Is Brookes ready?

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

his goal here

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

A question for the chaps on here who watch a lot of U18 and U23 games .

If you had to name just 2 current Academy players who you think will be playing for our first 11 in the next 2 years who would they be ?

That's an easy one for me. None of them. How are they going to get in? None of them are so superb they can displace a first team regular in that time frame. Wilder's model is strong lads, not on their last pay cheque. Clarke is the only one who doesn't fit that. Maybe if we can't sign a younger striker, if we start struggling, few injuries, he might get the chance to chuck Jordan Hallam in. We've got a situation where a big successful squad are blocking all the kids out. Just wrong place, wrong time.

It'd be a big leap of faith to let some experienced first teamers die on the vine & chuck the kids in. Look, when Lafferty went to international duty, Stephen Mallon is the U23 with the left wing back shirt. But, he can't get near. Square peg Round hole Done gets in. Or juggle the CBs & get O'Connell there. Or go flat four and bring Carruthers or O'Shea in.

Phil

 

[Ihadadream]

That's an easy one for me. None of them. How are they going to get in? None of them are so superb they can displace a first team regular in that time frame. Wilder's model is strong lads, not on their last pay cheque. Clarke is the only one who doesn't fit that. Maybe if we can't sign a younger striker, if we start struggling, few injuries, he might get the chance to chuck Jordan Hallam in. We've got a situation where a big successful squad are blocking all the kids out. Just wrong place, wrong time.

It'd be a big leap of faith to let some experienced first teamers die on the vine & chuck the kids in. Look, when Lafferty went to international duty, Stephen Mallon is the U23 with the left wing back shirt. But, he can't get near. Square peg Round hole Done gets in. Or juggle the CBs & get O'Connell there. Or go flat four and bring Carruthers or O'Shea in.

Phil

I have to disagree with you on that Wilder when he gets the chance will blood the youngsters he was under enourmous pressure this year to get us out of the division, not only does that increase the income and budget available but also relieves a little of the pressure on him so gives him the opportunity to blood a couple of the youngsters I've said before I think Brooke's will go out on loan Semple when fit will go on loan Graham will stay 23's all year depending on money available Reed and possibly Slater could be given the role of back up to Fleck and Coutts along with Whiteman

 

[larkymasher]

That's an easy one for me. None of them. How are they going to get in? None of them are so superb they can displace a first team regular in that time frame. Wilder's model is strong lads, not on their last pay cheque. Clarke is the only one who doesn't fit that. Maybe if we can't sign a younger striker, if we start struggling, few injuries, he might get the chance to chuck Jordan Hallam in. We've got a situation where a big successful squad are blocking all the kids out. Just wrong place, wrong time.

It'd be a big leap of faith to let some experienced first teamers die on the vine & chuck the kids in. Look, when Lafferty went to international duty, Stephen Mallon is the U23 with the left wing back shirt. But, he can't get near. Square peg Round hole Done gets in. Or juggle the CBs & get O'Connell there. Or go flat four and bring Carruthers or O'Shea in.

Phil

The only remit for this season was to take the club up to the Championship. That can't be done with blooding young players unless they are the next superstar. Young players are bloodied in a settled club side or a team on the way down. Chesterfield, Orient, Forest, spring to mind this season alone.
The club has now got some years to stabilize after years of panic about getting out of L1. This in itself will quietly open chances for some of these youngsters to progress at a rate where we don't get the old fashion opinion that ' if they can't even get in a L1 team, how can they get in a Championship team'

Stephon Mallon has had a quarter of a season as a regular with the 23s, Jordan Hallam although scoring goals struggles to last 90 minutes physically at U23s. These lads have a chance but will now be able to progress at a correct pace and are clearly physically not ready for any sort of mans football. So to use them as examples is a little misleading to the untrained eye.

It has taken this club 6 years to sort its professional playing staff out. We now have clear short, medium and long term plan as to how we progress our young players. Some will streak ahead of others, some will take longer to develop but the structure is clearly in place.

For Slater i give you Duffy.
For Semple and Graham i give you Wilson, Jake Wright, Basham
For Ty Smith i give you Sharp, Clarke, Hanson
For Hallam i give you Sharp, Clarke, Hanson

Over the next 2 seasons more of our current playing staff will leave, be released or sold. All giving our own youngsters, if good enough a clear path to the first team.

Maybe not next season i grant you but certainly for the season after next.

There is a clear path being kept open for our young players to come through and make an impact with our club. Whether that is 1,2 or 3 years it is without doubt there.

 

[Baw Heid]

A question for the chaps on here who watch a lot of U18 and U23 games .

If you had to name just 2 current Academy players who you think will be playing for our first 11 in the next 2 years who would they be ?

I would be surprised if we don't see Graham and Semple in the first team squad. Ty Smith,Jordan Hallam after a loan spell as they are natural goalscorers and all four are Blades through and through. Regan Slater is also in the frame but he needs another year and then a loan spell, I like Brooks and Reed and they will make it but it may be with another clubb
They all deserve to make it in the game but my money would be on the two big Centre Backs who are developing a fine partnership and are being coached on the skill side similar to the first team

 

[Baw Heid]

No Whiteman ? Is his contract up this year ?

I didn't include him as he has not been a part of the under 23s this season but he is getting good press at Mansfield

 

[Baw Heid]

That's an easy one for me. None of them. How are they going to get in? None of them are so superb they can displace a first team regular in that time frame. Wilder's model is strong lads, not on their last pay cheque. Clarke is the only one who doesn't fit that. Maybe if we can't sign a younger striker, if we start struggling, few injuries, he might get the chance to chuck Jordan Hallam in. We've got a situation where a big successful squad are blocking all the kids out. Just wrong place, wrong time.

It'd be a big leap of faith to let some experienced first teamers die on the vine & chuck the kids in. Look, when Lafferty went to international duty, Stephen Mallon is the U23 with the left wing back shirt. But, he can't get near. Square peg Round hole Done gets in. Or juggle the CBs & get O'Connell there. Or go flat four and bring Carruthers or O'Shea in.

Phil

I know what you say but our two big Centre Backs are being prepared for the first team in a couple of years. Their chance will come and they will take it. Its the natural progression

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I think people are on the same page roughly. Youngsters get in the first team because the club WANT them to. Or because the club have no alternative. I'd be very happy if we moved to the position where we want to. It's part of a long term strategy. I'm just a little pessimistic.

 

[WalkelyFan]

I agree about the two centre halves - but I believe one is injured at the moment. And it is an old adage that there is never a right time to play youngsters. 5-0 with 20 minutes to play against Chesterfield and Brookes and/or Reed might get on. In fact I am happy to leave it to Wilder. His general judgement is pretty good and he seems to make good decisions. But there are a ton of players in there to chose from. We live in interesting times.

 

[BigBed]

For league one yes, for championship, no.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

CW and his team see him every single day and probably a majority of under 23 games.

The issue he has now is the Championship will force us to strengthen the midfield with new players. The standard will go up and only the good players will continue to push.

Saying that I have seen him a couple of times and looks a real threat but he's only young, if I remember rightly he's only like 18/19. Whiteman is a couple years older than him so would imagine him in first after his impressive Mansfield appearances.

Hope both can make it but aren't they totally different types of player? From what I've seen of Whiteman he's a ball winner but Brooke's is more flamboyant and skilful?