What's new

Player Watch: Marcus Edwards

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
I don't think anyone would disagree with. That so long as we win trophies, however I just hope we hold that same standard to signings.

I am willing to take the risk of playing a an academy player for massive future gains. This is no different to signings, except there is apparently less risk, but in my opinion, when you take our comparative finances into account, there are less gains to be made. No academy player whether they have have been thrown in, had a clear pathway laid out for them or given a chance as part of an agenda has ever bombed for us as much as some signings like Stambouli. However, we also have academy players who have also been as good or better than our greatest ever signings.

Football players all start from somewhere, whether it's the Estudiantes academy or an academy in Kenya, they all get their chances to eventually be bought by us. Our academy players by virtue of training at one of the top 3 academies in the richest league in the world, in a football mad country are at 16/17 better at the same age than the large majority of players we end up signings. I just want us to give them those same opportunities, to see what we have.

Why would I or anyone want a player to play if it is to the detriment of our club. It's a ridiculous notion. We all want the same thing. As long as we are successful I don't care how we get there.
Yes i totally agree but so many of us (myself included) love the fantasy of our youth.

I mean, i am adamant that Kane is fast becoming our greatest ever player, but it helps he came through our our youth system.
 

thefierycamel

Well-Known Member
Dec 31, 2014
2,015
5,128
Youth players will play for the shirt and try harder than foreign ones. That's why I want them to be given chances. Having a potential spurs fan out there playing for us is special, especially when they've been at the club for 10-15 years.
 

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
Youth players will play for the shirt and try harder than foreign ones. That's why I want them to be given chances. Having a potential spurs fan out there playing for us is special, especially when they've been at the club for 10-15 years.
While i tend to agree, they have to be good enough firstly.
 

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
7,173
19,679
Football players all start from somewhere, whether it's the Estudiantes academy or an academy in Kenya, they all get their chances to eventually be bought by us. Our academy players by virtue of training at one of the top 3 academies in the richest league in the world, in a football mad country are at 16/17 better at the same age than the large majority of players we end up signings. I just want us to give them those same opportunities, to see what we have.

In terms of raw ability, maybe.

The thing this misses is the kids from the Kenyan or Argentinian youth academy don’t get treated like royalty before they’ve made it, and have to fight so much harder to get to a position where they can earn a living in football.

The kids in this country’s top academies are given absolutely everything they need, in a football system where even a crap EPL player is a millionaire.

I think the rarity here is finding players in this day with the appropriate desire, discipline, application and resilience to make it to the top. I don’t think it’s necessarily a talent issue.

I am totally behind Pochettino for demanding these qualities as a minimum. If we have to throw some talented youth players on the scrap heap to get that message through loud and clear to future generations then so be it.
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
This might upset a few posters but we are not a development club anymore.

We are becoming a top club in Europe.

If our youth players are not good enough, that doesn't bother me.

If they are good enough, they will get chances e.g. Winks
It’s about balance. We do have some exceptional youth talent and we do need to think carefully about their development and how that can be balanced with our ambition. Otherwise when young talents like Sessegnon have to make a choice about heir next steps it won’t be to us. That’s the problem Chelsea face now after ruining careers for the last 10 years. How many potential super stars like a young KDB will choose them when there are other options available?
 

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Otherwise when young talents like Sessegnon have to make a choice about heir next steps it won’t be to us.
I think someone like Sessegnon would look to Dele, rather than Onomah, when deciding how Spurs treat young players. If you are good enough, you are old enough.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
It’s about balance. We do have some exceptional youth talent and we do need to think carefully about their development and how that can be balanced with our ambition. Otherwise when young talents like Sessegnon have to make a choice about heir next steps it won’t be to us. That’s the problem Chelsea face now after ruining careers for the last 10 years. How many potential super stars like a young KDB will choose them when there are other options available?

The Sessegnon types aren't a problem as he is playing league football. The hard part has been done and he has been given his chance and he has proven that he can play first team football, he is perfect for Poch, to take to the next level. Same as Maddison and any other promising young talent in the EFL.

However someone like Sancho would take a hard look at joining us. It is unlikely that he would have gotten a chance here with zero experience. He would have had at least a year of training before likely not making the team. If he was at City or us people would still be claiming he doesn't have the required talent or work ethic to play for the first team, the latter a criticism that has regularly followed him, as he appears cocky.

