WSW have confirmed that Mo Adam, Noah Pagden and Fabian Monge are all retiring to focus on family and studies.

What are peoples thoughts on this? Is this a Robinson issue, or a greater issue with WSW being unable to actually nurture and implement Youth into their senior system? 

Very strange to see 3 young players from same club pull the pin , hopefully nothing to do with their representation.

Not surprised at all. This is very common in youth development as kids reevaluate their lives and overall priorities. Maybe unusual for a club to announce it this way? 

Good luck to them. It's their lives and football isn't a number 1 priority for them (nor most of us if we are honest). 

Just a shame we will not see these young boys won’t get an opportunity to showcase their talents, but it’s shows the fundamental problem with youth development is the lack of opportunities for young players.

Just hope they are not lost to the game and hopefully they can see them back at this level in the future if they prove to be the case.

Also the u23 age bracket must be brought in, at 20 and below it’s too early to cut off players.

WSW can’t keep every talent but do they have a problem identifying and keeping the best of the lot with its academy? 

Not having a dig at academies, but dont you think it could be a case of them clearly not being in the clubs plans for this year and them being "squeezed" out to make way for the next academy batch???

I would hope so. Not enough clubs (or coaches) have the courage to tell young players how it is — if the kind but hard truth is they’re not good enough to make it and there’s other players behind them that might ... then tell them and get them out of the development pathway. 

With the limited opportunities available in this country, and the sacrifice it can require to take a risk to try an overseas move, it certainly is no surprise.

All academies around the world have less success stories than those who haven’t made it, and in this country it is going to be even harder with the safety net only being the NPL to try and rebuild from. Whether there’s the appetite or energy to try again is always going to be something that each player will have to consider.

If you have options, a brain is a better bet than a foot. 

They're simply being cut from the squad, but WSW have to word it this way to free up whatever space they took in the cap, or perhaps to take over their scholarship player slot.

Yeah I think you're right, they announced that Mohamad Al-Taay has signed a scholarship deal.

Still really surprised Mo Adam has been shown the door though, I thought he had quite a bit about him.

2nd division can't come soon enough.

There will always be the odd talented player that decides professional sport isn't for them, but at least a 2nd division will provide more development opportunities to talented players on the fringe..and who knows, may just keep them in the game as they continue to develop.

Monge has signed for Sydney Olympic

And so has Mo Adam. Still baffling how WSW announced their departures.

It seems very strange at such an early phase of their careers?

Not strange at all. There comes a time that a player will release that being a so call professional footballer is not what it's made out to be. Having a normal job/career and play NPL is a far better option. 

I said it higher up, but I think it was so the club could get around squad/cap rules. Clubs are only allowed nine scholarship players per season, but perhaps they are allowed to replace them if the players "retire" instead of simply being cut. Just a theory, but with three "retirements" all at once I think it's the simplest explanation.

I seem to remember your son was in Melb City Youth program a few years back and may have played for Aussie underage teams.

I suppose I  cannot remember the  three young players on the pitch, as to how good they are. As we know many young players don't make it to senior pro level. However, if they've played at Young Socceroo level, one would have thought they should be good enough.

I made a comment on a mate's blog, where he covers NPL in this state, that it was a good option having a career and being able to play NPL.

One  former poster on here is a scout/player agent. He said quite a few experienced NPL players in Victoria  have beenoffered one year contracts in the A L, but  won't take them, because they don't want to leave the security of their day jobs.

It is definitely plausible, Pala.

So Nikolic who just signed a scholarship deal in pre-season has already been shown the door and is now at Marconi.

WTF is going on at WSW and why are all their highly rated youth players leaving?

Not sure what is happening at WSW's academy, they look a bit disorganised compared to the rivals in the east with Sydney FC whom are doing a great job.

Marconi have a great track record at NPL with youth so I can see him doing well if he gets a chance.

obviously more money at marconi than at WSW youth, he will also be playing NPL 1, WSW youth are NPL 2?

They might have been told repeatedly, by different coaches, they aren't quite good enough to make the grade for professional football.

Of course a second division and more pro clubs would  create more opportunities for Aus pro footballer aspirants.

A case in point, is Andrew Nabbout. I might be wrong, but I thought I read years ago that a Victorian NPL club was where he had developed as a junior though youth to senior ranks, and was separate from the FFVic/NTC pathway.

The reason Arnie wants the cut off to end with u23s so the players can still develop as often players can develop later otherwise they get lost to the system if they not in a good envionment in the NPL.

Which is why the broken record of more opportunities are needed.