Bringing through youngsters...

[BennyBoyRs]

...sorry for the cut-and-paste, but I thought this could be a good topic of discussion?!

I keep reading that our fans would happily let Sterling go for a measley £1m as there is no guarentee he'll make it, which frustrates me hugely.

World class players HAVE to come from somewhere. The production line will never end. I want QPR to be part of that. You think of Beckham, you think of United and not Spuds. If Bostock makes it...who's gonna remember Palace? Walcott at Southampton...Milner at Leeds?

We don't need to cash in and can now afford to nurture young tallent. Of course It's a gamble, but a gamble we need to take. All the big clubs in the world take the tallent and the credit along with it. Nothing will make me happier than to see this kid make it with us. Without being harsh as I wish him all the best, I couldn't care less if Parret makes it as NOBODY other than us will know who spotted him.

£1m is nothing in todays game. The chance to be recognised via your youth system is though. To me there is nothing better for a football club than to show off your youth setup. It's also bang out of order on the likes of Gallen who has worked with this lad for ages and taught him to become a great tallent only for him to be taken away with no thanks.

[BennyBoyRs]

A team who have suffered from this ill-treatment is Crewe. They've brought through many quality players over the years, many who end up at Liverpool.

[themodfather]

if we are never to see a parrett or sterling come thru and play for us, why bother with an academy?
one of the things i am passionate about at qpr is improving the yth set up FOR OUR FUTURE
but if we will sell "early" i am curious/dubious.....

[BennyBoyRs]

if we are never to see a parrett or sterling come thru and play for us, why bother with an academy?
one of the things i am passionate about at qpr is improving the yth set up FOR OUR FUTURE
but if we will sell "early" i am curious/dubious.....

Exactly my point Luke. We need to keep hold of what we've got. He may not become World Class, but even if he turns out to be a quality Premiership striker, that would do me. Even if he made his name as one of the CCC's best strikers, ala Kevin Phillips...again, it's an acchievement for us. There is no doubt in my mind that he'll make it beyond this level and I want us to be the team it happens with.

[winalotto]

The whole point of having a academy is its easier to keep top young players, the number of nights they train the standard of training etc, thats where we lose out in a big way. When you see Watford , Palace , Charlton youngsters there all at a higher level because of the training, thats the single most important thing imo that this club with its wealthy owners must do, reinstate our academy. We could then see more Sterlings or Sutherlands coming through and we'd be playing the top academy teams. Instead of centre of excellence sides. Having said all that if Chelsea come in for you with their set up in Cobham or Arsenal then its very unlikely your turn them down. Its all to do with the food chain.

[Stanley]

Benny, said words to this effect on the other thread. 1 million would be an absolute pittance for such a precocious talent. Yes, for the club to show genuine ambition its essential we hang on to and nurture this young prodigy.

[Gtleighsr3]

Cmob brought some good youngsters through over the years.

[MYU]

I agree with this poster 100%.

1m today is nothing.

[m_cooper]

what ever happened to the keeper who went to pompey

[MYU]

I heard they let him go but not sure if that is true.

[NW9_RANGER]

Well said benny mate

[BennyBoyRs]

what ever happened to the keeper who went to pompey

He just turned 18 last week and seems to be doing ok

[stanistheman]

I agree with this poster 100%.

1m today is nothing.

So do I.

I have been saying for a few days now that QPR should try and keep him -nothing they can do if he wants to go, other than try and get as good a deal as possible.

For me, Sterling sounds like a genuine star in the making along the likes of Giggs, Beckham, Owen, Gerrard, J Cole, Rooney & Walcott. These got similar accolades when schoolboys and have done quite well for themselves and their clubs. Those that were sold, raised a large amount of money in transfer fees.

Beckham £23M
Owen not sure how much RM paid but it topped £15M,
Cole cost a bargain £6M, but is worth far more,
Rooney £20+M,
Walcott around £7M, but could end up being sold for 3 times that if he overcomes his injury problems.

£1M is a good sum of money and would have been much needed 3 years ago, but I don't think the current club owners need the cash injection. They seem quite content to fund the club via their own pockets, ticket prices and surely the sponsorship deals with Lotto, Gulf Air, Santander, Chrono Tech and now Toyo must be bringing a decent amount of funding to the club.

QPR probably need to get the ball rolling to set up a proper academy to tempt Sterling to stay and perhaps get others like him.

[sirpiechucker]

Totally and utterly agree with you Benny.

Parents of young footballers want to know that a club will nuture talent and teach them the tricks of the trade. Everytime we are prepared to let go of young talent what message would it send out to the parents? We need to reinstate the academy and play in a stronger reserve competition so when a lad is too good for the u16s or u18s he'll face proper competition and not just Crawley reserves.

[Rsonist]

Bumping this thread....

When you look you at the sums Southampton stand to make for Oxlade-Chamberlain after only a season in the first team you have to say Benny was right on this one.