The youngsters

[Bob The Badger]

How often over the last couple of years have we been drooling over the prospects of players like Knight, Sibley, Bird and Byrne?

I know I really rate(d) them all.

Has all the upheaval stifled that talent?

Or have the players just not flourished because they weren't as good as we thought and/or poor management?

I'd not have taken £10m for Sibley (presuming we didn't need the money) after that Millwall game, but now I bet he could go for £2m or less.

And now we have Festy and others looking promising.

I'm nervous about their development now and genuinely confused by all this.

[Reggie Greenwood]

6 minutes ago, Bob The Badger said:

How often over the last couple of years have we been drooling over the prospects of players like Knight, Sibley, Bird and Byrne?

I know I really rate(d) them all.

Has all the upheaval stifled that talent?

Or have the players just not flourished because they weren't as good as we thought and/or poor management?

I'd not have taken £10m for Sibley (presuming we didn't need the money) after that Millwall game, but now I bet he could go for £2m or less.

And now we have Festy and others looking promising.

I'm nervous about their development now and genuinely confused by all this.

Byrne ? Youngster ? ?

[Day]

3 minutes ago, Reggie Greenwood said:

Byrne ? Youngster ? ?

29 is young, I say that purely as it makes me feel better about myself though.

[Dethorn]

Cannot help feeling there is something more to the Sibley story - I know he can be a bit hotheaded and gets booked, but he does have that bit of a spark about him.

Bird looked great alongside Rooney, but a bit Flat since - and I so want him to do well.

Knight has surprised me in a good way - but I get the feeling he could surprise me in the prem too - very much a workhorse (Emlyn Hughes anyone?)

Festy like you say promising but I am most excited now about Watson - looked the canines nads to me the other night

[Rammy03]

25 minutes ago, Reggie Greenwood said:

Byrne ? Youngster ? ?

I presume he meant Buchanan

[RoyMac5]

1 hour ago, Bob The Badger said:

How often over the last couple of years have we been drooling over the prospects of players like *** **** ****** and ******?

I know I really rate(d) them all.

Has all the upheaval stifled that talent?

Fill in the ****s. How many of our U23s have looked like they'll be the next Hughes or Bogle? It's the way of young players developing physically and mentally.

Think of the youngsters we've had on loan over the recent seasons and ask how many you'd have thought would be good, or you'd have signed? Look at other good players now like Kane and others and ask what they were like in the lower leagues (on loan) when they were younger.

We'll know more in a few years. The problem with where we find ourselves atm is we can't wait, and some will make and some won't. Would it be the same ones if we could loan a few out or just give them games with experienced players around them?

[MACKWORTHRAM]

What is a shame us Mel goes on about the academy so often.

We have 2 in Cashin and Thompson who aren't able to play for the first team because we haven't sorted anything out yet.

Thanks again Mel.

[Eatonram]

4 minutes ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

What is a shame us Mel goes on about the academy so often.

We have 2 in Cashin and Thompson who aren't able to play for the first team because we haven't sorted anything out yet.

Thanks again Mel.

Never an opportunity goes by................

[Ghost of Clough]

11 minutes ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

What is a shame us Mel goes on about the academy so often.

We have 2 in Cashin and Thompson who aren't able to play for the first team because we haven't sorted anything out yet.

Thanks again Mel.

We've still seen JBrown, Bird, Ebosele, Sibley, Stretton and Williams. Buchanan and Knight will be in there when they're fit.
You could also include U23 signings Watson and Hutchinson

There will be plenty of opportunities for the likes of Cashin and LThompson when we're out of embargo or once the transfer window closes (which ever occurs first). It's frustrating for those players, but at least it gave someone else an opportunity.

[jono]

I continue to be encouraged. So so good to have players that are “ours” not sourced through an agent or someone else’s youth throw out along with the daft prices that go with all this.

Knight .. Going to be, or already is, an excellent championship midfielder .. has a great engine and can score goals

Bird .. coming along in fits and starts .. some great vision with his passing but I am just not sure he is a deep lying player at this stage in his development. He may become one but at the moment I see him as CM or in any case, further up the park. Is cutting it well at this level. Can he be better ? 

Festy .. so exciting because he is direct and has strength to go with his pace. Every champ team is going to be watching him when they play us .. he’s a threat ! 

Sibley.. He’s got “it” without a doubt .. not sure the team is set up to play to his strengths .. but he runs, shoots, tackles with considerable prowess. He is a narky, needs to filter out some over reactions 

Buchanan .. had dips in form -  he is at least as good all round as either Bogle or Lowe

Watson .. No doubts at all - Of all of them I feel he is the one that the Prem will want

I haven’t seen enough of the others to comment seriously but Cashin looks to be a good un. 
Hutchinson isn’t technically our “product” but I’ve seen a desire to shoot and the composure and skill for that goal against Salford was pretty special 

Dyllan Williams .. he’s only 17 and needs time. Despite the outstanding effort in the second half against Salford he needs time to grow physically and more coaching. He’s got something, but I can’t predict what level he will finish at. I was hoping to see jinking and changing pace that a good wide man needs, I didn’t see any of that, despite good technique and huge willingness to run 

 

 

[IslandExile]

12 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

We've still seen JBrown, Bird, Ebosele, Sibley, Stretton and Williams. Buchanan and Knight will be in there when they're fit.
You could also include U23 signings Watson and Hutchinson

There will be plenty of opportunities for the likes of Cashin and LThompson when we're out of embargo or once the transfer window closes (which ever occurs first). It's frustrating for those players, but at least it gave someone else an opportunity.

