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The academy in my opinion has been underperforming for years. The progression through to the first team is disappointing. The football is to tippy tappy and not aggressive enough to prepare for league football.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 10:42 - Jun 7 with 1619 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 08:26 - Jun 7 by Whiterockin
The academy in my opinion has been underperforming for years. The progression through to the first team is disappointing. The football is to tippy tappy and not aggressive enough to prepare for league football.
There is an element of this to it, but for me it's mostly because we're too scared to push the players out there. For some reason we mostly seem to coddle them in the u23's until they're around 20/21 years old, and only then look to give them openings on loan or have them around the first team squad.
Players like Wilson and Nzingo should have been sent out on loan to play at the levels they are now 18-24 months ago before maybe going out again at the start of last season at a higher one. It's delayed their development, perhaps irreperably.
They're not going to test themselves playing against other kids until they're in their early 20's.
Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:10 - Jun 7 with 1566 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 10:42 - Jun 7 by Dr_Winston
There is an element of this to it, but for me it's mostly because we're too scared to push the players out there. For some reason we mostly seem to coddle them in the u23's until they're around 20/21 years old, and only then look to give them openings on loan or have them around the first team squad.
Players like Wilson and Nzingo should have been sent out on loan to play at the levels they are now 18-24 months ago before maybe going out again at the start of last season at a higher one. It's delayed their development, perhaps irreperably.
They're not going to test themselves playing against other kids until they're in their early 20's.
Thy are concentrating too much on the technical side, which is fine through the age groups, but the u21s should be transitional to first team football in my opinion. The talent is there because it is showing in international call ups through the age groups but they are not breaking through. Cabango, Cullen and Cooper are 25/26 and the last crop to break through, players like Parker are playing in a position that are not so physical, they didn't trust Abdulai in the middle because physically he was too lightweight and couldn't hold his own. All only my opinion of course.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:19 - Jun 7 with 1529 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:10 - Jun 7 by Whiterockin
Thy are concentrating too much on the technical side, which is fine through the age groups, but the u21s should be transitional to first team football in my opinion. The talent is there because it is showing in international call ups through the age groups but they are not breaking through. Cabango, Cullen and Cooper are 25/26 and the last crop to break through, players like Parker are playing in a position that are not so physical, they didn't trust Abdulai in the middle because physically he was too lightweight and couldn't hold his own. All only my opinion of course.
"but the u21s should be transitional to first team football in my opinion"
Yep. From the age of about 18 they should be knocking on the door of first team football. For us if they're ready, off on loan if not.
I wouldn't read too much into the International call ups. Just by dint of birth the odds are a reasonable player in the Swans youth setup will be called up for Wales because the talent pool is that much smaller.
Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair, or f*cking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:30 - Jun 7 with 1490 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:19 - Jun 7 by Dr_Winston
"but the u21s should be transitional to first team football in my opinion"
Yep. From the age of about 18 they should be knocking on the door of first team football. For us if they're ready, off on loan if not.
I wouldn't read too much into the International call ups. Just by dint of birth the odds are a reasonable player in the Swans youth setup will be called up for Wales because the talent pool is that much smaller.
A couple of our lads played for Wales u21s yesterday.
Is it any wonder why the academy appears to not be as prolific as in the years when Cam Toshack and Gary Richards were the coaches. During that era there was stability through every department at the academy but following relegation from the PL the department has gone though so many changes of personnel and decreasing finances, plus staff redundancies, its a wonder we still have promising kids signing.
Throw into the equation first team coaches preferring to sign kids from PL clubs like Burns, Okoflex, Sagoe that were no better than what we had at the time - Lissah, Congreve, Lloyd, Cotterill - plus a poor loan system - apart from last season - when players weren't pressed into going out on loan or in some cases refusing the opportunity of experiencing life outside the Landore gates - let alone not having anybody within the academy with the role of keeping any eye on their individual progress.
Age grade coaches, admin staff, managers, backroom staff, head coaches, head of scouting have all moved on to pastures new through a lack of direction from our previous owners and can you blame these people from doing so.
In recent seasons the question that needs to be asked is if we could have done better to prevent the likes of Al Hamadi walking away and Iwan Morgan from being tempted to sign for Brentford or was the club more interested in taking the redundancy cash instead which no doubt went into the black hole of first team funding.
There are signs that our new owners have taken note and addressed some of the problems not only in the academy but also in the first team, and started to build stronger roots in an attempt to not only stem the tide of staff leaving but also to retain staff and make the department more stable. Time will tell though.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 17:18 - Jun 7 with 1179 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 17:06 - Jun 7 by glanmORJa_k
Is it any wonder why the academy appears to not be as prolific as in the years when Cam Toshack and Gary Richards were the coaches. During that era there was stability through every department at the academy but following relegation from the PL the department has gone though so many changes of personnel and decreasing finances, plus staff redundancies, its a wonder we still have promising kids signing.
