2 games to go, nothing to lose, drop the experience - play the youth!

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Only if they are good enough, surely? They may be, although their failure to stand out in a league of their peers does not bode well. A play-off campaign is hardly the time or place for experiment though, is it? Pre-season friendlies are there for that sort of thing and I shall be the first to demand that the youngsters are there and then given opportunities.

For the next two games I see no harm, the playoff it self depends on how they play! If they play really well and earn here place why not.

 

[OllyBlade]

I bet the Portsmouth fans wish they still had Kitson ....................................nah more like they are still pissing themselves laughing.

In League Two.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Are you kidding I've been saying this for ages

 

[Bladesway]

What if a team of kuds goes out next two games and gets humped because there us no leadership or experience? Confidence goes and the kids are never seen again. What a great policy that would be.

Feed them in gently and when right. Chucking them in by the boatload is stupid.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

What if a team of kids goes out next two games and gets humped because there is no leadership or experience ? Confidence goes and the kids are never seen again . What a great policy that would be .

Feed them in gently and when right . Chucking them in by the boatload is stupid .

Didn't hurt Long and Maguire when we put them into the team when we got relegated, we can't be messing around with these players, they have to be given a chance or there is no point of even having them. The first team isn't deserving to be playing.
Also it be nice to actually see the kids, only had sort spells so far this season and if they want to be first teamers they need the chance to shine on the field. I won't criticise the youths if it doesn't go well, it be a good experience what ever the result. As i said 2 games that is it, nothing to lose. worst off we can be is finishing 6th and having to play the second leg away.
had to stick on some of your comments, what leadership..... and the bloody experience has been useless .
Yeah I had a bit of fun with your post

 

[Sirius]

Have we really got two "spare games" to give youth it's head?

Or have we actually got two very important games that we can get our strongest team together and get us ready for the play-offs? Although we are all pissed off with where we are, we are actually three decent games away from promotion if we can get it right at this late stage, no matter how unlikely that seems at the moment.

I am clueless as to what is the best way forward as I can see a bunch of spineless "here for the money" wankers taking the piss BUT the question for Morgan is "are they more likely, as seasoned pros, be up for the play-off challenge rather than some, wet behind the ears, kids who haven't proved anything in their careers?".

I'm glad it's Morgan having to answer it than me but I suspect his answer (as mine would be) will be to give experience it's final shot and fuck them off if/when they fail.

Perhaps a good cash bonus for winning might motivate them but, I wouldn't hold my breath. Before all our dismal performances, failing at the last hurdle, I convinced myself each time that they would make it. That was despite Warnock and Windyasse's late fall out,despite Blackie feuding with the idiot Dean, who denied us a cert penalty, and last but not least the loss of form following Ched's misadventure.

So far, the only reason preventing similar optimism on my part, is that this side appears to be far worse than the previous ones we relied on. So please Morgs, stay calm, dont upset any barsteward on the lead up and tell the ref that he is the best in the land. That is of course IF we reach the final.

 

[Bladesway]

Didn't hurt Long and Maguire when we put them into the team when we got relegated, we can't be messing around with these players, they have to be given a chance or there is no point of even having them. The first team isn't deserving to be playing.
Also it be nice to actually see the kids, only had sort spells so far this season and if they want to be first teamers they need the chance to shine on the field. I won't criticise the youths if it doesn't go well, it be a good experience what ever the result. As i said 2 games that is it, nothing to lose. worst off we can be is finishing 6th and having to play the second leg away.
had to stick on some of your comments, what leadership..... and the bloody experience has been useless .
Yeah I had a bit of fun with your post

If they were anything like good enough, don't you think the manager (Morgan now or Wilson before him) would be giving them 90 minutes? As I say, maybe put one or two of them alongside experienced players but just throwing a load of kids in for two games wouldn't do anyone any good. Least of all Morgan who I am guessing wants the job full time.

