Will Alves

[cropstonfox]

21 minutes ago, AjcW said:

My assumption is he's sorted a loan somewhere, only explanation other than illness/injury for not being in the squad today, as he trained and was in the media all week and was on the matchday poster today.

Definitely think we'll see a loan announced this week.

Let's hope you're right.

The lad needs football possibly League one till the end of the season.He could then be an asset to our champonship squad. 

[Aleksz]

24 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Couldn't give a monkeys chuff about what the score was today, my footballing principles do not rest on whether we win or lose a game. 

This. We’ll need some of these youth players next year when half the squad has left and don’t want to play another year of championship football.

[ronnup]

27 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Couldn't give a monkeys chuff about what the score was today, my footballing principles do not rest on whether we win or lose a game. 

I dont disagree pal. I do think playing the strongest team to get a win and some momentum was the best move.

 

I worry about Alves. Hes been left out by 2 managers now, could the injury have ****ed him? Not seen much of him

[GingerrrFox]

The problem with our club having no defined identity is that you go from having a manager like Maresca who wanted to sign players of promise and utilise internal youth players that he could mould to his style of football to then hiring a shitbag like Steve Cooper who wants “premier league proven experience” and you end up with players like BDCR and Ayew preventing a pathway for a home grown 19 year old talent. 
 

Until we build a footballing identity where it doesn’t matter who the manager is we stick to our core principles, young lads such as Nyoni and Monga will keep jumping ship. 

Edited 11 January by GingerrrFox

[Aleksz]

1 minute ago, GingerrrFox said:

The problem with our club having no defined identity is that you go from having a manager like Maresca who wanted to sign players of promise and utilise internal youth players that he could mould to his style of football to then hiring a shitbag like Steve Cooper who wants “premier league proven experience” and you end up with players like BDCR and Ayew preventing a pathway for a home grown 19 year old talent. 
 

Until we build a footballing identity where it doesn’t matter who the manager is we stick to our core principles, young lads such as Nyoni and Monga will keep jumping ship. 

Absolutely spot on this. Another area our DOF falls horrifically short. There’s no consistency in our managerial appointments at all, no plan. 

[cropstonfox]

15 minutes ago, GingerrrFox said:

The problem with our club having no defined identity is that you go from having a manager like Maresca who wanted to sign players of promise and utilise internal youth players that he could mould to his style of football to then hiring a shitbag like Steve Cooper who wants “premier league proven experience” and you end up with players like BDCR and Ayew preventing a pathway for a home grown 19 year old talent. 
 

Until we build a footballing identity where it doesn’t matter who the manager is we stick to our core principles, young lads such as Nyoni and Monga will keep jumping ship. 

Sadly They will jump ship regardless if the right offers come in.

[Royston.]

27 minutes ago, Aleksz said:

Absolutely spot on this. Another area our DOF falls horrifically short. There’s no consistency in our managerial appointments at all, no plan. 

True but...obviously Cooper was last resort.

 

 

Not that hat makes Rudkin anything more than an out of his depth twerp.

[Noahfence]

Surely has to be injured or going out on loan? 

[Whys it always me]

3 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

That was because we decided to leapfrog Luke Thomas over him. Bassey had been very good for the U21s as well as had Thomas but we got that one badly wrong.

I’m not entirely sure that’s how it went. The coaching staff felt that bassey was better as a CB but he didn’t want to play there. Turns out this is his best position though as he’s playing there now. 

[Stadt]

Our academy director is also the director of football. At most clubs having an academy man in such an influential position would maybe mean an overzealous academy emphasis but we have the opposite.

 

Rudkin has an almost unheard level of autonomy and as a former youth coach and long term academy employee (since the millennium) he uses this unprecedented position to plump for… managers and a recruitment like Cooper et al that want Ayew and Decordova-Reid.

 

He’s f ucking clueless 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

36 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Our academy director is also the director of football. At most clubs having an academy man in such an influential position would maybe mean an overzealous academy emphasis but we have the opposite.

 

Rudkin has an almost unheard level of autonomy and as a former youth coach and long term academy employee (since the millennium) he uses this unprecedented position to plump for… managers and a recruitment like Cooper et al that want Ayew and Decordova-Reid.

 

He’s f ucking clueless 

Are you talking about LCFC or Leuven? What about the horsies? 

[Wink84]

2 hours ago, GingerrrFox said:

Until we build a footballing identity where it doesn’t matter who the manager is we stick to our core principles, young lads such as Nyoni and Monga will keep jumping ship. 

This is what I find the most frustrating. We have a world class training facility with no plan on how to make the most of it. 

[baldeagle]

People keep crying about him not being given a chance or using the  such a such manager clearly doesn’t use youth and that’s why he’s not playing cop out . Truth is several managers haven’t used him and it’s on record as no real viable loan options have ever come in for him either. He’s  clearly a skilful player and we all love a fairytale but there must be something  missing from  his game  . 