Dortmund don't seem to care about those problems and focus on the talent and I assume believe that the manager deals and handles any behavioural problems as they come along. Regardless of how his career goes from here he appears to have made an excellent decision and I'm pleased for him. It would likely not have come through a PL club.
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
In terms of raw ability, maybe.

The thing this misses is the kids from the Kenyan or Argentinian youth academy don’t get treated like royalty before they’ve made it, and have to fight so much harder to get to a position where they can earn a living in football.

The kids in this country’s top academies are given absolutely everything they need, in a football system where even a crap EPL player is a millionaire.

I think the rarity here is finding players in this day with the appropriate desire, discipline, application and resilience to make it to the top. I don’t think it’s necessarily a talent issue.

I am totally behind Pochettino for demanding these qualities as a minimum. If we have to throw some talented youth players on the scrap heap to get that message through loud and clear to future generations then so be it.

I think this is a very overstated stereotype in English football, which results in generally average to good players coming through who are workhorses, while ignoring extremely talented players as they need to learn to clean football boots, run laps round the park in 5 degrees, and put themselves about. There is this myth that academy players don't work hard enough. ITK and reporters have mentioned at different points that Onomah and KWP were some of the hardest workers in training. I'm sure you don't know any academy players and are just parroting the belief that they are lazy because they are paid well. These are players who have constantly had to outperform and out work other players their whole lives to get where they are. Why is it their fault clubs throw money at them.

As I said above Sancho would know doubt fit into the category of over pampered player who doesn't have the grit and determination to play in the PL. Players who have worked their whole lives to become professional footballers only to throw it away. And we wonder why England has no talent to choose from while Spain and Germany have a plethora despite not having as talented players. Sancho goes to one of Germany's top clubs and is given a chance, no doubt, people will believe it is now due to his new found work ethic and grit.

It's strange that, despite English players being pampered and not wanting it enough, German, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese clubs are looking at our academy players and signing them. Maybe it's just an English fan/club mentality problem and not a player one. I know which nations methods have been more successful, and who I'd want to replicate.
 

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
7,173
19,679
I think this is a very overstated stereotype in English football, which results in generally average to good players coming through who are workhorses, while ignoring extremely talented players as they need to learn to clean football boots, run laps round the park in 5 degrees, and put themselves about. There is this myth that academy players don't work hard enough. ITK and reporters have mentioned at different points that Onomah and KWP were some of the hardest workers in training. I'm sure you don't know any academy players and are just parroting the belief that they are lazy because they are paid well. These are players who have constantly had to outperform and out work other players their whole lives to get where they are. Why is it their fault clubs throw money at them.

As I said above Sancho would know doubt fit into the category of over pampered player who doesn't have the grit and determination to play in the PL. Players who have worked their whole lives to become professional footballers only to throw it away. And we wonder why England has no talent to choose from while Spain and Germany have a plethora despite not having as talented players. Sancho goes to one of Germany's top clubs and is given a chance, no doubt, people will believe it is now due to his new found work ethic and grit.

It's strange that, despite English players being pampered and not wanting it enough, German, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese clubs are looking at our academy players and signing them. Maybe it's just an English fan/club mentality problem and not a player one. I know which nations methods have been more successful, and who I'd want to replicate.

No, I don’t know the players but neither do you. All of our opinions on here are based on what we hear and the outcomes we see.

I’m putting forward a view that has been made many times by people working in the game over the challenges coaches have with young players, and enforcing that view with a belief that I think is true in life, not just football. Your mentality can make or break you - irrespective of talent - and money can always make you think differently about a situation.

At no point am I taking about turning talented players into work horses.

I do also disagree with you on Sancho. That kid wanted to get out of the cushy, rich life he had at City to go and make sure he got games, and even had the balls to go to another country. I’d say he’s the exact opposite of the sort of player I I was describing.

But - in any case - the main point of my post is that I trust Pochettino.

He has fostered a mentality at our club where a player has to show him they possess the same resilience and strength of character that he will ask you to show on the pitch when our team needs it. Also the tactical intelligence to understand how to play ‘his way’. As he always says, they ask so much of these kids and his standards are really high. Very few can reach those levels, but when they do, well, the talent can shine through, as it has with Kane, Alli, Winks etc.

On that note, I can’t think of a player he’s sold from our academy where we’ve regretted it later.

