This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
One has to wonder how long the production line is at St Andrew’s.
We’ve had the ‘breakout’ somewhat of teenager Jude Bellingham this season with his goals against Stoke City and Charlton Athletic.
Now it looks like we could be on the verge of yet another one in the not too distant future in youngster Odin Bailey.
Having scored the winner against Middlesbrough last Friday night, Bailey is hoping to help blaze the trail along with Bellingham for more of the club’s young talent to push for first-team opportunities.
Speaking to the club website in the aftermath of his late goal against Middlesbrough, Bailey spoke about how grateful he was for the opportunity and what it will mean for the other youngsters who are looking to make the breakthrough.
“I can’t thank him enough for giving me the opportunity and believing in me and trusting in me, just like he has with Jude and the other youngsters. I think it will inspire the others in the Academy coming up that if they keep working hard, they will get their opportunities.”
And if the club keeps producing talent with results like the aforementioned Bailey and Bellingham, there’s no reason why Blues fans can’t expect to see more of them in and around the first team.
Manager Pep Clotet spoke last month about how proud he is to be working with an academy that is producing such young talent:
“Seeing some of our youngsters out on international duty shows this club is doing a very good job in the academy, you need to work for 4-5 years to start seeing results, the academy has been fantastic, they deserve all the credit.”
Given that Birmingham City are still operating somewhat with the dark clouds of Financial Fair Play looming over their heads after last season, it certainly wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to assume that they could be forced to look into the academy to help bolster numbers going forward.
Considering what’s gone before with an embargo and points deduction, that’s not something they need to be ashamed of either.
We’ve seen the trend in recent years for fans of clubs to start singing ‘one of our own’, and if you can keep getting results whilst smattering a number of the kids in there along the way, then it’s pretty much a win-win for the club and the supporters.
What Birmingham now need to ensure they do is keep Bailey and Bellingham. Having seen the likes of Demarai Gray and Nathan Redmond leave, they don’t exactly have the best history of holding onto their best prospects.
For now, Birmingham have put their troubles behind them with an increased focus on youth. It’s also showing why money isn’t always the answer. There is certainly hope for the future at St Andrew’s.