As for the leadership being useless, you won't know about that until you remove it.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

If they were anything like good enough, don't you think the manager (Morgan now or Wilson before him) would be giving them 90 minutes? As I say, maybe put one or two of them alongside experienced players but just throwing a load of kids in for two games wouldn't do anyone any good. Least of all Morgan who I am guessing wants the job full time.

As for the leadership being useless, you won't know about that until you remove it.

Yeah true, but Higginbotham who was brought in because of his experience has been really poor for us, so I'm sure we won't be missing him, sure maybe we shouldn't expect a full 11 of youths playing, but I would like to see a good handful given the chance over the next two games.
Well I like to see what the leadership would be like without Doyle, as at the moment I don't see anything from him on the pitch and he is our captain. So it can't be much worse but yes you're points are valid by all means.

 

[Balham]

If they were anything like good enough, don't you think the manager (Morgan now or Wilson before him) would be giving them 90 minutes? As I say, maybe put one or two of them alongside experienced players but just throwing a load of kids in for two games wouldn't do anyone any good. Least of all Morgan who I am guessing wants the job full time.

As for the leadership being useless, you won't know about that until you remove it.

Wilson didn't trust the younger players as that would have involved taking a risk, something he seemed averse to. Would Tel Kennedy honestly have been any worse than Danny Higginbotham?

Morgan was probably looking for continuity in his team selections, for better or for worse.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Wilson didn't trust the younger players as that would have involved taking a risk, something he seemed averse to. Would Tel Kennedy honestly have been any worse than Danny Higginbotham?

Morgan was probably looking for continuity in his team selections, for better or for worse.

Is it a bit typical of us that we spend a lot of money on grafters like Higginbotham, Collins, Doyle, McMahon, Williams, Cresswell, Monty, Morgan, Henderson, Kitson leaving peanuts to spend on pacey flair players?

 

[JohnDenver]

Is it a bit typical of us that we spend a lot of money on grafters like Higginbotham, Collins, Doyle, McMahon, Williams, Cresswell, Monty, Morgan, Henderson, Kitson leaving peanuts to spend on pacey flair players?

I think the reason we end up with a squad of grafters (politely put), is because we tend to sell the pace and flair as it's worth more money.

When it comes to the last-minute loan market I'm not sure there's much pace and flair to choose from. So we end up with pace for its own sake (Forte and O'Halloran).

 

[Balham]

Is it a bit typical of us that we spend a lot of money on grafters like Higginbotham, Collins, Doyle, McMahon, Williams, Cresswell, Monty, Morgan, Henderson, Kitson leaving peanuts to spend on pacey flair players?

Definitely. We've backed ourselves into a corner by paying over the odds in terms of wages for players who perform a limited technical role.

I would imagine that Neill Collins is probably the division's best paid centre-half and Michael Doyle amongst the best paid central midfielders yet neither operates at the exceptional (relative) level which you'd expect.

We need to bite the bullet this summer and move on almost all the players you mentioned. I'll be disappointed if the squad listing contains Higginbotham, Doyle, Kitson, Williams or Robson come the first game of the 2013/14 season as I fear that it will be an indication that we're settling for the same pattern as this season.

Added to that I wouldn't be sad to see McMahon leave. He's evidently a decent player at this level but there's something about his attitude that I just don't like.

Balham's ideal squad for next season (first choice in bold)

GKs
Long, Howard, Willis

Right backs
McMahon (if no bids come in), Westlake (ditto), Hodder, new right back (if McMahon or Westlake leave)

Left backs
New left back/McFadzean(?), Hill

Centre halves
Collins, Maguire, Kennedy, new centre half (with pace!), Hill

Right wing
New winger, Flynn, Chappell (last chance saloon)

Centre midfield
McDonald, Whitehouse/new centre midfield, Harriot

Left wing
Flynn, McFadzean, new winger, Tonne(?)

Forwards
Miller, new centre forward, Porter, Ironside, Di Girolamo, Smith

Lots for the scouts to be getting on with there!