ButtleJR said:

Scoham said:

MarcusH26 said:

Wouldn't mind Amos as CDM depth but he's been injured a lot whilst at QPR . Think Smith will go elsewhere unfortunately. 

Smith seems realistic to me, if he’s waiting for Championship offers that now looks unlikely. Are there many L1 clubs throwing big money around?

I don't see where he fits into a 352 when we already have may. Won't join to sit on the bench. 

Leaburn is out for a couple of months.

Beyond that, we'll play a minimum of 51 games, so if we're playing two upfront you could have 3 playing 30, 40 games each.

Squad game these days, we can't go in with May and Leaburn only supported by Aneke and Kanu unless we want Kanu to end up playing 30 odd games.

Any striker coming in should be backing themselves to start well and keep Leaburn on the bench when he comes back anyway.

Manic_mania said:

is there any reason that lad who got 40 odd goals in the u21s couldn't step up to the squad this season? 

Not saying as a regular or anything - if Leaburn and JRS can do it as a couple of teenagers in their first season then why not?

Because not all people age in the same way.  Compare Rooney and Kane, by any metric, from 17 to 22.

Bowyer was a first team star for us at 18.  Parker wasn't. 

Callumcafc said:

I'd still love to see Nombe but he won't be cheap - alternative would be Smith or would like to see us go after Stansfield on a loan deal. Think him and May together would do some serious damage.

I think stansfield is in a similar position to Rak-Sakyi. He will either be part of Fulham’s squad or on loan in the championship. Don’t think there’s any chance of him coming back to this level 

Manic_mania said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Manic_mania said:

is there any reason that lad who got 40 odd goals in the u21s couldn't step up to the squad this season? 

Not saying as a regular or anything - if Leaburn and JRS can do it as a couple of teenagers in their first season then why not?

Because not all people age in the same way.  Compare Rooney and Kane, by any metric, from 17 to 22.

Bowyer was a first team star for us at 18.  Parker wasn't. 

can you elaborate a bit on this? Not saying you are wrong, but are you basing this assessment on size? maturity? mindset? the "X Factor"? I don't know anything about youth football, or what means someone can "make it" 

If we were still Prem and a lad like Casey came around scoring for fun in u21 competition - wouldn't we be looking for a league 1 or 2 club to loan him out to this season? 

I dunno... i'm just asking the question.

It's an impossible question to answer because there are so many variables.

Rooney was a "man" at 17, probably in the best 5 players in the world at 20.  Kane couldn't get in the Leicester team at 20.  

Troy Parrot, who could be an example for the second paragraph didn't really set the world alight when Spurs loaned him out to league 1 clubs.  He might still come good though.

Cesc Fàbregas was a first team regular at Arsenal when he was 17, he didn't have the obvious physical advantage Rooney had.

Bowyer and Shevley were at about 80% of the player they would become when they were 18 or 19, Parker was about 60%.  

There is a good interview with Nick Powell going round at the moment.  At 17-18 he had the world at his feet, at 30 he has just signed for Stockport.

There is Adrian Doherty

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/nov/15/adrian-doherty-manchester-united-class-of-92

It's not an exact science, Bojan, is another one. Actually a lot of these played for Stoke so it's probably @bobmunro fault!

In short, if a player has done well in u18/u21 football there is no guarantee that they will "make it" and because some players are ready at 17/18 doesn't mean everyone will be.  Unless your playing at 3 or 4 levels below your "natural" level most players aren't ready as teenagers.  The ones that are are special.

Manic_mania said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Manic_mania said:

is there any reason that lad who got 40 odd goals in the u21s couldn't step up to the squad this season? 

Not saying as a regular or anything - if Leaburn and JRS can do it as a couple of teenagers in their first season then why not?

Because not all people age in the same way.  Compare Rooney and Kane, by any metric, from 17 to 22.

Bowyer was a first team star for us at 18.  Parker wasn't. 

can you elaborate a bit on this? Not saying you are wrong, but are you basing this assessment on size? maturity? mindset? the "X Factor"? I don't know anything about youth football, or what means someone can "make it" 

If we were still Prem and a lad like Casey came around scoring for fun in u21 competition - wouldn't we be looking for a league 1 or 2 club to loan him out to this season? 

I dunno... i'm just asking the question.

Kanu looked lethal at youth level but as soon as he stepped up he looked like exactly what he is/was - a boy against men.

That's not to say he won't still come good but pure talent isn't enough for a breakthrough season. If you look at some of the younger ones who do make it, they are often absolute units (a la Leaburn, or Rooney) or have speed or athleticism way beyond their years.

A breakthrough season for a promising kid SHOULD be a happy unplanned bonus and not actually part of any plan.

thenewbie said:

Manic_mania said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Manic_mania said:

is there any reason that lad who got 40 odd goals in the u21s couldn't step up to the squad this season? 

Not saying as a regular or anything - if Leaburn and JRS can do it as a couple of teenagers in their first season then why not?

Because not all people age in the same way.  Compare Rooney and Kane, by any metric, from 17 to 22.

Bowyer was a first team star for us at 18.  Parker wasn't. 

can you elaborate a bit on this? Not saying you are wrong, but are you basing this assessment on size? maturity? mindset? the "X Factor"? I don't know anything about youth football, or what means someone can "make it" 

If we were still Prem and a lad like Casey came around scoring for fun in u21 competition - wouldn't we be looking for a league 1 or 2 club to loan him out to this season? 

I dunno... i'm just asking the question.

Kanu looked lethal at youth level but as soon as he stepped up he looked like exactly what he is/was - a boy against men.

That's not to say he won't still come good but pure talent isn't enough for a breakthrough season. If you look at some of the younger ones who do make it, they are often absolute units (a la Leaburn, or Rooney) or have speed or athleticism way beyond their years.

A breakthrough season for a promising kid SHOULD be a happy unplanned bonus and not actually part of any plan.

Think he has suffered having to play as a lone striker. 

Speaking to some Exeter supporting family and they reckon they’d be asking £1m-£1.25m for Nombe…

ShootersHillGuru said:

Smithy said:

Speaking to some Exeter supporting family and they reckon they’d be asking £1m-£1.25m for Nombe…

I think that similar to what Peterborough will end up asking for Clarke-Harris as his contract is up next summer. I think both will end up going for less.

Yeah it's a part of the game that is transfers. Setting out a "public" price that is above market value so you can negotiate to the actual value you expected all along.

Unless your Charlton of course and flog off everyone on the cheap

Mendonca In Asdas said:

United's new Wout Weghorst?

We're about to sign.............

tangoflash said:

We're about to sign.............

When at midday?

I think Sam Smith to Reading makes the most sense, youth career there and they've got the clear to make signings now 

ShootersHillGuru said:

Smithy said:

Speaking to some Exeter supporting family and they reckon they’d be asking £1m-£1.25m for Nombe…

I think that similar to what Peterborough will end up asking for Clarke-Harris as his contract is up next summer. I think both will end up going for less.

Exeter are under no pressure to sell for a low price. Peterborough will have a much higher wage bill and one way or another will need a return on JCH.