Ever since Arsene Wenger took over as the manager of Arsenal Football Club back in 1996, the Frenchman has made the academy and youth development parts of the club very important. Ideally, Wenger would like to follow the Barcelona example of being able to field a whole team of players who have come through the Arsenal ranks.
Arsenal are to open football training schools across India this summer to develop young footballers in India and give thousands of children across the country somewhere to learn and play safely away from the dangerous streets.
This move will be beneficial for Arsenal and India as the club can train young players and potentially sign them if they begin to show a real talent in the game.
Tonight will see the end of what has been another impressive season at the Chelsea FC Academy. Not only have they made it to this final tonight but they had also made it to the final of the NextGen Series which was a U19's Champions League style competition with Europes elite clubs at the first time of asking.
We are fast approaching the point of reflection for the season and with nothing to play for in the U18's and U21's leagues the whole of the Academy focus once again turns to an FA Youth Cup final.
Having comfortably dispatched Liverpool in the Semi final highlights below, it is Norwich who all stand between us and back to back youth cup titles.
An exciting campaign in the NextGen series ended in disappointment on Monday as the young Blues lost the final 2 - 0 to Aston Villa. It was a campaign that showed a lot about these players and a lot about the level the Academy at Chelsea is at and everything was positive.
Things started out so well for Chelsea as they first had to play a semi final match against Arsenal.
This weeks Academy action was a real mixed bag with 3 games in quick succession at U18's, U19's and U21's level it is a group of players that has been spread very thin, not to mention the U21's being affected by international call ups for some of the players.
The U18's kicked things off at Cobham on Saturday with a game against Everton, the team was picked with the following days NextGen game in mind and that meant a young squad and inclusions for some fringe players within the squad.
The tail end of the season is upon and fixtures are piling up and the squad in light on numbers, there are league games to be rescheduled and an FA and European trophy is up for grabs. A perfect description of where things are currently with the first team but the above description also fully fits with the goings on at academy level too.
When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal back in 1996, he had already requested the signing of the French international midfielder Patrick Vieira from AC MIlan. That would turn out to be one of the most successful transfers ever, as Vieira was an integral part of the Gunners for the next nine seasons, the most successful period in Arsenal history.
Liam Brady has been Head of Youth Development and Academy Director at Arsenal since 1996, and Jack Wilshere joined the club as a nine year old just months after the former Gunner took charge. That gives Brady a great insight into the progress and ability of Wilshere, and the Irishman has been extolling his virtues ahead of the England friendly tomorrow.
Liam Brady is an Arsenal legend, there is no doubt about it, and when he finishes his fantastic job of running the youth academy in 2014, it is vital that Arsenal pick the right man to fill his shoes. I feel it should be somebody with a big connection to the club, and Dennis Bergkamp certainly fits that description.
Arsenal are proud of the youth system and rightly so, as it has produced some key players for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is keen for that to continue, and has revealed that he would prefer it if the players coming through were local, ot at least British, as he feels that they would then be more likely to stay at the club.
Ivan Gazidis made it clear this week that Arsenal would not be giving in to Theo Walcott's wage demands to persuade him to sign a contract extension, so it would seem that Arsene Wenger will need to cash in on the wannabe striker in January, but who is Wenger likely to replace him with?
Thomas Eisfeld is the obvious candidate to be promoted from the reserves.
The Arsenal starlet Chuks Aneke was sent off for a months loan at Crewe Alexander but it all went wrong after just 73 minutes of his debut against Stevenage when Aneke made a mad two-footed challenge on Stevenage's Anthony Grant which resulted in straight red card and an automatic three-match ban.
More of Arsenals Reserve Team Wonder Kids (Part 2) – by JG Well, now that the Van Persie hysteria
is leveling out I suppose we can continue discussing the Wonder Kids coming up through Arsenal
reserves/academy. Someone actually commented saying "where is the second part of the wonder kids
articles?
Elite training sessions will provide participants the opportunity to earn a spot on Pre-Academy squads and recently introduced U-14 Academy Team
Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) – With the new year just underway, the 2013 D.C. United Training Program – led by Pre-Academy and Academy coaching staff – is open for registration and the winter session is just around the corner, starting on Sunday, February 3.
D.C. United Academy Update U-18's and U-16's to compete in Academy Carolina Cup, Collin Martin called into U-20 MNT
camp
Washington, D.C. (February 22, 2012) – D.C. United's U-18 and U-16 Academy teams are set to
compete in the Development Academy Carolina Challenge Cup from February 24 – 27.
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 12, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The Indiana Hoosiers are college soccer champions. In 2012, that means something different than it did in 2002 or even 2007. The achievement is still notable, and represents a return to the top for Indiana and their eighth championship overall, but the victory comes during a very strange time for the game at the college level.
Richmond, VA – (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) – Chesterfield United is proud to
announce the new player development structure and club Academy model. After significant amount of
time studying the value of the European Academy club model and structure, Chesterfield United staff
has worked hard to improve the club structure to enhance the player development opportunities to
all of its players.
RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, February 20, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce their
U.S. Soccer Development Academy will be a cost-free program for the 2012-13 season. The historic
milestone in Virginia youth soccer development is reached through the support of partnerships with
The Computer Solution Company, Proseal America, Inc, and multiple donors, allowing dedicated and
talented players to reach the highest level of youth soccer, playing, training and traveling free
of charge.