There are those that criticise the club on occasion and with very good reason.

There are those that criticise the club at every possible turn, seizing any opportunity to have another dig.

Thank whatever higher deity you like that there are people like @Ghost of Clough and @angieram around who are the voices of reason, who are able to judge each issue on its relative merits and comment rationally, calmly and logically.

[jono]

37 minutes ago, MACKWORTHRAM said:

What is a shame us Mel goes on about the academy so often.

We have 2 in Cashin and Thompson who aren't able to play for the first team because we haven't sorted anything out yet.

Thanks again Mel.

Or, thanks Mel, His legacy might just be his serious academy investment … worth pondering and the same time as the lost gambles and over paying for other players that got us in this mess 

[RammingStone66]

Just hoping a takeover happens so we can tie some of this youth down to long term deals. Worries me they will get picked off for hardly any money because we can only offer one year deals under embargo. 

[MACKWORTHRAM]

1 hour ago, Eatonram said:

Never an opportunity goes by................

Absolutely right and nor they should be.

He's ruined us.

 

Rooney here talking again about the need for help, emphasising that we won't compete in this division without it, saying that he doesn't want to kill their careers before they have even started. This is what happens when young kids get thrown in before they are ready.

Rooney said at the end of last season that this cannot go on and somehow we are still here.

From a team on the brink of promotion to where we are now.

So absolutely Mel Morris deserves criticism at every opportunity.

The silence is deafening. When things are going well Mel is everywhere. On the sportscene talk in, on talksport, at fans forums, on RamsTV. 

When we need the owner the most to communicate with us he is nowhere to be seen or heard.

Rooney has to front up post match and pre match. As he states there he doesn't know, these questions aren't for him. They are for the owner.

But the owner doesn't want to communicate to the fans.

So we are left not having a clue what is going on.

 

 

 

 

 

[bimmerman]

2 hours ago, jono said:

Or, thanks Mel, His legacy might just be his serious academy investment … worth pondering and the same time as the lost gambles and over paying for other players that got us in this mess 

I somewhat doubt that'll be his legacy unfortunately

[kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong]

My view is that some managers and coaches are better at developing talent than others.

[jono]

15 minutes ago, kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong said:

My view is that some managers and coaches are better at developing talent than others.

Funny you should say that. I was chatting to a mate about Ravel and Wayne. There is a “fit” in all of life
 Consider his early years managers. Good men but old school curmudgeons / autocrats … makes you think that a maturing Morrison coached/managed by  an ex player who he grew watching, with might just be the alchemy we need. I saw enough on Tuesday to think we have a potential diamond. Morrison on the same wavelength as our kids ? 
 

yeah I know .. I am in happy clappy mode ?

[kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong]

20 minutes ago, jono said:

Funny you should say that. I was chatting to a mate about Ravel and Wayne. There is a “fit” in all of life
 Consider his early years managers. Good men but old school curmudgeons / autocrats … makes you think that a maturing Morrison coached/managed by  an ex player who he grew watching, with might just be the alchemy we need. I saw enough on Tuesday to think we have a potential diamond. Morrison on the same wavelength as our kids ? 
 

yeah I know .. I am in happy clappy mode ?

Nothing wrong with that and I thought Morrison was a bit of a leader in the pitch.

He knows he's in the last chance saloon and I'm sure he's going to give it all.

[jono]

6 minutes ago, kash_a_ram_a_ding_dong said:

Nothing wrong with that and I thought Morrison was a bit of a leader in the pitch.

He knows he's in the last chance saloon and I'm sure he's going to give it all.

What caught my eye was when he dropped back almost to left back which gave Williams the chance and an outlet for his youthful willingness and desire. I don’t think it was accidental. Fozzy did the same. The best senior players understand that sort of dynamic.

[G-Ram]

We over rate them because they came through the academy. 

If we signed bird from another club he'd be getting well slagged off For sideways passing. 

For me Watson looks better on the ball than bird. In my opinion he's a better footballer. Bird is just a steady squad player at the moment, dont think he should be a starter.

Buchanan Is a class above the rest that came through & looks like he'd go on to play prem football.

Sibley got off to a flyer but again isnt as good as we think. 

Knight just an average championship player. Brings a lot of energy & i like him. Just think we rate them all too highly & put a lot of pressure on them. I hope they all play and get better as footballers & reach their potential with us.

Just some fans want everyone to be the next will hughes and in truth he isnt that good. Being bigged up as a future england prospects.