Which of our Youngsters

[Head Honcho]

Not be able to make any of our reserve team games and only about half our 1st team games I've been unable to evaluate which of our youngsters will be ready for a fair crack of the whip at 1st team football next year

So it's up to you who do you think is ready?

Don't let your heart rule your head be realistic remember they are only young lads!

[Guest Gist]

I think that Wesolowski is the only one capable of making a real impact for a good part of a season but that all depends on how well he recovers.

[Jonbluefox9]

The coaching staff sound like Gradel has impressed them although if he gets a chance with the first team next season it won't be as a regular unless we have lots of injuries. He's the most likely to see some form of first team football next season by the sounds of things.

[potter3]

We should send the likes of Porter, Sheehan Dodds and Gradel etc on loan,see how much it has improved O'Grady?

[Thracian]

The coaching staff sound like Gradel has impressed them although if he gets a chance with the first team next season it won't be as a regular unless we have lots of injuries. He's the most likely to see some form of first team football next season by the sounds of things.

If Gradel's impressed the coaching staff it's amazing how different we all see things. There's no doubt he has an eye for goals and a trick or two but he look lightweight on the ball and is forever getting involved arguing with the referee, for which he was substituted a couple of times if memory serves me. So, like others of his age, he's a bit up and down but I'd say the year after next would be his big one.

But who knows. I thought Chambers was about there and he's barely been seen. Not to mention the regulars we've talked about.

Odihiambo is another to keep and eye on and there are others who don't always catch the eye so much.

[Jonbluefox9]

If Gradel's impressed the coaching staff it's amazing how different we all see things. There's no doubt he has an eye for goals and a trick or two but he look lightweight on the ball and is forever getting involved arguing with the referee, for which he was substituted a couple of times if memory serves me. So, like others of his age, he's a bit up and down but I'd say the year after next would be his big one.

But who knows. I thought Chambers was about there and he's barely been seen. Not to mention the regulars we've talked about.

Odihiambo is another to keep and eye on and there are others who don't always catch the eye so much.

Well when the chairman asked Stowell at the reserve match on Tuesday "which of these players are likely to get a game next season, even if it's only one game, excluding O'Grady of course and Sheehan?" the reponse was "It's unlikely that any of them will with the exception of maybe Max". I must add that Dodds and Porter were no longer on the pitch at this stage so I don't think that comment included them. I don't think that comment is going to turn out to be too wide of the mark when you consider the players Stowell was talking about (Logan, Magunda, King, Smedley, Norval, Wykes, Mckay and Hamill all of them are either not going to be ready yet or aren't good enough in my opinion).

Stowell mentioned that Gradel is a "drama queen". I don't think his antics have gone without notice, it'd be pretty hard to miss them. I think when Stowell made the comment he was going on ability and in all honesty Gradel is about the only player out of those he was choosing from that has got the ability to make some sort of breakthrough next season, however small it may be.

Magunda's a good player but he's still got lots to learn and has to get stronger before he'll be in the first team and King is a decent prospect and has caught the eye of the coaching staff too but don't think he's ready to play first team football either. Haven't seen enough of Billy Mckay yet, too early to tell if he'll make it in the game but I can't see Norval, Smedley or Wykes making it here. Nothing really stands out about those three to me. Logan has a chance but I can see his long term future being at a team in a division lower than the Championship. Hamill, as I mentioned somewhere else doesn't really have any form of weapon in his game and I would be rather confused if he was ever given a place in the first 16 ahead of Porter or Gradel next season.

[Steven]

Well when the chairman asked Stowell at the reserve match on Tuesday "which of these players are likely to get a game next season, even if it's only one game, excluding O'Grady of course and Sheehan?" the reponse was "It's unlikely that any of them will with the exception of maybe Max". I must add that Dodds and Porter were no longer on the pitch at this stage so I don't think that comment included them. I don't think that comment is going to turn out to be too wide of the mark when you consider the players Stowell was talking about (Logan, Magunda, King, Smedley, Norval, Wykes, Mckay and Hamill all of them are either not going to be ready yet or aren't good enough in my opinion).

Stowell mentioned that Gradel is a "drama queen". I don't think his antics have gone without notice, it'd be pretty hard to miss them. I think when Stowell made the comment he was going on ability and in all honesty Gradel is about the only player out of those he was choosing from that has got the ability to make some sort of breakthrough next season, however small it may be.

Magunda's a good player but he's still got lots to learn and has to get stronger before he'll be in the first team and King is a decent prospect and has caught the eye of the coaching staff too but don't think he's ready to play first team football either. Haven't seen enough of Billy Mckay yet, too early to tell if he'll make it in the game but I can't see Norval, Smedley or Wykes making it here. Nothing really stands out about those three to me. Logan has a chance but I can see his long term future being at a team in a division lower than the Championship. Hamill, as I mentioned somewhere else doesn't really have any form of weapon in his game and I would be rather confused if he was ever given a place in the first 16 ahead of Porter or Gradel next season.