He’s got it spot in IMO.
 

ChristianBaler

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
1,877
1,246
Even with what Trix has said. City have still managed to give players like Foden and Diaz chances. There will always be injuries etc. Also in a weird way if you become so good like city. It can almost give youth more chances. If you’re winning games 4 or 5-0 regular they can get mins at end or in very busy periods like Xmas where you want a lot of rotation. I’d still maintain if they are good enough they will make it.

That's because they can afford to play youngsters given that they practically have the league tied up.

By April they could probably play half their starting XI with youth players and still not lose the title
 

IGSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2013
7,939
13,758
No, I don’t know the players but neither do you. All of our opinions on here are based on what we hear and the outcomes we see.

I’m putting forward a view that has been made many times by people working in the game over the challenges coaches have with young players, and enforcing that view with a belief that I think is true in life, not just football. Your mentality can make or break you - irrespective of talent - and money can always make you think differently about a situation.

At no point am I taking about turning talented players into work horses.

I do also disagree with you on Sancho. That kid wanted to get out of the cushy, rich life he had at City to go and make sure he got games, and even had the balls to go to another country. I’d say he’s the exact opposite of the sort of player I I was describing.

But - in any case - the main point of my post is that I trust Pochettino.

He has fostered a mentality at our club where a player has to show him they possess the same resilience and strength of character that he will ask you to show on the pitch when our team needs it. Also the tactical intelligence to understand how to play ‘his way’. As he always says, they ask so much of these kids and his standards are really high. Very few can reach those levels, but when they do, well, the talent can shine through, as it has with Kane, Alli, Winks etc.

On that note, I can’t think of a player he’s sold from our academy where we’ve regretted it later.

He’s got it spot in IMO.

Ye but I wasn't the one claiming that English players lack application. The only time you ever hear this is when Premier League managers are looking for an excuse to not play a youngster. Whether it be from the old school Sam Allardyce types who don't believe their putting themselves about enough to the Top 6 managers who will pull out any excuse, typically the 'not wanting ti enough' to placate any questions about why they are not giving any academy players chances.

England currently has the most talented players in the world, and yet their main league is giving considerably less chances to their players than leagues with less talented youngsters. Chelsea have won something like 2 of the last 3 UYL and 5 of last 6 FAYCs not to mention the amount of their players that features for England as they swept up all of the tournaments. But just one players in the last 10 years has had significant chances. You can't honestly believe that no one else is good enough to be given a chance, but if Conte or whatever other manager said, they're not working hard enough, you would just accept that as the truth. I don't buy or trust what any of the Premier League managers say when they come up with different reasons not to play academy players.

The Bundesliga, have probably given more minutes to English players born after 97 than the Premier League, it can't be a coincidence that they just happen to stumble upon the only English players with that unreal amount of application. And if they did why didn't the English clubs try to play them themselves. Maybe Germany's 'hard work' threshold is lower than what Premier League managers expect, but I know which country is better at developing players and better at exporting players, so I'd rather follow what they do than what we do.

I have seen these academy kids succeed through immense pressure. They have won intern atonal tournaments with the weight of the nation on their back. Something the senior team crumble under. The u17 age group were expected to win the Euro. They got to the final, and lost. They were then expected to win the World Cup and they came back and won it after going behind. Don't tell me that doesn't take resilience.

I don't think you want to turn players into workhorses, but I do believe that is what you need to be to get a chance. That is why England has so many players who are all worth ethic no ability, and Poch is putting Georgiou, Amos and Lesniak on the bench.

So no I do not trust any Premier League manager with the handling and development of our academy players and I am sure you do not either, and therefore I also do not trust Poch to handle the development of our academy players.

Also I don't mind if Premier League managers have no interest in using academy players. If they feel pressure to win titles and are scared of the risks that's fair enough. As I ave said everyone criticises Chelsea and City but for some reason defend us when we'r all in the same boat. You wouldn't trust those clubs with developing academy players but you seem to think we're any different. I'd rather they just outright say, they are too scared to risk them and would rather put their trust in an average player. Rather than talking up the talent and claiming they would like to use them only to make excuses and tarring a generation of kids as lazy and weak because they don't have the courage to give them a chance. It's not the academy players that lack the heart it's the managers.

