Aiden Flint and Marc Roberts centre backs at Bristol City and Barnsley both rated around £5m each. Get £10m+ for Konè and that's sorted. Have liked the look of Jota from Brentford. Skilful little Spaniard, left footed plays on the right something we are desperate for. George Boyd also fits the bill and is free in the summer if he doesn't sign a new deal at Burnley Like the look of Assombalonga but he's only 5'9 and I want us to look for a goalscorer who can hold the ball up and bring the likes of Watmore and Gooch etc into play high up the pitch
As I've said on the other thread Moyes has one of the best youth development records in the league so should be well placed to tap into the young talent at his disposal.
Lewis Baker (loan) Will Hughes Pontus Jansson I wanted to see Conor Hourihane come back but he's ****ed off to Villa. He's turned into a very decent player.
He's been ripped to shreds this season for not chucking them at the deep end. Written off by so many in regards to youth. I for one glad he hasn't. Not the way to develop players when you don't have midtable security. But saying that he's played 11 players aged 22 or under(180aps) and only 7 players 30 or older(152aps) with total. He's been as useless as tits on a fish but at the same time he's had a lot of **** for **** all.
The step up from youth to PL standard is bigger than the step up from youth to EFL. That's why top players like Bale, Kane etc were farmed out. Next year may just be the making of some of your up and coming stars. Marco Gabbiadini on the radio seems to constantly rave about the talent on it's way up.
Pickford has played every tier from the conference up and had 100 league aps before he made his first team debut. Next season will be fantastic for bringing youngsters on. These kids play some good stuff. Mind you, they're a bit lightweight which means we can't play too many together.
Pickford, Watmore and Gooch. There's 3 genuine first team players. Then we've got Honeyman, Embleton and Asoro banging on the door. The rest probably aren't ready and should be loaned out, if possible. It's very promising.
Micheal Ledger has come on leaps and bounds this season. Waltzed passed Brady and Beadling in terms of development, Could get chance to feature next season. Outside chance for Greenwood and Tom Robson to get a bit of game time too.
Wasn't aware of Ledger in all honesty. Should have remembered Greenwood. I really don't rate Robson, hope I'm wrong like.
It certainly worked well enough for Pickford. iirc there was about 5 or 6 clubs he was loaned to. Did him the power of good. If that can be duplicated with some of the others it has to be nothing but good. If nothing else it will weed them out.
Bale was never 'farmed out'. Youth doesn't always have to step up through the leagues imo, the way each player develops is different. Some have the mentality to be thrown straight into the mix and others crumble. We had several youth in front of Rashford but he stepped up right into the first team and others have fallen by the wayside, such as Fletcher, Wilson (although he's still here) and Keane, whereas we had to loan out Lingard quite a few times before he was ready. Fergie told Ravel Morrison he wasn't ready for the step up and he was right, his head wasn't there, but his talent was unquestionable, now he's just lost, another journeyman... and to think that out of Morrison and Pogba, Morrison was the one tipped for the top.
He did play championship football before Premier League though, He came through to the Soton 1st team the same way a few of ours are going to have to. We've don't have any Bale potential though
Yeah, League One at the time I believe or maybe I'm thinking of Oxlade Chamberlain, but sure, he did start down there. He was utter **** for a while as well when he went Spurs.
Yeah it was Oxlade who played League one. Yeah, Bale was PVA type dodgy left back wasn't he? Mint going forward but couldn't defend for ****.