The under 21 option is a horrible way to build mate, yea bring in players to the academy to develop but not signing a load of kids as starters unless they are already exceptional and already playing at a good level in which case they are gonna be in huge demand.
The key she range is 21-24, players who've developed already but still with the potential to improve. You supplement those with some more experienced players who add experience and discipline into the side - professionalism so to speak.
Look at the side Kendall built and it was pretty much spit on along those lines.
We have as of now the following.
Pickford (30), Tarkowski (32), Beto (26), McNeil (25), Mykolenko (25), Harrison (28), Mangala (26)
Branthwaite (22), O'Brien (23), Garner (23), Ndiaye (24), Lindstrom (24), Patterson (23), Broja (23), Iroengbunam (21).
Chermiti (20) Armstrong (18)
Players OOC this summer
DCL (27), Gueye (35), Keane (32), Doucoure (32), Coleman (36), Young (39)
Assuming certain things now just for the purpose of our team next season, say all players I the last year of the deal leave, say all loans leave (besides Lindstrom because he's boss and affordable). And assuming we sell Beto as basically we clearly are.
Then of our side right now 9/11 of the players aged 26 or over will not be here next season - Leaving just Pickford (a keeper so kinda not a normal position she wise to look at) and Tarkowski.
The only players under 26 leaving would be Broja and for arguments same keys say Patterson too as it honestly looks like he will never be favoured and he has done value as a sale still (recouping fees seems a priority for Thelwell).
We'd have
4 players aged over 24 (one the keeper)
8 guys aged 21-24
2 aged below 21
The veteran players would be Pickford, Tarkowski, McNeil and Mykolenko.
Fir me that's lacking in experience and the right type of mentality/grit you need, not enough players who would guide the younger ones and you need that in the side.
We have the balance I'd say about right, but as we clearly need to add between 8-10 players from now until the summer, you need o try to maintain that balance, so you'd want to add 2-3 in the older range, 4-5 in the middle range and 1-2 you get players.
Then it's about getting the right type of older players in, you want ones who are good pros, have the right mentality abd if possible are driven. Get it wrong and you get guys after a last retirement payday, get it right it's a player with a point to prove who can really drive progression on the less experienced players.
Two examples of doing it the wrong way are us and United recently who haven't thought about building a team but just buying individual players with zero thoughts of the whole.
Huge post I know, and yeah we get want us to sign a host of 21yo prospects, but it's be an absolute recipe for disaster in this league - it can work in a weak league for a dominant team like PSV, Ajax etc but not here mate.
So when we are linked with a KWP or Richarlison type the thought needs to not be he's too old etc but rather how does he fit into the idea of building a proper team.
