We could improve youth standards in this country through the creation of an Elite Premier Academy League, which would certainly provide better competition, with youngsters playing at a higher standard regularly, and pushing each other to higher levels. However, this has its own problems, as it would widen the gap between the Premier League big clubs and the rest, with the smaller academies likely to lose out.
This could force the system into becoming more elitist and have a negative effect on youth development in this country as a whole. Ideas like the Next Gen Series, and the possible forming of an Elite Premier Academy League exclude smaller clubs, who will subsequently find it difficult to improve, or compete in terms of youth development.
One of the options that works well in Europe is the nursery club. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have B teams playing in the lower Spanish leagues, which provide a higher level of football for their young players to learn their trade. This is a much more competitive option than reserve, or academy football we see in England.
It provides a higher standard of football at an earlier age, as well as the option of players staying under the guidance and tutelage of their own clubs. The Barcelona academy players are given the chance to learn and develop at this level before moving on to the first team, where they are given the chance to impress.
This is in contrast to players at big clubs in England, who rarely get the opportunity to break into the first team, and often have to go out on loan to gain vital experience. The loan system has proved effective for many English players, but it comes with its own problems. With the loan system, you can’t guarantee young players are going to play and they may return having gained little from the experience.
Shipping a youngster out to a strange city, where they don’t know anyone is a tough ask for any young player to handle. Nursery clubs do seem like a good idea, but it is unlikely the FA would sanction any such moves for them in this country. There would need to be vertical integration between nursery and feeder clubs, and the idea also raises issues over the identity of clubs in the lower tiers.
There are many problems with youth development in the country, but one of the biggest is bridging the gap between the youth and the professional game. The whole footballing landscape in England is not conducive to helping young players achieve success, and the focus needs to move from short term results and winning, to placing full long term commitment behind young English players. We can make all the changes at grass-root and academy level that we want, but if access to the first team is closed off then in the end these changes will have little difference.
Written by Lauren Rutter for FootballFancast.com. How do you think we should bridge the gap between academy and senior level? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.
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