Should we play a full strength team in the FAYC?

Chizz

We have an embarrassment of riches in terms of U-18 qualified players at the club at the moment. If we were to play our best U-18 players in the FA Youth Club, it would involve a lot of players who are consistently in - or close to - the first team. Players like Jonjo Shelvey, Scott Wagstaff, Chris Solly and Tamer Tuna have their minds set on pursuing their Charlton first team careers. But, with Peter Varney back at the club and looking for outside investment, would it make sense to include all of our best U-18 players in the FA Youth Cup this season? Even if it meant depriving the first team of players?

There is a great deal of value vested in Charlton's academy. But it is not shown in its best light if the academy is not represented by its best products in the biggest national competition in which it competes.

In my view Charlton would gain more coverage with a very successful Youth Cup run, than trundling along in League One with only a smattering of youngsters.

Anyone else agree that we should fill the FA Youth team with every appropriate player, including the likes of Wagstaff and Shelvey?

dabos

I would use everyone bar Jonjo. He's too important to the first team, whereas the others are only backups at present. See no harm in the others you've mentioned getting competitive match practise.

Elthamaddick

nope, those currently in the first team don't need any additional games in my opinion. I suspct all barring Jonjo and maybe Waggy will play.

Friend Or Defoe

No, give a chance to the even younger kids!

oohaahmortimer

the first team are without doubt the priority so whatever is best for the first team, everyone else has to get on with it

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: dabos[/cite]I would use everyone bar Jonjo. He's too important to the first team, whereas the others are only backups at present. See no harm in the others you've mentioned getting competitive match practise.

Agree.

Is Wagstaff still eligible?

Chizz

My point is that there must be a huge value in going very fall in the FA Youth Cup. It's an obvious demonstration of any club's success in finding and training youth (for which, read: free) players. I would stick them all in and go all out to win it!

Salad

agree with dabos, maybe have Jonjo on the bench for some games?

Chris_from_Sidcup

[cite]Posted By: Chizz[/cite]My point is that there must be a huge value in going very fall in the FA Youth Cup. It's an obvious demonstration of any club's success in finding and training youth (for which, read: free) players. I would stick them all in and go all out to win it!

Surely the success of any clubs youth system is measured on how many first team players they produce? If we won the youth cup great, but i imagine the club sells it's youth system on players getting through to the first team squad.

Scoham

Can't remember the rules, but Wagstaff is in his second full season as a pro and Solly his second (though he went pro a year early). They've progressed from the u18s to reserve regulars and now regulars on the bench (partly due to our small squad obviously).

Likes of Tuna and Mambo will probably play as they're still second years. Jonjo surely no chance we'd risk him getting injured.

Hopefully we might even play some u16s, Jordan Cousins the England u16 player and others have played quite a bit this season already, they might deserve a chance.