Rafa likes to have both on the field.

Most of his games have been on the right, get rid of him then we will be even worse the whole team would have to change round.

If that. One of the main stalling points with his contract was control over the academy. Considering Piet Hamberg was let go after only two years, I can only imagine he wasn't Rafa's appointment. Rafa has his men there now, it will take a long time before the fruits of any of Segura's work happens, as they usually target the age groups younger than 12 to get the full benefit of their work. There should still be a fair few lads coming through the ages, though, and we'll probably recruit a few younger lads in from outside of the academy, too.

The clear out aint too far away I can't see Rafa being here this time next year.

Can you see George and Tom here, though?

Do you think players coming through the club has been a problem for quite a few years now? who was the last decent player who came through? Gerrard?

Amoo
Ayala
Darby
Pacheco
Kelly
Spearing
Ince
Nemeth

The next batch who could offer something to first time

Wisdom as well. I've heard there's a young local lad called Karl Clair in the academy who looks good. Not been able to see much of the youngsters this year so I can't pass comment. There's also Dalla Valle and Eccleston who look good, as well as young Bruna who has bags of ability but a very slight frame. Saric is now finally fit, there's bags of potential in the reserves, it's just making that step up where they struggle.

It's been said in the past, but the reserve league these days is in a real state when compared to the past. Teams now need bigger squads, so most reserve teams are basically an extension of the academy, whereas in the past, the reserves would have senior players playing; the level was much higher.

Until we adapt a similar set up as Spain, where we have B teams competing in the lower leagues, then the transition from reserves to senior football will always be a very big task for youngsters, and the numbers of players coming through will always be low.

It probably was. There has also been the likes of Guthrie and Warnock, but they were only average and never achieved much at the club.

The academy has been very outdated and clearly hasn't been working. Rafa's brought a more continental style to the academy and, with his experience of working at some of the best academies in the world, I'm sure things will improve in time.

All takes time if in two seasons time an Rafa is still here no one else has come through and is offering anything to the first team or the bench then yes I will blame him for it.

Which academies? He was at Real Madrid but I can't think of the others.