Our future star hopefully and one of the reasons why our academy is so good... https://talksport.com/football/efl/407451/sunderland-charlton-fans-react-bali-mumba/
He did remarkably well for someone who's just done their GCSEs and was up against men almost literally twice his side. A late growth spurt wouldn't hurt but then again Kante is a midget and is one of the best in the world in the same role.
I hope we use him sensibly. I'd imagine they'll be times when he's out the team this season, but I'm fine with that. He looks like he's going to be a real star if he continues going the same way with his development. We have to protect him from to much pressure, fatigue and from our fans if he has a dip in form.
He can turn and move the ball at lightening speed. Can really stretch teams and cause them hell with a player like that. Our fullbacks are going to love playing with him in the team. Needed to offer himself to receive ball more but that will come with confidence. Doesn't seem to attack or defend, floated in limbo a lot. Very raw, lots to work on, handle him right, and it's easier in a team not fighting against relegation, and we could have a cracking little player on our hands.16 man. Very impressive performance for a child. .
16 year old! Insane! I love the fact that Ross had the balls to throw him in first game as well! Gutsy all round!
He has that ability to create space and looks comfortable in front of 30 thousand fans. His passing and positioning was not always the best but already you can tell he is going to grow massively with more experience this year and it could be a fight to hang on to him.
Seems we have slain a few monkeys from our backs Won first game of the season Won at home Started with some kids Manager with a plan B Any others? FTM
****ing exciting. Looks the best prospect we've had on our books since... I can't think of one. Henderson looked tidy, Pickford was a lateish bloomer. Mumba is the most excited I've been about a young player coming through ever.
This league is giving him his chance to show what he can do. If we'd still been in the Premiership then it's unlikely our manager would give him a go due to the greater pressure of that league. That is a sad fact of life and why so many youngsters on Premiership teams books end up continually on loan trying to prove their worth away from their own club and is something I've never sat easily with on the loan system.
Isn't that the whole point of the loan system though? He's not a Premiership player right now. But in theory, if we were there, then we could loan him to a League One club and his theory should be the same as what will happen this year. I think it's a good system, the problem comes when clubs don't use it. We've had countless promising youngsters just sit on our bench or stagnate in the U23s for years and then when their contract runs out they bugger off to lower leagues and get the experience the should have had all along. John Egan is a prime example. His development is probably 3 or 4 years behind where it should be, but he's now a decent Championship level player - and his career is on an upward trajectory.
Maybe I didn't explain properly what im saying is that if he (Mumba) is good enough then give him a go in the top league and not just loan these kids out Willy nilly. I don't recall Michael Owen being loaned out before he got into Liverpool's team at 17, if your good enough your old enough in my view. However it's the pressure of failing that stops these managers from giving these kids a go as it's their head on the chopping block. I know they have to gain experience somewhere and I might be arguing against myself but I just think the loans system is wrong, don't Chelsea have over 20 kids out on loan which can't be right. I've no idea how to change it or make it better just don't like the loan system.
Rights or wrongs don't come into it these days though Cumbrian. How many managers would have the balls to play a 16 year old with a couple of hundred millions worth of players sitting on the bench. And how many of their owners would be happy about that? Why should they fork out millions when the gaffer plays a kid? What Chelsea does is just business. Pick the kids up cheap on the expectation there'll be a jewel amonst the rocks. Again, nowt to do with right or wrong. Just business.