If that is true, and I don't doubt you, why bother having any youngsters at all.

[Nationwider]

Chambers and Mattock perhaps weren't playing in that game, but given their progress into the international set-up, they'd have to be Kelly and Stowell's thoughts, if not next year, then to break through in 07-08?

Unless we're right down to the bare bones, I'm guessing Sheehan, Dodds, Porter and Logan will be out on loan by Christmas.

Logan might apparently benefit if Big Rab continues to have fitness problems, but warming the bench for Hendo will, in reality, do his career sod-all good.

[Jonbluefox9]

If that is true, and I don't doubt you, why bother having any youngsters at all.

Good point. I think I get what you're trying to say. I think it was more a case of a stupid question from the chairman. He asked many questions like "What are you looking for at a game like this if you're a manager or scout?" to which Stowell answered "Something better than you've already got". The first of his questions that I mentioned before is practically unanswerable as who knows what might happen between now and next season? We might get hit by many injuries and the young lads will have to play.

[Thracian]

If that is true, and I don't doubt you, why bother having any youngsters at all.

It's a good point. I think the failure rate is always going to be high and concur with all JonBlueFox has to say.

I don't think there's much doubt Dodds, Porter, Chambers, Sheehan are the main contenders for progress next year and for the Academy to justify its existence we need at least one, preferably two, plus Wesolowski to get through. Odihiambo, King, Gradel also have promise and Joe Magunda, the right back made progress last year.

Then there's Mattock and Smedley but I haven't seen much of them.

[London_Fox]

I think a real problem is that alot of the youngsters gey so hyped that they want to be playing first team football by age 17/18 like Owen, Rooney, Walcott and other top youngsters but it just doesn't happen. I hope we don't lose out on these players because they become convinced they deserve first team football. It's much better for them (and us) if they do drop down a league or two on loan and hit the first team properly a season or two later!

[Thracian]

What a pity the club cannot provide proper football which bridges the gap between first team and Reserves - like, for instance adopting Hinckley United as their feeder club (always assuming Hinckley would fancy it).

The Reserves malfunction really, not because the standard isn't high enough but because the team gets messed about too much with all the trialists and people getting match fitness.

Aspiring first teamers need to play in a stable genuinely competing side where teamspirit and consistency are part of the formula. People cannot develop properly if they are forever being shunted around and given cameo appearances because so many others have to be fitted in.

They need to be competing properly in something worthwhile to get them properly battle hardened.

Perhaps, I'll have a word with my friend who bought F4 CUP. See if he wants to get involved with Hinckley - then perhaps WE can have Sheehan, Dodds and Porter on loan. What a mischievous thought!!!!.

[Bert]

Well just to let you guys know, we're being booted out of the reserve league next season as we are not a premier league side, so the reserves will have to arrange friendlys to play in.

[Thracian]

Well just to let you guys know, we're being booted out of the reserve league next season as we are not a premier league side, so the reserves will have to arrange friendlys to play in.

Makes a greater case for adopting a feeder club.

What do the other Championship reserve sides do?.

[Bert]

Makes a greater case for adopting a feeder club.

What do the other Championship reserve sides do?.

I'm sure there in a league like the pontin's league or something stupid like that.

[Jonbluefox9]

Well just to let you guys know, we're being booted out of the reserve league next season as we are not a premier league side, so the reserves will have to arrange friendlys to play in.

Well we've not been in the Premiership for nearly two full seasons now so why are we being chucked out of the reserve league? Will Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Coventry, Norwich and Watford be thrown out of the south division too along with a few others from the Northern Premier division?

[Thracian]

I'm sure there in a league like the pontin's league or something stupid like that.

Can't we play in that?.

[Bert]

Can't we play in that?.

I don't know, I'm only passing on what i know.

[Ric Flair]

If that is true, and I don't doubt you, why bother having any youngsters at all.

So that every couple of seasons you get a Stearman or a Wesolowski that breaks through. This club like any other has a number of yougnsters that won't make the grade because it's very difficult to make an impact in professional football. To be fair to Taylor he did advocate that the academy had a massive re-shape and it did up until we went in to administration. We are getting back to having a good academy and that's shown with who's broken through in the past season or so, but the club must look to bringing through atleast 2 players a season like Levein said when he joined. We have the chance of winning the under 18 league, which is a very good achievement if we do it. The problem we have is other than Dodds and Porter our best youngster have only just turned 16 so in all reality they aren't going to be ready for atleast another season unless they both tear the youth/reserve league apart next season.