Agreed its not the be all and end all but until given the chance what other metric do we have to go on? What is the point of reserve team football unless its to prove you are ready for a shot at the big show?
Spot on Marcus. He can score one on ones with either foot; shoot from 1 yard or 15 with equal ease and also knows how to get ugly ones that simply ricochet off his ankle or arse. You can't teach what this kid has which is natural goal scoring instinct. Sure if can learn and develop and gain experience but if he plays for another 15 years, that natural instinct will be his defining talent. Get him blooded Martin and maybe if could save you 10m next month. I think Bruce missed a golden opportunity to save his job when he neglected this kids poaching talent. He may just have got 2 or 3 goals at crucial times in tight games, over the last 3 months, which may have given us a further 6 or 7 points and saved Bruce. I hope Mon reaps the benefit now.
The step up can from Reserve to 1st team is not always difficult, although it can be, it is just a pity Ryan was injured last season when a 'loan out' would have benefited him and us. SB wanted Ryan to become stronger and to make sure his back was OK are the reasons/excuses he has not played much iirc. If the new 'sick-note (old one was Darren Anderton iirc) or Tor Andres Flo has an alleged injury I would think we will have to play Mr Noble for part or all of the game as he and Ji are the only games in town. I would also guess that Rico and or Sess will have to play up-front.
I think Ranger's problem is that, whilst he does have a lot of natural instinct and talent, he doesn't have the footballing intelligence or skill to score goals at the highest level. That is also where Noble may, or may not, falter. I'm not talking about being stupid or unintelligent of course (although Ranger is dim). But natural instinct can get you so far against a group of young lads who are also nurturing their raw talent in the reserves. However, when you step up to the EPL, you have to start out-thinking experienced EPL players. For example, Noble can get into the right places at the right times in the reserves, but in the top flight those spaces simply may not be available anymore, so it's considerably more challenging, and that's where some reserve players fail. They don't get the space or the time or the opportunities they got in reserve games. I'm just playing devils advocate here of course. He may well step up and do brilliantly. Some reserve players do. I personally just hold out judgement until I see them in the EPL itself, because you just can't tell until they step up. Just look at the difference between Carroll and Ranger. It would have been nice if we had kept Carroll and you guys nurtured someone like Noble so we both had local number 9s. Going head to head like that would feel like much more of a local rivalry.
Only one way to find out and that is to chuck him in. For every Rooney and Owen, there is a Michael Chopra in terms of record breaking youth/reserve records. Loads have done through the years and not gone on (Frannie Jeffers?) The only time you'll find out if they're gonna cut is by playing them with the big boys. The lad can do no more to be given a chance. There will some in the "don't chuck him in and ruin him camp", which has some substance. But for me if you're good enough you're old enough and Sunderland have a serious goalscoring problem.
Id love him to have a shot, but Blackburn is huge, do you think Noble could handle the 40k nervous crowd if we are behind after 60 mins? I dont know i dont see the kid day in and day out and of course he cant be much worse than current forwards, but this is why Martin is here and thats why he gets paid the big bucks. Long term though is would be amazing to have him come through. Im papping myself now though with this Blackburn game........jesus!!!!
He is 20 now not 16 or 17. If he isnt knocking on the first team door by now will he ever? Get him in there.
MoN was at the MAN U game last night and saw him in full flow in extremely difficult conditions. As you have said, he made it look easy, being in the right position. ManU reserves would hold ther own in the prem, so a very significant result last night. MoN stayed for almost the full game in freezing conditions. Casting an eye over the mid field also.
I'm sure that this lad is going to have a big future ahead of him, and I for one hope he at least gets a fair chance in the coming games...
He was ****e. Burnley took a look at him in the championship when we let him go, they didn't fancy him. He's now setting the world alight at Gateshead with a Altidore-esque goalscoring record.
Released by Gateshead at the end of last season according to wiki! Currently without a club! Seems to have been unlucky with injuries, but would that would have hindered his progress to that extent???
England U19 squad from 2010, seems strange that some players reckoned to be the best of our young talent at the time . failed to make the grade even at championship level 1 GK Declan Rudd 16 January 1991 (aged 19) 6 England Norwich City 2 DF Nathaniel Clyne 5 April 1991 (aged 19) 5 England Crystal Palace 3 DF Matthew Briggs 19 March 1991 (aged 19) 12 England Fulham 4 MF Matty James (c) 22 July 1991 (aged 19) 9 England Manchester United 5 DF Steven Caulker 29 December 1991 (aged 19) 7 England Tottenham Hotspur 6 DF Nathan Baker 23 April 1991 (aged 19) 6 England Aston Villa 7 MF Jacob Mellis 8 January 1991 (aged 19) 8 England Chelsea 8 MF Dean Parrett 16 November 1991 (aged 19) 8 England Tottenham Hotspur 9 FW Ryan Noble 11 June 1991 (aged 19) 3 England Sunderland 10 FW Nathan Delfouneso 2 February 1991 (aged 19) 22 England Aston Villa 11 FW Frank Nouble 24 September 1991 (aged 19) 5 England West Ham United 12 MF John Bostock 15 January 1992 (aged 18) 4 England Tottenham Hotspur 13 GK Lee Nicholls 5 October 1992 (aged 18) 0 England Wigan Athletic 14 DF Thomas Cruise 9 March 1991 (aged 19) 3 England Arsenal 15 DF Reece Brown 1 November 1991 (aged 19) 8 England Manchester United 16 DF Josh Thompson 25 February 1991 (aged 19) 2 Scotland Celtic 17 FW Matt Phillips1 3 March 1991 (aged 19) 2 England Wycombe Wanderers 18 FW Ryan Donaldson 1 May 1991 (aged 19) 7 England Newcastle United