Regarding the Edwards/Sancho comparison. You admire Sancho but believe Edwards hasn't got the right application. The following applies to both of them:
Exceptionally talented players who were the best players in their age groups, and top talents in the World at u16/u17.
Appeared to have or had alleged attitude problems, whether it be not working hard enough, selfish in their play, egocentric, arrogant, cocky. I should stress alleged
Both in their first year of their scholarship made notable changes to their games and worked a lot harder for the team.
Both impressed at their u17 Euros and u17 World Cups.
Both are still rated incredibly highly across Europe
Both rejected big offers from Man City to either keep or attract them to their clubs, where they could have sat in their academies earning big money and have a cushy life.
Both accepted less money but instead decided to go/stay at clubs they thought would be best for their development as they believed managers trusted in them and gave youth a chance.
Both are currently at one of the best clubs in their respective leagues.
One is playing first team football, while the other has now been sent on loan to the Championship.
Only one has made the right decision so far, and I don't think it has anything to do with 'attitude problems' and everything to do with the team/league/managers

I don't think there's any point discussing your last bit about Poch and what he requires as it's been done to death. I also the what players have we regretted debate has been done.

Either way it's not relevant at this point as none of the players that joined the academy when Poch joined, and was therefore solely responsible for their development and succession to the first team i.e. Onomah's age group, have left yet - well the best players from that age group haven't left yet. And I'm sure they have been stifled/stagnated enough so that when they are eventually released, there is a good chance they will not fulfil their potential, and Poch will be seen as having the made the right decision and no questions will be asked, as to why, the most talented age groups we have produced were completely wasted, whilst simultaneously praising his ability to bring academy players through.
 
Last edited:

smallsnc

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2017
699
1,237
I think the money swinging towards the PL has allowed English clubs to buy more established players and forced the Bundesliga club to look for younger, less expensive talent that they have room for now.
 

eddiev14

SC Supporter
Jan 18, 2005
7,173
19,679
Ye but I wasn't the one claiming that English players lack application. The only time you ever hear this is when Premier League managers are looking for an excuse to not play a youngster. Whether it be from the old school Sam Allardyce types who don't believe their putting themselves about enough to the Top 6 managers who will pull out any excuse, typically the 'not wanting ti enough' to placate any questions about why they are not giving any academy players chances.

England currently has the most talented players in the world, and yet their main league is giving considerably less chances to their players than leagues with less talented youngsters. Chelsea have won something like 2 of the last 3 UYL and 5 of last 6 FAYCs not to mention the amount of their players that features for England as they swept up all of the tournaments. But just one players in the last 10 years has had significant chances. You can't honestly believe that no one else is good enough to be given a chance, but if Conte or whatever other manager said, they're not working hard enough, you would just accept that as the truth. I don't buy or trust what any of the Premier League managers say when they come up with different reasons not to play academy players.

The Bundesliga, have probably given more minutes to English players born after 97 than the Premier League, it can't be a coincidence that they just happen to stumble upon the only English players with that unreal amount of application. And if they did why didn't the English clubs try to play them themselves. Maybe Germany's 'hard work' threshold is lower than what Premier League managers expect, but I know which country is better at developing players and better at exporting players, so I'd rather follow what they do than what we do.

I have seen these academy kids succeed through immense pressure. They have won intern atonal tournaments with the weight of the nation on their back. Something the senior team crumble under. The u17 age group were expected to win the Euro. They got to the final, and lost. They were then expected to win the World Cup and they came back and won it after going behind. Don't tell me that doesn't take resilience.

I don't think you want to turn players into workhorses, but I do believe that is what you need to be to get a chance. That is why England has so many players who are all worth ethic no ability, and Poch is putting Georgiou, Amos and Lesniak on the bench.

So no I do not trust any Premier League manager with the handling and development of our academy players and I am sure you do not either, and therefore I also do not trust Poch to handle the development of our academy players.

Also I don't mind if Premier League managers have no interest in using academy players. If they feel pressure to win titles and are scared of the risks that's fair enough. As I ave said everyone criticises Chelsea and City but for some reason defend us when we'r all in the same boat. You wouldn't trust those clubs with developing academy players but you seem to think we're any different. I'd rather they just outright say, they are too scared to risk them and would rather put their trust in an average player. Rather than talking up the talent and claiming they would like to use them only to make excuses and tarring a generation of kids as lazy and weak because they don't have the courage to give them a chance. It's not the academy players that lack the heart it's the managers.

