Are there any young players?

[adamsson]

Against Liverpool we had Kitson and Creswell as our two forwards on the pitch (no problems with that they were the only two first team forwards available), but there was not a single forward on the bench (not even Pericard).

This got me thinking, most sides would have put a youth team striker on the bench they might have been praying they didn't have to use him, but he would have been there. Is our youth side so week that we could not find someone to make up the numbers, not a single young striker to come on if we were one down with five minutes to go.

In the past 2 1/2 years I cannot think of a single young player who has made his debut in the first team. Are all our academy players are completely useless or what?

I am asking a genuine question here not having a go at anyone, it is just that most clubs do bring some players through the ranks but since James O'Connor I can't think of one Stoke academy player who has gone on to be a regular in the side.

[jezzascfc]

I guess Wilko and Dicko are the closest to having made it from the Academy in the last few years (and I don't personally rate either that high). Paterson and Commons, and maybe even Vass, could have possibly been in the squad now if not for our manager's fondness for experience over youth.

Those who have seen them play far more than I have hold high hopes for the likes of Wedderburn and Shotton.

Let's hope the new training facility, allied with our higher status (if we stay up), will mean we can compete for the better "kiddies" going forward.

[exiledstokie]

i was thinking the exact same thing, surely we have a youth team striker who could have sat on the bench and be used if need be? Or, are we as a club lacking attacking options from top to bottom?

[A-teen_six_T3]

Out 'academy' we have some good players coming through...Most players are 1sy tear academy graduates though, So will need thiss seaosn at least to eb able to make anywhere enar capable of been 1st team players

Players that COULD step up eventualy...chmapionship definatley...

Ryan Shotton, Jimmy Philips, Nat Wedderburn, Warrick Alexander, maybe Louis ?Moult, some very good 1st year players out there

[wilfherman]

The total cost of running the academy must equate to the wages of at least 1 decent premier league player. Why can't we get a production line going a la middlesbro, west ham. We could even move the academy and sell car parking season ticket spaces on the land.

[mickstupp]

for a club with a tradition stretching back over decades for producing outstading young players our record since the late 80`s in has been shocking. Griffin being maybe the only exception. Why this is the case I dont know, poor coacing, no scouting network or maybe a lack of stabilty at the top ?? Either way we need to take a long hard look at the area of the club, I think PC said someting similar when he unvieled the plans for the new training facility.

[Northy]

Martin Patterson, didn't he come through the academy?
Was offered a contract worse than Little Ant so he buggered off, you can't blame him really.

[bayernoatcake]

Patto and Vass are the best that have come from it recently and have moved on to other clubs. Both doing well at Championship level and internationals.

[mickstupp]

Thinking back to the days when Bracewell, Heath, Chapman, Bould and co came through our ranks and proved to be incredibly succesful (albeit at other clubs), its not all that long ago is it? i wonder why our production line just seemed to shudder to a halt after this? We could do with a few players of this calibre now thats for sure.