The "it could actually be worse" thread ....

[RobertT]

He wasn't the only one. Ethan Ampadu springs to mind but there are others. I haven't done any research but was down to them focusing more on their academy?

I was going to say, the fact they have repeated the success may suggest someone there knows what the fuck they are doing, ala Crewe in days gone by.

[DiV]

I wonder if location helps Exeter.
The fact there probably isn’t (I’m guessing here) a Premier League club within 80-85 miles of them means maybe their youngsters are less likely to be poached at a proper young age. Is there still a cap on how many miles from the club teams can recruit kids?

[Quagmire]

I wonder if location helps Exeter.
The fact there probably isn’t (I’m guessing here) a Premier League club within 80-85 miles of them means maybe their youngsters are less likely to be poached at a proper young age. Is there still a cap on how many miles from the club teams can recruit kids?

It can’t do any harm can it?

Over the holidays I’ve seen Southampton, Reading and Bristol Rovers soccer schools/coaching at different Wiltshire schools.
I can’t imagine Exeter have competition like that on their doorstep.

[DiV]

It can’t do any harm can it?

Over the holidays I’ve seen Southampton, Reading and Bristol Rovers soccer schools/coaching at different Wiltshire schools.
I can’t imagine Exeter have competition like that on their doorstep.

Closest would be Plymouth and they’ve only just gone back to being a division ahead of Exeter this season….

….and that’s still gonna be 40+ miles.

Even that is probably too significant for full time working dad to take little Jimmy to & from 3 evenings a week for training…