I think you're just a tad off on my standpoint. Granted, I am certainly on the optimistic side when it comes to our youth. Will also concede that I am one that does not seem being loaned out as a prerequisite to playing for United's first team - it is certainly useful in some cases, particularly when we have several players in a similar position (the One/Marsh/Hackford/whoever else we might have up top coming through springs to mind) and given possible limited first team minutes we can't really help all the players. But I'm not one that thinks these players are plumbers or sparkys on an apprenticeship who can't graduate to our first XI until they have had the shit kicked out of them by someone playing for Salford because there are somehow different rules to football when it is played at under whatever age level as opposed to first team level, regardless of the division of said first team.
My general view is, if close enough, trial by fire - especially this season in the context of us being in a rebuild where we have just dropped down a division. What is the worst that can happen? Sure, you have to judge that the player in question is mentally ready to step in, but if you're backing them to do so, you would imagine they will be. If someone has had a run of games and they look a bit out of their depth - fine, you've learned that, and you can then make a strong argument to loan them in the JTW.
I'm also looking at things in a more macro perspective. I made a similar post earlier today, might have been earlier in this thread, might have been elsewhere, I don't recall, but there are two ways to run a club at our level without losing a boatload of money. One is to have an incredibly rich benefactor, which we obviously don't have, the other is to murder the transfer market - and the primary way to do that is to get in players cheap (e.g. Ndiaye) or through the academy, and to give them the chance to appreciate in value rapidly. Which only really happens if they are playing for our first team, not Doncaster's.