Regarding the Edwards/Sancho comparison. You admire Sancho but believe Edwards hasn't got the right application. The following applies to both of them:
Exceptionally talented players who were the best players in their age groups, and top talents in the World at u16/u17.
Appeared to have or had alleged attitude problems, whether it be not working hard enough, selfish in their play, egocentric, arrogant, cocky. I should stress alleged
Both in their first year of their scholarship made notable changes to their games and worked a lot harder for the team.
Both impressed at their u17 Euros and u17 World Cups.
Both are still rated incredibly highly across Europe
Both rejected big offers from Man City to either keep or attract them to their clubs, where they could have sat in their academies earning big money and have a cushy life.
Both accepted less money but instead decided to go/stay at clubs they thought would be best for their development as they believed managers trusted in them and gave youth a chance.
Both are currently at one of the best clubs in their respective leagues.
One is playing first team football, while the other has now been sent on loan to the Championship.
Only one has made the right decision so far, and I don't think it has anything to do with 'attitude problems' and everything to do with the team/league/managers

I don't think there's any point discussing your last bit about Poch and what he requires as it's been done to death. I also the what players have we regretted debate has been done.

Either way it's not relevant at this point as none of the players that joined the academy when Poch joined, and was therefore solely responsible for their development and succession to the first team i.e. Onomah's age group, have left yet - well the best players from that age group haven't left yet. And I'm sure they have been stifled/stagnated enough so that when they are eventually released, there is a good chance they will not fulfil their potential, and Poch will be seen as having the made the right decision and no questions will be asked, as to why, the most talented age groups we have produced were completely wasted, whilst simultaneously praising his ability to bring academy players through.

Some of this is fine, other parts you’ve put words into my mouth or made assumptions that are incorrect, other parts we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Respect your passion for the subject, in any case.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
No, I don’t know the players but neither do you. All of our opinions on here are based on what we hear and the outcomes we see.

I’m putting forward a view that has been made many times by people working in the game over the challenges coaches have with young players, and enforcing that view with a belief that I think is true in life, not just football. Your mentality can make or break you - irrespective of talent - and money can always make you think differently about a situation.

At no point am I taking about turning talented players into work horses.

I do also disagree with you on Sancho. That kid wanted to get out of the cushy, rich life he had at City to go and make sure he got games, and even had the balls to go to another country. I’d say he’s the exact opposite of the sort of player I I was describing.

But - in any case - the main point of my post is that I trust Pochettino.

He has fostered a mentality at our club where a player has to show him they possess the same resilience and strength of character that he will ask you to show on the pitch when our team needs it. Also the tactical intelligence to understand how to play ‘his way’. As he always says, they ask so much of these kids and his standards are really high. Very few can reach those levels, but when they do, well, the talent can shine through, as it has with Kane, Alli, Winks etc.

On that note, I can’t think of a player he’s sold from our academy where we’ve regretted it later.

He’s got it spot in IMO.

Like Son and Alli have always shown resilience and strength of character on the pitch? It's taken Alli 18 months to learn that he has to work hard off the ball and Son's still not quite mastered it. And if Sissoko is showing tactical intelligence to play "Poch's Way" I'm going to seriously worry about his way.

What I don't understand is why these uber high standards only seem to apply to youth players. We seem happy to spend 25m and about 15m on wages for a RB who's had a very questionable character and will tolerate him making mistakes for a season in the hope that he eventually gets to grips with the PL, rather than give the same acclimatisation time to a player we've spent ten years preparing, whilst he works hard every day at this club "in our way" training with Poch and would walk through a wall every week to make it here? Do we think Aurier desire to succeed at Spurs is greater than KWP’s ?

And what Sancho has done is exactly what Onomah and Edwards have done, and what Pritchard did before them, sacrificed their very comfy existence, moved to strange places (less exciting than Dortmund) with players/set ups they don't know just to try and get games, they are that desperate to make it.
 
Last edited:

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
Youth players will play for the shirt and try harder than foreign ones. That's why I want them to be given chances. Having a potential spurs fan out there playing for us is special, especially when they've been at the club for 10-15 years.

