Time to blood some of the youngsters

[Christies Child]

Now that we are safe and final position is not that important (to me) I'd like Jimbo to give both Hedley and Jordan a full 90 minutes to see if they can handle League 2 football in preparation for next season when I suspect that our budget will dictate that we have a young squad with this seasons more experienced pros opting to go elsewhere.

We can write off this season as being not what any of us wanted, but now is the time to be looking forward and the last remainding games would give Jimbo an indication of how our youngsters can perform at a higher level.

[KenH]

Now that we are safe and final position is not that important (to me) I'd like Jimbo to give both Hedley and Jordan a full 90 minutes to see if they can handle League 2 football in preparation for next season when I suspect that our budget will dictate that we have a young squad with this seasons more experienced pros opting to go elsewhere.

We can write off this season as being not what any of us wanted, but now is the time to be looking forward and the last remainding games would give Jimbo an indication of how our youngsters can perform at a higher level.

I think we've tried that in the past and ended up with egg on our faces. Our only real recent success from the youngsters has been McGowan but even he had some very poor first appearances, yet had been a good achiever as captain in reserve matches. I don't think Jim/Ken rate Hedley, even though he's the reserves captain. He had made a couple of first team appearances and often on the bench a couple of years ago, but I don't think he's even made the bench more than 2/3 times this season and seems to have been a last resort subbie when short of numbers rather than there have been any plan to play him. If he was a realistic prospect of the first team, he'd have made a lot more appearances by now. Shame, really, as I thought he was good when I've watched him in the reserves. As for Jordan, not seen enough of him, but after a few appearances, he seems to have disappeared again. Given how few times they've been on the bench and how few appearances, I can't imagine either are in Jim/Ken's plans for next season other than bench warming again. We seem to be more of a supply chain for Kendal these days!

[CityShrimp]

I agree with CC, seen as the youth team might be all we have next season, we might as well prepare them as best we can now!

[Christies Child]

To reply to Ken, it begs the question if Jim and Co are really interested in developing our youngsters as they seem to prefer using the likes of Murphy who has been a huge disappointment for me...even allowing for his injuries.

[BoroRedShrimp]

We haven't a clue until the court case has finished on what is going to happen. I would rather keep a positive mind that all will be sorted out for us to have a squad of experienced players as well as Jim come August. Two games is not enough to throw these youngsters in the deep end for 90 mins. Leyton Orient fielded youngsters this season & they finshed bottom. I do think we need to give youngsters a chance but throughout the season off the bench to see what they can do.

[Christies Child]

We haven't a clue until the court case has finished on what is going to happen. I would rather keep a positive mind that all will be sorted out for us to have a squad of experienced players as well as Jim come August. Two games is not enough to throw these youngsters in the deep end for 90 mins. Leyton Orient fielded youngsters this season & they finshed bottom. I do think we need to give youngsters a chance but throughout the season off the bench to see what they can do.

Just feel that we've nothing to play for as we are already safe, but that's my thinking but otehrs will have their own thoughts.

[black morse]

This seems to be a repetitive theme of yours CC every year. I seem to remember quite a few youngsters you've pushed for in the past and they have not been successful. I agree with Boro Red, to throw a youngster in for the full 90 mins is asking too much. Of the bench is the way so long as they have long enough to prove themselves.....20 mins ?

[Christies Child]

This seems to be a repetitive theme of yours CC every year. I seem to remember quite a few youngsters you've pushed for in the past and they have not been successful. I agree with Boro Red, to throw a youngster in for the full 90 mins is asking too much. Of the bench is the way so long as they have long enough to prove themselves.....20 mins ?

For me 90 minutes at the end of a season when we've little to play for is far better that 20 minutes during the height of a season when results are all important.

And yes, I'm all in favour of giving youth a go. Otherwise what's the point in having a youuth team? After some of the performances this season by some more experienced players then Jim has to look to next season with a possible further reduction in his budget. But as i said before I don't expect others to agree, but that's the beauty of this forum. we disagree but we ALL support the club.

[George Dawes]

that time of season again(Groundhog Day)

we've had threads like this for the past 4 seasons or so, when once we've reached safey "let's blood the youngsters" can't see why Jim will do anything different to previous seasons at this stage with selection.

PS. not sure if you can get fined for playing weekend sides, as it's not fair to the rest of the teams with points to play for.

[BoroRedShrimp]

This seems to be a repetitive theme of yours CC every year. I seem to remember quite a few youngsters you've pushed for in the past and they have not been successful. I agree with Boro Red, to throw a youngster in for the full 90 mins is asking too much. Of the bench is the way so long as they have long enough to prove themselves.....20 mins ?

For me 90 minutes at the end of a season when we've little to play for is far better that 20 minutes during the height of a season when results are all important.

