sandy wrote:not to me, the success or failure of a youth system is judged by how many players make it into the first team on a regular basis not by honours or trophies at the age group level. Many highly rated youngsters never make it anyway.

Easty wrote:Would some of our young lads not thrive playing and training alongside some of the country's brightest young players with international recognition spurring them on to higher levels?

sandy wrote:young players are all different and develop at different rates and respond to different situations, look at the 2 welham brothers for example, liam was the one more highly regarded outside the club as far as age group recognition goes but look at where both are now. not too concerned with our lads missing out on this its more important to continue their development in house imho and will pay dividends inthe end

hull smallears wrote:I agree with you on this. As was said on our board, we won the U20's comp 2 years running and only have Houghton to show for it. Admittedly, I think he is superb, but you would think another couple of graduates would have shown through.

barham red wrote:I agree, its more about progression of our academy set up that matters. In some ways I think getting call ups for the inernational set up can damage a player. A lot of these young lads start to think they are shoe ins once they've had a call up and never progress to the next level. This will maybe keep them hungrier and be a spur to show what they can really do.

I maybe wrong but I don't think Sam Tomkins ever played for the England academy side.

Out of interest do you know how many of the FC team you mentioned got international call ups out of the team that won it 2 years on the bounce?

Dave K. wrote:I'd guess at Houghton and Lee.

Washbrook maybe.