Shows playing kids v men is not really the answer. They now have to be developed properly.
The Prem has moved on and is now far more demanding.
Bring through a Woodgate, Kewell, Robinson, Harte, Smith, McPhail etc at 17/18 is virtually impossible. The physical demands now are far more intense and the standard has increased sgnificantly.
The EL cup just offers Prem teams a chance to look at how far their U21s are really away from first team football.
Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle have loads of decent kids but did not fair well against a proper mens side.
Gotts, Hosannah, Hudson and Stevens all looked like they had the right potential but the step up to the Prem is huge and we do not have the time to develop them, such are the demands of wanting to challenge or stay up in this division.
If we were in L1 or even the Championship I am sure they would have been given their chances - like Howson, Byram, Taylor, Mowatt, Peacock-Farrell etc. In the big boys league, you just need to show you can do it from the off.
Potential is only great if you realise it and achieve it.
Played well in this first half, dominated possession and territory for the main part. You can guess where we are soft can't you? 2-0 down after 30 mins 😒
I'll give a lot of credit to Sean McGurk - he is looking a proper player
Oh dear, just shows how far our U18s/U19s are away from playing in the first team.
Tranmere have Nicky Maynard and Peter Clarke in their team. Veterans with 100s of games experience in the FL + all the rest seem to be older guys too.
3-0 down at half time. We have not played badly but they have taken their chances clinically. McGurk has looked pretty decent and I like Max Dean too but both are probably at least 3 years away from playing regular mens football.
All our development age teams must be crap anyway....
If Geldhart and Greenwood can't get in ahead of Roberts, who will no doubt get yet another chance on Friday, then they MUST be crap....
I just don't understand how Geldhart can be Player Of The Year in a struggling Wigan team in the Championship 2yrs ago whilst Roberts struggled with playing in the Champions team in the Championship.... with more space, freedom, less stress etc etc.
Has Geldhart not got used to the Bielsa style of play yet!!
I don't see the point of rushing Gelhardt into the first team if he isn't ready - in the U23 matches I've watched he's been OK but not looked like a world beater - the only one who has stood out as ready is Summerville and he is getting onto the bench every week for the first team now.
I think the progress of the U23 setup has been really rapid, as have the expectations on the first team, so it's better for the protection and development of these lads to have them play together, get confident together, given most of this batch are about 19 years old.
Funny how 20 year old Gotts and 20 year old Stevens have looked real good at their new club in league 2 playing against men. Fact we are are using 15 & 17 years old in the under 23's instead is telling.
Shows playing kids v men is not really the answer. They now have to be developed properly.
The Prem has moved on and is now far more demanding.
Bring through a Woodgate, Kewell, Robinson, Harte, Smith, McPhail etc at 17/18 is virtually impossible. The physical demands now are far more intense and the standard has increased sgnificantly.
The EL cup just offers Prem teams a chance to look at how far their U21s are really away from first team football.
Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle have loads of decent kids but did not fair well against a proper mens side.
Gotts, Hosannah, Hudson and Stevens all looked like they had the right potential but the step up to the Prem is huge and we do not have the time to develop them, such are the demands of wanting to challenge or stay up in this division.
If we were in L1 or even the Championship I am sure they would have been given their chances - like Howson, Byram, Taylor, Mowatt, Peacock-Farrell etc. In the big boys league, you just need to show you can do it from the off.
Potential is only great if you realise it and achieve it.
On lutv tonight @7pm or if you can get to Tranmere £5 on the gate
Played well in this first half, dominated possession and territory for the main part. You can guess where we are soft can't you? 2-0 down after 30 mins 😒
I'll give a lot of credit to Sean McGurk - he is looking a proper player
Oh dear, just shows how far our U18s/U19s are away from playing in the first team.
Tranmere have Nicky Maynard and Peter Clarke in their team. Veterans with 100s of games experience in the FL + all the rest seem to be older guys too.
3-0 down at half time. We have not played badly but they have taken their chances clinically. McGurk has looked pretty decent and I like Max Dean too but both are probably at least 3 years away from playing regular mens football.
Dont think I can bear to watch the second half.
Been good to see Miller get on the scoresheet. 3-1
All our development age teams must be crap anyway....
If Geldhart and Greenwood can't get in ahead of Roberts, who will no doubt get yet another chance on Friday, then they MUST be crap....
I just don't understand how Geldhart can be Player Of The Year in a struggling Wigan team in the Championship 2yrs ago whilst Roberts struggled with playing in the Champions team in the Championship.... with more space, freedom, less stress etc etc.
Has Geldhart not got used to the Bielsa style of play yet!!
I don't see the point of rushing Gelhardt into the first team if he isn't ready - in the U23 matches I've watched he's been OK but not looked like a world beater - the only one who has stood out as ready is Summerville and he is getting onto the bench every week for the first team now.
I think the progress of the U23 setup has been really rapid, as have the expectations on the first team, so it's better for the protection and development of these lads to have them play together, get confident together, given most of this batch are about 19 years old.
Funny how 20 year old Gotts and 20 year old Stevens have looked real good at their new club in league 2 playing against men. Fact we are are using 15 & 17 years old in the under 23's instead is telling.