(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

You don't think Inwood will be?

Personally no. I don’t think any of them will make it off this crop. It’s a step in the right direction but still a way to go. Look how shit folk see GT as. He is miles ahead of these kids 

1 hour ago, waffer cup 07 said:

I'd be interested to know how many times you've seen Inwood play. Just what are you making your decision on that he's not going to be good enough.

I have hardly seen him play. Going with 90 as i saw him in the last game of the season and possibly a cup one. How he played in the game is irrelevant as it was a dead rubber end of season snore fest. 
 

he might be great but I don’t see any of them making much of a step. These lads are way off the level of the lads in the first team people claim are shit. 

9 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

So because he wasn't MOM, he won't make it.

Iirc, SS publicly claimed he was, in one of his games.

I suppose we'll find out soon enough: he may go on loan somewhere and then come back with more games under his belt, or we may see another first team centre half follow Santos out of the door.

The good thing about Inwood is that he is getting his first team schooling very much under SS, who will shape him according to his methods. 

Others may still be affected by Evatt ball.

8 hours ago, Big E said:

Personally no. I don’t think any of them will make it off this crop. It’s a step in the right direction but still a way to go. Look how shit folk see GT as. He is miles ahead of these kids 

Why though?

SS was raving about his performances last season.

He was open about the young ones' performances and less effusive about big Dave.

Not in a critical way, but acknowledging that he had things to improve on.

Of course, those games were essentially non-entities, but he showed quality when others didn't/couldn't be arsed.

I'm sure SS very much has him in his plans.

6 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Iirc, SS publicly claimed he was, in one of his games.

I think that was more to do with him being so pissed off with the seniors more than anything else

Just now, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I think that was more to do with him being so pissed off with the seniors more than anything else

A touch if that no, doubt. As above though, that was very much the case with DA when SS was pleased with his attitude but was more guarded about his level.

This wasn't the case with Inwood; the comments were a step up and he seemed absolutely delighted by Inwood's performances. 

If it was more about the poor attitude of the first teamers, then they're more likely to be under scrutiny with a view to being moved on.

The suggestion above that he won't make it seems perverse.

 

23 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Why though?

SS was raving about his performances last season.

He was open about the young ones' performances and less effusive about big Dave.

Not in a critical way, but acknowledging that he had things to improve on.

Of course, those games were essentially non-entities, but he showed quality when others didn't/couldn't be arsed.

I'm sure SS very much has him in his plans.

Because despite the excitement of the kids playing they didn’t do much and only really played because the rest of the senior squad had fucked it off. 
 

good luck to them but I think a lot of the pathway talk etc is trying to create a buzz about changes happening. 9 kids have signed on but not many B team in. It’s as if they have signed them instead. Hopefully the set up produces soon but to go from nothing to 3/4 being able to play is unlikely in my opinion 

Agree with @Big E all these b team lot are pretty useless, and will all will be playing non league soon enough 

Aye, inwood looked ok during our dismal end of season run in alongside players who'd given up, but I wouldn't want him  featuring much next season

The rest were miles off being anything close to ready

11 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

6 feet isn't that big for a keeper these days.

Anyway, he's gone now, so it's water under the bridge.

 

Same size as Ray Clemence, one of Englands finest goalie, one inch shorter than Englands ever finest, Gordon Banks, Eddie Hopkinson 5ft 9" Im sure 6ft is tall enough!

21 minutes ago, L/H White said:

Agree with @Big E all these b team lot are pretty useless, and will all will be playing non league soon enough 

The B team played on Saturday. The entire squad other than 2 x 19 yr olds, was 17 and 18 yr old lads. Its already changed.

 

Edit. Apart from Andrew Tutte 

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by peelyfeet

7 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

The B team played on Saturday. The entire squad other than 2 x 19 yr olds, was 17 and 18 yr old lads. Its already changed.

 

Edit. Apart from Andrew Tutte 

a forever revolving door

25 minutes ago, woolli said:

Same size as Ray Clemence, one of Englands finest goalie, one inch shorter than Englands ever finest, Gordon Banks, Eddie Hopkinson 5ft 9" Im sure 6ft is tall enough!

