U21s at Vicarage Road

[Blade&Snuff]

Personally, I'd like to see him on the bench. Didn't one of the Prem clubs bring on a 16yr old recently.

 

[Keen Blade]

The question with Beattie will be can we manage his transition from potent academy striker to first team player and what that timeline for him looks like.

We’ve had three stabs at that now with Jebbo, Osula and One and it seems haven’t quite found the right formula for a variety of reasons.

Aren't Jebbo & Osula both with PL clubs ?
That sounds like the right formula to me.

 

[Yogi]

Aren't Jebbo & Osula both with PL clubs ?
That sounds like the right formula to me.

And neither have yet established themselves those prem clubs took a gamble on their physical gifts. United could no doubt sell One right now if they wanted to do for a decent chunk of change and call it a success and it would be for the balance sheet. But unless United can find a way to develop these lads in more than raw potential clubs higher up the pecking order are prepared to gamble on then we won’t be maximising their value to clubs balance sheet in terms off fess we can attract or impact to the first team directly

 

[dellasthunderbolt]

I agree - we have had Jebbison, Osula, Lankshear (I know his departure was unavoidable), One and (by the look of things) now Beattie. That is an absolute wealth of emerging talent. It would be a real shame if we look back on this period in the future and none of this group ever really did it for our first team. You could add Marsh into that list as well.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I agree - we have had Jebbison, Osula, Lankshear (I know his departure was unavoidable), One and (by the look of things) now Beattie. That is an absolute wealth of emerging talent. It would be a real shame if we look back on this period in the future and none of this group ever really did it for our first team. You could add Marsh into that list as well.

It was easier to integrate youngsters into the first team when we were in L1. Yo yoing between the PL and Championship makes it much more difficult.

 

[Keen Blade]

And neither have yet established themselves those prem clubs took a gamble on their physical gifts. United could no doubt sell One right now if they wanted to do for a decent chunk of change and call it a success and it would be for the balance sheet. But unless United can find a way to develop these lads in more than raw potential clubs higher up the pecking order are prepared to gamble on then we won’t be maximising their value to clubs balance sheet in terms off fess we can attract or impact to the first team directly

I take your point - unfortunately I posted my quip before seeing your illuminating post , which which I absolutely agree.
I would just love One to come through and be the first striker from which we benefit in the same way as all the excellent defenders we've grown.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Not seen Jay Tinsdale involved for nearly a year?

 

[Kenilworth]

Personally, I'd like to see him on the bench. Didn't one of the Prem clubs bring on a 16yr old recently.

Are you thinking the lad at Leicester who also scored?

 

[Ranmoorblade]

Played last year for both under 18 and under 21 sides . Yes he’s only 18 but she shouldn’t be a factor if you are good enough .. cant have another Will Lankshear situation.

Yes, arsenal and Liverpool have 16 year olds playing in the first team.

 

[JohnDenver]

Are you thinking the lad at Leicester who also scored?

Arsenal have another child in their first team squad. Max Dowman. 15 years old. Has played in a premier league game…

 

[Blade&Snuff]

Are you thinking the lad at Leicester who also scored?

Just had a Google, there's been quite a few under 18 players.
Point being, if he's good enough, give him a chance.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

While Beattie did impressive me when I saw him with some old school clever use of his body to shield off defenders and win fouls I am not entirely sure how that would play off in the first team just yet. A loan to a conference north type side where he can still train and occasionally play with us might be useful

 

[Newbury Blade]

I think for various reasons due to poor long term squad management we’ve had to sacrifice the first team opportunities and development of the young strikers in favour of having bodies available for depth for the first team.

So Jebbo went on loan was doing well but we had to bring him back as emergency cover this arguably killed all the momentum he was building as a young professional and he was only really an emergency bit part player for us and then had bad luck with injuries.

Osula we had literally no one so he went straight from academy player in the 2nd tier of academy football to starting the season in the prem and then when predictably the bottom dropped out of that side he was only for a complete thankless task. We might’ve been able to turn that round and build his confidence back up he was having a good preseason the following summer but we’ll never know as we sold him.

Now with One again because of a lack of bodies upfront he’s been kept around last season as a bit part player and it looks like he’s in for the same this season with any chances he is getting being out of position outwide.

If we’d run our recruitment sensibly for the last 5 years with a proper view not only to recruiting for the immediate needs of each individual season but for 2-3 year periods we should’ve had senior players in the squad to fill those roles so we could prioritise the development of those talented young strikers rather than needing contributions from them straight away.

It’s arguably what a director of football should be doing looking at what’s coming through what the timeline might be for those players to be first team ready and by that I mean really ready to make an impact not just sit on the bench and to build the squad according so that slots open up for those players according to that timeline. It won’t work out with all or even most that’s the nature of stepping up from the academy but sitting on the bench is unlikely to helps players develop and learn what it takes to play men’s football in a competitive environment.

It’s not just the examples above either I’d say Faxon is currently getting the full Jake Eastwood treatment looked good for the 21’s gets his step up to the senior team sat in the stands as third choice keeper. That’s unlikely to help him work through the mistakes all young keepers make in the senior game and learn how to take those mistakes on the chin and keep going in font of a hostile crowd

Couldn’t agree more. It’s a joke to see Davies ahead of Faxon on grounds of “seniority” when Faxon is already a better goalkeeper.

 

[Newbury Blade]

It was easier to integrate youngsters into the first team when we were in L1. Yo yoing between the PL and Championship makes it much more difficult.

Despite all the foreign talent and expensive signings, teenagers are still getting opportunities with Premier League clubs while our fans moan about Beattie and his predecessors not being ready for “men’s football”.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Despite all the foreign talent and expensive signings, teenagers are still getting opportunities with Premier League clubs while our fans moan about Beattie and his predecessors not being ready for “men’s football”.

A handful are. Majority are not

 

[Newbury Blade]

A handful are. Majority are not

I agree but I think Beattie for example deserves a chance.

 

[JT89]

Despite all the foreign talent and expensive signings, teenagers are still getting opportunities with Premier League clubs while our fans moan about Beattie and his predecessors not being ready for “men’s football”.

That’s a couple of clearly exceptionally talented young players who have most likely spent years at Cat 1 academies and training with premier league players. Our academy teams don’t play at the top level for their age groups, it’s already a fantastic achievement that we’ve had as many academy players graduate to the first team over the last few years as we have.