Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:06 am  

Barbed Wire wrote:

The Walker situation reminds me a little of Iestyn Harris. Wanted away from the club, probably had his head turned by money, press and agents, and has a ready made excuse to want out.

Leeds didn't look the gift horse in the mouth, and neither should we. Whether we like the way a move comes about or not, he is a talented boy and has potential to be one of the best in the country. Get him signed.

We are in the same situation with Brad Dwyer, a real talent, but one whose game is way down this year as he's clearly not happy with management nor the terms of a deal to extend his contract. Probably best for all that he is leaving, but we'll see a much better player from now on at Leeds, unfortunately.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:34 am  

Barbed Wire wrote:

The Walker situation reminds me a little of Iestyn Harris. Wanted away from the club, probably had his head turned by money, press and agents, and has a ready made excuse to want out.

Leeds didn't look the gift horse in the mouth, and neither should we. Whether we like the way a move comes about or not, he is a talented boy and has potential to be one of the best in the country. Get him signed.

I think it was we that created the platform for Harris wanting out...

Following heavy investment just a couple of years earlier, Wires backing just dried up. Greenalls sold out and with it his ghost board membership. Higham and his board had spent and lost enough...although modest investment, they didn't get much of their money back.

Wire wouldn't offer Bateman a modest contract increase so was let go, Jiffy left stating he was disillusioned with lack of investment following a season where we finished 3rd on only points difference....it was the signs that Wire was in debt.
Wire needed Harris and Sculthorpe out more than they, and, Bateman and Davis, wanted out. Their sale along with council money buying Wilderspool, bought us survival and the most desperate time of rugby I'd witnessed in P&B. Thank god for DVD who was matey with Alfie, and the pair of them didn't particularly need the money.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:38 am  

So much happens at a club that we are not privy to. Regarding not developing our own players (obviously depends on what age we are talking about) but look at Julien, Philbin, the King brothers, Dec P (who I actually believe is growing into his role very nicely thank you).
The Dwyer situation is interesting. He clearly hasn't played at the same level this year, but there was a lot of "talk" at the end of last season that he was "demanding" a better contract which seems to mirror the "talk" coming out of Leeds about Walker.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 7:51 pm  

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:21 pm  

The Chin's Back wrote:

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Mike Cooper has done ok, what with his England caps and everything.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:51 pm  

The Chin's Back wrote:

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Some kid from Oldham. we scouted and signed at 16 as his firat professional club wasn't too shabby. Can't recall his name now. Paul Skullllcap. No, hang on. Paul skull-and-crossbones. Oh no.

Paul Sculthorpe, that was the chap.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sat Jul 22, 2017 11:30 pm  

The Chin's Back wrote:

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Maybe you'd be better focusing on your own team's recent inability to produce and hang on to ball players. Having to bring in Wire rejects Dwyer and Myler, and an inability to convince Walker to stay (having backed what seemingly everyone thinks is the wrong horse in Golding) should be a worrying sign for Leeds fans, given their earlier reliance on their academy as the basis of success.

Re: Jack Walker. : Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:02 am  

Paul Sculthorpe is without a doubt one of the best players I have ever seen and well done to your club for spotting him
Iestyn Harris was also in the above bracket
Cooper is an above average player that did OK in the NRL whilst he was there

I immediately thought of these 3 players but then struggled to think of any more that had come right through your system

Re: Jack Walker. : Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:38 am  

The Chin's Back wrote:

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

There aren't many. It's something that's always made me scratch my head.

And don't call us Wolves

Re: Jack Walker. : Sun Jul 23, 2017 7:55 am  

The Chin's Back wrote:

Can anyone name the junior talent that your club has actually spotted/produced at an early age and who you haven't poached from another club and that has actually gone on to be a regular first team Wolves player?

I would be interested to see how many players that you have actually identified early doors and have been proved correct and that they have gone on to be successful with you

Mike Gregory
Mark Forster
Mark Hilton
Gary Chambers
Paul Cullen
Chris Rudd
Iestyn Harris
Ian Knott
Paul Sculthorpe
Lee Penny
Jon Roper
Paul Darbyshire
Mike Wainwright
Paul Wood
Ian Sibbit
Chris Riley
Mike Cooper
Ben Harrison
Kevin Penny
Brad Dwyer
Ben Currie - signed at 16 from Golborne Parkside so wasn't poached.

Unfortunately not worked out for Ben and Rhys Evans now, but they had plenty of appearances.
Also didn't work out for Gareth O'Brien with us, but he's now doing great at Salford.
James Laithwaite - got a good run of games but suffered a horrible broken leg.
Gene Ormsby was successful for a while.

This year Joe Philbin and Dec Patton are really improving with game time. Harvey Livett was also looking good before his injury.

A lot of youngsters even though they didn't make it with us, they are still playing in the Championship.

Hopefully we will start bringing through more of our own talent, rather than always relying on signings.