- May 31, 2011
- 8,840
- 20,317
Good luck Alfie. Hopefully he is impressing and making valuable steps forward in his progression.
I'd agree that we should definitely err on the side of caution to make sure that he plays.Thing is though, He only turned 19 last week (feels like he's been here forever), and I;d worry that if a lower end championship club struggles, he wont get on the pitch as the manager starts to favour experienced defensive players over young AM's. More important to me he gets as many competitive minutes as possible, you'd think he'd be a starter and key fixture all year at Port Vale.
Good articleGood piece on the PV official site:
Alfie Devine joins the Valiants on season-long loan
Port Vale Football Club are delighted to confirm that Alfie Devine has joined the club on a season-long loan from Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.www.port-vale.co.uk
I think it will be interesting to reassess that list of players when they're all, say, 22 or 23.I'd agree that we should definitely err on the side of caution to make sure that he plays.
Alfie is such a talent though, and have been so impressive at national youth level - being named player of the tournament at u16 level, instrumental part of the England squad that won the u19 Euro Championship, highest English goal scorer at the U20 World Cup.
I look at other top 6 clubs that were able to give PL minutes for players of similar age (Rico Lewis, Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall, Harvey Elliot, Garnacho etc). They might be more ready than Alfie is now, but no way the difference should be Top 6 PL minutes vs Port Vale minutes, IMO.
Really he needs lots of game time, he wouldn't be guaranteed that in the Championship probably. If he gets regular first team football it will be a valuable loan.Feels like a division or two too low, we really really struggle to find good loans for our top talent. Hopefully though at League One level, he'll get 30-40 first team starts this season and that will do wonders for him.
I think we probably agree on the topic overall in terms of Alfie needing a loan and play week-in, week out.I think it will be interesting to reassess that list of players when they're all, say, 22 or 23.
Like, is Harvey Elliot getting the occasional cup game for Liverpool or coming off the bench for Salah actually better for his long term development than 40+ full games of men's football at a lower level? And while Garnacho and Chukwuemeka are getting games now, that's largely due to injury and they'll be back to being bit-part players before long.
The youth players that actually ended up fully coming through at Chelsea like Mount, James, Tomori and co were the ones that went on lower league loans and got proper consistent game-time week-in, week-out. Unless a young player has a clear route to consistent first-team minutes, I'm not sure keeping them around to play the odd game here or there is actually any better than getting them proper minutes on loan.
Like, I think it's a case-by-case basis thing, and you need to judge each player based on their needs, attitude, position, path to minutes, etc when considering if a loan is the best option. And in Alfie's case I think a loan is definitely what he needs right now.
It’s a season long loan. He can’t move again in January unless Port Vale agree.Not too worried at the level he’s at now, probably the right call, if he does well then come January we’ll probably be looking at a championship loan for him anyway.
It's a fine line though isn't it. From his perspective a season of him excelling and playing every week will do wonders for him mentally. Most teams in the championship will see him as strength in depth or he'll be playing in a crap team. I get what you're saying thoughFeels like a division or two too low, we really really struggle to find good loans for our top talent. Hopefully though at League One level, he'll get 30-40 first team starts this season and that will do wonders for him.
Yeah fair point about Elliot - didn't realise he'd played that many games last season so I'm sure that was great for his development, although this season with their signings he'll be back to scrapping for minutes. I suspect that will also be the case for Chukwuemeka and Garnacho once United and Chelsea's business is done and/or their squads are fit.I think we probably agree on the topic overall in terms of Alfie needing a loan and play week-in, week out.
However, the players you mention are all different to Devine in terms of the level they got to play at. Mount, James & Tomori all played in the Championship as teenagers.
Elliot is not getting the occational cup game or coming off for Salah, he started 18 PL games and was subbed in for another 14 games last season. Garnacho has got minutes in every PL game since he made his first start for United (excluding 1 game he sat on the bench an entire game after an ankle injury). Chukwuemeka has started both games this season, scoring in the process, keeping a lot of expensive players on the bench.
Harvey White was also 19 when he joined a mid-table side in League 1 in Portsmouth, and I personally think that Devine's talent is closer to the names above than White.
I think it may be a good thing as it will help him get used to being a more physical player. We already know he has great technical ability already. If he can add that bit of steel and be able to handle the physical side of the game.Really bad loan imo, I fear he may get the shit kicked out of him and definitely won't be playing football that suits him
Ive seen the standard in league 1 and imo the league has gone backwards in he last 5 years. More bruisers than before as the good teams have gone up
He's young but he can take care of himself, remember the Drinkwater incident a while back?Really bad loan imo, I fear he may get the shit kicked out of him and definitely won't be playing football that suits him
Ive seen the standard in league 1 and imo the league has gone backwards in he last 5 years. More bruisers than before as the good teams have gone up