Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
KP proved me wrong but to be fair pre-Bielsa he was inconsistent at best and gave the ball away too often. My wife often asks what influence does a coach really have. KP is perhaps the best example I can think of.
Again, if I'm being honest, results above style of play for me. Don't believe for one minute that I don't enjoy the swashbuckling style of Bielsa's Leeds United, I think it's brilliant, but I'd take an old style dirty Leeds performance and three points every time!
That's a fair assessment of KP. However some of the downright abuse he took from "fans" close to where I sit (as did Cooper) was way off the mark. In glimpses, you could see there was a decent player, but as you rightly point out, he seemed to struggle to do it consistently.
Points certainly make prizes...….
Bielsa's small team makes the players picked work that bit harder, the players have a confidence boost knowing they're in a team that can and will work for each other!..
As for the academy, AR said from day one it will play a big part in the clubs work, and when you look at what the youngsters at all levels did last season, it shows its working!..
Like you said, some won't make the mark and'll be moved on, but that's the same at every club, our coach might think someone isn't good enough and another might think they're exactly what they are looking for!..
System and tactics might be different with another coach and some of those moved on might play better elsewhere!..
Bielsa's to blame for the go lucky go out and get them feeling that he and his players are transmitting onto the stands, so, hopefully this time there are no mistakes in the players/team and they cross that line with their heads held high!..
Phillips isn't the only one that Bielsa has got going!..
Great article, Stevie. I'd forgotten about how we kept Kalvin. Who would have thought, pre-Bielsa, he would turn out the way he has done? And who would have thought that Cooper, Douglas, and Klich would have improved so much? Bielsa is a friggin' genius.
The ship is steadier. We are not blowing the opposition away like we did last season, but we are tighter than a flea's buttocks in defence. At the current rate, we will concede even less than the 1969 team (26 goals in 42 games) and we know where they finished up.
I think the only player I’ve ever directed negative comments at was Luke Varney. Probably unfair because we’ve seen worse. I blame Colin for telling us he was the new Snodgrass.....
I used to sit behind the dugout as I preferred to vent my spleen on our coaches....
Is bringing the kids through the youth system that important? This weekend, depending on how your calculate these things, there were between 19 and 21 players in the premier league who had come through their teams youth system, with some teams not fielding any at all.
Over 90% of top flight players are acquired through having an effective scouting system.
From a purist perspective yes it is. If it weren't for our financial meltdown and our protracted recovery we'd still have the likes of Cook and Delph on our books (assuming we were playing at a higher level).
O'Leary's team, littered with Academy/youth products was the envy of the game and it was only when we were continuing to bring in more experience, like Seth Johnson, that we started to lose our way as a club.
It makes sense financially and personally there's more heart from youngsters coming through the ranks.
comment by Stevie "Oso Loco" Dee (U10061)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
From a purist perspective yes it is. If it weren't for our financial meltdown and our protracted recovery we'd still have the likes of Cook and Delph on our books (assuming we were playing at a higher level).
O'Leary's team, littered with Academy/youth products was the envy of the game and it was only when we were continuing to bring in more experience, like Seth Johnson, that we started to lose our way as a club.
It makes sense financially and personally there's more heart from youngsters coming through the ranks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The cornerstone of Fergie's team were academy products, supplemented by bought in players.
I just want us to improve and enjoy success, but I really like seeing players on the field who the club have nurtured and brought through, like in the O'Leary days.
comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed with all of that too!
We must have a catch up game. Are you a ST holder this season?
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed with all of that too!
We must have a catch up game. Are you a ST holder this season?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy to catch up before a match. Aye, i'm still forking out a small fortune each season, so there for every home game - bar the Hull match which I can't make due to work!!
I’ll try and get tickets whenever I can. Missed out yesterday (my fault) for the Boro game. Sold out now.
York lads don’t seem that interested this season but I can get a lift through with a mate who goes in East Stand.
I’ll give you a shout.
Stevie, the vast majority of Premier league players at the weekend were sourced from abroad, of the British players, some came through Scottish academies, a couple from top English academies (Chelsea and Manchester United predominantly) but by and large having been attached to one of the top clubs as a youth doesn't guarantee success.
