: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:43 am  

Are we going to be the first SL team that has more people watching the academy than the first team.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:19 am  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Recent history suggests that Hyde would be on the bench, and get about four minutes at the end.

...which tells us very little about whether a player is 'ready', to be honest

If they bring him on after half time drinks Hyde could be a really dangerous player.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:53 am  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Recent history suggests that Hyde would be on the bench, and get about four minutes at the end.

...which tells us very little about whether a player is 'ready', to be honest

I dont think MacNamara is under any obligation to tell us whether a player is ready or not. The practise of giving young players the chance to sample the matchday routine without too much pressure, before being given steadily increasing game time, seems to me to be emminently sensible. It mystifies me why its derided so much.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:39 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I dont think MacNamara is under any obligation to tell us whether a player is ready or not. The practise of giving young players the chance to sample the matchday routine without too much pressure, before being given steadily increasing game time, seems to me to be emminently sensible. It mystifies me why its derided so much.

Aren't we constantly being told it's a 17 man game not 16+4mins

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:58 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I dont think MacNamara is under any obligation to tell us whether a player is ready or not. The practise of giving young players the chance to sample the matchday routine without too much pressure, before being given steadily increasing game time, seems to me to be emminently sensible. It mystifies me why its derided so much.

Because it's stupid putting a player on the bench with the only intention of giving him a few minutes at the end. This could be used for a player who is going to go on to the field and actually do a job.

It there is no intention or is to scared to use the youngster he could always have the young player come down into the dressing room, get changed, warm up and sit on the bench on a matchday all with the first teamers, going through the exact same match day routine and everything anyway, because effectivey that is all they are doing.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:13 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I dont think MacNamara is under any obligation to tell us whether a player is ready or not. The practise of giving young players the chance to sample the matchday routine without too much pressure, before being given steadily increasing game time, seems to me to be emminently sensible. It mystifies me why its derided so much.

Isn't the role of the 18th man a perfect opportunity to do this.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:21 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I dont think MacNamara is under any obligation to tell us whether a player is ready or not. The practise of giving young players the chance to sample the matchday routine without too much pressure, before being given steadily increasing game time, seems to me to be emminently sensible. It mystifies me why its derided so much.

...because, as others have pointed out, they could sample matchday by being the 18th man.

Using a valuable bench spot for someone who isn't trusted to actually take part in the game strikes me as eminently unsensible frankly. All it does it load more work onto the 16 other players. Superleague is too competitive these days to play 16 against 17....

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:26 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Isn't the role of the 18th man a perfect opportunity to do this.

Indeed.

If you are only going to give a youngster 4 minutes you might as well have him as 18th man, going through all the warm-ups and team talks with the team and sitting on the bench during the game, and naming a sub who you actually have the faith in to use.

The 4 minute system we seem to have developed places an extra burden on the team in my opinion, and can't exactly inspire confidence in the spare wheel named.

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:48 pm  

Asim wrote:

The 4 minute system we seem to have developed places an extra burden on the team in my opinion, and can't exactly inspire confidence in the spare wheel named.

Were they really subs, I just though he sent them on to warm down...

McNamara's interchange policy has never made any sense and has been pivotal in introducing uncertainty, confusion and in some circumstances collapse. Did anyone press him on this at the forum?

: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:53 pm  

I agree in part that if someone is on the bench then they should be used.

However, look at Elliot Whitehead prior to his injury, his game time and progression increased pretty satisfactorily I'd say!?