18 Jan 2026 20:49:45
Good luck to Jamie McDonnell who's signed for Oxford, Nigel Clough has said, if he had any influence on the decision, he would have advised against it!, might there be a buy back clause?.
18 Jan 2026 21:40:18
He won't make premier level and its abit of pay back for the years we've put in in terms of money
He'll get to play and have the biggest contract he's ever seen which is great
Five more years till we see academy players of premier standard at forest coming through
If they aren't ready at 18 they never will be
Not being nasty, just telling it as it is.
18 Jan 2026 22:25:04
Rubbish DTP. Just because players aren't ready at 18 doesn't mean they will never make it in the PL. I think 20/ 21 year olds are the ideal candidates to be introduced slowly to any first team training. Then, I'd say, if they impress in training they should be given a chance for a half in PL football.
Of course it's a gamble. However, look how many 'gambles' on giving our academy players the chance to shine have proved to be the correct decision in the past.
18 Jan 2026 22:47:27
It's not rubbish lego.
18 Jan 2026 22:56:02
When dud the last premier league player come through our academy then lego?
I know who the two are and they are the only ones and they where playing fir us in the championship once they where 18 or 19
There is nothing right now in our academy that will save us money and be premier quality, it will come through, but not overnight.
18 Jan 2026 23:18:32
You've got to admit there's exceptions, Stan Collymore released by Wolves academy then gets found by Palace, I know it's rear, but having a buy back clause is something man city and villa do, some players just need to grow and develop.
19 Jan 2026 00:09:31
Well, you've got me onto a rather passionate issue of mine regarding our Academy DTP. Generally regarded as one of the best Academies out there to develop youth talent it has become a side-show at our club.
I totally disagree with you DTP - I think if the will and the training support is there we could take some of these Academy players up to the next level. I find it sad that, as a club, Forest seem to ignore this obvious route of nurturing our own home-grown talent at a fraction of the cost of buying new players.
19 Jan 2026 08:33:21
It's not become a sideshow lego, it was geared up for the championship and its moving in the right direction now we are in the premier league and the teams there are playing at a higher level
We are attracting some of the best 9, to 11 year old out there now, but it doesn't happen over night.
19 Jan 2026 10:32:26
Ian Wright and Jamie Vardy arrived late into the game DTP?
19 Jan 2026 11:09:45
Ahmedhovic was never given a chance with us and he's gone to Feyenoord for just over £20 million including add ons.
19 Jan 2026 11:14:38
I know rogie, but mostly exceptions mate
Once they get to 21 and have never been near the first team squad, they have to be moved on to make way for the younger ones coming through.
19 Jan 2026 13:19:11
I’m guessing your 2 Academy graduates playing in the Premiership are Johnno and Yatesy DTP.
Harry Kane, released by Arsenal Academy then to Spurs, learnt his trade in the lower Divisions … the rest is history.
John Robertson didn’t impress in our Academy, fitness issues, then Cloughie arrived in 1975 when Robbo was 22…… again, the rest is the stuff of legend
My own favourite late developer was Tony Book. Played non league until he was 31 then captained Man City aged 33 in their glory years ( before their financial cheating era).
For every Wayne Rooney or Trevor Francis there’s an Academy also ran made good ….
19 Jan 2026 13:59:42
Gary Birtles? Long Eaton Utd rather than Academy….
19 Jan 2026 14:34:28
Yeh Rogie, what have the Romans ever done for us? ????.
19 Jan 2026 14:46:20
We had reserve sides in those days when they could play against and with seasoned pros
Your missing the point
There is nothing wrong with the academy, we've just stepped up a level and it will take time.
19 Jan 2026 15:33:50
"Im Rogiectus! "
???.
19 Jan 2026 17:25:50
Nottingham Forest rejected
Shaun Wright-Phillips, the adoptive brother of Mark Wright (and son of Ian Wright), as a youngster.
Reason for Rejection: Forest deemed him too small, at 5 feet 6 inches, and not good enough to make the grade.
Outcome: After being released at age 17, he went on to have a successful career with Manchester City, Chelsea, and England.
19 Jan 2026 17:33:11
Can't help thinking the right staff at the Academy will find the players and bring them on, can't help remembering Paul Harts time at Forest, and the players he discovered.
19 Jan 2026 18:46:56
If Legolas had his way, Dale Taylor would have been leading our line this season despite me telling him he's bang average.
Managed 2 goals for Blackpool this season. Been injured a while but still made plenty of appearances.
19 Jan 2026 19:59:10
Well at you least you understand Fred
Always exceptions, but even the ones we've sold for bigs bucks, most have failed barring cash and jonno
Burke
Appiah
Brereton
Worrall
All I'm saying is that players have to be knocking on the first team well before they are 21.
19 Jan 2026 22:43:38
Fred - that's disingenuous about Taylor to say the least. I've been following this young man's progress for many years now. He's been very unlucky with injuries. However, given the right supply, I've seen enough of this guy as both a kid and a senior to know Taylor is a natural goal-scorer. How many of those do we have in the Forest first team at the moment?
Personally, I'd get him back and get him fit again. Then get him on the grass training with the 1st team and let SD cast his eye over him. I think the guy i'd a potential hidden-gem.
19 Jan 2026 23:18:14
Lego your living in dreamland
Your hearts in the right place though.