Building a Youthful Team

[Burbage Fox]

One of the reasons the pro NP contingent want to keep him ( I am on the fence but leaning/hurtling towards not keeping him) was that he was building a young vibrant team that would get us straight back up. Well if Saturdays team and recent teams are anything to go by this is questionable. If you take into account some of our better younger players will leave if we go down, Schlupp, Mahrez Kramaric we are in my opinion an aging team and certainly not youthful

 

Kasper = 28

De Laet = 26

Morgan = 31

Huth = 30

Upson = 35

Schlupp = 22

Cambiasso = 34

James = 23

Vardy = 28

Nugent = 29

Ulloa = 28

 

On another point, apart from Schlupp, Moore and King, none of whom have broken in recently, when did the last academy player really make the squad.. an example of NP not promoting youth is Ben Chilwell the England U19 left back not even getting a sniff in one of the cup games, do you think this would not happen at Southampton.

 

Thoughts

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

On another point, apart from Schlupp, Moore and King, none of whom have broken in recently, when did the last academy player really make the squad.. an example of NP not promoting youth is Ben Chilwell the England U19 left back not even getting a sniff in one of the cup games, do you think this would not happen at Southampton.

 

Thoughts

 

Very rare that you'll find too many managers with as good a record as him at this or Championship level with regards to both promoting youth players and establishing them as squad regulars. Three is probably about right at this level, even in the second tier for that matter.

 

I don't think the comparison to Southampton is relevant because as a club they've trumped virtually everybody in the country with regards to academy promotion recently. They're an exceptional bench mark and their record should be admired but not used as a stick to beat either our manager or academy set up with.

[Guest Col city fan]

I think it was clear that Pearson wanted to have a blend of youth and experience. Hence the signings of Upson and Cambiasso, together with the likes of Kramaric and the bringing-though of Schlupp and Mahrez.

You can't knock him for this. Any team taking on the might of the Premiership needs some old heads and some fitter, quicker guys.

Whether the 'old heads' could have been 'better' than those he brought in is a subject for debate. At risk of sounding boring (I probably do already...), I think Cambiasso has been great for the experience building side of the team, but has been just decent in terms of his playing ability. I noticed again against Spurs that the game was wide open, with their midfIeld players running at ours at will.. Time after time they tore through our central area, such that there was such little control to the game on our part. The signing of Upson I never really got.. I think he's just too slow now at this level. If we could have picked up a Huth at the start of the season, we'd have been better.

So I get what Pearson was trying to do, but I question maybe some of the players he signed to do it.

As for next season... Well who knows? Who knows whether Nige will be around? If he is, we'll get more of the same I think...a blend of the old and the new and we'll probably do ok. If a new man comes in, he'll want his own signings and the squad would probably change quite a bit.

[Foxhateram]

One of the reasons the pro NP contingent want to keep him ( I am on the fence but leaning/hurtling towards not keeping him) was that he was building a young vibrant team that would get us straight back up. Well if Saturdays team and recent teams are anything to go by this is questionable. If you take into account some of our better younger players will leave if we go down, Schlupp, Mahrez Kramaric we are in my opinion an aging team and certainly not youthful

 

Kasper = 28

De Laet = 26

Morgan = 31

Huth = 30

Upson = 35

Schlupp = 22

Cambiasso = 34

James = 23

Vardy = 28

Nugent = 29

Ulloa = 28

 

On another point, apart from Schlupp, Moore and King, none of whom have broken in recently, when did the last academy player really make the squad.. an example of NP not promoting youth is Ben Chilwell the England U19 left back not even getting a sniff in one of the cup games, do you think this would not happen at Southampton.

 

Thoughts

Players like Chillwell train with the first team, but obviously aren't ready for this level. Take out cambiasso, Huth, upson and Morgon. You still have a young side with potential to improve. King, Moore, Mahrez, Krammy, Drinky, knocky et all, all on the side dipping in and out of the team. Pearson has also sent players on loan to gain experience.

Comparing us to Southampton is crazy. They have decades of development and money behind their academy. They have been classed as britains best academy for many years.

[cullenfox]

I'm a great believer in youth myself. Think it would be a good idea to bring more of them into the squad. Not saying I think experience is bad, but always good to have a squad that doesn't rely too much on the older players. Hopefully we'll see some coming through next season.

