07 Jun 2025 20:30:47
With the McAusland info coming out and looking from the outside in . I would say the Academy has been a failure. Look at the guys that have left. John and Ehl may disagree. To stimulate a bit of debate what are your thoughts and why?
07 Jun 2025 20:41:57
To determine if anything is a success or a failure you'd have to agree on how it's measured first.
If it's on making money - it's been a success.
If it's creating a pathway for young players to find a career in football it's been a success.
If it's on providing players capable of impacting the first team, it's fallen short.
07 Jun 2025 21:14:36
Re: If it's on providing players capable of impacting the first team, it's fallen short. Will we ever? It seems to me anyone capable is on the radar of rich clubs and go.
07 Jun 2025 21:20:33
Just my opinion mate mccausland not good enough. Wish him well tho.
07 Jun 2025 21:37:27
I agree TJBB and it's something the club are aware of and are looking at alternatives to counter this.
I've mentioned we're working closely with Brentford, who are a great example.
Originally they dispanded the majority of their academy as they were experiencing similar issues to us - i. e they couldn't retain any talent past a certain age due to the draw of other larger London clubs.
They're rebuilding there academy at the moment and taking some interesting approaches.
We're also looking at how clubs in Holland and Belgium are set up too.
Sadly I think we'll see some painful decisions made that may cause some upset in the short term - but hopefully be beneficial in the long term.
07 Jun 2025 21:51:44
EHL I agree. firstly it would be there to provide players to the first team and that has had some successes but not many. however from a purely financial metric it has been a resounding success. The OP even mentions the guys who have left so that comment in itself shows those guys have made a career somewhere. If we can make the next step to provide 1st team starters more regularly even better.
07 Jun 2025 21:52:52
I'd advise any kid to go down south TJBB56 the money down there is frightening. Can have a very good career in English lower leagues if things don't work out with an EPL club or championship side.
07 Jun 2025 22:00:53
EHL when you say the academy has made money but not produced players for the first team, is that a reference to Gimour, Wilson and Patterson before that?
Can I ask do you think the demands of winning with the old firm prevents good young players breaking through, it's always been difficult from memory trying to unearth talent into the first team.
From what has been said recently by Thelwell I hope that there is better alignment moving forward with the academy and the head coach of the first team in order to develop young players into the first team more regularly.
07 Jun 2025 22:09:55
The academy has been a failure for years.
07 Jun 2025 22:24:32
Not exclusively Rosevale, the academy makes a profit for the club year on year.
I think the step up from under 19s to the first team is far to big - there needs to be some competitive football in between.
I also think think the lack of quality and leadership in our first team has significantly hindered player development - after all, it's the seasoned pros that the youth learn the most from.
Finally, when your chasing success, it's never a good time to introduce youth.
07 Jun 2025 23:01:01
Agreed EHL someone said Hearts, Motherwell etc play youngsters at 16/ 17 but they don't need to win every game.
07 Jun 2025 23:26:20
We need the reserve league back.
07 Jun 2025 23:38:24
Interesting on the above thoughts. I am not interested in the money side. I would like to see the youth developed to break into the first team. I appreciate at Rangers it's hard to give a chance. The way things have been over the last few years where we have given youth a chance they have done well and it's actually the senior pro who have been poor on the park.
08 Jun 2025 04:12:00
EHL
Wouldn't say failure. Gers produced few who been sent/ sold elsewhere. It's obvious Gers raised bar rightly so otherwise weed be surrounded bang average no hopes. Would rather one of every five years rather than 10 also rans every 2.
08 Jun 2025 05:24:13
It's good that it's a success financially.
How can these players at hearts, Motherwell etc get first team minutes but we can't get any of our young players up to the quality that these or other top division teams want to take them on loan and play them…. because they are producing same or better level regardless of facilities/ better levels of coaching?
We have never really managed to get players out on really successful loan spells to bridge that gap between academy and first team to gain top quality experience…it must be down to the players produced not being good enough?
08 Jun 2025 10:13:38
EHL 100% agree. The lads need to be playing regularly at a decent level, like Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal Germany etc.
By doing this early your not only improving the chances of the young players of making it as they are being tested early- and will need to improve their game to keep up.
Your also giving the club an opportunity to study these players performance against certain opposition.
I think (might be wrong) but the club isn't able to do this currently and by the time the guys are 21 and out on loan and lesser clubs it's only then that the club is able to identify that their not at the standard required.