Sadly, that may well be the case, Thurnby, because once they turn 21 they have to be counted in the 25 man squad in the PL.
Now surely Rick for the good of the game and the investment in youth as a national policy, that rule should be done away with immediately!
I'd prefer to alter it to any British player who has played 3 years for the youth and/or development squad for his present club prior to reaching 21 needn't be counted in the 25 man squad.
Yep, I would certainly go with that, it just makes so much sense. Ah, just found out why it would never happen now it would need sanctioning by the clowns who run the game.
Call me cynical Rick but that's what I reckon! Talking of clowns, I see that the latest madcap proposal from one of the aspirants for Blatter's job (Figo i think) is to make the World Cup finals for 40 or 48 teams. Christ, it's bad enough now with 32 -how the hell would 48 work and how long would it drag on for before we all die of boredom?
Just had a look at the fixtures in March for both Middlesbrough and Ipswich - VERY tough for both clubs and will be interesting to see where they are in the table by 5pm on Mar 21st!!! Middlesbrough v Millwall Tue 3 Mar 19:45 Nottm Forest v Middlesbrough Sat 7 Mar 15:00 Middlesbrough v Ipswich Sat 14 Mar 12:15 Derby v Middlesbrough Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Bournemouth v Middlesbrough Sat 21 Mar 12:15 Norwich v Ipswich Sun 1 Mar 14:05 Leeds v Ipswich Wed 4 Mar 19:45 Ipswich v Brentford Sat 7 Mar 15:00 Middlesbrough v Ipswich Sat 14 Mar 12:15 Ipswich v Bolton Tue 17 Mar 19:45 Watford v Ipswich Sat 21 Mar 15:00
They are two pretty horrible runs JR and to add (hopefully) to Boro's woes is a trip to CR in April. if we could hold our ground in this week's midweek fixtures when most of the eams above us are at home while we have a tricky fixture at Ewood Park, then all of a sudden we start to look quite good as serious automatic contenders.
Looking at those fixtures, you can see Ipswich dropping out of the top six. Its going to be a very hard game for us at Ewood Park. We've only won there once in 19 attempts, with 4 being draws so lots of twists and turns yet.
I think you can count Ipswich's game away to Leeds with the form they are in and Middlesbrough's game away to Forest as at least as difficult as our game against Blackburn or possibly against the top six...
I said this to the Binners and (perhaps unsurprisingly) got shouted down. They desperately need a result tomorrow and against us otherwise they will be in a potentially unstoppable downward spiral. I think the most likely replacement for them is Wolves, based on their respective fixture lists, rather than Brentford. But it is certainly going to stay interesting!
With those fixtures ahead for M'borough and the binners it is really going to test their mettle. if they can come through them with 10 and 12 points respectively or more then they will definitely look like serious contenders for promotion. As for youth, it's tricky for the youngsters. Do they take larger wages and move to the bigger clubs to get what may be better coaching and a perception of a shot at the dream (Titles, champions league) when the risk is that they waste away in less competitive reserve/youth leagues? I would like to think that in their situ they would may be sign for the big club but insist on going out on loan at a level where they will almost certaintly get first team football. perhaps work with the coaches in preseason, get a work on list, and go play some football. The alternative is play that extra season or two with an intermediate club/home club get meaningful football under their belt and if they then have what it takes try and move up to the big boys. As someone remarked that offers no gaurantees. Look at Sturridge, Sinclair, Ince all needed a step down to play football again. Will Ings be next? He will almost certainly leave Burnley at the end of the season, but where will he end up? and will he play? Bah!
anything can happen Rob, we could raise our games in that period? also once that set of fixtures are past we don't really have to travel to any top contenders. we have boremouth at home and wolves away which are the hardest 2, the rest will probably be against mid table sides. there will still be loads of twists and turns as yet!