[Stadt]

I think it's really fvcking obvious that if Pearson thinks a youth teamer is good enough he'll play them.

[RedSoxUK]

We still have a young squad which is building - the importance wasn't on a youthful squad, but a squad which has time to develop.

 

Hamer = 27

 

De Laet = 26

Morgan = 31

Moore = 22

Schlupp = 22

 

Mahrez = 24

James = 23

Drinkwater = 25

Albrighton = 25

 

Kramaric = 23

Vardy = 28

 

I expect this to be (give or take one or two) our starting 11 next season with the players we have now taking away those out of contract - Schlupp will probably be LW and a new LB (maybe Chilwell if he steps up)

 

Average is about 25. Aging,? yes, aren't we all.. but not old. What we have now is a mixture of experience and youth which quite frankly hasn't worked the way Pearson intended.

[Guest Col city fan]

We still have a young squad which is building - the importance wasn't on a youthful squad, but a squad which has time to develop.

Hamer = 27

De Laet = 26

Morgan = 31

Moore = 22

Schlupp = 22

Mahrez = 24

James = 23

Drinkwater = 25

Albrighton = 25

Kramaric = 23

Vardy = 28

I expect this to be (give or take one or two) our starting 11 next season with the players we have now taking away those out of contract - Schlupp will probably be LW and a new LB (maybe Chilwell if he steps up)

Average is about 25. Aging,? yes, aren't we all.. but not old. What we have now is a mixture of experience and youth which quite frankly hasn't worked the way Pearson intended.

If that is the team that starts next season, if in the Championship, I'd say we had an excellent chance of coming straight back up.

[RedSoxUK]

If that is the team that starts next season, if in the Championship, I'd say we had an excellent chance of coming straight back up.

 

Definitely, we probably won't have players like Mahrez / Kramaric / Vardy (maybe) / James (maybe), but I think the owners and management will do their best to persuade and encourage those that can do a job at the higher level, to stay on.

 

If we keep Kramaric, I have a feeling he's going to get 30+

[Benguin]

Any of tonight's players worth a shot? I think Chillwell could replace Schlupp in the 70th min if he's having a mare in one of the future games.

[orangecity23]

Any of tonight's players worth a shot? I think Chillwell could replace Schlupp in the 70th min if he's having a mare in one of the future games.

If a full back has a total mare, the normal result is that you end up losing, and using all your subs on attacking players to get back in the game. I was impressed by Chillwell tonight, looked good, pre-season friendlies is probably the best time to get him involved with the first team. He's probably learning quite a bit from being involved with the U21s at the moment, playing alongside first team players like Knocky or LIam Moore.

[RedSoxUK]

Any of tonight's players worth a shot? I think Chillwell could replace Schlupp in the 70th min if he's having a mare in one of the future games.

 

Schlupp's defensive frailties are showing almost every week when he's played at LB and when covering from LW. He's quite simply a utility player at best for us, and he's much suited to LW than he is LB - Konchesky's contract is running out and I don't think it'll be renewed, while as much as RDL can cover at LB, he's better off playing to his strength as a RB.

 

To be honest, the space is going to open up for a permanent left back with Konchesky / Bakayogo potentially leaving, and Schlupp likely to stick to attacking plays if relegated back to the Championship. It would be a risk throwing Chilwell in as our starting Left Back, I think a full-season loan to a Championship team would do him the world of good, he's one of our prospects not to go out on loan yet, with international experience, and leadership experience captaining the U18s.

 

I wouldn't say it about many in the U21 / U18 squad, but it would be worth chucking Chilwell in at the deep end if we have a few dead rubber games at the end of the season, see how he fares then. He needs to come up against some quality wingers before establishing himself in the first team, but there's only one way to find out... He has looked extremely composed and intelligent on the ball in the games i've seen him play, with confidence to take the ball forward too; IMO he's 100% destined for our first team within the next few years. If we don't sign a left-back in the summer i'll be amazed, but that gives Pearson / the Youth management an opportunity to progress the lad. 

