Available Players

Pompey only had 14 fit players yesterday, hence only THREE on the bench. With Kitson's sending off in mind, how close to fitness are the walking wounded?

 

Devon

I don't understand why aren't your youngsters on the bench?

 

Well now we know why Sam Magri wasn't on the bench - he's going on trial at Liverpool (that's FC not Court)

Appy says the others aren't ready, but Adam Webster was on the bench.

 

It will be interesting to see what Birch will do and what he is allowed to do by the FL. He needs to stem the losses but balance that with having numbers in the squad. I remember when Bournemouth wanted to bring a free player in (as an amateur) but were not allowed and their goal keeping coach came out of retirement to cover a few games.

Interesting comments by Hill after the game.

 

Appleton is being cautious with them. He doesn't want to expose the youth to first team football too early because he's afraid that if they dont perform well it will destroy their confidence and hamper their development. So he's looking into the youth but is only bringing up those he feels are mentally prepared for first team football. So far only Ryan Williams and Adam Webster have been brought into the first team and Magri has travelled with them and been on the periphery but Williams has been sold and Magri looks like he's on his way to Liverpool.

Personally I think Appleton is being overly cautious with the youngster and I fail to see how a spot on the bench during a full game would be detrimental to their development. But as he is someone with a lot of experiance with youngters from his West Brom days, and has been able to see the development of those players at all levels as he rose in the ranks at West Brom I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he knows best.

 

So what? Your suggesting we might see Awford, Whittingham and McLoughlin come out of retirement?

 

It's just an example of what happen to another south coast side in admin. The FL can be mean bastards but then others will see it as due course for the overspend (Hill). A fine line in deed.

 

i think the 3 games in the squad and your a senior rule has played its part too. as it stands we have a squad that is far from full even with the permanent inclusion of webster. if the league let us fill the rest of the slots then so be it. if not then the youth will have to step up.