: Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:13 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

Both my boys have come through the junior ranks at Kippax and Lock Lane there were some great kids in their leagues that you think should be starting to rear their head - sadly it doesn't seem to be the case at the moment.

I think to simply blame the club is only part of the story - having McDermot as head of youth development is a joke to me as is having Poching as academy coach.

1. You have to also question the desire of the players perhaps the Sinfield's/McGuire's/Burrow had more desire than their current counterparts - too many good kids seem to never reach their potential.

2. What is the role of the academy is it to develop players potential to ready them for first team football or to win the academy league?

3. If you were a top quality half back and you had the choice of Leeds or Castleford where would you go - at Leeds your chances are slim at best same goes for loose forward etc.

4. Finally the club maybe concentrates its scouting on filling positions where they have a weakness - Watkins emerging is no fluke the fact that Leeds have a weakness in the centres and they have found a potential star is no fluke IMO but a targeted piece of scouting.

I think you spot on with the coaching and spot on with point 4. Dissagree on the others though.

Watkins actually came from the Manchester service area. Therefore backing up your point of targeting and getting.

But what have they been doing with the rest then? Its already been commented by people defending our academy operation that the pack is too small. That been the case, why? other academy teams seem to have got the players why not us?

But other than the targeted Watkins, what other player is there that looks like he will be a star?

I know from personal experience, that Chris Clarkson was an absolute star in the making. I speak to a few of the scouts who were after him, who say in any other set up he would have been playing first team by now. Where is he in the Leeds pecking order? somethings gone wrong there. Of course it could also be down to desire which you stated earlier.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:19 pm  

DISA wrote:

I think you spot on with the coaching and spot on with point 4. Dissagree on the others though.

Watkins actually came from the Manchester service area. Therefore backing up your point of targeting and getting.

But what have they been doing with the rest then? Its already been commented by people defending our academy operation that the pack is too small. That been the case, why? other academy teams seem to have got the players why not us?

But other than the targeted Watkins, what other player is there that looks like he will be a star?

I know from personal experience, that Chris Clarkson was an absolute star in the making. I speak to a few of the scouts who were after him, who say in any other set up he would have been playing first team by now. Where is he in the Leeds pecking order? somethings gone wrong there. Of course it could also be down to desire which you stated earlier.

He's been mentioned by many people now so maybe it's just a matter of time before he break's through!!
As for poching wasn't he coaching with the scholarship 1st???
So surely he's been assessed rather than a "job's for the boy's" attitude??

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:19 pm  

DISA wrote:

I think you spot on with the coaching and spot on with point 4. Dissagree on the others though.

Watkins actually came from the Manchester service area. Therefore backing up your point of targeting and getting.

But what have they been doing with the rest then? Its already been commented by people defending our academy operation that the pack is too small. That been the case, why? other academy teams seem to have got the players why not us?

But other than the targeted Watkins, what other player is there that looks like he will be a star?

I know from personal experience, that Chris Clarkson was an absolute star in the making. I speak to a few of the scouts who were after him, who say in any other set up he would have been playing first team by now. Where is he in the Leeds pecking order? somethings gone wrong there. Of course it could also be down to desire which you stated earlier.

Paul McShane, Ben Jones-Bishop, Luke Burgess.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:07 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

He's been mentioned by many people now so maybe it's just a matter of time before he break's through!!
As for poching wasn't he coaching with the scholarship 1st???
So surely he's been assessed rather than a "job's for the boy's" attitude??

You mean like Daryl Powell was when he got the first team coach job?

[Matt_Horton]

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:14 pm  

The lower grade system is about to change as well. There are plans to scrap the reserve grade as it is and introduce an Under 20's competition as it the case in Australia at the moment.

I don't know why people are getting too beat up over the reserves at the moment, it's a crap competition. It's no preparation for Super League. The jump in class is simply too much. It would be better if some of these kids got chance to play for a championship club and were brought into Super League in this way.

Although fortunate to play for his own club, 12 months in what is now the Championship hasn't done Richard Myler any harm has it?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:31 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

You mean like Daryl Powell was when he got the first team coach job?

He started with the kids and was in the right place at the right time.
Whatever people think of powell barring Ali it was his squad that ended the 32yr drought in the championship stake's,plus he got rid of the "deadwood" in the squad and gave player's like burrow,mcguire,walker,bailey and ward their 1st team break.
I don't take nothing away Tony smith's influence he's a legend and his place in the club's history is a shoe in,but don't dismiss powell's impact on the team.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:10 pm  

Oldham Rhino wrote:

The lower grade system is about to change as well. There are plans to scrap the reserve grade as it is and introduce an Under 20's competition as it the case in Australia at the moment.

I don't know why people are getting too beat up over the reserves at the moment, it's a crap competition. It's no preparation for Super League. The jump in class is simply too much. It would be better if some of these kids got chance to play for a championship club and were brought into Super League in this way.

Although fortunate to play for his own club, 12 months in what is now the Championship hasn't done Richard Myler any harm has it?

Spot on Oldham, look at Joe Westerman, and Shenton at Cas as well. The jump from the championship to SL is still massive, but nowhere near as big as the step up from the reserves.

: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:20 am  

Oldham Rhino wrote:

The lower grade system is about to change as well. There are plans to scrap the reserve grade as it is and introduce an Under 20's competition as it the case in Australia at the moment.

I don't know why people are getting too beat up over the reserves at the moment, it's a crap competition. It's no preparation for Super League. The jump in class is simply too much. It would be better if some of these kids got chance to play for a championship club and were brought into Super League in this way.

Although fortunate to play for his own club, 12 months in what is now the Championship hasn't done Richard Myler any harm has it?

Thats all well and good OR, and whilst I dont dissagree with you, How many do Leeds have out on loan at the moment? Broughton and.......

: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:42 am  

rhinoms wrote:

Whatever people think of powell barring Ali it was his squad that ended the 32yr drought in the championship stake's

No it wasn't.

It was Dean Bells

: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:04 am  

Kifaru wrote:

No it wasn't.

It was Dean Bells

You know full well what i meant!!