Who would you like to see given a first team chance in the near future? We always hear about bright sparks in the youth team, indeed they have just won their league, but as we saw with Cullen, it's not always the case. We see a few youngsters breaking through, East, Featherstone, Cooper, Bradley, Devitt, Atkinson (is he even still alive?), Cullen, Cracknell, Oxley and Cairney have all had a crack of the whip in recent seasons, so who do we have that would have the potential to break through from this years Under 18's? My knowledge of the youth team isn't spectacular, so age groups may be wrong. Also not sure about contracts expiring. Goalkeepers: I believe Joe Cracknell is the only youth goalkeeper with any promise at present. I know Oxley technically came through the youth but he looks like a forgotten man and is plagued with injury. Defenders: Max Clark looks a very good prospect, having been capped by the England youth set up already. I expect interest in him over the summer, but he looks to be performing well beyond his years having already playing in the highest youth level at City. Wouldn't be surpised to see him feature in pre season against Winterton/Ferriby. Another promising youngster is Jordan Holt who I *think* is a right back. He's being looked at for Wales U18's I believe (if he hasn't played for them already). Midfielders: Not sure whether Jules Gabbiadini is a midfielder or a defender but he gets rave reviews from a lot of the coaching staff. Jonny Margetts has been with the youth setup a fair while and looks a prospect, but I once heard him described as a 'younger version of Jamie Devitt'. Oh dear. Still, Dougie Wilson and in particular Paul McElroy are supposed to be ones to watch. Danny Emerton was supposed to be a hot prospect but since his move to Sweden haven't really heard much about him. Same goes for Gavin Holohan (who scored in pre-season if I'm not mistaken.) Strikers: In the same vein as Mark Cullen, Lewis Clarkson has scored a metric ****load of goals this season, but I'd rather see him loaned to a lower league club first to see if he can handle the step up. Jack Barlow is also turning into a decent player, but apparently he is a tad arrogant and that won't go down well with the coaches. Anybody know enough about the youth set up to know who is looking like getting a contract?
My knowledge of them comes from watching some of them in the reserves, and i do rate most of them that are coming through. I think what we have done with Bradley and Townsend is the right idea, get them out and get them playing football. It will either increase their value or help develop them to be good enough to play for us, i think that step is one we have failed at a lot in the past. Featherstone should of gone out on loan far sooner.
Atkinson is about 23 I think, so he wasn't even that young when he kept being given new contracts presumably in order to keep those pictures hidden away. I don't think you can count Oxley as a youth product either. I think I'm right in saying that his transfer fee when we got him from Rotherham was bigger than any fee we've paid for a keeper since before Warren Joyce took over as manager. For next season we should be looking at Cooper progressing to being a regular sub defender (as in first choice after Hobbs and Chester) and he's got to use the first half of the season to establish that. Townsend/Bradley should be looking at becoming a fringe defenders next season. With 7 subs we can afford to have at least one youth on the bench to get 20 minute appearances when games are decided to help take out the nerves of appearing for the first team. I think 1 of them out on loan for the first half of the season, which one depending on the options available nearer the start of the season, both of them out for the second half of the season once Hobbs is back. (Townsend target either L1 or more likely L2, Bradley L1) East I think a season long loan at Grimsby is probably the best/most likely option so that he can get some first team games at any level under his belt. Midfield I can't really think of anyone who's ready to be part of the first team squad rather than being sent to L2/Conference to get regular games under their belt, mainly because I don't think any have featured for us or been out on loan yet. Strikers, with hopefully a new signing, Fryatt, McLean (or his replacement) and Cullen ahead of them and us playing 1 up front if there's any kids pushing for it they'll need to go out on loan to get games. Cullen has probably got a bit of a make or break season next season. He needs to show he can be dependable as a sub striker because our other options aren't likely to be much older than him (especially if we've signed 2), and if he doesn't then there's going to be increasing pressure from the kids behind him saying he's had his chance and it's their turn to have a go at being the fourth striker trying to break in.
Whilst I think Cooper and Bradley have both done well when given their chance, it worries me a bit that we keep conceding from corners since we've had CB's missing. 4 from set pieces in 5 games I think! We need to bear that in mind when talking about whether we should sign another CB.
I thought Cooper was a little shakey last night against Barnsley's Craig Davies (who i quite rate) - the one positive of Hobbs injury is that Cooper has got some game time in at this level but I am not overly convinced about his ability at NPC level. I'm personally not aware that any of the youngsters are ready or able to step up to this level - East was poor against Crawley (but who wasn't?) whilst Emerton has been touted as a future 'star' but seems to have disappeared off the radar (didn't he go on loan to a club in Sweden?) We have a young enough side with the Man U kids that we bought or have on loan - what we need is a bit of experience now in key areas.
I agree. We need someone else who can play in the middle at least until Hobbs is back again. Even if the only reason we bring someone in is to take the pressure off Cooper's development so we can work on things like the set pieces.
Hoolahan, is he still with us? He used to get decent reviews? What about the striker we signed from Grimsby -Barlow?
About £150k I think it was. Basso - free Duke - £20k rising to £60k? Myhill - about £50k Warner - free Leite - free Fettis - free Musselwhite - free/nominal Glennon - £50k Bracey - free Can't think who else we've had as keepers, other than loans and people like Wilson and Baker who didn't sign for us from other clubs. Mannone and Gulacsi have probably cost us more each in loan fees than any of our permanent keepers have cost us.
Oxley did cost us £150k and he's not a bad keeper, but someone on our coaching staff recently described him as having the body of an 80 year old woman, he's permanently out injured. I always liked Emerton and I can never understand why he doesn't get a look in. Holohan did look good, but seems to be going backwards. Clark is obviously a big talent, but I think we're going to have a hard job keeping hold of him. Featherstone obviously left a while back(and hasn't scored in 37 games for Hereford this season) and Atkinson will be gone at the end of this season(he's scored 5 in 35 for Bradford and it looks like they'll offer him a deal), there's also talk of a couple of clubs being interested in Devitt, so he might be on his way. Doesn't Margetts play as a striker, I thought him and Clarkson had both scored a similar amount of goals this season?
I've just noticed a retweet from Liam Cooper, wishing the youth lads good luck, as they find out today if they're getting contracts or not.
Actually, you're right, ignore that, I've just realised that it's a Huddersfield youth player he was talking to.
Having grown up with him at school, I'd love to see Conor Townsend make the grade. It'd be weird watching someone play professional football for City who I used to do PE with!
I think Margetts is in the Cameron Stewart type role of winger/striker. He looked handy for the youths in the couple of games I saw, very good finish and a bit of pace. I do feel sorry for Emerton, I wonder if he will be loaned out next season? He's only 19/20, so he still has some developing to do, but it couldn't hurt to have him on the bench next season if we don't get Brady back. I'd missed out Townsend, he's been getting glowing reports from Grimsby which is fantastic. I know it's only Blue Square Premier but at his age to make 30 appearances (scoring once) in all competitions is fantastic at that level. Just hope he has a good pre season and perhaps we can send him back there again for another season (with a recall option), as part of a deal for Liam Hearn maybe...
He'd be good, but why would he want to come here over signing a new deal at Cardiff. Bias aside, what is the pull?
Have they said they definitely won't? Or just not offered one yet? Speaking of which, did Dawson's coontract ever get formally announced?
Hesford came as part of the Norman deal to Sunland and was valued at over £150k if my memory serves me right. Rambo was valued at around £200k.