Throw into the equation first team coaches preferring to sign kids from PL clubs like Burns, Okoflex, Sagoe that were no better than what we had at the time - Lissah, Congreve, Lloyd, Cotterill - plus a poor loan system - apart from last season - when players weren't pressed into going out on loan or in some cases refusing the opportunity of experiencing life outside the Landore gates - let alone not having anybody within the academy with the role of keeping any eye on their individual progress.
Age grade coaches, admin staff, managers, backroom staff, head coaches, head of scouting have all moved on to pastures new through a lack of direction from our previous owners and can you blame these people from doing so.
In recent seasons the question that needs to be asked is if we could have done better to prevent the likes of Al Hamadi walking away and Iwan Morgan from being tempted to sign for Brentford or was the club more interested in taking the redundancy cash instead which no doubt went into the black hole of first team funding.
There are signs that our new owners have taken note and addressed some of the problems not only in the academy but also in the first team, and started to build stronger roots in an attempt to not only stem the tide of staff leaving but also to retain staff and make the department more stable. Time will tell though.
The golden period was under Mr Curtis.
Produced Ben, Jazz, Joey Allen and Macca in quick succession with zero money.
There was nobody who came through in the 7 years in the Prem, apart from Connor playing the last 6 games.
Beware of the Risen People
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 17:49 - Jun 7 with 1123 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 11:10 - Jun 7 by Whiterockin
Thy are concentrating too much on the technical side, which is fine through the age groups, but the u21s should be transitional to first team football in my opinion. The talent is there because it is showing in international call ups through the age groups but they are not breaking through. Cabango, Cullen and Cooper are 25/26 and the last crop to break through, players like Parker are playing in a position that are not so physical, they didn't trust Abdulai in the middle because physically he was too lightweight and couldn't hold his own. All only my opinion of course.
Nail on the head.
Watch an academy game and it’s very technical, some great passing moves.
It’s very slow, they have a lot of time on the ball and you rarely see a crunching tackle. It just doesn’t prepare young players for the pace and intensity of first team football.
This isn’t even a criticism of our academy, as every team we play against is the same. It’s certainly not a criticism of the lads that have come through and then struggled in league football, they aren’t prepared for it. Abdulai is a prime example.
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 18:37 - Jun 7 with 1067 views
Head of Acadamy leaves on 17:49 - Jun 7 by jack247
Nail on the head.
Watch an academy game and it’s very technical, some great passing moves.
It’s very slow, they have a lot of time on the ball and you rarely see a crunching tackle. It just doesn’t prepare young players for the pace and intensity of first team football.
This isn’t even a criticism of our academy, as every team we play against is the same. It’s certainly not a criticism of the lads that have come through and then struggled in league football, they aren’t prepared for it. Abdulai is a prime example.
A very good point.
Of course only a small number of scholars ever get to wear the white shirt, but giving them the best chance for mens football does mean being to cope physically.
Playing for money is different to playing development football.
Beware of the Risen People
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Head of Acadamy leaves on 15:00 - Jun 9 with 617 views
"Swansea City is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ryan Davies as the club’s new academy manager.
Davies returns to the club having held several roles within the academy set-up between 2012 and 2024, including head of coaching and interim academy manager.
During that time he also played a part in the development of players such as current men’s first-team captain Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Connor Roberts and Josh Sheehan."
Head of Acadamy leaves on 15:00 - Jun 9 by theloneranger
"Swansea City is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ryan Davies as the club’s new academy manager.
Davies returns to the club having held several roles within the academy set-up between 2012 and 2024, including head of coaching and interim academy manager.
During that time he also played a part in the development of players such as current men’s first-team captain Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Connor Roberts and Josh Sheehan."
The club should set up an arrangement with Huw Jenkins at Newport County.
They do not have a big budget and have been blooding a lots of Swansea and Cardiff casts off recently. Webb Cameron Evan Kieran Evans Goff Bony, Antwi and a few others. Offer three player or none. I think Web and Bony have already left.
Josh Thomas was given another deal but struggling to stay fit. Cotterill is probably the best. Wilson has gas and an eye for good and done hard yards at Yeovil. Glory went to USA. Hennia was under trail at Cardiff.
Head of Acadamy leaves on 15:00 - Jun 9 by theloneranger
"Swansea City is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ryan Davies as the club’s new academy manager.
Davies returns to the club having held several roles within the academy set-up between 2012 and 2024, including head of coaching and interim academy manager.
During that time he also played a part in the development of players such as current men’s first-team captain Ben Cabango, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen, Connor Roberts and Josh Sheehan."
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