Charlie McParland

[Strummer]

Sometimes, a club can get the "right" manager, and things just 'click'.

That did of course happen to Forest once before.

I do sometimes wonder, looking back to the first time the Scottish Manager was here, that the almost-desperate need for promotion led him to perhaps avoid the Academy products, in favour of established players who could (in theory) deliver the clamoured-for "instant success".

Now perhaps, if there is a more long-term view, the Manager may be far more receptive to bringing through talent from the Academy teams?

 

[SLM92NF]

Really? The people on here who are interested in the academy have kept up their interest through the last few managers, ie McClaren involving Jamaal, Watson, Freeman and Morgan in his 1st pre season.

Some people have had reservations on Billy's influence over an academy because he doesn't have a great record of bringing players through, that doesn't mean they are anti Billy.

I personally am chuffed to bits to have Billy back from a 1st team point of view and I'm starting to see/hear that he is having a positive influence around the academy which will have to become an integral part of the club if we are to comply with FFP and remain competitive.

It seems at the moment that Billy is embracing Forest as a long term project which could be great for all concerned.

There are people on here (such as yourself) with a clear genuine interest, you have knowledge of names, you go to games and there are some on here just the same as yourself. More importantly the people with the genuine interest seem to not (from what I can recall) really use it as a critic of BD.

There are others (a majority I would argue) who only ever discuss their "care" for our academy when a BD debate comes about. Over the past 2 years there have been many of them and subsequently academy talk has been high on the agenda. It's interesting that since he has returned and a lot of talk about him having a lot of academy involvement has in my eyes since meant academy talk has died down a little.

 

[It's Baggio]

Billy had very little interest in the academy last time. That's not bollocks, that's not me being anti-BD, it's just what happened.

If he's taking more interest this time then that's great news.

 

[Wes' Organ]

Sometimes, a club can get the "right" manager, and things just 'click'.

That did of course happen to Forest once before.

I do sometimes wonder, looking back to the first time the Scottish Manager was here, that the almost-desperate need for promotion led him to perhaps avoid the Academy products, in favour of established players who could (in theory) deliver the clamoured-for "instant success".

Now perhaps, if there is a more long-term view, the Manager may be far more receptive to bringing through talent from the Academy teams?

I think that there is alot of truth in that, I also think that Billy is looking to improve himself as a manager and improve his reputation in the game, a winning combination I think.

There are people on here (such as yourself) with a clear genuine interest, you have knowledge of names, you go to games and there are some on here just the same as yourself. More importantly the people with the genuine interest seem to not (from what I can recall) really use it as a critic of BD.

There are others (a majority I would argue) who only ever discuss their "care" for our academy when a BD debate comes about. Over the past 2 years there have been many of them and subsequently academy talk has been high on the agenda. It's interesting that since he has returned and a lot of talk about him having a lot of academy involvement has in my eyes since meant academy talk has died down a little.

:cheers: Fair enough pal, I get a bit sensitive about our academy sometimes!

 

[bgd]

I think the longer Billy is here this time we might realise he was never the problem the last time he was here...

Mouldy's right though, people have just used the youngsters as a stick to beat him with. They've gone quiet now though 'cause the more time passes the more it turns out they were spouting bollocks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see our youth system start to produce youngsters again but it won't happen over night. The club has been rotting from top to bottom but there's no reason why the overhaul won't sort things out lower down as well as in the first team.

I don't think that's entirely true.

Billy seemed to use the academy players last time to highlight areas he wanted strengthening, and because it was ran in a manner which didn't allow him major input, he didn't even go watch them play or pay it much attention. Even leaving the bench short on occasion when it would have been better to put a young lad on there for the experience.

That's why some, myself included, were concerned this time round. However, so far he seems to be paying it attention and including them in his plans, which I think is fantastic. I was disappointed to see Pemberton leave, and still find the Marshall depature strange, simply because it seems it happened without a long-term plan, with just Brazil taking over in the short-term. The only explanation is the person they want not being available untill the summer, which I hope is the case.

The signs are much more positive from the academy perspective, but I don't think you can blame people for being concerned about it at the time.

 

[Rowntree]

I don't think that's entirely true.

Billy seemed to use the academy players last time to highlight areas he wanted strengthening, and because it was ran in a manner which didn't allow him major input, he didn't even go watch them play or pay it much attention. Even leaving the bench short on occasion when it would have been better to put a young lad on there for the experience.

