any idea who we didn't get, and why?

I was under the impression out of the whole batch we lost three , all of whom were offered silly deals

What does it matter who we have or haven't signed?

Its not as if any of them will ever make the first team

One kid went to Rovers just because he supported them, basically.

You are partly correct with that post, I know a couple who trained with FC and got signed by KR....TBH the youth system is pants at both clubs, watch the Under 17s Premier next season, there are players in there who are a lot better than some signed! (not all like you say there are some good ones who have always been nailed on and were snapped up quickly).
The problem for me is they pick kids (who are borderline) at 12/13 yrs and just stick with that, irrelevant of the development of others, we had players last season who outshone the academy players we had, neither club were interested as they had made there investment years ago..Also amazingly the academy coaches never ask the club coaches how the lads are doing, how they train nothing, or if they have any other players who should be considered, then at 17s they sign the ones they miss and bin a few boarderline ones they have had for a few years, we are poor in the city imo

Do you or anyone else know how much is silly money? because this might be a false economy just look at the Westerman situation. He was on our books as a youngster but left I believe due wanting a bit more money (how much I don't know) yet we spend £150k buying him back a few years later.

Seems no one knows for sure. I thought we just missed out on one because he supported Rovers.

They get £50 at FC, and less at KR.

You know more if you coached that age group

Indeed, I'd rather have ten youngsters on £10k a year than have one has been Aussie in the first team squad for the sake of it.

MM, is that £50 a match, a week???

That's silly, they could get more doing a sparky apprenticeship! And probably make more money in the long run.

A week, they just carry on with their education and train as normal. The carzy thing is their team mates who they played with go back into season this September 17s, the ones who signed do not play so in essence miss a full season, what kind of development is that ?

We have a couple who I expect to make the grade, Bobby Tyson and I forget the name of the other. Both from West Hull,Rob Wilson did a great job at west and got a lot of his lads signed.

Thats a decent evaluation there, the new idea being muted at present within the academy outreach system with a bridging academy where those wearing parachutes can drop down a level and be allowed to progress slower if needed as all kids develop at different speeds and this years worst can become next years best etc, much more to it than that but generally it means then that we dont loose any of the kids unless useless or disruptive of course.. and gives the club more evaluation time rather than the cold somewhat clinical system in place at present

all similar to how the NRL operate