Edited 12 January by baldeagle

[LCFCJohn]

10 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

It is not clear too me what conspiracy or mismanagement people think is going on here? Why should he have started? Who would he have replaced?  
Facundo and Bilal are almost undroppable at present, Mav is having one of his scoring fits, so….

It’s not even a case of starting or not starting but that was the type of game to have sub spots 8 and 9 for a couple of the youngsters. We were 3 goals to the good for the last half an hour. But no, better bring BDR on for some much needed experience!

 

RVN has gone down in my estimations

for that. Next season we will need someone genuinely willing to bloody youth if we are in the Championship, on a budget and possibly an embargo. RVN just talks the talk but is too scared.

[Ashley]

8 hours ago, GingerrrFox said:

The problem with our club having no defined identity is that you go from having a manager like Maresca who wanted to sign players of promise and utilise internal youth players that he could mould to his style of football to then hiring a shitbag like Steve Cooper who wants “premier league proven experience” and you end up with players like BDCR and Ayew preventing a pathway for a home grown 19 year old talent. 
 

Until we build a footballing identity where it doesn’t matter who the manager is we stick to our core principles, young lads such as Nyoni and Monga will keep jumping ship. 

 

8 hours ago, Aleksz said:

Absolutely spot on this. Another area our DOF falls horrifically short. There’s no consistency in our managerial appointments at all, no plan. 

Puel - Rodgers- Maresca is pretty much thr same philosophy no? We went for Potter but it fell through in the latter stages. I'd say that's a consistent approach but then we get Cooper who throws it all out. 

 

Ruud played a similar style with PSV and we've shown glimpses of it here so far. 

 

2 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

It’s not even a case of starting or not starting but that was the type of game to have sub spots 8 and 9 for a couple of the youngsters. We were 3 goals to the good for the last half an hour. But no, better bring BDR on for some much needed experience!

 

RVN has gone down in my estimations

for that. Next season we will need someone genuinely willing to bloody youth if we are in the Championship, on a budget and possibly an embargo. RVN just talks the talk but is too scared.

He bought youth through at PSV. Gave players chances.

[LCFCJohn]

19 minutes ago, Ashley said:

He bought youth through at PSV. Gave players chances.

Dominant team in their league though. That doesn’t mean he can translate that to this level without being scared to do so.

 

Sorry but that was a huge red flag. As I say, this is not about starting half a side of youth players. I am specifically talking about the 8 and 9th sub spots. 
 

What justification can you give him for not even putting a single one on the bench yesterday? 
 

Because, by the way, if that has been Cooper yesterday, he’d be rightly slammed for not putting anyone at least on the bench and I hold RVN to the same standard even though many don’t.

[Sly]

1 hour ago, LCFCJohn said:

Dominant team in their league though. That doesn’t mean he can translate that to this level without being scared to do so.

 

Sorry but that was a huge red flag. As I say, this is not about starting half a side of youth players. I am specifically talking about the 8 and 9th sub spots. 
 

What justification can you give him for not even putting a single one on the bench yesterday? 
 

Because, by the way, if that has been Cooper yesterday, he’d be rightly slammed for not putting anyone at least on the bench and I hold RVN to the same standard even though many don’t.

We did have academy players on the bench yesterday though? 
 

I do understand what you’re saying, however the sword has two wides to it.

 

Sometimes a win stops the rot. 
 

I was surprised he went with such a strong line up, however it worked and we are through to the next round. 
 

It could be as simple as Alves has a loan lined up and Monga is too young and out the door. 
 

Or, maybe these lads have struggled when playing with the first team squad in training. 
 

The Premier League is one of the world’s elite football leagues. We’ve all played with people that are amazing at a certain level. Once they make that next step, they’re ordinary. 

[Dahnsouff]

14 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

He should have started because it's essential for his development and we have two massively more important league games this week that if we fail to pick up at least 4 points we're facing likely relegation.

 

Academy development should be one of the non negotiable principles of this club, without doing so over the last 5+ years we'd have been in an even bigger financial mess than we're in now. We've got such little squad value and whilst selling academy players is a sorry state of affairs to comply financially, it's one possibility we simply have to be alive to. But more importantly it's a source of players that should be at the epicentre of our club culture, what the fcuk is the point of our training ground if it isn't.

 

We have a DOF who's background is literally building a decent academy and yet seemingly does not command that we be the best we possibly can at academy development to first team.

 

I'm sick of it. There's not one single part of this season I can take any enjoyment out of. Maybe the odd flash of brilliance from El Khannouss who'll be off in the summer. It's boring. Don't think I've ever been more disillusioned with what I  want from my club.

 

Wish I could pack it in and care about something else, sadly I can't.

As a one off game on the back of losing the last 5, we are presented with a chance to imbed some hope into the first team, I find it hard to fault the choices made in this instance.

However, yes youth should be the cornerstone of the club or why bother with such a silly ass training ground, because as you say it is not just to get ‘cheap’ good players, it’s a revenue stream.

