Man City have signed Morgan Rogers from West Brom for £8 million. The lad is just 16.

Surely there is a cheaper better player abroad... that is how is works isn't it ?

Pack it up boys, this fair ground is broken.

ClaretTony wrote:Man City have signed Morgan Rogers from West Brom for £8 million. The lad is just 16.

A couple of appearances in the League cup in the next two seasons.

And then will probably be released.

West Brom have also lost another at 16. Louie Barry has signed for Barcelona. Because he’s gone to a club in another country they will receive just £235,0000.

ClaretTony wrote:West Brom have also lost another at 16. Louie Barry has signed for Barcelona. Because he’s gone to a club in another country they will receive just £235,0000.

http://uptheclarets.com/messageboard/vi ... start=1500" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; this is a shame that West Brom have got into this situation - spent a a ling time waiting for their Academy to come to fruition then this - http://uptheclarets.com/messageboard/vi ... &start=746" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; gives a breakdown on that Academy development story

Surely this must mean that Dwight McNeill is worth £150bn?

There were press reports earlier in the summer that one of our 16 year olds was attracting interest from foreign clubs

Then there is this Liverpool beat PSG and Real Madrid for Harvey Elliot

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... liott.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

does make you wonder if producing top players before you even see them is worth it - especially if they go abroad for a pittance

randomclaret2 wrote:There were press reports earlier in the summer that one of our 16 year olds was attracting interest from foreign clubs

Assuming that's Lewis Richardson - he signed for us - thankfully

Is Chester right Random?

Wrong on both counts surprisingly enough

Rileybobs wrote:Surely this must mean that Dwight McNeill is worth £150bn?

I’m waiting for this post . Because it’s you, I know tongue is firmly in cheek.

Completely changing your post really is very confusing, Devil's advocate....

Nearly as much as Jeffrey Epstein charges for youngsters.

It's £4m potentially rising to 8, which will be some way away. Still obscene.

Thought that was going to be his hourly wage when I read the post. Won’t be long the way Man City are going. Obscene.

Barca have just signed a 16 yr old from WBA, will only cost them a few hundred thousand.

randomclaret2 wrote:Wrong on both counts surprisingly enough

I'd seen it as Richardson too, interest from abroad, forget who- memory's not what it was.

The MF they got from ManU? name's gone.....told you, memory!

Richardson doesnt seem to be playing for the U18s against Everton this morning and didnt play against Bournemouth last week either

If kids want to leave to make a few quid at 16 to a club they haven’t a chance of ever playing for, it shows how naive they are and how greedy their parents are.

I wonder if John Cofie ever sits there and day dreams how different things could have been for him if he had stayed with us rather than signing for Manchester United?

He’s recently been turning out for Bradford Park Avenue and Derry City.

Just looking on the official club website...all the new photos and profiles of the Under 23s and 18s are on there now. No mention of Richardson

jedi_master wrote:If kids want to leave to make a few quid at 16 to a club they haven’t a chance of ever playing for, it shows how naive they are and how greedy their parents are.

I wonder if John Cofie ever sits there and day dreams how different things could have been for him if he had stayed with us rather than signing for Manchester United?

He’s recently been turning out for Bradford Park Avenue and Derry City.

Agreed however if he has dropped so far down the ladder you have to question his application also. The amount of money this 16 year old will be on could ruin his life as he is too young to be able to handle it. FIFA should step in in my opinion.

randomclaret2 wrote:Richardson doesnt seem to be playing for the U18s against Everton this morning and didnt play against Bournemouth last week either

No, nor the U-23'S either. i assumed he'd gone on this U-17's England thing

Only part I agree with is getting the money down into the lower leagues.

When clubs are going bust, with employees affected, for the same amount as some players are paid in a fortnight, you have to question the ethics of the game. Even worse when PL clubs often poach their star youngsters for a pittance.

rob63 wrote:No, nor the U-23'S either. i assumed he'd gone on this U-17's England thing

Celtic are apparently interested, but wouldn't that be a backward step?

Something has to be done to protect clubs, kids and sanity soon, and worldwide things are getting out of hand.

Alas - in England at least EPPP was implemented to create these scenarios more regularly. Funnelling talented kids into the most congested development routes, when really, the greatest form of development is just playing games at a level that stretches them.

I'm also concerned about Lewis not appearing in any squad anywhere so far, nor being photographed in the apprentice sign on day.

jedi_master wrote:If kids want to leave to make a few quid at 16 to a club they haven’t a chance of ever playing for, it shows how naive they are and how greedy their parents are.

I wonder if John Cofie ever sits there and day dreams how different things could have been for him if he had stayed with us rather than signing for Manchester United?

He’s recently been turning out for Bradford Park Avenue and Derry City.

Cofie went too soon,he'd have been far better staying with us for a few seasons,and possibly getting loaned out to a lower league side,as Jay Rod did in his formative years,his career panned out this way anyhow,but he wouldn''t have the public glare on him to the same extent,heck he might even have got some 1st action for the Clarets given how threadbare our squad was back then.

Richard Chaplow is another example of a promising youngster getting experience before moving on,and he's played the majority of his career at a higher level than Cofie.

boatshed bill wrote:Celtic are apparently interested, but wouldn't that be a backward step?

Yep, I heard them, Man C, Liverpool & a couple of top foreign clubs. Does Tony know anything?

Questions I’m keen to understand.
1) why did Howe allow Blake to dismantle the youth programme? Was it budgetary, or a lack of care or interest?
2) why did our board allow Howe and Blake to dismantle the youth programme? A lack of long term planning or leadership?
3 What has Howe done to the youth programme at Bournemouth? Has he changed his view of youth development?

All good questions. Hopefully we’ll finally get some answers from those “in the know” on here.

Still not sure I’ve got an answer on who brought McNeil to the club either.