Philiskirk

[Isiah]

A 20 year old striker good enough to captain Chelsea youth team but apparently not seen as first team material for us at the moment, yet has just had his loan extended. Am I missing something?

 

[Kenilworth]

His Dad was shit

 

[Kev Gee]

if we are going to extend a players loan then at least play them?

 

[Yossarian]

If we are going to extend a player's loan it's because he's doing ok, and we're wanting to take a further look at him before committing to signing him.

 

[broomhillblade]

I don't think there have been any reserve games in recent weeks.

 

[ListerBlade]

I was under the impression he was on loan because Chelsea would not agree to a trial. So extending the loan would indicate that he has impressed so far but we want to look at him a little more. i.e. extending the trial in terms of a loan.

Wish we could hear something about him though, it seems like we are all being left in the dark re 'development signings' like the irish lads and philiskirk. All we have been told is that we have signed them, but then it has all gone quiet-be nice to know how they are getting on and why they aren't being given a chance at first team level considering the tripe the current first team squad are offering.

 

[shorehamview]

Development player on loan = We've signed this fella from XXXXXXX's reserve team on loan. If he's any good, and to be honest, we've not got the fucking faintest idea, we might be allowed to pay over the odds for someone that XXXXXXX has been trying to make some money from for ages.

Development player signed from small Irish club = We've signed this lad from Galway Wanderers, who we'd never heard of either until Mick Rooker's secretary Bianca went there for a caravan holiday with her mum and dad and saw some goalposts. We've watched his dvd, or at least asked for it but got the best they could do, which was on Betamax. We're not sure if he'll be the next Irish wonder, like a Quinn, or more like Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Let's face it, Rooks didn't employ Bianca for her football knowledge, more for the fact that she makes a great brew and brings biscuits in every day. Anyway, we're clueless as to how good this lad is, but his old team said we could have him for a grand and a free weekend in the hotel.

 

[Hodgyman]

I suppose the same questions apply for the Norwegian lads. The irish lads, young Philliskirk and the2 from Norway all were welcomed with a blaze of publicity but seem to have fallen into a black hole as far as their progress is concerned.

 

[Houso]

I suppose the same questions apply for the Norwegian lads. The irish lads, young Philliskirk and the2 from Norway all were welcomed with a blaze of publicity but seem to have fallen into a black hole as far as their progress is concerned.

On the contrary, I think the development squad thus far has had a distinct lack of publicity and we're deliberately keeping quiet to dampen expectation and calls for promotion to the first team.

 

[Large Mendonca]

We're so unbelievably poor at the moment that I can't for the life of me understand why we're not introducing 2 or 3 academy lads now.

What are we waiting for? for them being ready?

Half of the bleedin team aren't ready for a scrap at the moment, and while we're heading full-steam towards division one, I can't see what we have to lose frankly......

 

[Houso]

We're so unbelievably poor at the moment that I can't for the life of me understand why we're not introducing 2 or 3 academy lads now.

What are we waiting for? for them being ready?

Half of the bleedin team aren't ready for a scrap at the moment, and while we're heading full-steam towards division one, I can't see what we have to lose frankly......

As I see it, if we put some of the academy lads in an underperforming team, there's no one to pull their performances up which is what you need as a youngster sometimes. That could lead to shot confidence and an uphill start in football before you've started. Not to mention the mood of the crowd at the moment who would groan with a single misplaced nervous pass. Also, while you'd want them in, I'd say there's just as many who would say "what is Adams thinking by bringing in youth at a time like this when we need experience of a battle".

That said, I'd like to see some pace from the bench, even if it's a 'not ready' Jordan Slew.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Good points. We could try them "toe in the water" style, to see what happens

I was thinking along the lines of other teams introducing 16 year olds eg. Everton, Leeds etc - but they probably had better players around them!!

 

[frechyblade]

The trouble as I see with bringing players through, is the structure we have down there. Pembo is solely responsible for the academy and so has them up to under 18. He was employed to get all the younger age groups playing in a particular way making them better 'footballers', and I would say has been relatively successful. Mark Smith is the man responsible for the next teir, the development squad, he is bringing his players into that squad i.e. philliskirk, the Irish lads etc, playing there own style of football and have enjoyed some success, I think I heard announced at a recent home game that they got awarded performance of the week, whatever that was for. Then we have Adams and the first team squad, he has been appointed to do all he can to keep us up, he was a McCabe appointment not necessarily what Trevor Birch adviced. All three teirs are working independantly, for me the development squad should be an extension of the academy process, allowing a next step for those academy players that are able to get used to a more competetive environment. I know Adams goes to the academy and reserve games and sees them perform there, I beleive that if a player is good enough then they are old enough, the fact that Slew, Maguire, Harriott and Martin are 17 year olds I'd still have them in and around the first team, get them involved in training sessions, see how they match up to our senior pro's. If that puts Mark Smith's nose out of joint because were bringing players straight past his level then tough, if he's not got players in there ready for the first team keep working with them and let us know when they are.

UTB

 

[Houso]

And just to make me look like a cock given my earlier post, hey presto...

Four international prospects have arrived at Bramall Lane hoping to make a breakthrough in English football.

The quartet - an Australian, a Hungarian and two Norwegians - have agreed contracts with United after successful trial spells at Shirecliffe.

Following on from claiming the signature of Marc Warren from Central Coast Mariners last month, the Blades have moved quickly to sign Andras Gardos from Hungarian sister club Ferencvaros and Norwegian teenagers Kristoffer Lokberg and Erik Tonne.

All four will now come under the stewardship of coach Mark Smith in a bid to progress their development.

Smith said: "We have identified that all four have potential and we hope that we can boost their development by working full-time at Shirecliffe. The signing of these players emphasises our long-term thinking, but they are settling in to Yorkshire life nicely, working hard on the training pitch and, hopefully, they can catch the eye of Micky Adams in the future."

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Left-back Warren, 18, and right-midfielder Gardos, 20, are fruits of United's international links, whilst midfielder Lokberg, 19, and versatile Tonne, 19, have been snapped up from Norwegian club Strindheim, thanks to extensive scouting networks.

Warren is an Australian junior international and Gardos has played and scored in Hungary's top flight for Ferencvaros.

Meanwhile, Lokberg has represented Norway at U19s level and Tonne has played for one of his homeland's biggest clubs, Rosenborg.

United's CEO, Trevor Birch, added: "Whilst we have a job to do for the first team, there is a vision as to how the club should be run and the identification of youth talent to develop is a core element. Our extensive scouting has identified some of the best youth talent available.

"We are delighted that our international connections are providing us with quality players and allied with the promising youngsters John Pemberton is nurturing in our Academy, we hope to build a strong reserve team which will produce players capable of challenging for a first team berth.

"All four were signed before the transfer window closed and we have now got international clearance to play them - they could feature in our reserve fixture at Sheffield FC on Wednesday evening

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2289097,00.html?

 

[Pinchy]

How about giving Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman a run on the left side of midfield?

Having seen the Academy lads a total of once, I am now supremely qualified to say that the nearest lad, by far, to first-team readiness is Harriott [a CM so nothing to beat I suppose!], followed by Maguire. The real gem is Kennedy but not in the position he plays at youth level - centre back, so that will be a problem for Pembo and Adams in the seamless transition from Academy excellence to first team ineptitude.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Scored 2 goals in the reserves vs Bradford tonight...