Still 4 to play

[Pinchy]

The way to prove you're good enough is only by playing first team football and showing it. People mistakenly use this to commit the fallacy of saying "how will you ever know if they don't play?". The mistake is in forgetting about all the youth games, reserve games, and training time that the youth have access to in order to demonstrate their abilities. So, sure, they're always a gamble when they make their first real start, but not all gambles are equal.

The error is clear if you think about how many people you know that, in spite of never having played a game at the professional level, are blatantly not good enough.

You have to earn your chance. The youth team is not a random selection of unknown quantities. It's a selection of those with potential where the weaker ones are weeded out at each stage until eventually a select few make it as full time pros.

Precisely. All of which is exactly what I have said, but in a different way....

 

[sheffielder]

If a player in the academy is good enough he will be playing 1st team football. The two Kyles were identified at a very early age and fast tracked into the 1st team which, incidentally was playing at a much higher level than it is now. I think at the time it was Ron Reid who was the main protagonist and there will be someone with a similar role at the present academy. The academy staff see these boys on a daily basis and will be reporting any individual's progress to Wilder and his team who will then take the appropriate advice. That's how it works. There may be some good prospects in the new academy at the moment but a new Kyle Walker? Methinks not.

The other difference is that both kyles went out on loan. Young players needy tonne blooded and early

 

[snootyfenooty]

The other difference is that both kyles went out on loan. Young players needy tonne blooded and early

Exactly. And that's what's happening with Whiteman now. Guaranteed to feature next season.