Callum Semple

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

So we are saying players would sooner play in front of a few hundred in reserve games than in front of 20k.....im sure that if you asked any pro footballer they would laugh at that.

In front of 20,000 cheering fans, no. In front of 20,000 of our lot, yes.

While not been a professional footballer myself (obviously), you couldn't have paid me to set foot on that pitch last night.

Yes we were crap, yes we deserved to be boo'd off at half time, but the atmosphere was just toxic in the stadium. I can't think of any footballer, other than the 11 Southend players, that would have enjoyed being on that pitch.

 

[larkymasher]

Take your point sir, and I don't doubt that they will have ability.

But, and I'm afraid there is a but, if these experienced pro players are struggling with it, struggling with the pressure of playing for this club, then how do we expect kids to?
I know they are under a little pressure to make it through every year, but there's also very little riding on results. It's all about their performance and their targets. Sadly, most get nowhere near the first team and the reality check is that these are players who believe they can do it, but are just there to accommodate the one or two that have a chance.
Simple and Ramsdale may well have sailed through academy football unchallenged as the best we have at their age group. That doesn't mean they are good enough to compete as a pro, and being exposed to a hostile environment is simply never experienced.

Take your point sir, and I don't doubt that they will have ability.

But, and I'm afraid there is a but, if these experienced pro players are struggling with it, struggling with the pressure of playing for this club, then how do we expect kids to?
I know they are under a little pressure to make it through every year, but there's also very little riding on results. It's all about their performance and their targets. Sadly, most get nowhere near the first team and the reality check is that these are players who believe they can do it, but are just there to accommodate the one or two that have a chance.
Simple and Ramsdale may well have sailed through academy football unchallenged as the best we have at their age group. That doesn't mean they are good enough to compete as a pro, and being exposed to a hostile environment is simply never experienced.

I understand what you are saying Grizzly regarding sailing through the academy but Ramsdale and Semple have now made the next move. Ramsdale has played England U18s and Semple is pushing for Scotland U19s and at 17 years old is captain of our U23s.

I can't tell you if they will be good enough to step up to the first team environment, but we will never know and we can't make an honest opinion on them until they do.

I am not saying chuck them in and they will be the answers we are all praying for, but they need introducing on the bench, EPL Trophy games or cup games to keep developing. Other wise they will fall by the way side and a potential first team player will be lost in the football pyramid of non league and L2.

With what these boys have done over the last 12 months they would be in any other first team League one squad. This is based on Bolton, Charlton, Coventry all introducing players of this age into their squads and in my opinion are no better than Ramsdale and Semple.

I don't apologize for championing these two players as i did with Walker, Maguire, Slew, Whitehouse, Lowton, Reed, Whiteman. We know from that list that it can still go one way or another but none of us can really say one way or another how they will progress until they are given the chance....

Finally it was CW who publicly championed these lads this summer not me. All i would like to see is CW sticking to his word on bringing the lads through the club. They can't be any worse than what is being dished up at the moment.

 

[larkymasher]

@larkymasher will be able to add to this but personally I'd give him and Ramsdale the go ahead at Millwall in a much changed and freshened side. It's clear we're lacking in goal and defence and George Long continuing any further as a first team starter this season is a complete no go. A steady introduction away from the abusive twats behind the goal at the Lane might just do them and us the world of good. They're both incredibly highly rated. Certainly worth a try for me, doesn't get too much worse than that tonight.

..................Ramsdale
Brayford Semple O'Connell Hussey
................Coutts Fleck
...Duffy......Whiteman.......Freeman
...................McNulty

My question with that team would be-
As O'Connell was poor last night and played a large part in giving goals away.......how come Wilson has been dropped for Semple?

And Freeman????? left wing
And Whiteman?

I think chucking Semple and Ramsdale in at Millwall after the shambles last night would kill them. They need introduced from the bench over the natural course of a season.

 

[Barney]

I think chucking Semple and Ramsdale in at Millwall after the shambles last night would kill them. They need introduced from the bench over the natural course of a season.

Take your point and on reflection that was a poor post from me in the heat of last night's aftermath.