blooding the youngsters

ooh funny expression I imagine it comes from fox hunting-maybe.

Anyway my question is does anybody else worry when we play the really young lads in the first team. I'm talking here about Gael Bigirimana and Adam Campbell in particular. I know people say if they are good enough they are old enough. Also people tend to say look at Michael Owen or Wayne rooney playing in the Premier League at 16 - 17. Or to take a home grown example Stevie Taylor who was playing when he was 16 I think, with the big boys.

Now, if you look at the above example it is clear that they were good enough, but, youngsters bodies are not mature enough at that age to take the hard knocks of playing with the grown men and they have all suffered from terrible injury problems as a consequence. So my worry is that we are not doing these lads any favours by playing them too early in their careers. Thus, the real cost of not investing in first team players this summer past could be the long term damage to these exciting young talents.........I hope not !

 

unfortunately our youngsters (u18's) are taking a bit of a pounding at the moment
toon 1 -7 man u

although most of our lads are a year younger than that of Man u (according to mutv)

 

for anyone interested final score was toon 1 - 7 manu
it was 5-0 at half time, toon got it back to 5-1 could of had more but didn't take their chances
manu more clinical in front of goal

 

"they have all suffered from terrible injury problems as a consequence."

I am not aware of any basis for this statement. Each of these players has had injuries, though Rooney's history of injuries is not anything out of the ordinary. Owen's injury rpoblems were mostly hamstring related (which I can't see how could be rleated to taking knocks) until his knee injury in the world cup. Nobody qualified in sports medicine has ever suggested that was caused by injuries received as a 17 year old. Nobody has suggested Taylors should and tendon injuries were related to knocks taken as a 17 year old. It is not immediately obvious how they could be related.

So, in a nutshell, I have no worries about playing he youngsters

 

I am a big believer in playing them at a young age, but doing so responsibly. I do think if it is non stop too soon, they burn out quicker in some cases. Its just about being clever in how you use them. Regardless how well they do it is no good just pushing all the time with young players. You have to look after them physically and mentally, and try not to over expose them media wise. Then there is the question of the more you push, the more money they demand and in some cases, the quicker the desire drains out of them. There is no doubt that for me that too much football at the highest level at a young age can place serious demands on them physically. But its only part of the issue.

The likes of Bigismalls and Campbell just need to be exposed, but not over exposed.

 

All for playing the young guns personally, Bigirimana has had a few great games so far this season. As WP says its about being smart with them and making sure they keep their feet on the ground.

 

I'm worried we'll **** Sterling up something shocking if he plays regularly for us this season, to be honest. Who knows, I guess it's a lottery.

 

Easing them in is the best way, giving them big match experience without relying on them week in week out.

Ignoring his embarrassing mentality, look at Michael Owen. Played regularly as a young un and looked ready to retire by the time most are hitting their prime. Played too much too soon and it'll be interesting to see how Rooney handles the next few years physically.

The way Pardew is managing is with a view of these lads becoming regulars by about 20, rather than the old system where we held onto the kids until about 21/22 with only a handful of first team cameos and let them go.

Our lack of depth is being plugged by able youngsters and I for one am more than happy for this to continue. Basically continuing where Roeder left off (but with the greatest respect, Pardew is a much better man manager).