by under the tin »
02 Feb 2012 16:09
Harpers So Solid Crew Royal Rother I beg to differ - the current business model might not be ideal but it IS working.
Investment in the Academy has meant that we can make a trading loss but cover that by selling young home grown produce.
Indications are that, far from that potentially drying up, it is actually accelerating with several worth millions+ already in the 1st team and (no guarantees of course) many more teenagers of great promise waiting in the wings.
The trouble is that there is no way to ensure that we can keep selling the youngsters to fill any deficit. What is needed is more income, or less expenditure, preferably the former, as it has been said many a time less income means players of lower quality in the team.
Quite.
Another potential cloud on the horizon will be maintaining our ability to attract prospective academy youngsters of the right calibre.
I don't think that it's the intervention of supernatural powers that has caused this production line of talented kids to choose Reading.
We could offer state of the art facilities, a smart stadium, and just happened to be the highest club in football's pyramid in the region.
We stole a march, and did well, but times are changing. Southampton, with their new set up may well be a Prem club next season.
Real and Hove Albion have a shiny new arena, as have the Headington side. Even that red abomination in Wiltshire have looked at moving.
I'm not saying it's all about facilities, it clearly isn't.
However, I think it would be foolish not to acknowledge that what Reading could offer to a kid starting out on a football career ten years ago was head and shoulders above our natural competitors.
With the cost of buying players in being what it is, the grow your own philosophy will be adopted by many more clubs, and in my view this will make this "market" far more competitive in the future. There is not an unlimited supply of the gems.