[Freeman's Wharfer]

The problem in the Watford play-off season was clearly that we were too inexperienced and didn't have enough older heads. Pearson noticed that and rectified it for the following season with people like Hammond, Was, GTF and Phillips. With a mixture of youth and experience look what we achieved.

 

It's about balance and we probably got caught out this season with not brining in enough Prem experience in the summer and then perhaps went overboard with the experience in January (at times we looked way off the pace and had an 11 filled with old timers).

 

The thing for me is that Pearson always learns. Admittedly a little slowly but I'm yet to see a time he hasn't learned from what his side lacks before putting it right given time. In our last couple of games for the first time in a while recently we've seen a bit more balance with the likes of De Laet, Schmeichel and Vardy back in (for people like Upson and Schwarzer) whilst Cambiasso, Nugent and Huth remain.

 

I guess what I'm saying is that I trust Pearson to have the right balance of youth and experience next season whatever division we're in. In The Championship he has the blueprint. In The Premier League he will hopefully have learned a harsh lesson this season.

[Babylon]

One of the reasons the pro NP contingent want to keep him ( I am on the fence but leaning/hurtling towards not keeping him) was that he was building a young vibrant team

Was it, was it really?

 

 

One of the reasons the pro NP contingent want to keep him ( I am on the fence but leaning/hurtling towards not keeping him) was that he was building a young vibrant team that would get us straight back up. Well if Saturdays team and recent teams are anything to go by this is questionable. If you take into account some of our better younger players will leave if we go down, Schlupp, Mahrez Kramaric we are in my opinion an aging team and certainly not youthful

So if you take a load of young players out of Saturdays team, we'll have an old team. Well blow me down with a feather. How about taking out all the older players from the squad who will be out of contract? Cambiasso, Konch, Was, Upson, Hammond, Huth going back to Stoke. How will the squad look then?

 

 

On another point, apart from Schlupp, Moore and King, none of whom have broken in recently, when did the last academy player really make the squad.. an example of NP not promoting youth is Ben Chilwell the England U19 left back not even getting a sniff in one of the cup games, do you think this would not happen at Southampton.

Three academy players in your squad isn't bad at this level, as pointed out by others. If he thinks the players are good enough, Pearson will give them a chance. Whether that's our own or getting a youngster from elsewhere. Again, as others pointed out, no point in using Saints as a bench mark as they outstrip everyone by a mile.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Any of tonight's players worth a shot? I think Chillwell could replace Schlupp in the 70th min if he's having a mare in one of the future games.

Chilwell's good, but I don't think he's developed physically enough yet. Not strong enough in the upper body and not quick enough. It sounds a bit harsh, but could you imagine chucking him in against Sakho the game just gone?

[LAprice_]

Some of the U18s are a class above for their age range but that doesn't mean to say that they're anywhere near Premier League quality. I'd prefer for them to be developed properly through the development system and playing in lower league matches. 

 

As for the age debate. It really doesn't bother me at all. Paul Konchesky still runs up and down the pitch in the 90th minute every week. Hammond consistently covers more ground than most players. Schmeichel has another 10 years, at least, easily. Don't even get me started on Wasilewski, I still reckon he's the fittest player at the club.

 

I reckon Leicester have a well thought out development process. I'd completely trust them to push through younger players when the time is right. 

[Silverdaz]

We still have a young squad which is building - the importance wasn't on a youthful squad, but a squad which has time to develop.

 

Hamer = 27

 

De Laet = 26

Morgan = 31

Moore = 22

Schlupp = 22

 

Mahrez = 24

James = 23

Drinkwater = 25

Albrighton = 25

 

Kramaric = 23

Vardy = 28

 

I expect this to be (give or take one or two) our starting 11 next season with the players we have now taking away those out of contract - Schlupp will probably be LW and a new LB (maybe Chilwell if he steps up)

 

Average is about 25. Aging,? yes, aren't we all.. but not old. What we have now is a mixture of experience and youth which quite frankly hasn't worked the way Pearson intended.

I would like to see Lawrence be given a go instead of ALbrighton next season as this lad has potential

[ramadaone]

Chilwell not included in U21 squad tonight ?

[Stevosevic]

Chilwell not included in U21 squad tonight ?

Strange one

[CosbehFox]

Possibly a rest with the youth cup, under 21s and England he's played a lot of football recently.