: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:29 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I'd be careful. When Wigan were going through a spell like ours under Millward they played a lot of youngsters who took years to get over the experience.

If we do bring any in I'd restrict it to one or two at a time.

That's what I am saying, 1 or 2 at a time, then they are surrounded by experienced players.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:31 pm  

Terry Monster wrote:

I think 30 of them train with the first team squad day in day out except Straughier, im not sure I spelt that right. That makes them first team squad members in my books.

It doesn't mean the intention to use them as part of the squad on a regular basis was there though.

You'd have to be very careful blooding young players in this scenario, coming into struggling teams can set back, or ruin a promising player - it's not just a physical or performance thing, it can be a mental one too.

There's enough expectation being placed on these young players by the clubs approach as it is, throwing them into a struggling team losing more often than not could be very counter-productive.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:32 pm  

Terry Monster wrote:

That's what I am saying, 1 or 2 at a time, then they are surrounded by experienced players.

Whitehead and Olbison have been named in the squad this season already so maybe they're first in the queue? Then there's Donaldson too.

I remember in 98 Matt Elliott was forced by injury and loss of form to give a few youngsters a shot. They were aged between 16 and 19. Their names were Paul Deacon, Stuart Fielden and Leon Pryce. Now I don't know if we have any prospects like that but it's worth a shot playing them at some stage soon.

[Bullseye]

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:34 pm  

Asim wrote:

It doesn't mean the intention to use them as part of the squad on a regular basis was there though.

You'd have to be very careful blooding young players in this scenario, coming into struggling teams can set back, or ruin a promising player - it's not just a physical or performance thing, it can be a mental one too.

There's enough expectation being placed on these young players by the clubs approach as it is, throwing them into a struggling team losing more often than not could be very counter-productive.

I'd be more likely to play any youngsters at Wakey than give them their debuts this Friday.

Fact is that the present side isn't likely to start taking SL by storm and we all know we're too skint to buy players so the kids are going to get a game soon I think.

[Pumpetypump]

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:34 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Paul Deacon, Stuart Fielden and Leon Pryce.

Pah. Glass palate, glass jaw and glass thrower. Set of wasters the lot of them.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:35 pm  

Saints always seem to do it. Wigan did it with Tomkins...

If they are good enough then let some of them play. The "senior" players should not be untouchable.

Questions need to be asked, what does Halley have to do to get a starting spot? He was doing the business last year when Platt was either banned or injured, then we dropped him. He is a local lad and will always give 100%.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:36 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I'd be more likely to play any youngsters at Wakey than give them their debuts this Friday.

Fact is that the present side isn't likely to start taking SL by storm and we all know we're too skint to buy players so the kids are going to get a game soon I think.

Indeed, but not on a wholesale basis that some seem to be favouring.

I'm sure they'll all get the McNamara treatment soon, a bench spot with five or six minutes playing time before being hauled off.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:50 pm  

Asim wrote:

It doesn't mean the intention to use them as part of the squad on a regular basis was there though.

You'd have to be very careful blooding young players in this scenario, coming into struggling teams can set back, or ruin a promising player - it's not just a physical or performance thing, it can be a mental one too.

There's enough expectation being placed on these young players by the clubs approach as it is, throwing them into a struggling team losing more often than not could be very counter-productive.

It means that they are there to be used if they need to be. Thats why they are there, because they are considered good enough to offer competition for places. You have to be careful, but you shouldn't be over cautious, holding them back can mean that they don't develop as fast as they would because they are not getting the chance to play alongside and against the top guys. Every youngster gets a smacking from an established player the come up against, it's part of their development - Even Steve Renouf got dominated by Big Mal on occasions, it didn't do him any harm, in fact look at how good he turned out to be. Good youngsters dont have their careers ruined or set back because they get knocked about every now and then, they just get up, dust themselves down and get on with it.

I'm not saying make wholesale changes but there needs to be something done, there needs to be an injection of enthusiasm in the team and playing a youngster or a couple of good youngsters for a few games would be a good start. The Aussies do it, Saints, Leeds and Wigan do it, it doesn't bother them.

Jason Crookes and Kieron Hyde should be seriously pushing for a 1st team place, these boys are boys that can make a difference and we should be using them.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:56 pm  

totally agree. These younger players will be going elsewhere if they do not get an opportunity when the first team are playing crap week in week out.....

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:46 am  

if you're going to bring in young players do you want to put them into pivotal positions (half backs for example) in their first game?