I have been underwhelmed by Ephraim and think Harriott would be good cover. With kids in mind I'd also like to see Osborne play a part at Fulham to see if he could step up to 4th choice CB. Otherwise, perhaps give Azeez a cameo against Fulham or get Zak Ansah in, if rumours of Hayes departure are solid.
Clueless. Just because you watch the youth team play, it doesn't mean they should be playing against Premiership opposition.
We'd be very popular with our 7,000 fans, if we put out a team with a few youth team players in it.
Playing a part or cameo doesn't mean playing 90 minutes. Many sides blood youngsters against top sides to give them a "big day" and 17/18yo players are not rarities up and down the divisions. If we want some strength in depth we can only reallly do it with kids when only 4 outfield players are on the bench. Otherwise you get senior pro's who don't get a look in, or even many reserve games to shake the cobwebs out. How many will sit in the stands and bank the money happily?
I see what you're saying, I think, but don't agree that we should use up 2 of our outfield sub positions on youth team players.
The two most talked about positions seem to be right back and centre midfield. I actually believe their two of our strongest in terms of numbers:
Right back - we have solly, morrison, hughes, warren, cousins and mambo that can play there. Yes, I agree that only Solly has proved his quality there, and also that we need Morrison at centre half. But with Morrison at right back and Cort and Taylor at CB, I would still be confident of a clean sheet. We could always bring one in on loan to cover, and I think Warren, Mambo and Cousins could all do a decent job. Look at Jenkinson, came in, impressed, went off to play in the Champions League.
Centre Midfield - Hollands, Stephens, Hughes, Pritchard, Jackson, Bover, Alonso, Euell. Thats 8 players who can play centre midfield. I think we're definately covered here, I think Russell covered Stephens but now he's due back we will be fine, even if Alonso never plays.
I would sign Hogan up to complete the midfield and maybe bring in a 4th centre back and get rid of Doherty. Thats it for me, a striker would be ok but only if Hayes leaves do we need one IMO.
I have been underwhelmed by Ephraim and think Harriott would be good cover. With kids in mind I'd also like to see Osborne play a part at Fulham to see if he could step up to 4th choice CB. Otherwise, perhaps give Azeez a cameo against Fulham or get Zak Ansah in, if rumours of Hayes departure are solid.
Clueless. Just because you watch the youth team play, it doesn't mean they should be playing against Premiership opposition.
We'd be very popular with our 7,000 fans, if we put out a team with a few youth team players in it.
Playing a part or cameo doesn't mean playing 90 minutes. Many sides blood youngsters against top sides to give them a "big day" and 17/18yo players are not rarities up and down the divisions. If we want some strength in depth we can only reallly do it with kids when only 4 outfield players are on the bench. Otherwise you get senior pro's who don't get a look in, or even many reserve games to shake the cobwebs out. How many will sit in the stands and bank the money happily?
Correction: Quality 17/18 year old players appear up and down the divisions. If Harriott, Azeez and Osborne were good enough they'd be playing in L1 like Jonjo and Waggy did. They don't even get near the first team squad against the likes of Bury and Chesterfield so they're hardly going to be able to do a job against Premiership opposition. Do you really think Osborne can defend against the likes of Zamora, Dempsey and Ruiz? All it would do would shatter his confidence getting thrown in at the deep end, torn apart and then dropped back to the kids. End of the season with little or nothing at stake is the time to give these players a chance so that if it does go wrong they don't have the pressure of feeling they cost the team. their desire to take their chance is invariably sufficient incentive in these game.
Also, althought the number of subs was reduced in the FL, you can still name 7 subs in the FA Cup
Addickted4life has given a good list of cover for all positions. We have the depth and what we don't need is a bloated squad where players get pissed off by not having a chance of playing. I would like to see a couple of youngsters given a run out around April when promotion is already secured (!!) but not in the cup against Fulham for the reasons set out above.
I think the only position we need to make a real compromise in is right back if a change is required. You can't expect or judge most of our reserves against first teamers but in relation to the league, these are top League One Players who would get into most teams. I wouldn't like to see eleven changes but we could cope with four quite easily against most League one opponents.
Evina is not as good a Wiggins but is a great prospect and Wiggins is the best left back in the division by a long way. Cort has done well when he has played and is a real threat at the other end with his height, Pritchard, Hughes and Russell have proved they can fill in well, Waggy is as good a back up right winger as you get in this league, Ephrain likewise on the left. Clarke and Hayes are good back up strikers - more than happy. Just need that right back and we can stick with what we have.
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Also, althought the number of subs was reduced in the FL, you can still name 7 subs in the FA Cup
Evina is not as good a Wiggins but is a great prospect and Wiggins is the best left back in the division by a long way. Cort has done well when he has played and is a real threat at the other end with his height, Pritchard, Hughes and Russell have proved they can fill in well, Waggy is as good a back up right winger as you get in this league, Ephrain likewise on the left. Clarke and Hayes are good back up strikers - more than happy. Just need that right back and we can stick with what we have.