English player with a foreign name in Chelsea's youth setup? Davo must love this.
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English player with a foreign name in Chelsea's youth setup? Davo must love this.
I'm not quite sure what I did with poor Dom's name there, meant to type Solanke - haven't even been drinking lol
He's a good player from what I've seen, pity he's at Chelsea.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/who-dominic-solanke-you-need-5391893
Chelsea have 30+ players out on loan, from "established players" like Atsu who I saw was playing for Malaga against Valencia last night , right through to the promising youngsters they have bought up like Issie Brown, who' s also at Vitesse and is the other name you were looking for, a very talented player. Hopefully not a route (30+ loanees) we'll ever follow.
All young players have their own differing needs, and I don't think there's a universal system that's right for all. The much vaunted Spanish B teams has had success, but it will never be replicated in England so it's a bit pointless even speculating about it. Gerri set the league he was playing in for Barca B alight three years ago, developed a bit more on loan for us, saw his career stall last season at Seville and is progressing again with us. My point is the Barca B team didn't deliver a finished product in the same way our loan system just fulfills part of a player's development. Playing at U18/21 is part of that development, suggestions that playing against players their own age is not challenging enough is missing the point. It's in u18 games that Walsh tries out his tricks like scoring from the halfway line, u21s where Connolly scores from 30 yds with his weaker (.?) right foot, Dowell tries and scores an outrageous lob against an experienced GK. They learn, develop, move on up hopefully, try to avoid injuries, get more experience etc. While we have a fairly standard route of u18>u21>loan experience it needn't be rigid and players like Dowell, Connolly, Williams may not follow that route this season but come pre season I expect them to be in a mix with Ledson, Walsh and Kenny. Arguably all of them probably need at least one more year to develop before we can assess them, but who knows one could step up and out of the pack....
And delighted that this needs updating as Callum Connolly is going out on loan to Barnsley. This is well covered in the "Players on Loan" thread so won't repeat, but an excellent move for him. And a knock on effect for younger players like Foulds who has been playing in Connolly's LB position while he plays in the centre , so a likely continuation there even when Holgate comes back or maybe even a chance for Feeny or Foulds to play games as centre backs for the u 21s. U21s have virtually secured their status in the league so no issues there.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
he could end up playing against kenny at wembley on 3rd april if theyre both still out on loan.
Would be nice for him if he's not taking the place of a player who'd earned it . Bit of a reward for missing some sunshine
Unsy : So Callum , you looking forward to going to Dallas later this month? . Hold on , Joe's on the phone , he's arranged a loan for you. How you fancying Barnsley lad?
Kenny and Connolly bombing down their respective wings from FB would of course run into each other ..... interesting
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
I never really understood the Byrne signing. Sometimes a scout sees something in a player though. Maybe they just felt he could lead the line well for the under 21's?
Leandro has been injured a fair bit so hard to say. I would be surprised if he made the grade here but that's just my take on it.
Pennington has always impressed me. At Coventry and then with us. Oddly I think he is also a good right back. I really liked Pennington and would love to see him make it but I think he lacks the physicality to play Centre Half. I also think he is too far down the pecking order at right back and the fact we went so far trying to sign Byram doesn't sit well. I am being harsh but I would be surprised to see him make it at Everton but I really hope he proves me wrong.
As for Grant I thought he was gone really from what I can see. He has done very well at Doncaster and has really come on, they think he is an excellent player. Similar to Pennington last season he has an earned an opportunity. He's grown a fair bit whilst on loan so there is a bit of a left field shout for him. I would be surprised if he got a chance though.
When you consider these questions you have to ask, can you see this player replacing say Mirallas or Cleverley or McCarthy/Barkley from the first team? they are the players he'd be up against. It's a big ask. The same is true of our strong age group however they still have time on their side. I could see Ledson in 2 years having the potential abilities to be a superior player to where Barry is currently.
Likewise with Walsh I can see him being a unique player in 2-3 years, someone none of the senior players play like and who suits Martinez's system.
However by the time you are 20-21 as some of the above I am mentioning are that is the age where you do need to start making a case.
I really think Grant may have a chance, seems a Martinez type of player. Wasn't he one of the first youth players Martinez prmoted to the first team set up? Think if it hadn't been for injuries he'd be around the first team squad now.
It's really difficult to predict who will make, Martinez seems to be working closely with the youth coaches and Royle to give players the best possible chance. I hope any increased revenue doesn't tempt us to forgoe youth as we have a number of players who with a fair wind look capable of becoming premier league players. As mentioned above I never understood the Byram deal, surely that would have spelled the end for a numbe rof youth players like Kenny, Browning etc. As you can't see them be prepared to wait around for 2/3 years until maybe Coleman moves on.
It's really difficult to predict who will make, Martinez seems to be working closely with the youth coaches and Royle to give players the best possible chance. I hope any increased revenue doesn't tempt us to forgoe youth as we have a number of players who with a fair wind look capable of becoming premier league players. As mentioned above I never understood the Byram deal, surely that would have spelled the end for a numbe rof youth players like Kenny, Browning etc. As you can't see them be prepared to wait around for 2/3 years until maybe Coleman moves on.
Stephenlloyd
Player Valuation: £40m
I would be surprised if grant makes it at Everton. Not having a go at any of the youngsters just my opinion. I think at 21 he should be playing at a higher level than Doncaster.
I think he will fall into the category of your 20 something youngsters, who will get moved on soon IE Pennington, Jones mccaleny, Byrne.
Zatara
Player Valuation: £100m
Sounds like you really rate Ledson very highly of you think he can be "superior" to where barry is now in a couple of years time?
He seemed to be getting fantastic reviews at cambridge but then a few people commenting "what does he actually do" as per the on loan thread.
What do you think he could bring to the table? As for Barrys role acting as a pivot we could do with a Busquets replica.
Interesting that we don't have any members in the recently-announced England U17 squad (or, it appears, in the U16s).
(I realise that we might have members in other countries' squads - although all I can find at U-17 level is a keeper for Wales - but over the past few years we have been fairly consistent in having youngsters coming through with England.)
(I realise that we might have members in other countries' squads - although all I can find at U-17 level is a keeper for Wales - but over the past few years we have been fairly consistent in having youngsters coming through with England.)
Yeah we didnt seem to have anybody in England's u16 last year who became this year's u17.
Aaron Jones has played GK for Wales at U16 and U17 . I also noticed the other week that Nathan Broadhead and Ryan Harrington are in the Wales U19 squad to play two friendly matches next week . I don't think they've named their teams yet but both would be likely to play in at least one match. Broadhead has played at this level before and arguably could make a step up to u21 . It may well be Harrington's first U19 call up as he's still a year to go at this level , although he's played u17s for Wales.
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Stephenlloyd
Player Valuation: £40m
I tweeted this last night when I saw it on twitter, not sure how many were in the squad. But all bar 2 from southern clubs. 1 from west brom and 1 from Man City.
Always seems the same at the age groups of under 16/17/18/19. Most play for London clubs.
Last year in the under 18 we came 2nd to Middlesbrough. I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they had any players in England's under 18's. We may have had one or 2
IE. Tom Davies & Nathan Holland.
Just seems to be a massive southern bias
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
byrne has broke his leg. not sure of his contract situation but doubt they planned to offer him another. nightmare for the lad, hope he gets back soon.