Dicko sold to PNE

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2010 17:09:32 GMT Lakeland Potter said:

Jul 16, 2010 16:38:22 GMT @sidders said:

Funny isn't that in 6 years in charge (even given the break) that a Pulis regime has not yet produced a Full member of the squad from the youth system. We have had youngsters who have flirted with the first team i.e Moult last year. With all due respect TP he should now have a crop of players that should be ready to step up a level if his tenure as Manager has been succesful at youth level.

This is not a pop at him for what he has done in terms of getting us into the top league just an observation of the state of our youth development.

Things now seem to be changing. Not only do we now have brand spanking new facilities but we have (as Mark Wolstanton has explained several times on here) new coaching staff, a new academy director and we have made big efforts to bring in high class youngsters to replace some of the perceived, lower standard youngsters who we have had at the academy in recent years. Let's face it, the Stoke youth system was pretty poor for years before TP arrived. We lost the best local prospects to other Midland and Lancs clubs and of course, Crewe.

From what Mark says that is now changing - and he should know - his own son is the U18 Academy keeper. I think the improved perception of our club was shown last summer when two products of Crewe's academy jumped ship to Stoke for their first pro contracts. The young Belgian International is another player we would not have managed to attract a year or so back.

Lets hope that we can bring a team through the ranks that have a group who will eventually give the potters a proud base of home grown (I use this term loosley as I know that there will be players from all over as a part of the acadamey set up) youngster willing to spill blood for their team. Just as we know Dicko and Wilko (and include Patto in this group too) would.

[peschisolido]

its still not on the offical site so he aint gone