Appleton complained the other day that he had only 25 players to choose from - the academy lads are not ready yet he asserts
We have 32 players to choose from as first team players (now inc Billy Daniels).
Of those, using his criteria that academy not ready
Willis (2 subs app)
Phillips
Ruffels (2 sub apps)
Burge (keeper)
Daniels
Wilson (2 sub apps)
Are all academy so exclude them that leaves 26 players to choose from
There are 2 out on loan
McPake
ROD
that leaves 24 players to pick from
there are 3 keepers
Murphy
Dunn
Ireland (injured I think)
you would expect to have 2 so call it 23 to choose from
of the rest the following have very limited first team experience and ideally to get the best development for the youngsters wouldnt play as much (as Appleton says we should protect the youngsters but we cant because of our finances). We have had to use them, it wasnt necessarily out of choice that they have played the games they have, there were no other alternatives available
Bigirimana 14 apps 7 sub (18yo)
Thomas 22 apps 5 sub (18yo)
Christie 29 apps 6 sub (19yo)
Jeffers 5 apps 31 sub (including loan spells) (19yo)
Cameron 31 apps 8 sub (20yo)
Using Appletons reasoning these lads would not have played in the first team at his club. So to compare similar with similar that leaves 18 senior players to choose from if fit ...... oh i forgot Eastwood, Wood, Bell, Hreidarrsson, Baker and possibly McSheffery & McDonald arent fit are they
There is I believe one 17yo in the pompey squad all the rest are 21 plus. Yes it is down to 17 players on their website but they expect to bring in players on loan, and if someone gets injured they will be allowed to bring in a loan or academy player. We on the other hand wont be able to cover injuries with loans...... in fact we could be down to 11 fit senior players including 2 keepers by the look of it but because we have used academy players our squad is deemed to be ok
Way it seems is that Pompey are now at a senior playing staff level that we started the season with, but have an ability to bring in from outside whereas we do not. I know it isnt their fans fault they deserve much better, the club hasnt broken the league rules by not using academy players - but I would like someone to explain clearly to me how this situation is fair. No we havent got the threat of administration but in a very real sense welcome to our world on the pitch pompey, i dont have much sympathy for you.
Having got that off my chest..... we get on with it, the youngsters have pretty much done us proud this season and are the future of our club ...... the future without gambling huge amounts of money on players we cant afford. Long term it might be to our advantage.