| Young players coming through 12:37 - Jan 31 with 1864 views | Westover |
I know we are not happy with the way things have gone this season but I think we have to give Town's youth policy some credit players like Nydam Downes Woolfenden Smith Dozzell Drinan Folami Morris plus the two lads coming in today it looks to me that our club has a good future going forward.
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| Young players coming through on 12:39 - Jan 31 with 1856 views | itfcjoe |
It definitely does, not all will make it - but another key thing is that Evans is afording the academy the budget to keep hold of players until they 20-21 as opposed to 18-19 and we can have a better look at their development and see them in mens football.
For someone like Chris Smith it means he has earned a new deal, whereas Adam McDonnell and George Fowler haven't done enough - those players could have been the other way round had we made a decision last season, but 12 months extra data helps us make a better decision |  |
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| Young players coming through on 12:43 - Jan 31 with 1831 views | Herbivore |
| Young players coming through on 12:39 - Jan 31 by itfcjoe |
It definitely does, not all will make it - but another key thing is that Evans is afording the academy the budget to keep hold of players until they 20-21 as opposed to 18-19 and we can have a better look at their development and see them in mens football.
For someone like Chris Smith it means he has earned a new deal, whereas Adam McDonnell and George Fowler haven't done enough - those players could have been the other way round had we made a decision last season, but 12 months extra data helps us make a better decision |
If we're ever going to get out of this division the academy is key. We can't afford £3m plus players so we need to be developing them ourselves. Supplement that with Webster type signings and the odd Waghorn and it's possible to build a decent squad. It may take time and will probably involve selling a few along the way but it's the only way under our current model, personally I'm okay with that. |  |
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| Young players coming through on 12:46 - Jan 31 with 1812 views | bontcho |
I really hope with the season fizzling out MM gives the younger players a go. Not all in one go in one fixture like he did last year but dropping two or three in then rotating them around. Even a spot on the bench and being part of the match day squad is an education to some of the younger players.
To me, given we're not going to compete financially, we have to produce our own and step 1 of that is to show promising kids they'll get games so will choose ITFC rather than (say) London clubs. We are fortunate as the only other serious football club within 45 miles is Colchester. |  |
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| Young players coming through on 12:46 - Jan 31 with 1815 views | ArnieM |
its great that we are producing / developing these young players. Something we had traditionally been quite good at, and yes, we know that there is a high drop out rate .
BUT for those that are good enough to make the senior squad, the final nod comes from the manager. Have we got the right manager , to facilitate that final progression? Im not so sure. |  |
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| Young players coming through on 12:47 - Jan 31 with 1810 views | itfcjoe |
| Young players coming through on 12:43 - Jan 31 by Herbivore |
If we're ever going to get out of this division the academy is key. We can't afford £3m plus players so we need to be developing them ourselves. Supplement that with Webster type signings and the odd Waghorn and it's possible to build a decent squad. It may take time and will probably involve selling a few along the way but it's the only way under our current model, personally I'm okay with that. |
It's also realising these players can be the cheap option too, and that generally if they are still here by time they are 20-21 they will be generally capable of filling in a bit if required.
Gone are the days when boys are signed at 16, debut 3 years later and are nowhere near good enough - these boys have all been in pro football since they were 8 or 9 so they can all cope to an extent.
I think that is an area Mick could improve in, but generally he's handled young players better especially towards the latter parts of his tenure. | |
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| Young players coming through on 12:51 - Jan 31 with 1779 views | bontcho |
| Young players coming through on 12:43 - Jan 31 by Herbivore |
If we're ever going to get out of this division the academy is key. We can't afford £3m plus players so we need to be developing them ourselves. Supplement that with Webster type signings and the odd Waghorn and it's possible to build a decent squad. It may take time and will probably involve selling a few along the way but it's the only way under our current model, personally I'm okay with that. |
We will always have to sell players, but selling Taricco and Dyer in the 90s were the reason we were able to (in the end) go up. Plus a young kid with ambition wants to play for us and then move to a bigger club and we shouldn't stop that, as then others might choose a different club. | |
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| Young players coming through on 12:51 - Jan 31 with 1782 views | SomethingBlue |
| Young players coming through on 12:46 - Jan 31 by ArnieM |
its great that we are producing / developing these young players. Something we had traditionally been quite good at, and yes, we know that there is a high drop out rate .
