After his internal match interview, Jol did another about his philosophy towards our youngsters. Fair play to him (and the Club) for addressing an issue that concerns fans. However itâs debatable whether the explanation will satisfy. [video=youtube;nOJmmGDbAZY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOJmmGDbAZY&feature=player_embedded[/video] I doubt if anybody expects to see 16 and 17 years old players featuring in the first team, and especially those that are only just establishing themselves at the U18 level (Pat Roberts and Moussa Dembele). But what about the 20 and 21 year olds? The bottom line is that, if these guys donât get games by the time they are 21 they will simply drop by the wayside. To illustrate this, in the summer we released Omri Altman 19, Richard Peniket 20, Corey Gameiro 20, Alex Smith, 21 and Tom Donegan 20. Of these only Alex Smith got a (partial) first team game. Okay they may not have been good enough but it seems wrong to me to spend time and money just to let them go so easily. Of the others still at the Club, very few have even come within a sniff of the 18 man squad in any games. We keep hearing about Kaca and now, of course, Kasami. What about the other 12 or so? The answer seems to be, âif they are good enough, loan them outâ. With the exception of Dan Burn, is that policy working? Not good enough Mr Jol.
Kind of agree rosc. This is just my impression mind, but I get the feeling he tries to do too much in th U21 team, at least in part, based on the build up Jol gives him. Disclaimer: this is not a criticism of Jol (nothing wrong with building confidence). Just saying that the lad would be better to settle into his normal game and be a 'regular' team player. Ok that over. He is more skilful than for instance Kasami, and has a good sense and range of passing . So I believe he can make the first XI and that over-cooking it trait would not be an issue there. Whether he'll get the chance despite praise from the boss? Doubt it - another one heading for a loan I'm afraid.
Loaning out players is an important part of their development. Rarely do players come along who can simply go from youth level straight to first team. Look at the success of Kasami. He has matured from when he first made the first team. He was ill disciplined and his ego was a bit big. A few loan spells and look at him now. Can burn is another example, he is not far off of being premiership ready and is gaining great experience. With our youth set up the under 21's do not seem to have benefitted like the youngsters. We will reap the rewards from our the players who were under 18's last year, they not only are developing as individuals but as a team unit. I really hope that in 4 to 5 years time we will have a glut of talent to choose from.
Cottager i do hope Jols statement is not the kiss of death for the lad. "Quote i am giving Totta a 3 year contract because he is a goal machine" He cannot get a regular spot on the Brentford team.
Take the logic of your argument Froggy. With luck it might happen sooner, given that half of the current U21 squad only moved up from the U18s this year.
In saying that he now wants to loan out Mesca Jol reveals a lot about his current thinking. Doesn't sound as though many (any?) will be making a breakthrough into the first team. "Martin Jol wants to send out Buomesca Tue Na Bangna and several of Fulham’s other youngsters before the loan window shuts next month. The former Chelsea winger made his first-team debut against his old club at Stamford Bridge in September, but hasn’t featured since. Marcus Bettinelli, Marcello Trotta and Cauley Woodrow are among the Fulham young guns gaining experience in the lower leagues. And boss Jol wants more of his kids to get regular games elsewhere. He said: “If you look at the left side we have Adel Taarabt, [Pajtim] Kasami and even Damien Duff can play there. We’ve got Ashkan Dejagah and Duff on the other side too. There’s too many players here now to throw them in, so I would love to find something for them." “I’ve got six or seven youngsters who could play in the lower leagues and do a very good job, but you need the clubs to take them. There’s still not a lot of interest because all of these lower-league clubs are looking for older, experienced players. They want to keep these teams up and may feel these youngsters can’t do a job for them.” Source: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-winger-made-available-loan-6247654
We can always loan Ruiz and make space if they want older players and give Mesca a change. At least he will gain some experience at the top flight...
I wouldn't credit Jol too much on Kasami - this interview kind of contradicts what you say about him having a big ego http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ook-wage-cut-play-Fulham-says-Martin-Jol.html. My reading of this is that he felt so isolated he was willing to take a pay cut in order just to play some football - this all following Jol's decision to punish him for missing the penalty. He was basically banished from the team and fined £500 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-fined-Pajtim-Kasami-500-missing-penalty.html. Taking Jol's statements together (including this article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...eping-Pajtim-Kasami-grounded-wonder-goal.html) he's saying that Kasami is a perfectionist who goes into his shell if he makes a mistake, yet at the start of his career he was harshly punished for doing just that. Wonder if it has occured to Jol that his actions might well have affected Kasami's mentality and made him afraid to make another mistake.
You're right about Jol not deserving credit for Kasami. You could see Kasami was talented when he first came here and did well in his first few games, only to be singled out and punished for missing a penalty and subsequently dropped and sent on loan. You could argue Jol set Kasami's development back a season or two.
Jol's latest thinking, following th inclusion of Moussa Dembele's inclusion in today's squad: "One of the major talking points to emerge from the press conference was that teenager Moussa Dembélé would be in the matchday squad for the game against the Swans, and Jol elaborated: “We’re very happy with him. I knew him, of course, and I’ve got three or four other youngsters who are in the same mould; very good, talented. “They need to be patient because it’s not a characteristic for the Barclays Premier League [to play youngsters], like it is in Holland, for example. If you are 18 then you can play in the first team, but in England it’s not that easy. But with Moussa, he’s 17 now, he strong, still a bit raw, but he scores goals. He’s scoring goals every match so I took him up to the Under-21s months ago. He’s not with the Under-18s anymore; sometimes he joins them and plays the odd game but most of the time he’s playing for us, so he’s in the squad on Saturday.” The Fulham boss was also quizzed as to whether some of the Club’s other bright prospects may be making the step up to the First Team in the near future, but while Jol was keen to praise the calibre of his Academy players, he insisted that timing is imperative. “Can you see us fighting for our lives in the Premier League and then playing 16 or 17-year-olds?” Jol asked. “It’s not only about Fulham, it’s about the Premier League; you don’t see these players in the Premier League. I told the coach of the Under-18s, Steve Wigley, as soon as you see a player you think is ready, knock on my door, and he never did that. I’ve still got two or three who I’m keeping a good eye on. They’re training with us on Mondays, and Tuesdays sometimes, and I’m the first Manager at Fulham over the last 10 years who did that. Matthew Briggs, before I came, was the only young player who was in the squad. “I’ve got five or six; I’ve got Pajtim Kasami now, I’ve got Alex Kačaniklić, I’ve got Dembélé. I’ve got youngsters like Patrick Roberts – he will be a very good player in the future – training with us, George Williams, they all train with us.” Source: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/november/23/jol-on-meulensteen I'd hold on to your hat for some time to come!!
