which obviously raises lots more unanswerable questions

Thing with Riley, though he's been about for a while, prior to this season he had still only made around 5 first team appearances with cups etc so he is still very inexperienced as far as first team football goes.

 

I know on one hand we want kids coming through but while he's out, he will be learning his trade. Hopefully he will be first team ready by the time he's back from Oxford in January/summer

 

Indeed.

 

Or adversely, answers some of my theories

Someone is making a judgement call that these players aren't yet good enough. People who watch them play and train week in, week out.

 

Rather their opinion than some ill-informed bloke in the pub who reads reports online now and again.

 

Ultimately, the gap between development and first team, even at Championship level, looks to be too big. League One or Two should be a stepping stone - although it doesn't seem to be working like that right now.

I live in Oxford these days. Never go to watch them but obviously know people who do. Riley is getting decent reviews. Apparently making good runs down the wing and getting some quality crosses in. Also defensively decent though occasionally caught out of position. He has on more than one occasion been played on the right wing.

 

..... Oxford are absolute shit mind you so I couldn't be confident he is learning much.

I live in Oxford these days. Never go to watch them but obviously know people who do. Riley is getting decent reviews. Apparently making good runs down the wing and getting some quality crosses in. Also defensively decent though occasionally caught out of position. He has on more than one occasion been played on the right wing.

 

..... Oxford are absolute shit mind you so I couldn't be confident he is learning much.

I was in Oxford today.