Each academy team, meanwhile, must ensure that at least six of the players on their team sheet were aged under 21 on 30 June of each respective season. They are also allowed to name two players aged over 21 and with 40 or more first-team appearances.
All that sounds good Billy but I remain unconvinced that U21 / Academy football prepares properly for first team football, particularly at premier league level unless you are an exceptional talent that will break through regardless. I know we’ve had a couple but they were chucked in through desperation and necessity and fortunately swam.
Last season we couldn't even field a competitive team for this no count cup comp, but we can this season and I exPect Joffy and a few others to play tonight
It’s a bit harsh on Joseph, Perkins and others if they get pulled for the first team squad lads for this… but I’m sure they can spread the game time
Yeh I was thinking that as well but if those that have made the break through need game time they should be prioritized ahead of the lads who haven't reached that stage yet. The compromise is a half a game for all the top talents at U21 level but then no one is fully match fit. The other solution is Joffy up top, Perkins in at 10, Summerville and Gnonto out wide and Greenwood in the midfield. That would leave Joseph, McGurk, Max Dean & Amari Millar to come off the bench for the last half an hour. Incidentally McCalmont is 22 so would have to be an over age player tonight.
Pick the bones out of that line up. 5 strikers on the pitch. guessing greenwood as holding mid with gyabi. Perkins at 10, front 3 of gnonto Joseph and joffy. Key word in that sentence was ‘guessing’
That very firmly puts Summerville at the top of the young talent pecking order and means that due to Sinisterra's suspension he might be starting against Palace on Sunday. If not he'll almost certainly get game time off the bench.
Yeh could start him… could play rod wide and start with paddy. Either way he’ll end up getting game time.
1 0 down due to a cross come shot from the right hand side, over our keeper. Tranmere player looked embarrassed to score it