Ben Steveson signs...best midfielder in country (2 Viewers)

[simonregis]

OMG Otis I have always held you in high asteem but if you want to be compared to Clughie AND Gary Glitter then I won't eat your apple.

 

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[Otis]

OMG Otis I have always held you in high asteem but if you want to be compared to Clughie AND Gary Glitter then I won't eat your apple.

Is that a metaphor or something? :thinking about:

 

[simonregis]

I use a lot of my own metaphors me old icelaandica

 

[Otis]

Usually people want to pop my cherry. Never had anyone want to bite my apple.

 

[simonregis]

Usually people want to pop my cherry. Never had anyone want to bite my apple.

Well it's your lucky day Putin's pet

 

[AGSB15]

We need to treat him carefully, but if he's good enough he should be in and around the first team squad. Not suggesting for a second that he can suddenly play a full campaign in the first team, but if he's that good then I see no reason why he can't be involved in at least part of the campaign.

I watched a lot of the 18's and 21's this season. He was outstanding in the 18's but didn't feature all that much for the 21's. Next season he will be training with the 1st team but as far as games go I think he will only play 21's. Maybe he'll make the bench a couple of times for the 1st team but I suppose it all depends on how many new faces Mowbray brings in.

 

[ricohman]

Seems to have it all, power, passing, good tackler, even some decent skill

 

[Joelly]

Youll all be calling him crap and useless after he doesnt set the world alight after his first few games just like EVERY SINGLE ACADEMY GRADUATE

 

[shy_tall_knight]

We've produced about 7 quality academy graduates since relegation about 1 every other season, what will determine our season won't be our untried academy players. I think too much is made by the club about these like a marketing exercise. This player looks good at youth level I have a good memory about last season, Swindon at home where we were totally outclassed and I want there to be no games like that next season and I don't think inexperienced academy lads will deliver that.

 

[Otis]

We've produced about 7 quality academy graduates since relegation about 1 every other season, what will determine our season won't be our untried academy players. I think too much is made by the club about these like a marketing exercise. This player looks good at youth level I have a good memory about last season, Swindon at home where we were totally outclassed and I want there to be no games like that next season and I don't think inexperienced academy lads will deliver that.

Think the issue is in terms of quantity. If had say for instance Maddison and Stevenson, or Thomas, then that's fine. You don't want 5 or 6 kids though all in the same team, all at the same time.

 

[sw88]

Some of those balls spread out wide or up front were played to perfection!

Not a fan of his 'slide on knees like a kid at a disco' celebration though. Although atleast he got some practice in the first highlight celebrating in front of an empty stand

 

[shy_tall_knight]

I don't want excuses for poor performances to be down to academy players gaining experience. I think SP genuinely believed in the promotion of youth players but it was often out of necessity and as a policy was shown to be a sham as he started promoting other team's youth players. Jack Finch wss totally out of his depth last season, Connor Thomas has played over 100 games for the club, he will go the way of Jordan Clarke, Issac Osbourne.

The 1987 cup team had 2 players from the youth team Lloyd and Sedgeley. Youth products can be great but lets not hide behind this policy to justify poor results we need to go for promotion / play-offs no excuses.

 

[mrtrench]

Think the issue is in terms of quantity. If had say for instance Maddison and Stevenson, or Thomas, then that's fine. You don't want 5 or 6 kids though all in the same team, all at the same time.

Is Thomas still a kid? He's 22 this year, so if he is, this is his last year of being one.

 

[Jayno]

Is Thomas still a kid? He's 22 this year, so if he is, this is his last year of being one.

I think this refers to George Thomas not Connor Thomas

 

[shmmeee]

Not all Academy kids have to be sold at a profit to be worth the investment. How many more shit players, often on more money and longer contracts than your average kid, would we have needed without a steady stream of Academy players recently. I'd argue the likes of Haynes, Phillips, Willis, etc have done a decent job even if they're not world beaters. Jordan Clarke and Isaac Osborne as well.

 

[Jayno]

Not all Academy kids have to be sold at a profit to be worth the investment. How many more shit players, often on more money and longer contracts than your average kid, would we have needed without a steady stream of Academy players recently. I'd argue the likes of Haynes, Phillips, Willis, etc have done a decent job even if they're not world beaters. Jordan Clarke and Isaac Osborne as well.

Absolutely. Most of these new lads have been in the academy for 10 years plus. To get in in the academy in the first place and then still be there 10 years later....they must be special as highlighted by their last season. They now just need exposure and support of their fans, the future is bright with these players.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

Issac Osbourne - yes but Jordan Clarke & connor have played far too much for the club and the reason being I feel is that they are academy graduates they get extra time to develop as opposed to new players. Aaron Ryan & jordan willis hopefully will develop into good players but whilst i recognise the financial constraints not prepared to accept defeats poor performances on "we're developing the youth" its a management / club cop out, club is at its lowest point and needs success now not talk of potential future sucess.