Academy-wise- the Vile seem to have ambition to monopolise the entire West midlands area leaving nothing for Albion. They have poached our coaches and now our best prospects. I can't see how we can stop this given their money and status. They are openly going for our academy assets.
Should we either let our academy dwindle to nothing or fish in further waters (Gloucester, Mid-Wales, South West maybe north Staffs) or give the academy up and turn to Moneyball type stats as Brentford (in a similar position vis a vis Chelsea) have?
In case you were interested, this was the line up for our U16/17 game against Preston on Tuesday based on geographic location, as an example. I've used Birmingham to cover "local" lads that may include West Brom/Sandwell/Smethwick etc unless I know specifically where they are from.
1. Birmingham
2. Birmingham
3. Cheltenham
4. Shrewsbury
5. Wolverhampton
6. Birmingham
7. Tipton
8. Oxford
9. Birmingham
10. Worcester
11. Birmingham
12. Birmingham
13. Coleshill
14. Birmingham
15. Sutton Coldfield
Not sure what that proves, other than traditionally WBA have fished pretty far and wide for a while. Bear in mind the majority of those lads would have been scouted whilst the old, and current Villa, regime were in charge.
Also,fyi, it was the first time they'd played 3-4-3, presumably as the new Head Coach wants to play that way. This is the first time in 10 years that I know of where the Academy has played a specific way to follow the Head Coach's wishes.