earn a significant transfer fee for at least one of these in future.
The current weak link in the set-up is the absence of regular 'Reserve Team' fixtures. If the club had invested an extra £50,000 in employing a full-time Reserve Team Coach (with no first team duties) and playing Reserve games, to provide extra training, coaching and matches for the players aged 18-21, it would have quickly gained a return on the investment by keeping match-fit and polishing up players like Luke Young, Jamie Richards and Tyler Harvey so they would be properly equipped to step up to first team duty when required. It would also accelerate the development of the better under-18's. Finally, and perhaps most important, it would make possible moves to clubs like Southampton less attractive to players and parents.

A very insightful post.

A new Development League Cup competition starts next month, it's mainly aimed at the younger players so the situation should improve.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Argyle- ... story.html

 

[Quintrell Green]

Running a youth academy is, in my considered opinion, a very good long-term investment.
My understanding is that it costs approx. £400,000 per year to run a Category C academy like Argyle's.
Of that, approx. £270,000 is funded by grants from the F.A. and Premier League, leaving the club to find the other £130,000 (which is to some extent subsidised by sponsorship and donations).
Therefore, over the last two seasons the Academy has cost Argyle less than £260,000.
In that period the club will have received approx. £280,000 in transfer fees and/or compensation under the EEP as a result of Sam Gallagher and Ollie Gardner joining Southampton and Christian Walton.
So, it has been able to recruit the likes of Ben Purrington, Aaron Bentley and River Allen for nothing - and it is distinctly possible that the club could earn a significant transfer fee for at least one of these in future.
The current weak link in the set-up is the absence of regular 'Reserve Team' fixtures. If the club had invested an extra £50,000 in employing a full-time Reserve Team Coach (with no first team duties) and playing Reserve games, to provide extra training, coaching and matches for the players aged 18-21, it would have quickly gained a return on the investment by keeping match-fit and polishing up players like Luke Young, Jamie Richards and Tyler Harvey so they would be properly equipped to step up to first team duty when required. It would also accelerate the development of the better under-18's. Finally, and perhaps most important, it would make possible moves to clubs like Southampton less attractive to players and parents.

A very insightful post.

A new Development League Cup competition starts next month, it's mainly aimed at the younger players so the situation should improve.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Argyle- ... story.html

On the other hand it is a further opportunity for scouts from higher divisions to spot young players that Argyle have trained, educated and nurtured.

 

[gracie11]

Yes very insightful Gordan, but the club have not got the money to do the things you want.

My idea provides money.

 

[Paul_Roberts]

The youth system is strapped for cash all the time.

Why not sign an agreement with Southampton for 5 years, (where realistically we'll be bouncing between league 2 and 1).
They get 1st choice on any of our youngsters, the EPPP set the fee anyway, so not losing anything. For that option they pay us 100-200k a year, which is a drop in the ocean to them, this makes our youth system closer to cat 2, which enables to improve even more on what's being produced at the moment.
Players they don't want, come through to the 1st team, or move to other clubs for the same set fee from the eppp.

Overall the quality will improve coming through, and Kevin Hodges and his team can focus on the job they do, not having to scratch around looking for money to improve on what the academy kids get.

Then suddenly the Greens are bouncing between the championship and league 1 as the quality has improved coming through ie into the 1st team, or are selling 3 youngsters a year which will keep Mr Brent happy, then suddenly we're buying quality to put into the team for whoever the manager will be in the future.

Sounds like a plan :scarf:

What happens if, in two or three years' time, we're in the same division as them?

 

[StevePAFC]

The youth system is strapped for cash all the time.

Why not sign an agreement with Southampton for 5 years, (where realistically we'll be bouncing between league 2 and 1).
They get 1st choice on any of our youngsters, the EPPP set the fee anyway, so not losing anything. For that option they pay us 100-200k a year, which is a drop in the ocean to them, this makes our youth system closer to cat 2, which enables to improve even more on what's being produced at the moment.
Players they don't want, come through to the 1st team, or move to other clubs for the same set fee from the eppp.

Overall the quality will improve coming through, and Kevin Hodges and his team can focus on the job they do, not having to scratch around looking for money to improve on what the academy kids get.

Then suddenly the Greens are bouncing between the championship and league 1 as the quality has improved coming through ie into the 1st team, or are selling 3 youngsters a year which will keep Mr Brent happy, then suddenly we're buying quality to put into the team for whoever the manager will be in the future.

Sounds like a plan :scarf:

What happens if, in two or three years' time, we're in the same division as them?

