Under the new Academy rules, wouldn't Nigel Martyn have been screwed?

Wouldn't have been allowed to sign for anyone.

Seriously though, I think some rules should be made against clubs signing players from other clubs before a certain age - probably 18. Look at Liverpool signing Jack Hobbs from Lincoln, for example - he's 16 and will probably end up going through the youth system, rotting in the reserves and then disappearing. Surely he'd do better to go through the ranks at Lincoln, get some first-team experience and then build his career from there?

And it'd be much better for the club, of course, because they'd get far more money if he was a proven first-team player.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot, Dec 2, 14:32:30