Have to disagree, it's all about the individuals mentality, not where they learnt their trade. Lamela or Son for instance try just as hard as Kane when on the pitch. Just look at the passion Freund or Ossie(examples) have for the club. They are just as passionate as Glen or Steve Perryman, despite being foreign.
 

brendanb50

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2005
4,483
3,890
Have to disagree, it's all about the individuals mentality, not where they learnt their trade. Lamela or Son for instance try just as hard as Kane when on the pitch. Just look at the passion Freund or Ossie(examples) have for the club. They are just as passionate as Glen or Steve Perryman, despite being foreign.

I think this is where Poch's initial approach was good - bring promising young players into the 1st team fold so they could train and play at a higher level. Unfortunately since Winks none of them seem to have either shown him they can make the step up consistently (KWP's debut aside) either through hard work, talent or a bit of both.

It's the hardest transition to make clearly and we can't expect all of them to do it quickly or easily but i get the impression that following Winks, we expected more to be flowing through the ranks to some extent, when it didn't happen we had to rethink the strategy and move some out on loan so they could actually test themselves.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
I think this is where Poch's initial approach was good - bring promising young players into the 1st team fold so they could train and play at a higher level. Unfortunately since Winks none of them seem to have either shown him they can make the step up consistently (KWP's debut aside) either through hard work, talent or a bit of both.

It's the hardest transition to make clearly and we can't expect all of them to do it quickly or easily but i get the impression that following Winks, we expected more to be flowing through the ranks to some extent, when it didn't happen we had to rethink the strategy and move some out on loan so they could actually test themselves.

There are certainly some very good youth prospects at the moment, the best crop in fact that we have probably ever had. This is why a lot of the youth watchers are frustrated that they aren't coming through. 10-15 years ago im sure we would have seen a few of them stake a first team claim by now. The problem is though that the first team has moved on so far that the gap is even bigger than it was then.
 

thelak

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,166
6,950
The Sessegnon types aren't a problem as he is playing league football. The hard part has been done and he has been given his chance and he has proven that he can play first team football, he is perfect for Poch, to take to the next level. Same as Maddison and any other promising young talent in the EFL.

However someone like Sancho would take a hard look at joining us. It is unlikely that he would have gotten a chance here with zero experience. He would have had at least a year of training before likely not making the team. If he was at City or us people would still be claiming he doesn't have the required talent or work ethic to play for the first team, the latter a criticism that has regularly followed him, as he appears cocky.

Dortmund don't seem to care about those problems and focus on the talent and I assume believe that the manager deals and handles any behavioural problems as they come along. Regardless of how his career goes from here he appears to have made an excellent decision and I'm pleased for him. It would likely not have come through a PL club.

This would make sense except we did also want to sign Sancho and city sold him to Dortmund so hard to say if we would have given him game time or not but there was a clear focus on his talent with the intention to sign him
 

thelak

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,166
6,950
There are certainly some very good youth prospects at the moment, the best crop in fact that we have probably ever had. This is why a lot of the youth watchers are frustrated that they aren't coming through. 10-15 years ago im sure we would have seen a few of them stake a first team claim by now. The problem is though that the first team has moved on so far that the gap is even bigger than it was then.

Not a bad problem to have but sad if we become like Chelsea etc and have great youth with no clear lines to the first team

Think we would all like to see one or two of the prospects get game time in the cups over players that won’t be here on a 1-2 year view but that list is getting shorter and shorter itself. Bar Sissoko and maybe one of the RBs hard to see where a clear gap in the first team squad could emerge and the one area we could do with good back up is up front to replace Llorente but my understanding is there are no stand out prospects?
 

brendanb50

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2005
4,483
3,890
There are certainly some very good youth prospects at the moment, the best crop in fact that we have probably ever had. This is why a lot of the youth watchers are frustrated that they aren't coming through. 10-15 years ago im sure we would have seen a few of them stake a first team claim by now. The problem is though that the first team has moved on so far that the gap is even bigger than it was then.

Absolutely - this set of young players vs. our playing squad 10-15 years would definitely have shifted more of them into the first team much more easily.

I guess it's easy to presume the standards at both youth level and the first team sort of go hand in hand but in reality, this rarely happens (United's class of 92 a rare stand out), it's a testament to the work we put into our whole playing set-up, from kids to U23 and the facilities that we're beginning to see such a good standard coming through.

The final test of their capability is their mentality i think. Can they be patient and wait for the right chances, can they step up that extra bit as they move into top flight playing and training, can they deal with some early set backs along the way?
 
Top