Swansea City Youth Team Focus

After Watching a reserves game for the first time this season vs Plymouth Argyle I found a new appreciation for the good work that has gone on in the youth setup.

What I saw that day was a set of promising youngsters within the club and was impressed with Dion Chambers and Joe Allen. Chambers plays on the wing and has pace to burn his containment play and pressing is superb. Allen also has pace and is a composed midfielder and did well on his first team debut against Blackpool.

There is a real depth of young talent within the club with Chris Jones, Shaun Macdonald and Scott Evans leading the charge of young blood at the club. There was a time when we would have to let these young players go through lack of funds. With players like Richard Duffy leaving the club, this is no longer the case.

We are now able to keep hold of these players now which is a growing testament to the new era the club are entering into. The news today about the new feeder link with Swedish Norrettan side Ostersund FK is a very positive move forward.

This new link will help our young players like Evans , Morgan and possibly Watt with the vital experience they need to improve as players.

The Scandinavian leagues have been criticized in the past as inferior leagues to play in but they are very technical and competive which should give our young players a boost.

I asked out members on the forum what they thought of the youth set up here are some of their views:


'It's something we've always lacked in I think. There's a lot of talent in the area and they are often picked up by bigger clubs. Duffy's move to Portsmouth wasn't right at the time I don't think and I haven't been impressed at all with his performances for us on loan.Bond and Pritchard seemed the only youngsters a few years ago and they left for lower league clubs, hopefully it won't happen with the likes of MacDonald and Jones although it could happen maybe.'
Site Editor Kevin


Jackett has started the ball rolling in that regard, and hopefully Graeme Jones will impart some of the techniques he would have acquired at Middlesborough highly successful academy. It'll be a while yet before we get back to even the level we were in the early nineties, never mind the golden generation.'
Jobcentrejack


'The only time they are in a competitive game is in the Youth Cup. The only way you can test and stretch these youngsters ability, as things are at present, is to play them in the first team. But this would be a big risk. Both McDonald and Jones have played for the Wales under 21s and their performances do merit a fist team start. They have proved themselves capable and hope to see more of them next season. Good to see Joe Allen have his opportunity against Blackpool.'
Willow


'Allen looked a good prospect when he came on against Blackpool. if they don't get experience though, i can seem the likes of Shaun mac and jonesy going the same way as bond and pritchard, leaving for non-league.'
GThomas

Thank you for all your views.