This year we had Semedo proving to be an excellent player and Youga also impressed greatly when he was fit. Randolph kind of came from nowhere (we all knew he was decent but he'd never had a run of games)
So who do we think has the potential next season to surprise us and make a name for themselves - who do we currently have that hasn't yet fully emerged? Who is our rought diamond?
Personally I like the look of Basey and hope he stays with us. His adaptability is pretty useful (CB, LB, LM, DCM), his delivery can be superb and he was improving last season before the Blizzard struck him down.
He may not be a world beater but he is certainly at home in the division and I think it's time for him to kick-on this year and become a fixture in the team.
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Would also like to see some more of Tuna.
Also agree that Wagstaff may have a prominent role, assuming he's not sold before the season starts.
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Not a mega basey fan tbh . Think borrowdale hasnt put a foot wrong. Although he doesnt give as much attacking option as granty, borrowdale has looked solid. His corners have been brilliant aswell. Knows where the dangerzone is (anyone know if borrowdale has gone back to qpr). Also richardson has really came on and been class for us this season. Need to keep him.
out of the others - think Akpo might surprise everyone and score 15+ goals.
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Out of the young players, Solly assuming he stays will be hoping to finally get a run. If he does I think he'll impress, while making a few mistakes along the way. He is definitely a full back, unlike Basey, who still needs to find that best position if he is to become a regular.
Would like to see Wagstaff push on a bit, start effecting games from the start and putting in some decent crosses. Can't say he'll definitely do that, more hope that he will. Depends if he's first choice or not, otherwise he might just be a regular from the bench again.
Mambo it'll depend on who we sign. He might get lucky and end up 3rd choice, or have to go out on loan. Basey could end up being ahead of him at centre back.
Akpo - wouldn't go as far as 15 goals like Stebo, but if (big if) he gets fit and stays fit, he is capable of 10 or so goals. He will look non-league at times, but with the right service he can score at this level. Just unlikely to be regularly.
It's a bold prediction and not based on any rational reason or anything that I've seen from him, but I just fancy him to have a season.
I too think Basey could be a good holding midfielder as he gas the physical attributes and a great left foot - he could be interchangeable with Jonnie Jackson too
Think if Racon is here and we have sold Bailey I expect him to show much better performances if only he could play like he did coming on as sub vs Swindon for a full 90 min...
Waggstaff needs to get stronger and needs to beat his man with the ball rather than rely on his pace all the time.
Maybe you do Akpo a bit of a diservice there, Scoham?
Okay 1st touch and finesse are not his outstanding attributes - but he's reasonably effective IMO, and we've all discussed his strengths and weaknesses to the the nth degree already.
But in perhaps half a season in total, often from the bench or not even a sub appearance - he's picked up half a dozen goals.
There was even a little run of 3 in 3 games, if I remember.
IMO with a regular run in the team, with the right players around him and a service suited to his abilities - I reckon he's worth 15 goals next season. As McLovin suggests, he might even be capable of hitting the fabled 20 goals a season mark.
All notional at this point in time, of course. But we'll know in a year's time.
There was even a little run of 3 in 3 games, if I remember.
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yeah, he was our super-sub sodje for awhile.
scored the same amount of goals as Marcus Bent did in his entire time with us.
The non-league bit wasn't meant to sound so harsh, it's the same with a lot of strikers like him, or the likes of McLeod and Dickson. They'll all make stupid decisions at times, give away the ball easily, or miscontrol the ball. That can be ok at this level if they make up for it by scoring goals and offering other things to the team.
Someone like Mooney or Forster won't make so many basic mistakes, but then they don't have the pace or strength to do things a striker like Akpo does.
JPT and League Cup though, that's where his chance might come early on.
Who knows though, hopefully at the very least he'll have made some impact and shown he's just as promising as Steve Gritt is saying he is.
It's not always whether their skill levels on the ball are ready. I think the key to 16 year olds playing at League level invariably depends on how physically strong and developed they are.
At 16, Jonjo was already a 6 footer and amongst the strongest players at his level at that time.
Likewise Rooney was as strong as an ox at 16.
Many players at that age may still have another 2 or 3 years growth to put on.
Scott Parker for example, although promising and had made a handful of occasional appearances, wasn't really rady until he was 20 years old.
And it's not always about physical strength either - a young player also needs to have developed a mental strength and maturity to cope in pressure situations.
Cousins is tall, about 6 ft I think, but in comparison to other England u16s, from what I saw he wasn't the strongest.
Can't always tell how they'll develop physically. Parker became physically and mentally a lot stronger very quickly, I bet plenty of fans didn't see that happening. As said before he was more of an attacking midfielder at a young age.
Well remembered, Scoham.
Parker was creative but lightweight in his very occasional early 1st team appearances - and even though he showed a good 1st touch and an eye for a pass as an attacking midfielder, he couldn't tackle a wet paper bag. Curbs was always very protective of him and never concealed the fact that he always thought Parker was going to be a top player one day.
But he never made any real impact at 1st team level. Konchesky on the other hand, same age, 1st team debut at 16 made far more impression and appearances than Parker.
As we all know, Parker being farmed out to Norwich in the 2nd tier was his wake up call. He was no longer cossetted in Charlton's reserve string, and if he wanted to get a 1st team game at Norwich, he realised he had to roll up his sleeves and graft wherever there was a position, any position.
Playing as a tough tackling defensive midfielder for Norwich, he got rave reviews in his half a dozen or so matches.
And when Kinsella got injured, he was recalled to cover.
Sure, he'd physically toughened up but in that month away he'd also grown up, mentally toughened up.
That was the main difference.
And what a revelation he was in our midfield covering Kinsella. He was ready now; we couldn't believe Parker was the same player.
That's why I want Basey moved inside and if Semedo goes, he's a player that can transform our often profligate or slow cm passing. For me his performance against Barnet at cd was one of the most enthralling/exciting blossomings I've seen in years. OK so I was desperate for him to move inside, and maybe more willing for his success there but his tackling and heading was more dominant than Semedo in the breakdown areas around the box.
I look forward to Waggy. In one season he showed more willingness to bang into 50-50 challenges than Sam has ever shown. If he improves on his covering fb duties like Sam did astronomically in our first season back in the champ, then he'll be a full 90 min player unlike Sam; a player to break the Rommedahl disease.
Basey had a good game v Barnet at centre back, would like to see him play there again. Basey's position next season will surely depend on other players, who stays and who we sign. Could end up fighting for a place at centre back, replacing Semedo in midfield, or still be kept as a left back.
Interesting that most of the talk is about youngsters. Probably a sign of the level of uncertainty going into the new season. Of the others, Akpo, with a long run in the side, will score goals, if only as a battering ram. Would love to see Mooney back next season, but I doubt that's going to happen. Above all, though, the key for me is keeping Semedo. If we do that, and retain a consistent back line with Dailly and hopefully Youga featuring, we've the beginnings of a decent spine to the team.
One for next year - Tuna