BUT for those that are good enough to make the senior squad, the final nod comes from the manager. Have we got the right manager , to facilitate that final progression? Im not so sure. |
The evidence suggests we have. Let's hope next season's manager is similarly minded to promote the kids. | |
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| Young players coming through on 12:53 - Jan 31 with 1770 views | homer_123 |
| Young players coming through on 12:43 - Jan 31 by Herbivore |
If we're ever going to get out of this division the academy is key. We can't afford £3m plus players so we need to be developing them ourselves. Supplement that with Webster type signings and the odd Waghorn and it's possible to build a decent squad. It may take time and will probably involve selling a few along the way but it's the only way under our current model, personally I'm okay with that. |
And factoring in the odd lower league signing as well. |  |
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| Young players coming through on 12:54 - Jan 31 with 1762 views | homer_123 |
| Young players coming through on 12:51 - Jan 31 by SomethingBlue |
The evidence suggests we have. Let's hope next season's manager is similarly minded to promote the kids. |
Yes, I'd say (hand forced or not) MM has been pretty good with giving game time to younger players.
Bish and Dozzell would certainly have had a lot more playing time were it not for injuries. | |
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| Young players coming through on 12:58 - Jan 31 with 1740 views | bontcho |
| Young players coming through on 12:51 - Jan 31 by SomethingBlue |
The evidence suggests we have. Let's hope next season's manager is similarly minded to promote the kids. |
This would be my top criteria when looking for a new manager. I suspect that's why McGreal is being considered.
I'd like the mid 90s feeling that my club has a plan to encourage youth rather than seem them as a last resort. To be fair MM has improved in this regard (although his comments before Lincoln last year that it was a game experienced pros kind of showed where his instincts are) but I think we could improve. | |
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| Young players coming through on 13:33 - Jan 31 with 1660 views | braveblue |
How many of those will be in the team on Saturday? | | | |
| Young players coming through on 13:34 - Jan 31 with 1656 views | SomethingBlue |
| Young players coming through on 13:33 - Jan 31 by braveblue |
How many of those will be in the team on Saturday? |
How many of those would you put in the team on Saturday? | |
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| Young players coming through on 13:36 - Jan 31 with 1644 views | Ftnfwest |
they're doing a great job, ultimately for a whole host of other clubs |  | | |
| Young players coming through on 13:42 - Jan 31 with 1627 views | WestSussexBlue |
| Young players coming through on 12:43 - Jan 31 by Herbivore |
If we're ever going to get out of this division the academy is key. We can't afford £3m plus players so we need to be developing them ourselves. Supplement that with Webster type signings and the odd Waghorn and it's possible to build a decent squad. It may take time and will probably involve selling a few along the way but it's the only way under our current model, personally I'm okay with that. |
Just think if 5 years ago ME and MM had gone with youth and set an achievable target we would now be much closer to moving in the right direction.
Instead of playing safe and mediocre with Hunt, Chaplow Toure, Douglas, Coke, Tabb etc why wasn’t it recognised by a millionaire businessman and one of the best football manager’s outside the prem that setting a long term plan was the best option to go forward.
ME no plan? Or MM unable to develop youth over a period of years? | | | |
| Young players coming through on 13:47 - Jan 31 with 1616 views | Herbivore |
| Young players coming through on 13:42 - Jan 31 by WestSussexBlue |
Just think if 5 years ago ME and MM had gone with youth and set an achievable target we would now be much closer to moving in the right direction.
Instead of playing safe and mediocre with Hunt, Chaplow Toure, Douglas, Coke, Tabb etc why wasn’t it recognised by a millionaire businessman and one of the best football manager’s outside the prem that setting a long term plan was the best option to go forward.
ME no plan? Or MM unable to develop youth over a period of years? |
I'm not sure I follow you. The good players coming through now are precisely the result of planning and a long term strategy. I don't see how any of that relates to signing the likes of Chaplow and Hunt on short term deals, we didn't have the quality youngsters we needed at that time and you can't just pluck academy products out of thin air. There will also always be a need to make the odd experienced short term signing to bolster the squad, it's important to have balance. | |
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