It's awards night at Old Trafford tonight and one can only feel there'll be an air of regret and
dissatisfaction in the room after yesterday's high's-and-low's saw players and fans alike begin to
dream the impossible before being Earth shatteringly brought back down to Earth in the space of
just a few short seconds.
It only feels like yesterday when United advanced into the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup with a
determined victory over a very decent Charlton Athletic side who refused to be beaten until James
Wilson's dramatic late winner was enough to finally see them off. United started favourites that
night at Old Trafford but tonight [.
In recent years Manchester United have been at the centre of some of the more heavily
media-scrutinised transfers. But if David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy moves to Real Madrid
exemplified Fergie's resoluteness in parting ways with loyal servants that had overstepped the
line, and Ronaldo's departure for the Spanish capital was seen as the [.
Buckle up girls and boys it's getting serious in the FA Youth Cup! Tonight promises to produce real
barnstormer of a match as Manchester United host Charlton Athletic at no less than the Theatre of
Dreams. Tonight will make-or-break the hopes of these teams as we play to a finish, but at 16 to 18
[..
Paul McGuiness and Manchester United's Academy boys go in search of their first win of 2012 in the
Academy League today as Wolves make the journey to Carrington to face a team they easily beat 5-2
the last time the two sides met at Wolves' Academy Centre back in October. United were out played
that [.
In a repeat scoreline from earlier in the season Manchester City capitalised on a lazy first half
performance from Manchester United that saw them head into the break with a comfortable looking two
goal lead. United came out stronger and upped the tempo in the second half and immediately began to
give City problems.
In a repeat scoreline from earlier in the season Manchester City capitalised on a lazy first half
performance from Manchester United that saw them head into the break with a comfortable looking two
goal lead. United came out stronger and upped the tempo in the second half and immediately began to
give City problems.
Today sees the next round of the FA Youth Cup take place between Swansea City and Manchester United
at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. Both teams have looked impressive during their respective cup
runs so far this season with United beating Torquay United easily then producing a much tougher,
ultimately more satisfactory performance and victory [.
Renowned for never doing things the easy way, Manchester United's U18′s had to produce a
performance of quality and strength to overcome a Derby County side boasting England U17
internationals, in-form strikers and a notable physical advantage not to mention the early
initiative with an opening goal on 20 minutes.
Academy League football returns today with an exciting trip to Manchester City. United's local
rivals were surprisingly dumped out of the FA Youth Cup at home to Fulham on Wednesday night after
squandering a 1-0 lead going into the break through top goalscorer Jordie Hiwula. That goal was
Hiwula's 20th of the season including one [.
After Wednesday night's magnificent win and performance it's back to the bread & butter of the
Academy League as United make the trip to West Bromich Albion to face a team they beat 2-1 back in
November at Carrington. West Brom also come into this game off the back of a win in the 4th [...]
This week has seen comments from Gael Kakuta hit the headlines. Whilst some of the comments have been taken out of context and crucial comments left out to say that he does not regret his time at Chelsea it does again raise the issue of Chelsea bringing through young talent.
Chelsea are in a position this summer where there are a number of young talents that can come into the squad.
MLS gets a little academy love in FM 2013. That might make MLS-based games have more long-term interest. Some vague mention of making the competition rules closer to the real deal, but we'll have to wait and see what exactly that entails. Intriguing...
When you listen to Rodolfo Borrell or Mike Marsh talk after a defeat, you can feel their annoyance
at the result. They might try to be diplomatic in what they're saying but their tone of voice and
body language betrays their true feelings.
It might seem petty but the coaches' reaction is, in truth, more than justified.
The UKFF academy side almost made history by becoming the first team to win the Academy Cup on
their first attempt.
Made up exclusively from the website the squad showed tremendous spirit by reaching the final
after a stunning comeback in the semi final to seal a dramatic win on penalties.
If ever there was a stereotypical 'game of two halves', this was it! United took the initiative and
started the better of the two teams, so much so that after 30 minutes United were literally
'dipping their bread' as-and-when they fancied scoring. Within those 30 minutes United took a well
deserved and impressive three goal [.
The last few weeks and months of the Academy have highlighted its purpose for me; experiment and
develop in the league fixtures but put the boys to the test in the cup. Today United welcome Group
D counterparts Sunderland from the North East as they look for their first win of 2012, in fact,
you [...
Forget the result, forget United are still without a league win in 2012, forget they led this game
3 three times only to be pegged back after each goal, forget all three Wolves goals were conceded
via set-pieces; this was one hell of a performance and an exciting game that could've gone either
way although, [.
A ruthless ten minute bombardment saw this determined group of United youngsters stun their
opponents into submission just before the break at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Thursday
night. With this tricky looking fixture away from home and key players missing from the squad, the
game was far from a foregone conclusion, but an [.
Firstly, apologies for the lack of articles posted this week, it appears you boys have found
somewhere else to get your fix of talking about United. Hopefully things will return to normal from
tomorrow starting with Eddie's preview as usual, the relocating Daniele returning with his
broadband and his report, and 'AWOL Eddy' fixing his [.