Hmm wishful thinking

 

[Paul_Roberts]

The youth system is strapped for cash all the time.

Why not sign an agreement with Southampton for 5 years, (where realistically we'll be bouncing between league 2 and 1).
They get 1st choice on any of our youngsters, the EPPP set the fee anyway, so not losing anything. For that option they pay us 100-200k a year, which is a drop in the ocean to them, this makes our youth system closer to cat 2, which enables to improve even more on what's being produced at the moment.
Players they don't want, come through to the 1st team, or move to other clubs for the same set fee from the eppp.

Overall the quality will improve coming through, and Kevin Hodges and his team can focus on the job they do, not having to scratch around looking for money to improve on what the academy kids get.

Then suddenly the Greens are bouncing between the championship and league 1 as the quality has improved coming through ie into the 1st team, or are selling 3 youngsters a year which will keep Mr Brent happy, then suddenly we're buying quality to put into the team for whoever the manager will be in the future.

Sounds like a plan :scarf:

What happens if, in two or three years' time, we're in the same division as them?

Hmm wishful thinking

Wishful thinking is a solid enough reason to steer away from a feeder arrangement with any club, never mind one we were a division above not so long ago.

Personally I think Argyle are too big a club aspirationally speaking to enter into a feeder arrangement with anyone.

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

The youth system is strapped for cash all the time.

Why not sign an agreement with Southampton for 5 years, (where realistically we'll be bouncing between league 2 and 1).
They get 1st choice on any of our youngsters, the EPPP set the fee anyway, so not losing anything. For that option they pay us 100-200k a year, which is a drop in the ocean to them, this makes our youth system closer to cat 2, which enables to improve even more on what's being produced at the moment.
Players they don't want, come through to the 1st team, or move to other clubs for the same set fee from the eppp.

Overall the quality will improve coming through, and Kevin Hodges and his team can focus on the job they do, not having to scratch around looking for money to improve on what the academy kids get.

Then suddenly the Greens are bouncing between the championship and league 1 as the quality has improved coming through ie into the 1st team, or are selling 3 youngsters a year which will keep Mr Brent happy, then suddenly we're buying quality to put into the team for whoever the manager will be in the future.

Sounds like a plan :scarf:

First of all Southampton can come and take who they want anyway so why would they agree to pay £100-200k each year?

And then secondly, if Arsenal come along and want to sign up young Johnny Janner then they can, even if there is an agreement between Saints and Argyle.

 

[Paul_Roberts]

Johnny Janner's going too? Where will it end?!

 

[Pogleswoody]

Johny Janner?
The Midfield Spanner?
The best thing in Green since Dr Bruce Banner?
Hope they don't let him go for a tanner!
Wish we had never poached him from Lanner!!
so upset, my face couldn't be any wanner!! :sad:

 

[gracie11]

Not if there is an agreement in place!

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

Not if there is an agreement in place!

There already is an agreement in place. It is called the EPPP. Clubs may have sold out short to this Premier League idea but it does bring in more than your deal with Southampton would.

 

[gaspargomez]

I didn' want to post this comment on the thread which is trying to raise money for the academy as it may distract from that good cause. But it really makes me angry to think that the Argyle academy has to scrape around for money whilst the Premier League clubs snatch the cream of our most talented youngsters. Its another mechanism that will keep Argyle lower down the leagues and will stop us from reaching our potential- which should be Premier League for a city and population catchment of this size. If Argyle got the true worth of the players coming out of their academy there would be no need for Kevin Hodges to be scraping around trying to buy a camera.

The league clubs need to get together and pull out of this system, or at least negotiate much more favourable terms. I hate it.

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

I didn' want to post this comment on the thread which is trying to raise money for the academy as it may distract from that good cause. But it really makes me angry to think that the Argyle academy has to scrape around for money whilst the Premier League clubs snatch the cream of our most talented youngsters. Its another mechanism that will keep Argyle lower down the leagues and will stop us from reaching our potential- which should be Premier League for a city and population catchment of this size. If Argyle got the true worth of the players coming out of their academy there would be no need for Kevin Hodges to be scraping around trying to buy a camera.

The league clubs need to get together and pull out of this system, or at least negotiate much more favourable terms. I hate it.

Argyle can negotiate the true worth of players that come through their academy but this thread is about those who move on before they pass through. Category A academies are not exclusive to Premier League clubs but a set up like that is beyond the pocket of Argyle at this time. Boys moving to better resourced academies is surely in the best interest of the kids and not just the bigger clubs?