Five really great prospects, but are they really going to play much this year??? Last year they got a handful of appearances between them and that was mainly cup games. Can anyone see any of these players breaking through this year or has the premiership come too early for them?
Ward-Prowse will get a fair amount of game time. Shaw is second choice left back. They'll both get plenty of game time, especially JWP. As it stands Stephens is high on defensive depth but that'll change as soon as we bring in more options, I can see him and Chambers being loaned out, but neither will get much game time. Not bothering to hang an air freshener on it, Reeves is probably too old and not good enough.
Forgive my laziness Dan, but how old is Reeves? I've only seen him play once and that was at Coventry in the cup last year and he impressed me. It was like watching lallanna as he twisted and turned, ripping the full back a new one.
Almost 21, 3/4 years older than the rest of our chaps. Not old by any means, but considering he's at the same level as the rest of them with a 3/4 year disadvantage the signs aren't good.
If you're good you're good - Messi played for Barcelona in the league at 17! Hard to believe he's only 25 now.
Ward-Prowse has the best chance of playing the most time out of those players despite the fact that we have 3 quality players in the position he plays, plus Hammond and Chaplow
Reeves went on loan twice last season, first loan he got injured second loan scored 2 in 8. I think he was held back afew years because of injury and being so slight
He does have a bit about him though. Send him on loan and see how he does. He could still be a decent player. Jack Stephens is a year older than the other 3 and is unlikely to see much action in defence, so a loan could be useful. Shaw, Chambers and JWP could well see some action this season as we're not blessed with an abundance of strength in depth in their respective positions.
Jwp I think could do very well, certainly occupying a bench spot at least what with 7 allowed again! I hope reeves comes through I really like him! Remember watching him against millwall and he looked so so good!
keep JWP, send Shaw and Stephens on a season long loan to a good footballing team but with instant reclaim clause, Reeves, Chambers and probably McQueen send on season long loans. Question is, Championship (better teams but may struggle to play every game) or League 1. Hate for them to be pissed around like Josh Mceckran?spelling at Swansea
Sorry that post doesn't make sense. You say we don't have strength and depth in attacking positions when we have attackers falling out our ears we are apparently in for more. You then say Stephens won't get much game time at cb and this is unarguably our weakest area so surely out of chambers and shaw he is more likely to get game time as it stands. For me I think Stephens will play major role on the cups as he is very consistent and quietly solid. JWP and shaw will also get game time in both the league and cups this season. chambers I'm not sure from what I've seen he looks like a playmaker as with the 2/3 assists he's made in pre season so of the four I can see him playing the least but I still think he could be just as good as the other three.
Thought he had? Apparently not so...still, he's another one with a lot going for him. [edit] He's listed in the First Team on the OS.
Defence is very tough to get into for a young and inexperienced defender. We'll buy another one before we rely on Stephens. L1 or the Championship, we might have got away with it, but not in the PL. Attacking players can afford to make mistakes, but as a defender, mistakes get punished. Seasoned professionals call on their experiencce to make the right choices more often and pick themselves up when they do **** things up. Unless we have a really good cup run, we'll have 5 or 6 games max, and I don't think that's enough for a developing player. A few months in L1 just to get Stephens used to the pace and power of first team football would do him good. We might have quite a few attacking players, but not many of them are unassailable and the door is wide open.
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2867627,00.html The kids are involved in the GF tournament in Denmark and won their first game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jake Sinclair.
I wonder why the current regime haven't looked at entering our youth teams in the Milk Cup that's held over here in Northern Ireland. All the top youth teams from the UK and around the world take part in it. If you saw the list of players who have competed in it, you'd see what I mean.
