I asked this before but no-one responded. What does "apprentice" mean in this context? The OS never refers to any of our youngsters as "apprentices" as far as I know. Cousins is on a professional contract. In what way is his status any different to that of Solly, Wagstaff, or any other of our first-team squad?
I assume it refers to "Youth team player" as unlike most of league one clubs we still have a premier standard youth set up. I think Sheff United are the only team in the league that can hold a candle to ours, although I might be wrong. So where we have scholars and young professionals they still have apprentices? I know judging young players, who will make it, who won't, is very hard. I remember Les Read waxing licrical about Paul Bacon, from his time in the FA youth set up and that no one could work out what "went wrong". I just don't get the JC type at all. Granted I have only seen him play in the flesh 3 or 4 times, mainly against men. Plus 2 or 3 times on TV playing for England at severel youth levels. He is always capitan of every team he plays for, including the national team on debut. I have never seen him shout any instruction to his team mates or show any sign of leadership on the pitch. The younger Poyet is much more vocal and despite his poorish showing at Old Trafford looked much more of a naturel leader of men (or boys). From what I have seen he isn't a silent, lead by example capitan either. Afeez (sp?), Harriot and Fox have always looked better players to me, as well as Tobi and the center half, who's name escapes me. I know we are flying in the league but the fact that we got to the later stages of the FA youth Cup, beating "bigger clubs" on the way, and only got knocked out by a last minute winner at OT. Yet only Harriot has got anywhere near the first team and that was at the *** end of last season. I can't see any of the current crop getting near the first team in the next 18 months, which is sad to say the least. The area we really suffer and have for a number of years is the treatment and development of the "young professional". I know the lack of reserve football hasn't helped, it was no better when we had a reserve team. Players like Parker, Konch and Fortune made it through the first two through outstanding ability and the later is a bit of a freak. Shelvey, Waggy, Elliot and Jenkinson came through while the finacises where in decline, they proberbley played more games as young professionals than they normally would. 3 developed, the other didn't, and where promptely snapped up by top half prem clubs. We are in the third divsion of English football and have a premier league standard academy yet only 1 of our first team came through it. You can't count Green and Haynes because they weren't "scholars". Would Solly have got a chance if we had brought a better option than Francis last season, got promoted or kept hold of Richardson? What goes wrong between first pro contract and, say, 20-21 years old?
Has JC's little bit of bother gone away? If it has, surely there should be some sort of announcement. If he is unblemished we should be told, as much for the boy's own sake as anything else.
I heard on Saturday that the charges have been dropped. Not been able to find anything on it though (but in truth I haven't looked very hard).
At the very least the "Newspaper" that published the article naming him should publish another saying that he is innocent. I did wonder when he played against Man U the other day whether this had been sorted. Innocent until proven guilty and all that, but I would have been surprised if the Club kept him in the spotlight if there was any chance that the allegation was true.
I don't think the club even mentioned it when it was publicised, did they? Time to concentrate on the important thing, which is ensuring JC fulfills his potential. And at CAFC.
