Looks like they are going to be first team regulars this season with the shape the squad is in.
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The kids are doing ok. I’m sure all coming through at same time in a struggling team isn’t the ideal path for their development but it’s needs must unfortunately. Some of them have been out on loans lower down the pyramid to get some experience, but some of them have been thrust straight into the current shit show and no one has really let themselves down yet.
Maybe it’s the lack of kids breaking through for so long but some people need to have a bit more patience with them and stop writing some of them off after barely a handful of games.
I was listening to Danny Gabbidon recently and he said the kids will be inconsistent but with more and more experience, if they are talented enough and have the right attitude, then that consistency will come.
Realistically, some of them already are. 15 league games played so far this season. These are the stats (sub appearances in brackets):
Joel Bagan - 9 (+1) apps
Mark McGuinness - 7 apps
Rubin Colwill - 6 (+7) apps
Mark Harris - 5 (+6) apps
Kieron Evans - 1 (+3) apps
Sam Bowen - 3 (+1) apps
Yeah, they look comfortable on the ball but don't always have much to work with due to the way we've been set up, I can't judge them on their performances so far and as with the team as a whole I'll start to judge them from last Saturday.
Others may think differently and have an opinion on what they've seen which is also fine, but I'd like to see what they can offer moving forward.
Another good post.
People need to remember it's not ideal and they haven't had the best opportunity to show what they can do, even the most talented kids need to adjust and get minutes under their belts to gain experience. The more they play the more consistent they can become and they'll make less mistakes. Even our experienced players have inconsistent games.
Interestingly (or maybe not!), Bagan has played the most for the first team, played for the u23s tonight while the others (Bowen apart, who would have been involved if it wasn't for an injury) all played vs Stoke. I think some time out of the lime light might do Bagan some good, he shouldn't be relied on to play every minute, especially not in a struggling side.
Just to add to the growing list of players who were "late" developers, Ian Wright was playing for Greenwich Borough at 22.
He did alright :biggrin:
I would say he looks like a lad learning his trade ,looked dangerous on Saturday, he and other youngsters at this level won't be able to turn it on every week
I like Barry Jones punditry too. Very knowledgeable and as you say likeable guy, and very fair too, unlike a lot of the Sky pundits who are heavily biased to the Matchroom fighters because of their previous connections to Eddie Hearn.
The only thing I wonder with Jones is how is he received in other parts of the country? We obviously understand the welsh, and in particular Cardiff accent but he does talk very fast.
To be fair he’s 23 next month. He’s 2/3 years older than the other youngsters making the breakthrough ie Colwill, Bowen, Evans.etc I wouldn’t class him as a kid tbh. He’s made nearly 30 appearances for City too he’s not as green as the others.
Sometimes he looks like he’s got something, other times he looks out of his depth. Maybe it’s that experience / consistency Gabbidon talks about which I mentioned earlier in the thread but at nearly 23 he should really be establishing himself this season if he’s going to make it as a Championship footballer.