I just thought it was high time we took a good look at the latest STAR to be produced by our academy. Andre Wisdom has been tipped by many including myself as the very best defender at yooth and reserve level for some time now but I must say the way he's taken to first team football as got to have suprised even his biggest admirers, I know its suprised even me! In short this kid of 19 has since his very first kick of a ball in the senior team looked totally at home in the role, and thats at right back! Not centre half where he looks even better as a player! Another import, this time from bradford, who has been in our academy system since he was 14 (ie rafa picked him up) and another success story. Its only a few games in but he is playing like he owns that right back slot and i seriously have to wonder who's going to get dropped, johnson, enrique? and with jack robinsons also snapping at thier heels I really think the full back positions are sorted. Martin kelly you're now a CB in my opinion. Wisdom is actually the best of our young lads so far IMO, sterling has a lot to learn and all the telent in the world, suso is inexpereicned and not lasting the pace yet but Andres? he's mighty. After 3 starts in the prem, one in europe and one in the league cup I honestly think that we can say we've a top player on our hands.
I still think Suso will be the best player to come through the academy But I agree - as with Sterling Suso, Wisdom does not look out of place in this team. Credit to the academy because it looks as if every player that comes through it are technically and tactically brilliant. Unlike Kelly, Wisdom is very comfortable with the ball. I've had my reservations on Kelly for a while now - he can defend but he doesn't offer much else (not his fault as he is a CB). Wisdom's touch, control and passing are brilliant and he has the confidence to play the ball. Robbo - Coates - Kelly - Wisdom ? ....
Wisdom has done fantastic, and is only going to get better. With a lot of these young players it is not about skill or physical ability. It is about mental strength. This is the thing that will separate a lot of our youngsters who are playing from the ones who are not playing. Wisdom's maturity for his age is fantastic. Defenders usually break through later to, proving he is ahead of his years. Rodgers said he is the perfect example of a modern full back. Our long term team is shaping up nicely. Just a few more holes to fill. -------------GK---------------- -Wisdom-Kelly-Coates-Robinson- -----------Lucas--------------- ----Shelvey------Allen---------- --Suso---------------Sterling--- ------------Yesil---------------- Players in Lucas's role go on longer than a lot of others.
I'm happy about this bunch of players coming through but when I look at the academy and what they may produce in 12-18 months time I can't see anyone coming through... Jordan Ibe, Danny Ward & Teixeira maybe but I want to know who is excelling within the u16's & u15's this mass improvement from sides below the first team has sparked an interest
Wisdom stats for his 1st 3 PL games: Clean Sheets - 3 Points - 7 Tackles - 5/5 Aerial Duels - 7/9 Errors - 0 Interceptions - 4 Passing in own half - 92% Final third passing - 29/33 Times possession lost due to poor control - 0 (Provided by Dan Kennett)
I'd like to see things kept quiet regarding 16 and under at the moment. We dont want them to feel like we want them all to be like Sterling and then crumble under pressure.
1. you can only bring through so many at a time. 2. n'goo and morgan will be unhappy with you bozz... they will want to be next o nthe list. 3. sinclair, ibe, teixteira and trickett are all good. 4. reserves like sama and smith, mclaughlin and coady will all want to make a step up as well. In a way i agree with jk GK is a big issue at underage, everyone we've signed are frankly not good.... but i also think its too soon to make any call on yesil who looks decent but needs time to settle, learn the language and start playing regular reserve level before calling him in a team. Oh and wisdom only made one error which cost him a harsh yellow..... finally flanagan.. a tought leittle guy but got injured.. hardly look at him now territory.. nemth and tohers cna be called that. Flanno is not half the player that wisdom is but he, like stephen darby, can either do a job for us if trusted or make a career for himself. we must not forget the academy is about 3 things. 1 making players who we take in into first team players(like pacheco, suso, wisdom) i.e psend a little increase thier value 2 bringing young local talent through (morgan for example) 3. paying for itself by cycling players through if they don't make it/ ahve someone better than them coming. ie tom ince, tony silva etc. If the academy can keep selling on good decent players so they come, get expereince and move to be a pro then players will keep coming to us... if we end their careers effectively by never giving them a chance then they won't..... its got to pay for itself! and it has done in spades with wisdom. how much would you pay for micah richards... or kyle walker.. well we've got another like those two for free.
Jerome Sinclair seems to be doing well at youth level as well. If you look back a couple of years did we think Robinson or Kelly would step up when they were the same age? Sometimes the ones that stick out now never quite make it (Mellor, Nemeth, Pacheco are prime examples). Just because their are no stand out players at the moment, it doesn't mean none of them will make it just yet.
Are you on drugs? Kelly offers far more than Wisdon going forward. Wisdon is better in defence, and brings the ball out well, but Kelly is by far the more "end to end" player, and is great at passes from the wing
I'm not happy about this, mito. What sort of a Monday Morning Moan is this? Seriously, I agree, he's looked very good. So much so that few commentators have even mentioned him much, because he's slotted in so well they don't seem to notice he hasn't been there forever.
MITO out. He has looked very good and quickly shifted Flanno out. I think it is good to have Johnson, Wisdom, Enrique, and Robinson as our RB/LB options ( along with Kelly). Good balance of experience, youth, backs who get forward and those who do more of the defensive role. Would love for Pelosi to come through being American and all but not sure how he is doing or if he has had a change of position.
Defenders rarely get the praise they deserve but as long as he is avoiding the cliches of 'that's inexperience showing' then he is doing a top top job
The currente looking good and behind them in age the lies of Ibe and Sinclair look promising. That's the trick really, can we keep this going and keep producing players good enough for the first team? It looks good at the moment.