It's a fair point but you can analyse the make up of any team and suggest that it's not a successful formula.
Equally how do you quantify success? The likes of Bury FC would say staying alive was successful......
We have a rich history of producing good young players. If we don't need to sell the best of that crop and manage to keep/acquire good talented experienced professionals I believe it will give us a great foundation.
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 14 hours, 2 minutes ago
I’ll try and get tickets whenever I can. Missed out yesterday (my fault) for the Boro game. Sold out now.
York lads don’t seem that interested this season but I can get a lift through with a mate who goes in East Stand.
I’ll give you a shout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No worries …..
Whilst I agree with a lot of sentiment in the article, this bit is simply not true, even AR is telling us that repeatedly:
“I do believe that the days of selling players like Milner and Lennon are behind us. We no longer have the face selling good prospects just to survive.”
——-
It’s simply not true.
Radrizzani August 2018
“I’m not stupid, I don’t want to lose money and I know I could sell for more next year, but the club unfortunately needs to have some injection.....It was very difficult for me. It’s a sacrifice that even if I didn’t want, I had to do.”
2019
“Unfortunately the finances of the last few years are showing big losses and we could be penalised with a deduction of points by the league. So in order to not to be penalised and to avert this risk we had to sell some players.”
Over last 3 seasons including this we’ve spent around 36 mill, received about 50 mill but still having to sell players.
Wage bill now 40 mill according to AR, if we don’t go up this summer there will be some big names going to balance the books
Under 23's getting mullered.
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Excellent article from VOF but
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posted on 12/11/19
Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
posted on 12/11/19
KP proved me wrong but to be fair pre-Bielsa he was inconsistent at best and gave the ball away too often. My wife often asks what influence does a coach really have. KP is perhaps the best example I can think of.
Again, if I'm being honest, results above style of play for me. Don't believe for one minute that I don't enjoy the swashbuckling style of Bielsa's Leeds United, I think it's brilliant, but I'd take an old style dirty Leeds performance and three points every time!
posted on 12/11/19
That's a fair assessment of KP. However some of the downright abuse he took from "fans" close to where I sit (as did Cooper) was way off the mark. In glimpses, you could see there was a decent player, but as you rightly point out, he seemed to struggle to do it consistently.
Points certainly make prizes...….
posted on 12/11/19
Bielsa's small team makes the players picked work that bit harder, the players have a confidence boost knowing they're in a team that can and will work for each other!..
As for the academy, AR said from day one it will play a big part in the clubs work, and when you look at what the youngsters at all levels did last season, it shows its working!..
Like you said, some won't make the mark and'll be moved on, but that's the same at every club, our coach might think someone isn't good enough and another might think they're exactly what they are looking for!..
System and tactics might be different with another coach and some of those moved on might play better elsewhere!..
Bielsa's to blame for the go lucky go out and get them feeling that he and his players are transmitting onto the stands, so, hopefully this time there are no mistakes in the players/team and they cross that line with their heads held high!..
Phillips isn't the only one that Bielsa has got going!..
posted on 12/11/19
Great article, Stevie. I'd forgotten about how we kept Kalvin. Who would have thought, pre-Bielsa, he would turn out the way he has done? And who would have thought that Cooper, Douglas, and Klich would have improved so much? Bielsa is a friggin' genius.
The ship is steadier. We are not blowing the opposition away like we did last season, but we are tighter than a flea's buttocks in defence. At the current rate, we will concede even less than the 1969 team (26 goals in 42 games) and we know where they finished up.
posted on 12/11/19
I think the only player I’ve ever directed negative comments at was Luke Varney. Probably unfair because we’ve seen worse. I blame Colin for telling us he was the new Snodgrass.....
I used to sit behind the dugout as I preferred to vent my spleen on our coaches....
posted on 12/11/19
Is bringing the kids through the youth system that important? This weekend, depending on how your calculate these things, there were between 19 and 21 players in the premier league who had come through their teams youth system, with some teams not fielding any at all.
