The Yoof

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The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

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http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/harry-toffolo-norwich-city-pre-season-2566930.aspx

http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/gregg-broughton-norwich-city-academy-austria-2563866.aspx

Reading the comments on Alex Neil's interest in the youth players in these two articles a number of points come up.

Firstly that I think it is great that Neil seems to have a 'whole-club' approach and seems to want to be involved and instill a philosophy into the club at all levels. I think this is positive and exciting, though it does seem at odds with the 'Football board' approach - in which the manager focusses on the first team and leaves the other duties to someone else. I wonder if this will eventually become a problem? (a clash of philosophies)

I think it is also interesting with regards to Alex Neil's recruitment. Firstly that they would pick someone who wants to be so involved in all levels of the club when they had previously tried to move away from that, but secondly the reasons why Neil was picked.

When Neil Adams was recruited many saw it as the cheap/unambitious option, but many others pointed out the obvious - that Adams was the youth team manager and perhaps the best person to bring the youth on.

It would seem that whilst we all felt the overriding factor behind Neil being picked as his successor was Hamilton's plucky approach and success in the SPL. Might it also have been as much for his work with the youth?

By all accounts Neil's success was based on kids.

Perhaps they saw someone who could not only get the team playing like Hamilton did in the SPL (a challenge not unlike the one he has this season) and in a style that was acceptable to the fans, but also someone who would have a good shot at getting the academy to bear fruit?

I think this shows on multiple levels what a good appointment he was.
 
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KeiranShikari

KeiranShikari

New Member
I don't think taking an interest in the youth side of things is straying too far away from his role tbh, especially in the middle of summer. I remember McNally saying that the introduction of the football board was to stop silly things like the first team manager being directly involved in youth team loans and so on. 

I'd be far more worried if he wasn't taking an interest actually.We have a few players that must be on the edge of the squad here looking to break through.

UNDER-21s | #ncfc XI vs Gaziantepspor: Killip; Hall-Johnson, Miquel, Awuah, Efete; Thompson, McGrandles; Norman, King, Josh Murphy; Loza.

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)

July 23, 2015

Would be a big achievement to get some academy players into the team.
 
Scott

Scott

Active Member
Loza, Murphy and McGrandles especially should be looking at making a big impression!
 
The Great Mass Debater

The Great Mass Debater

New Member
I was impressed with Hall-Johnson during the youth cup run (but I liked the look of Ben Wyatt as well). Is Hall-Johnson playing as a rightback these days? His name is often second on the team-sheet. Impressed me as a DM

McGrandles and Miquel definitely need to pull themselves out of obscurity

What's happened to Gafaiti?
 
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Suffolk Canary

Suffolk Canary

New Member
What's happened to Gafaiti?
He seems to be a bit of an enigma. I remember a few years ago he was being tipped to start being involved with the first team, and then he went on loan to Oldham and i dont think he played a game. He didn't play in the FA Youth Cup win and i dont think he played with the U21s at all last season.   Strange
 
G

GJP

Well-Known Member
Pretty sure Gafaiti has had some injury problems over the last couple of years. Don't think anything really got said about it because he wasn't really in the first team picture.

Think he's meant to be a decent enough player but he'll be up against it to get a look in here.
 

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