6ft is tiny for a goalkeeper nowadays.

2 minutes ago, L/H White said:

a forever revolving door

All academies are. But if you can get to the stage where youre playing home grown 17 and 18 yr olds against men for a couple of years in a B team instead of buying B team players in, it costs less and they'll be better prepared for the step up. The 18s walked the league last season so theoretically weve got the best crop of 19s 18s in league one. Surely thats a positive 

 

4 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

All academies are. But if you can get to the stage where youre playing home grown 17 and 18 yr olds against men for a couple of years in a B team instead of buying B team players in, it costs less and they'll be better prepared for the step up. The 18s walked the league last season so theoretically weve got the best crop of 19s 18s in league one. Surely thats a positive 

 

but for what, non of them will be good enough to step up, so what's the point, surely that's the end goal?

just my opinion of course 

Just now, L/H White said:

but for what, non of them will be good enough to step up, so what's the point, surely that's the end goal?

just my opinion of course 

How many u18s matches did you watch last season

1 hour ago, Big E said:

Because despite the excitement of the kids playing they didn’t do much and only really played because the rest of the senior squad had fucked it off. 
 

good luck to them but I think a lot of the pathway talk etc is trying to create a buzz about changes happening. 9 kids have signed on but not many B team in. It’s as if they have signed them instead. Hopefully the set up produces soon but to go from nothing to 3/4 being able to play is unlikely in my opinion 

Inwood clearly did.

The others perhaps not so much.

Of course it's SS views that will shape the squad, but I find it somewhat bizarre to claim he won't do anything. 

34 minutes ago, woolli said:

Same size as Ray Clemence, one of Englands finest goalie, one inch shorter than Englands ever finest, Gordon Banks, Eddie Hopkinson 5ft 9" Im sure 6ft is tall enough!

All players are generally taller now though.

And fitter/stronger.

A keeper has to be physically more capable.

2 minutes ago, L/H White said:

but for what, non of them will be good enough to step up, so what's the point, surely that's the end goal?

just my opinion of course 

What's the point of anyone having youth teams then?

Despite seeing virtually nothing of them, you've stated none of them will make it.

We're a third division outfit, and in GT we have a player who was described as not even being a non league player not so long ago.

9 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

What's the point of anyone having youth teams then?

Despite seeing virtually nothing of them, you've stated none of them will make it.

We're a third division outfit, and in GT we have a player who was described as not even being a non league player not so long ago.

If FV stay as owners for the foreseeable I'd wager that in 5 yrs time we'll have consistent home grown players starting most games.

12 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

If FV stay as owners for the foreseeable I'd wager that in 5 yrs time we'll have consistent home grown players starting most games.

That's a big call and an obviously informed one.

Hope you're right, you must see some progression.

Thus far over the course of history the return has been incredibly poor.

Can count on one had those who have been sold for profit and gone on to make it.

17 minutes ago, peelyfeet said:

If FV stay as owners for the foreseeable I'd wager that in 5 yrs time we'll have consistent home grown players starting most games.

If we’re still in league one your probably right 

25 minutes ago, gonzo said:

That's a big call and an obviously informed one.

Hope you're right, you must see some progression.

Thus far over the course of history the return has been incredibly poor.

Can count on one had those who have been sold for profit and gone on to make it.

There's not been a pathway for eons. Evatt wasn't interested, Slimy Ken ruined all the work wed done getting to cat 1 status from 2012, so loads of talent who would have been feeding through over last few years, plus good coaches  left us around 2017/18 The academy is in as good a place as I've seen it for over 10 yrs.

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by peelyfeet

52 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

All players are generally taller now though.

And fitter/stronger.

A keeper has to be physically more capable.

Weve just signed two 5ft 6" wingers. Mmmmm!

25 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

If we’re still in league one your probably right 

Championship too I reckon. Obviously if we get to prem in 5 yrs wed need to buy in shed loads to survive.