Oh no. This is Att in ST all over again!
Meant to say S6. Won't be the first victim of autocorrect.
Anyway, I'd love to see how we think this United World concept is supposed to pan out.
I'd say that provided they don't have trouble adapting to the country then the successful U23's team should be prime candidates for playing men's football in either France or Belgium.
If Coulibaly comes 'home', He replaces Lundstram. If Berge goes, you add Slater to the roster but it would be nice to have one other strong Midfielder, even if a PL loan. Which then brings into question those U23 players who have every chance of winning the league. Some will remain in the U23s, probably those who are youngest. But it does potentially open up a catchment of players who we could loan to the benefit of Beerschot or Châteauroux and play men's football.
Those that are going to be in their 20th year next season, you could argue probably need to be upping it to men's football, be that lower down the pyramid or with global partners.
Some will be released as is the nature of things but hose who will reach their 20th year next season, if not already are:
G - Dewhurst (20 this past March), Assimah (20 in August)
D - Graham (21 in August, already had a few loans), Lopata (20 in August), Boyes (20 in November, already one non-league loan), Hall (21 in October), Gomis (20 next March), Belehouan (21 in September)
You also have Gordon who has made the squad. Does he go to the wider first team squad and play in the U23s or need week in, week out men's football?
M - Neil (20 in May), Brunt (20 in November), Broadbent (21 in June), Ayari (20 in Feb)
F - N'Diaye (20 this past March) Capello (20 next Jan), Gaxha (20 next March), Tyler Smith (23 in) December)
Of those above, you have Gomis, Belehouan, Ayari, N'Diaye who are all from or involved internationally in a French set up.
It may be better for Ayari to have more U23 time, though you could send him 6 months to France and review in January. If he's smashing it then perhaps he moves to Belgium. You'd think Gomis a prime candidate for Châteauroux, possibly also Belehouan. I think N'Diaye is earmarked for our first team squad.
Intriguing how this could all work.