If we get 2 or 3 who make the first team out of those the academy will be worth while.
There are a few that should get in out of this crop, but as always there's some that are disappointing - or maybe it's me that can's see what Binnion sees
Don't Think Burton will make it through, not enough goals for a striker. Tends to be a bit greedy & runs out of skill before he gets chance to score
Thought Parkhouse was going to be the one that would come through for us. He had a decent season last year, but has dropped off
Hallam is a lucky lad. Binnion's notorious for having his favourites & this lad's one of them. Doesn't think he has to tackle or press from midfield & when we're up against a strong side he goes missing. Can be good from dead ball, but tends to throw himself on the floor a lot to get them - we could always sell him to Spanish side
Wright is another that's not strong enough. I was surprised that he made it up from U16's. He's losing ground this season
Gilmour is a good lad & we've already got him signed up. He puts a shift in & is consistent although I fear for him cos Slater's coming through & he looks like his star is rising
Slater is one that we really do need to sign up as soon as possible. He's aggressive, skilful & he knows where the net is. If we don't keep hold of this lad he'll come back & bite us in a few years time
Smith is another that come back & bite us if we let him go, but unfortunately he's not a favourite & doesn't get the U23's exposure. I don't know if it's cos he's been here since e was about 8, but he looks like he want to fight for the shirt
Alex Brown (no relation to Brown who played the other night) is another who's been here for about 10 years. He has a sweet left foot from dead ball, but has varying performances. He's very much a confidence player, he's just coming back from injury so don't know how confident he'll be. There's also the spectre of another favourite in Cantrill coming in at left back that may knock his confidence
I've seen Cantrill at left & right back, but his delivery from the right isn't as good as from the left. He's aggressive & likes to get forward, which is probably why Binnion likes him. In general he's good at the things that you can teach, but his defensive positioning, reading of the game & decision making let him down, which will probably see him found out before we could get him to the first team
Semple is another we've got signed up. He heads & kicks everything that's in front of him, but needs it to be happening in front of him cos his lack of pace costs on two counts. 1st he can get left by anyone with pace & 2nd he frequently pulls back the fullbacks for cover limiting our attacking options
Cummings is another we should get signed up. He's a big lad and can be physical when needed, but he's another that like things happening in front of him. I've seen him at right back & up front when the strikers are misfiring, but he tends to play both of those positions like a Centre Half
Charlesworth is the one I would back to be signed up by us or picked up by others to come back & shut us out in years to come. He's probably the most consistent lad we've got & the most defensive minded fullback , he will give a solid 7+ each game. He reads the game well & can lay in some excellent crosses when he gets forward, but misses the glory cos he's the one relied on at set pieces to carry out defensive duties
Everyone knows about Ramsdale. Excellent goalkeeper & seems like a genuine lad. I just wish he'd get more game time. The lad that's coming through after him is Perryman, he's not at the same level as Ramsdale & can easily have his confidence knocked which is not good for a GK
All in all we've got 3 already signed from this group with at least 3 that should get their contracts sooner rather than later which is not bad, but in an ideal world I'd like more so that we can avoid the wage thieves that see us as a big club & come on big money and produce nothing