U18S

[Casino]

39 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I can understand the point of view and Etete clearly isn't the answer, but there's a huge difference between U18s football and senior football

Lewis has only just made his debut for the B Team so let's allow him and others the time to develop their game first

Shame you need to bring some reality into the convo

But, i wouldnt mind giving a few 30 minutes in the next 2 games

Show them/us how far away they are/not

Like i say, i think daeshon is next in line

[tomski]

Feel like we are about to throw a load of kids to the lions here if we are not careful. Not schuey but fan expectation. Abimbola looks interesting but I bet no one else would is near. 

[wanderer1984]

33 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I can understand the point of view and Etete clearly isn't the answer, but there's a huge difference between U18s football and senior football

Lewis has only just made his debut for the B Team so let's allow him and others the time to develop their game first

I agree to an extent but sometimes you've got to take punt ... especially when they're proving to be above the level they're at.

We've had fuck all come through the academy and establish themselves as regulars.

Not saying they're world beaters but look at Bradley for us. If it wasn't for his loan spell with us I very much doubt he'd be a 1st team player for Liverpool. Gave him a chance and took it.

Skelly at Arsenal is another ... Out of nowhere Englands LB for the next 10 years

Like i said ... Cant be much worse then what we've got ... Give them a chance

[Casino]

1 minute ago, tomski said:

Feel like we are about to throw a load of kids to the lions here if we are not careful. Not schuey but fan expectation. Abimbola looks interesting but I bet no one else would is near. 

Youre right, but nows the time to do it, if ever

No expectation, no pressure, but go and see the level you need to get to

[tomski]

Just now, wanderer1984 said:

I agree to an extent but sometimes you've got to take punt ... especially when they're proving to be above the level they're at.

We've had fuck all come through the academy and establish themselves as regulars.

Not saying they're world beaters but look at Bradley for us. If it wasn't for his loan spell with us I very much doubt he'd be a 1st team player for Liverpool. Gave him a chance and took it.

Skelly at Arsenal is another ... Out of nowhere Englands LB for the next 10 years

Like i said ... Cant be much worse then what we've got ... Give them a chance

This is my train of thought. If we had anyone of Skellys talent we’d of lost him a long time ago for peanuts. Cant compare this for me.

[tomski]

Just now, Casino said:

Youre right, but nows the time to do it, if ever

No expectation, no pressure, but go and see the level you need to get to

Aye it’s a free hit alright. I do worry that lining up with some of our lot at the min can do more damage than good though. Throwing more than 1 in at a time though makes me nervous. You are correct though.

[Casino]

1 minute ago, tomski said:

This is my train of thought. If we had anyone of Skellys talent we’d of lost him a long time ago for peanuts. Cant compare this for me.

True, again

I look at some of these units and theres a nagging doubt theyre doing well cos theyre basically 17 year old full grown adults

You wont be bullying most div 3 centre backs

 

 

Cept ours!

[Pablo]

54 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

Posted something on a thread a few days ago about the academy/ B team

They've done exceptionally well this season.

Odd we sign Etete and these kids don't get a look in.

Would love to see some get the chance ... even as back up.

If anything ... can't be much worse than the shite displays we've seen from some of our 1st team.

 

They are way way off, and its even harder now than its ever been.

They play against really low level and some are barely academies, due to all these Catagories etc.

To jump from playing low level u18 teams, to fully grown football league pro's is a massive massive jump, its unrealistic.

Look at where the clubs B Team player go out on loan....semi pro level clubs, and that the B-Team, that are technically pro players, and most in their 20's.

[Pablo]

13 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

I agree to an extent but sometimes you've got to take punt ... especially when they're proving to be above the level they're at.

We've had fuck all come through the academy and establish themselves as regulars.

Not saying they're world beaters but look at Bradley for us. If it wasn't for his loan spell with us I very much doubt he'd be a 1st team player for Liverpool. Gave him a chance and took it.

Skelly at Arsenal is another ... Out of nowhere Englands LB for the next 10 years

Like i said ... Cant be much worse then what we've got ... Give them a chance

 

You say come from nowhere mate, but they have not at all. Skelly has captained every England level, played top top level academy teams all over the world for years.

Same for Bradley, its so many levels above the Bolton U18 level.

Edited April 24, 2025 by Pablo

[Stig]

58 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I can understand the point of view and Etete clearly isn't the answer, but there's a huge difference between U18s football and senior football

Lewis has only just made his debut for the B Team so let's allow him and others the time to develop their game first

Counter argument would be that we have 2 meaningless games now to focus on building a team for next season. Etete won't be part of it so should get zero minutes but 1 or 2 of these youngsters might be so should get a try in a low pressure environment 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

6 minutes ago, Stig said:

Counter argument would be that we have 2 meaningless games now to focus on building a team for next season. Etete won't be part of it so should get zero minutes but 1 or 2 of these youngsters might be so should get a try in a low pressure environment 

Sure, but start with the ones who've been regulars for the B Team 

[wanderer1984]

11 minutes ago, Pablo said:

 

You say come from nowhere mate, but they have not at all. Skelly has captained every England level, played top top level academy teams all over the world for years.

