The problem we had is under McClaren we invested in Wijnaldum, De Jong, Thauvin etc and played them but struggled to make it work and got pulled into a relegation fight, not ideal to use youngsters. Then we had to get promotion, we battled through a season, once again investing in incoming players to do a job a get us promoted, not really using any youth players. Then we were up against it most of last season, only putting a run together in the final stages to climb out of the relegation zone into a 10th place finish. Not really the best way to bring youngsters into the squad and try to develop them. I fully agree that we should be using some of these young players throughout the course of the season, for either small min appearances towards the end of a match or just bench spots to gain first team experience. Wejust don't appear to have the confidence in either them to perform or the senior pros to guide them through. We used to have confidence in throwing young players in, Aaron Hughes making his debut at the Nou Camp, but that level of confidence just isn't there now.
The U-23's finally look a bit better. Is it a coincidence this upturn in form has been since Beardsley's extended absence? I think Harper's inclusion in the set up is a good one. But both Longstaff's, particularly Sean, Sterry, Roberts, Sorensen, Fernandez and Wilson don't seem to be that bad. Beat a strong Doncaster side at their place last night 3-1. I think the internet has blown a lot of things out of all proportion and is partly responsible for some of football's woes. Once upon a time the young lads were hidden from view, would come and go then once in a while someone would pop up and get us excited, like Brayson for example. The furore surrounding Gibson was insane for a 17 year old, with even National media contributing to the angst. I'll use El Mhanni as another example here - anyone have the faintest idea what he's doing now? We don't let enough things slide, everythings under scrutiny, everythings an issue. These young lads as well have an agenda, or at least their agents do, to get some attention and drive the price up, so I daresay are throwing snippets out to the press. Then there's what Chelsea and Man City, in particular, have done to the youth market. The others in the elite have followed suit, I think PSG own the rights to over 100 players? I might be wrong. The super big have always had a monopoly in their markets, but City as usual just take the piss. It's a much more exposed situation now, unfairly I reckon. And as always there's nothing we can do about any of it. Personally, I would rather see the young lads used more as a lesson to senior pros. But I think we've got to be realistic and say they'd have to be third choice in each position, at best, at this stage. Apart from Manquillo. I should be picked ahead of him, never mind Sterry.
Its a culture for me. We did it in the past as you say. Ardiles although he didn't do a great job, his actual contribution to the club is often overlooked. He took a lot of pain introducing the likes of Steve Watson, Steve Howey, Alan Thompson, Lee Clark, Robbie Elliott. Some were regulars, some were just bit part getting a chance. Over the long term these lads served the club incredibly well (except for Thompson). How old were the likes of Jenas, Dyer, Hughes etc? 19-21? They often surprise you. It is of course harder now because money is king and the money is in the PL. Fall out and you may never get back. So there is a fear for a lot of clubs to do that which is somewhat understandable. The bottom line is though if those 6 lads were coming through now, they wouldn't get a look in with how we approach it. So the argument of quality goes out the window. Harry Kane didn't pull any trees on loan. Over 65 games across 4 loan spells, he only bagged 16 goals. Spurs slowly introduced him (4 in 19 for the 13/14 season). He has rewarded their patience. It is certainly easier to do it at a club like that but then the likes Southampton, Leicester, Palace have all shown a willingness too while surviving. Our culture is we seem unwilling to take any pain to develop young players. It seems madness when we have no fecking money!
It's all linked into the pressure to perform due to the vast amount of £££ involved for the club. Most of the big name coaches (Mourinho & Benitez especially) have a tendency to buy in players to succeed, with very little consideration to the development of players from within. I suppose it's also linked into the short tenure of most head coaches/managers, that there's no stable long term plan for the guys coming through the ranks as the "project" changes when the top man does. Arsenal and Manchester United are the 2 that spring to mind about giving young players a chance, no coincidence that they also had 2 of the longest serving managers?
I think Rafa and Jose are polar opposites. I feel that Jose is primarily concerned with his personal trophy cabinet. Rafa I think aims to build a legacy. Success just makes planning and investing easier - I don’t think Rafa had any notion of what a clueless, lying, myopic thundercunt Ashley is.
I think if you look at wherever Rafa has been, he has a great track record of putting in place a great youth infrastructure. What he's not been so great at it is buying young players or developing them.