That's why some, myself included, were concerned this time round. However, so far he seems to be paying it attention and including them in his plans, which I think is fantastic. I was disappointed to see Pemberton leave, and still find the Marshall depature strange, simply because it seems it happened without a long-term plan, with just Brazil taking over in the short-term. The only explanation is the person they want not being available untill the summer, which I hope is the case.

The signs are much more positive from the academy perspective, but I don't think you can blame people for being concerned about it at the time.

It's not true for everyone so don't take it personally

I've always believed that any manager will play what he sees as his best team regardless of age. No manager will pick a player persistently in the first team if they aren't ready or aren't up to it unless they have no other option. If we had or if we have players that are ready then Billy would pick them, he'd be stupid not to unless he just liked to smite himself - something else he's been accused of

 

[SLM92NF]

:cheers: Fair enough pal, I get a bit sensitive about our academy sometimes!

No problem like I said genuine interest I don't mind hearing an opinion from that perspective it's good to have the alternative views and to hear of up and coming players. I may not consider it a high priority, but I still have an interest in what it potentially has to offer our first team.

As for Marshall and Pemberton leaving its difficult to tell. Restructuring is something for me we've needed at the top level for a while. Does that apply to academy? Well I guess looking at what's been produced you could argue yes.

My personal opinion is Pemberton walked rather than got the sack. Mainly due to the fact his departure came after everyone else had rather than being at the same time (certainly the journos didn't know about it till after Marshall et al left) difficult to tell with no official statements from the club.

Does anyone know when Harts contract at Charlton is up? Rumours were flying around we approached for him earlier in the season but couldn't agree compo. Maybe it's us waiting for him to become available hence the interim post for Brazil?

 

[Trickie Trees]

The record over the last few years have demonstrated that the players coming through the academy haven't been good enough. When Billy manage last that was the case. The record shows that players that have left for other clubs have either not made it or have "made it" at a much lower level. The players that have flourished have come via purchase from other clubs. Davies cannot in my opinion be blamed for not playing academy players as they simply weren't good enough.

 

[UndisclosedFee]

Mouldy's right though, people have just used the youngsters as a stick to beat him with. They've gone quiet now though 'cause the more time passes the more it turns out they were spouting bollocks.

I'm one of the people you are talking about. It's not right that I have gone quiet for that reason. Quite the opposite in fact. From what I have seen so far, Billy has spent his time off learning new ways of doing things. I am giving him time to sort out the first team squad, which has to be the first priority. Now is not the time to introduce youth players to the first team in my opinion.

I have to say though, that introducing an U21 manager that the first team manager can work with and seems to like, is a major step in the right direction.

There are others (a majority I would argue) who only ever discuss their "care" for our academy when a BD debate comes about. Over the past 2 years there have been many of them and subsequently academy talk has been high on the agenda. It's interesting that since he has returned and a lot of talk about him having a lot of academy involvement has in my eyes since meant academy talk has died down a little.

I'm happy to see Billy involved with the academy, though I would not be happy seeing him (or any other manager having any influence on staffing, or the long term plan. However, at this point, there doesn't appear to be a long term plan. The U21 team is fair game though. If the U21 team is there to get players ready for the first team, it's a must that the 1st team manager is allowed (and takes) influence in it.

 

[Benny (Ram)]

I wouldn't bet on Jimmy Krankie having a positive influence on the youth teams. He's a first team only manager!

 

[FBS]

Billy had very little interest in the academy last time. That's not bollocks, that's not me being anti-BD, it's just what happened.

If he's taking more interest this time then that's great news.

Billy is now running the entire show. Whereas before, he wasn't

 

[Otis Redding]

I wouldn't bet on Jimmy Krankie having a positive influence on the youth teams. He's a first team only manager!

I wouldn't bet on anyone on here giving a flying fook as to what you have to say......

 

[Rowntree]

Rowntree,

If you caught Billy shagging your dog, would you blame the dog?

Everything is not an attack on Billy, it's ok to have and express concerns as I have done. I have also shot someone down in flames who I was able to prove was lying about Billy's negative influence. Initially Billy did ban all of the underage teams from the academy without explanation or assurances, this caused concern within the academy but now seems to have been resolved after about a week.

He's not the messiah, just an excellent Championship manager who seems to be idealy suited to us most of the time.

I'm quite happy to say if he's done something odd. Like the team he fielded away to Swansea and the late striker substitutions. I'm not going to hang around having a go at him for something he doesn't need to be attacked for though. Like I always say, who should Billy have been picking from the Academy last time he was here?

Give me a name or two and we'll discuss how he ignored the Academy.

 

[valspoodle]

Bit of a random thought.