Same for Bradley, its so many levels above the Bolton U18 level.

How many other players have done the same? ... I expect loads.

Not come from nowhere ... I disagree 

[Pablo]

11 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

How many other players have done the same? ... I expect loads.

Not come from nowhere ... I disagree 

Not from that level of u18s to first team pro football league, is not much above grass roots level, thats the reality.

Nothing to disagree with, just because you had never heard of him…he has been playing elite level young lads for years at international level, same with Bradley.

But, i agree these next couple of games are where you may try them, if they are going to.

More chance a couple of B Team lads get a chance tho, imo.

 

 

[Casino]

5 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Not from that level of u18s to first team pro football league, is not much above grass roots level, thats the reality.

Nothing to disagree with, just because you had never heard of him…he has been playing elite level young lads for years at international level, same with Bradley.

But, i agree these next couple of games are where you may try them, if they are going to.

More chance a couple of B Team lads get a chance tho, imo.

 

 

Do you not think the Bs wouldve been out on loan if anywhere near good enough?

Theres support for inwood

He plays for NI u21s they say

Last squad i saw had someone from fucking marine

[Pablo]

13 minutes ago, Casino said:

Do you not think the Bs wouldve been out on loan if anywhere near good enough?

Theres support for inwood

He plays for NI u21s they say

Last squad i saw had someone from fucking marine

Yeah they would, to bridge that gap and get them some game time, couple will be rated by certain coaches im sure, and you never know till they actually play pro mens footy…but truth is most of them will end up in semi pro.

Even the u18 team…which is actually u18 and u19 lads together in 1 group, 1 or 2 may play a few games in cup, but my guess is most will drop out of the game and down lower semi pro leagues by early 20s.

Its really sad, but its the reality.

[wanderer1984]

23 minutes ago, Pablo said:

and you never know till they actually play pro mens footy

Exactly my point ... They're doing well at at lower level.

We've nothing to to lose.

Try them and if it doesn't work out or they're not good enough ... fair enough.

At this point I'd rather try our own that are doing well at the level they're at then sign players on loan like Etete.

I've not looked but was Etete doing well at junior or senior level to deserve a move to us?

[Pablo]

5 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

Exactly my point ... They're doing well at at lower level.

We've nothing to to lose.

Try them and if it doesn't work out or they're not good enough ... fair enough.

At this point I'd rather try our own that are doing well at the level they're at then sign players on loan like Etete.

I've not looked but was Etete doing well at junior or senior level to deserve a move to us?

Yes, he had played around 100 pro games, half of them being in the Championship.

At a guess, thats more than the entire B Team added together…..and many of the first team squad tbh.

Thats the reality, he is a solid pro footballer, something the u18s and B team players dream of becoming. 

[wanderer1984]

12 minutes ago, Pablo said:

he is a solid pro footballer

We'll leave it there 

[Pablo]

4 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

We'll leave it there 

Its a fact though, rating him or not is irrelevant, facts are facts. 

[jayjayoghani]

Just had a flashback Agana and Deane running us ragged.

Sickening. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

9 hours ago, tomski said:

This is my train of thought. If we had anyone of Skellys talent we’d of lost him a long time ago for peanuts. Cant compare this for me.

True.

We don't really need guys of his talent though for 3rd division football.

SS comments recently about a lack of younger players was food for thought- he said we needed that youthful running and desire.

I thought our first team squad was generally at a good age, with players at or approaching their peak, but his comments shed some new light on the situation. 

Maybe one or two younger players getting a go will refous some of the regulars, making them realise they can't slaken, or shrink away when results drop off.

Maybe that is worse when so many a bought, and perhaps don't quite have that feel for the club that a home grown one might have.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/25113998.bolton-wanderers-take-option-crewe-loanee-max-conway/

Good news. 

[Rival Son]

9 hours ago, Casino said:

Last squad i saw had someone from fucking marine

It’s not like Marine haven’t got previous form with young Irish internationals. Some  lad called Jason McAteer ended up at a forgotten third tier club, in a post-industrial northern town, and turned out to be decent.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

It’s not like Marine haven’t got previous form with young Irish internationals. Some  lad called Jason McAteer ended up at a forgotten third tier club, in a post-industrial northern town, and turned out to be decent.

A certain Jamie Vardy a similar route.

Will be plenty of such cases.

Important that clubs have good talent spotting, youth set ups and coaches to widen scope for recruitment. 

 

[1969]

Schumacher taking the extension on max Conway contract