Over 90% of top flight players are acquired through having an effective scouting system.
posted on 12/11/19
From a purist perspective yes it is. If it weren't for our financial meltdown and our protracted recovery we'd still have the likes of Cook and Delph on our books (assuming we were playing at a higher level).
O'Leary's team, littered with Academy/youth products was the envy of the game and it was only when we were continuing to bring in more experience, like Seth Johnson, that we started to lose our way as a club.
It makes sense financially and personally there's more heart from youngsters coming through the ranks.
posted on 12/11/19
comment by Stevie "Oso Loco" Dee (U10061)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
From a purist perspective yes it is. If it weren't for our financial meltdown and our protracted recovery we'd still have the likes of Cook and Delph on our books (assuming we were playing at a higher level).
O'Leary's team, littered with Academy/youth products was the envy of the game and it was only when we were continuing to bring in more experience, like Seth Johnson, that we started to lose our way as a club.
It makes sense financially and personally there's more heart from youngsters coming through the ranks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The cornerstone of Fergie's team were academy products, supplemented by bought in players.
I just want us to improve and enjoy success, but I really like seeing players on the field who the club have nurtured and brought through, like in the O'Leary days.
posted on 12/11/19
comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed with all of that too!
We must have a catch up game. Are you a ST holder this season?
posted on 12/11/19
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 4 hours, 29 minutes ago
Read all the above and not sure I can disagree with any of it.
I've not enjoyed going to the football as much as I have for the last 2 seasons, in a very long time. I suspect many would feel the same.
It's not perfect (we missed out on promotion!). But to see the style of play, hear the atmosphere, watch Kalvin Phillips prove a few doubters wrong and be competitive in each and every game is a real bonus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed with all of that too!
We must have a catch up game. Are you a ST holder this season?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy to catch up before a match. Aye, i'm still forking out a small fortune each season, so there for every home game - bar the Hull match which I can't make due to work!!
posted on 12/11/19
I’ll try and get tickets whenever I can. Missed out yesterday (my fault) for the Boro game. Sold out now.
York lads don’t seem that interested this season but I can get a lift through with a mate who goes in East Stand.
I’ll give you a shout.
posted on 12/11/19
Stevie, the vast majority of Premier league players at the weekend were sourced from abroad, of the British players, some came through Scottish academies, a couple from top English academies (Chelsea and Manchester United predominantly) but by and large having been attached to one of the top clubs as a youth doesn't guarantee success.
posted on 13/11/19
It's a fair point but you can analyse the make up of any team and suggest that it's not a successful formula.
Equally how do you quantify success? The likes of Bury FC would say staying alive was successful......
We have a rich history of producing good young players. If we don't need to sell the best of that crop and manage to keep/acquire good talented experienced professionals I believe it will give us a great foundation.
posted on 13/11/19
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 14 hours, 2 minutes ago
I’ll try and get tickets whenever I can. Missed out yesterday (my fault) for the Boro game. Sold out now.
York lads don’t seem that interested this season but I can get a lift through with a mate who goes in East Stand.
I’ll give you a shout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No worries …..
posted on 13/11/19
Whilst I agree with a lot of sentiment in the article, this bit is simply not true, even AR is telling us that repeatedly:
“I do believe that the days of selling players like Milner and Lennon are behind us. We no longer have the face selling good prospects just to survive.”
——-
It’s simply not true.
Radrizzani August 2018
“I’m not stupid, I don’t want to lose money and I know I could sell for more next year, but the club unfortunately needs to have some injection.....It was very difficult for me. It’s a sacrifice that even if I didn’t want, I had to do.”
2019
“Unfortunately the finances of the last few years are showing big losses and we could be penalised with a deduction of points by the league. So in order to not to be penalised and to avert this risk we had to sell some players.”
posted on 13/11/19
Over last 3 seasons including this we’ve spent around 36 mill, received about 50 mill but still having to sell players.
Wage bill now 40 mill according to AR, if we don’t go up this summer there will be some big names going to balance the books
posted on 13/11/19
Under 23's getting mullered.
posted on 13/11/19
7-1 ouch.
Page 1 of 1