When I was a bit younger we used to have Under 23 games. Now it is Under 21. Does this reflect our youngsters are maturing earlier or is there a far sexier reason that I have missed?

 

[Super Coops]

Does anyone know when Harts contract at Charlton is up? Rumours were flying around we approached for him earlier in the season but couldn't agree compo. Maybe it's us waiting for him to become available hence the interim post for Brazil?

I hope so and McParland's appointment would fit in with this as he was one Harty's most loyal men the first time he ran the academy.

 

[Alexandro Garibaldi]

Bit of a random thought.

When I was a bit younger we used to have Under 23 games. Now it is Under 21. Does this reflect our youngsters are maturing earlier or is there a far sexier reason that I have missed?

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Development_League

The so-called U21s league has replaced the reserves league, the idea being to encourage young players to get experience at a higher level of competition, but you are allowed to field a certain number of old gits as well as you would previously have done with a reserve side. It came in with the Elite Player Performance Plan last year.

Of course essentially it's all a sinister masterplan to make sure all good young players end up at Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal.

 

[Otis Redding]

Does anyone know when Harts contract at Charlton is up? Rumours were flying around we approached for him earlier in the season but couldn't agree compo. Maybe it's us waiting for him to become available hence the interim post for Brazil?

Harty, someone else who had a major beef with Mark Arthur......

 

[Joe Baker's Dog]

Harty, someone else who had a major beef with Mark Arthur......

and to think some said it was just Billy who couldn't get along with him..............

 

[valspoodle]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Development_League

The so-called U21s league has replaced the reserves league, the idea being to encourage young players to get experience at a higher level of competition, but you are allowed to field a certain number of old gits as well as you would previously have done with a reserve side. It came in with the Elite Player Performance Plan last year.

Of course essentially it's all a sinister masterplan to make sure all good young players end up at Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal.

Sorry, I should have made it clearer. I was referring to international games. The messing about with internal professional development is quite beyond me and I stopped taking an interest some years ago. Why the FA don't spend the money on more coaches and teach our children how to play football properly from an early age beats me. They spend too much time sitting around in committee meetings justifying their positions for my taste.

 

[UndisclosedFee]

Sorry, I should have made it clearer. I was referring to international games. The messing about with internal professional development is quite beyond me and I stopped taking an interest some years ago. Why the FA don't spend the money on more coaches and teach our children how to play football properly from an early age beats me. They spend too much time sitting around in committee meetings justifying their positions for my taste.

Unfortunately, since the inception of the Premier League, the FA barely run the game any more. It certainly needed a massive overhaul before, but now they are basically bypassed. Why should they develop players for the super rich top 5 clubs to then steal? How can they get top quality coaches to develop the players in the first place? If you have seen the plans for the Man City academy, it would appear that they will have more coaches than the FA could possibly afford.

 

[Wes' Organ]

Give me a name or two and we'll discuss how he ignored the Academy.

I've actually backed Billy by saying that I didn't believe we had anywhere near the strength in the academy during his 1st spell as we do now, it is however a fact that he had nothing to do with it.

I'm hopeful that he will be more involved this time from the noises that are coming from Billy's camp, long may it last.

 

[Rowntree]

I've actually backed Billy by saying that I didn't believe we had anywhere near the strength in the academy during his 1st spell as we do now, it is however a fact that he had nothing to do with it.

I'm hopeful that he will be more involved this time from the noises that are coming from Billy's camp, long may it last.

I honestly don't think he should have anything to do with the Academy. The important thing to me is that the people at each stage of the club have a good working relationship. I know some of BC's staff didn't get on with him but they obviously all got their jobs done. Same now but I'm not sure that Billy should be lording it over the youth system, just get people in there who deliver. Paul Hart would obviously be the man a lot of us would like - I'd be as happy with him coming back to run the youth set up as I was with Billy returning as manager.

 

[UndisclosedFee]

I've been giving it some thought recently, and it occurs to me that it no longer matters whether the manager has anything to do with the academy. since the introduction of the U21 league, it is a far better progression for young players than the reserves ever was. As long as the manager takes an interest in the U21 team (and with the absence of a reserve team, what manager wouldn't?), and the U21 manager takes a strong interest in the academy, it should work.

 

[Jonno]

Still not seen this confirmed anywhere but pause this at 17:30 and I think that's Charlie walking out the tunnel with Billy isn't it?

 

[Marshall.]

Still not seen this confirmed anywhere but pause this at 17:30 and I think that's Charlie walking out the tunnel with Billy isn't it?

Yep, I noticed that when watching EMT last night