Has found his level I see.. http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/14556055.Ex_Sunderland_striker_signs_for_Eastleigh/ Quite a few of us had high hopes for this lad a few years ago, just like Laing, Noble and Egan. He flopped on loan at Pools last season despite having another good spell with our U21s. It just goes to show how big of a step it is to the first team.
Not me, knew he was ****e and said he was ****e. He was only on the books as long as he was because the u21s were short on strikers.
I said this before when people were complaining we should give the youngsters a chance, "they're top of the league, they'll do better than our first team". They wouldn't, the difference is absolutely MASSIVE.
I went to watch Eastleigh play when I was at uni! I was appalled by how crap it was! This lad must be utter dross. Like, not much better than any of us!!
Id never seen him play much to be honest mate i was wishfully thinking hed be good looking at his stats for the U21s and the fact he was a big strapping athletic looking lad. I saw a glimpse of him in a pre season friendly against Pools a few years back. I know a few Pools fans and they said he was absolutly dross.
I got shot down for saying it was no better than league 2! People on my back all over the place but it really isn't. A great u21 side would, I reckon, make a mid table (at best) league 2 side. Some would clearly stand out (Watmore & Pickford) but the rest would struggle
It's what is destroying grass roots football. When you had a reserve side you had experience around you. Now you have kids with no premier league experience so you learn nothing. I used to watch the reserves regularly and went to some of the early u21 games but the quality is so poor it's pointless. I saw noble look a world beater at that level and look at him now.
But the gulf between the likes of Greenwood, Honeyman, Beadling, Robson and Gooch to that of Mandron is huge! Massive. These younguns will make it imo, maybe not with us but I think most if not all of the above(not Mandron) will enjoy a full professional career provided they fill out a bit. Yes the difference between the development league and the Prem is obviously massive, but it doesn't mean these kids don't have a shot just because Mandron is ****e. Like I said, he was just making up the numbers due to a lack of quality strikers in our u21s. He's been carried. Anyone could score with the phenomenal service he's received from the real talent.
Always remember Cest banging on about Ryan Noble. Next big thing. He was doing well according him and others. Then just blew it. Passed to (and failed at) club after club. He was alledged to have had a bad attitude. Another hinderance for wannabe upcoming players.
His 'class' definately stood out when he played for South Shields That's why even they got rid of him He has a fondness for drink and drugs, parrentlies, which won't have helped (Ryan Noble . . . . not Cest)
Aye We've (we've ) already signed 6 new players for next season . . . . all from leagues above this level, so Hooliooooooooooo might not be good enough next season Aye, righto
Lad played for England yesterday, who I have read even the training staff at Man U were unaware of the potential, until he played in the first team by accident almost, football can be a game of chance.
10 mins from Crewe on loan. There's absolutely an element of fortune and tuning in who makes it. Rashford is a prime example of Rodin. The wave, then he is first XI training, nutritionist, publicist etc. United hadn't the shortage he might never have got there, let alone do it in 3-4months.
They would have had him on the books if they didn't think he had potential, all he'll have proved is that he was ready before they thought. There's no lottery in football, very few 'get lucky' it takes commitment and effort and talent to make it imo. If it doesn't I might try and blag some trials at Sunderland.
I think "chuck the youth team in, they'll do better than the first team" is just one of of those classic cliches fans tend to come out with when they're reacting emotionally to a bad run of form, rather than something they've actually thought through.