Dave Artell talks up Crewe academy after youthful side sees off Cheltenham



Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Dave Artell talks up Crewe academy after youthful side sees off Cheltenham

Dave Artell says he was determined to strike a positive note to sign off the season by fielding an “academy side” as Crewe’s 2-1 victory over Cheltenham secured a 15th-place finish in League Two.

After a testing campaign Artell turned to the club’s long-standing philosophy of developing homegrown talent and one of the oldest of those former trainees, Shaun Miller, struck in either half.

Top scorer Jordan Bowery joined influential loanee Paul Green on the bench and senior men Eddie Nolan, Zoumana Bakayogo and Chris Dagnall were left out as a team nurtured through the ranks did enough to claim a third consecutive win with a bright display.

Artell has been busy during the week making plans for an improvement next term by signing up bright prospects Callum Ainley, Charlie Kirk and James Jones on fresh long-term contracts.

It was the second time in five years Crewe had opted to start a homegrown XI.

“It [the academy] is what this club is all about and that is twice we have done that – I don’t think any other football club in the modern era have done that,” said Artell.

“It is why we have the third best academy. I know one of our youngsters who is being courted by Everton, but his dad can see him playing professional football in 10 years’ time because the door is open here as it has always been.

“If you don’t believe that just look at the line-up today.”

On-loan striker Miller pounced on a mistake to tuck home Crewe’s 17th-minute opener which was cancelled out by George Lloyd’s far-post finish on 33 minutes.

But the Robins’ poor run-in was extended to four straight losses when Miller curled in the winner just after the hour on an afternoon when the Cheltenham boss also had his eye on the future.

Gary Johnson’s single biggest task appears to be how to replace 25-goal Mo Eisa, who apart from setting up Lloyd’s goal rarely threatened.

With midfielder Harry Pell also poised to depart Whaddon Road, Johnson says he has already laid the groundwork for rebuilding his side.

“We’ve got to rebuild as we can’t finish 17th and not do that,” said Johnson. “We’ve got to see who we’ve got left and we are doing a lot of work on that already.

“We are one point better than last season, so it is no use me saying we are going to get in the play-offs with this squad.

“We’ve only had one goalscorer really and we need a bit more creativity in the middle. Then we can see if we can move up 10 places.”

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.