 

Suppose the question is, would it have been worth starting youth in this match at risk of losing the game and further derailing our season, perhaps for the greater good, it would?
 

Edited 12 January by Dahnsouff

[LCFCJohn]

21 minutes ago, Sly said:

We did have academy players on the bench yesterday though? 
 

I do understand what you’re saying, however the sword has two wides to it.

 

Sometimes a win stops the rot. 
 

I was surprised he went with such a strong line up, however it worked and we are through to the next round. 
 

It could be as simple as Alves has a loan lined up and Monga is too young and out the door. 
 

Or, maybe these lads have struggled when playing with the first team squad in training. 
 

The Premier League is one of the world’s elite football leagues. We’ve all played with people that are amazing at a certain level. Once they make that next step, they’re ordinary. 

Of course yes, you are correct but I think you also probably know what I meant in terms of youngsters. Kacey, Hamza etc are clearly first team players even if yes, they have previously come through the academic. Certainly nothing to do with RVN or even Cooper.

 

And again as clearly as I have to keep reiterating it, I am not suggesting the starting 11 should have been full of academy players. I have stated that what I mean is, we have 9 spaces on the bench. Previously it was 7 and I remember when it was 5. I’m sure there’s people on this forum that remember when it was 1. Despite this, why wasn’t there have been a space or 2 for any of those excelling in the youth team? If the game was tight, we wouldn’t have needed to risk chucking them in. As it was, we were 3 goals to the good for 30 minutes. Nobody can tell me and give me a good reason why it is a positive thing that we didn’t have anyone we could have given an opportunity to in that situation. Can you?

 

As for your last point, how we will know they aren’t good enough if we don’t play them? If you aren’t going to do what I have said above in a situation like yesterday, what is really the point of the academy with managers like we are appointing? The only manager in recent times who has shown any likelihood of giving youth a chance is Maresca.

[Tommy G]

Just needs a loan move. Right team was picked yesterday as we needed a win after 5L on the bounce. 
 

Get him out to a top half Lg1 club and see what he can do. 
 

Braybook was the next big thing too and he’s unfortunately not managed to do anything at Dundee who are muck - not really sure what’s going on there either. 

 

[Daggers]

12 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

 

Wish I could pack it in and care about something else, sadly I can't.

Whispers: Try non-league.

[CosbehFox]

18 minutes ago, Daggers said:

Whispers: Try non-league.

Ric would end up 25 stone with a season as he would be consistently at the scran van’s

[Ric Flair]

17 minutes ago, Daggers said:

Whispers: Try non-league.

I like the sentiment Daggers but truth be told I'd struggle to maintain any enthusiasm at any other level or club. I don't attend LCFC games as much as some as I've two young kids so it's not even having the match going outlet that is needed, but for me the whole driving force is I immerse myself in LCFC. 

 

I think about us day and night, it's synonymous with the most important things on my mind constantly and whatever I do it seldom changes. Steve Cooper did a good job of dumbing that down bless him but it's back with avengence again and it's a love hate relationship 😂

[Ric Flair]

1 minute ago, CosbehFox said:

Ric would end up 25 stone with a season as he would be consistently at the scran van’s

Hahahaaa I've got amnesia when it comes to bacon n egg

[lcfcbluearmy]

52 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Of course yes, you are correct but I think you also probably know what I meant in terms of youngsters. Kacey, Hamza etc are clearly first team players even if yes, they have previously come through the academic. Certainly nothing to do with RVN or even Cooper.

 

And again as clearly as I have to keep reiterating it, I am not suggesting the starting 11 should have been full of academy players. I have stated that what I mean is, we have 9 spaces on the bench. Previously it was 7 and I remember when it was 5. I’m sure there’s people on this forum that remember when it was 1. Despite this, why wasn’t there have been a space or 2 for any of those excelling in the youth team? If the game was tight, we wouldn’t have needed to risk chucking them in. As it was, we were 3 goals to the good for 30 minutes. Nobody can tell me and give me a good reason why it is a positive thing that we didn’t have anyone we could have given an opportunity to in that situation. Can you?

 

As for your last point, how we will know they aren’t good enough if we don’t play them? If you aren’t going to do what I have said above in a situation like yesterday, what is really the point of the academy with managers like we are appointing? The only manager in recent times who has shown any likelihood of giving youth a chance is Maresca.

I get your point and agree we should have had youth on the bench yesterday, however to say that RVN hasn't shown any likelihood of giving youth a chance is completely untrue there have been multiple youth players on our bench for the last couple of prem games and Alves even got some prem minutes the other week.

 

Do I think there should be more opportunity for youth? Yes

 

Do I think yesterday once we were comfortably on the lead was a wasted opportunity ti give youth a shot? Also yes

 

However it's one game and if you look at the bigger picture youth have been starting to be given a chance since RVN has come in I wouldn't write him off as not giving them a chance yet