And yes, I'm all in favour of giving youth a go. Otherwise what's the point in having a youth team? After some of the performances this season by some more experienced players then Jim has to look to next season with a possible further reduction in his budget. But as i said before I don't expect others to agree, but that's the beauty of this forum. we disagree but we ALL support the club.

While I agree giving youth a chance two games it is unlikely going to make a decision for Jim on their future, when the entire team practically may not have a future. If Jim feels that he sees a good young player he will try them out, like Jordan this season. You go on about next season before we know if Jim & other players have a future at the club. Until the court case is finished we don't know what is going to happen. We all thought we had a buyer last season & that ended up like a game of snakes & ladders. I just want this season finished & hopefully see the future of the club sorted soon like the rest of us first.

[Christies Child]

I'm optomistic that things will be sorted.....if they haven't been already....

I understand that negotiations with existing players are well in hand.

[BoroRedShrimp]

I'm optomistic that things will be sorted.....if they haven't been already....

I understand that negotiations with existing players are well in hand.

I was optimistic at the start of the season when we had Diego the new kid on the block & look how that turned out.

[mrpotatohead]

I don't know where you get you're ''understanding'' from CC, the club dont have an owner so negotiations regarding new contracts are not yet happening.

[marky No.1]

2 weeks to D Day, just hope things move quickly after that, with no faffing about or creepy crawlers coming out of the concretework

[Christies Child]

2 May is the date I've been told....

And as for player negotiations, again from well informed insiders who are involved.....

[Gone_Shrimping]

2 May is the date I've been told....

And as for player negotiations, again from well informed insiders who are involved.....

I think you will be spot on CC.

Irrespective of takeover , the existing directors will know there is some sort of budget available for Jim to recruit/retain. Whether the players Jim wants to sign/retain wish to accept any offers will depend on an early resolution of ownership to allay fears of wages not being paid on due dates in the future.

[marky No.1]

I think, and get the sense that, it is Jim himself that needs convincing first of any new owner before he moves forward.
He has made that pretty clear publicly

[BerlinWaller]

I doubt any clued up Club Official would trust you with any kind of inside information CC. You spend most of the time contradicting yourself and when you are not doing that, you just put up utter rubbish.

[dazza]

to be fair to c c id like to disagree with what mr berlin wall says
cc is consistent very consistent he says the same rubbish every season
start of season high hopes right behind jim and the boys jims the man never been in doubt

nov get rid of ken its all his fault

dec/jan get rid of jim hes tactically naïve

april may get rid of dead wood try kids

july we have every trailist under the sun were heading for play offs

you can set your watch by him but hey ho we all want the same were all supporters

gets on my pip

[Christies Child]

To both BerlinWaller and Dazza.....

[Little Shrimp]

Any chance there could be an actual discussion about whether or not to give the youngsters some game time instead of ridiculous childish bickering?

I personally always welcome a bit of game time for youngsters. Surely a full 90 minutes will give a far better indication of their ability/coping with League 2 football than sporadic 5/10 minutes at the end of games, often when the dynamic of the game is vastly different to what it usually would be? We literally do have nothing to lose so I can't really understand why some people are so against it. If they're a pile of rubbish then it doesn't really matter.

[marky No.1]

Good post LS, not sure as much as 90 mins, probably an hour for me

[BoroRedShrimp]

Any chance there could be an actual discussion about whether or not to give the youngsters some game time instead of ridiculous childish bickering?

I personally always welcome a bit of game time for youngsters. Surely a full 90 minutes will give a far better indication of their ability/coping with League 2 football than sporadic 5/10 minutes at the end of games, often when the dynamic of the game is vastly different to what it usually would be? We literally do have nothing to lose so I can't really understand why some people are so against it. If they're a pile of rubbish then it doesn't really matter.

It is a discussion on everybodies opinion. If Jim sees good or bad in a player it will be his decision. Jim may not have found anything worth while to let them be picked in the starting line up. Have they preformed well enough for the reserves to get a game? Also the last home match Jim may look at winning it seen we have gone through a bad patch so he may want to go out & win it being the last home game, not knowing what the future holds for him or the players. Jim will have his reasons than CC. If Jim sees fit he will pick them.

[BerlinWaller]

Will people part with their hard earned to watch a bunch of kids get a hiding against a very well organised team like Wycombe? Can Jim afford another home defeat in front of a potential new owner?

I am keen for the young lads to get a game but chucking them in for a nothing match is hardly blooding them. Having them in and about the first team squad must be benefitting them.

[mrpotatohead]

Jim would be a very persuasive man if he could convince anyone to commit when he has yet to do so himself , a new owner could be a Jim fan, or could be a golfing buddy of Steve Coppell, nobody knows and nothing of any consequence will be decided until a new owner is in place, whatever CC thinks he has been told.