Is it time to give the youngsters extended runs?

[Icy Gull]

Players like Mayo, Watson and Hart are shadows of what they used to be. It's fair to say they have peaked and started to go the other way. We are close to being safe from relegation and should McGhee turn us around and we end up getting promoted, how are we going to avoid being whipping boys next seaon in Div 1?

There will never be a better time to see if the young players like Hinshelwood, Al Abd, Virgo, Marney, Hammond, Harding, Robinson etc are up to it.

Half a season of up and down results could give us a real chance, if they are good enough, of building a team to challenge for promotion again next year. Should we get promoted we will have a young and reasonably experienced side to give us a good chance of surviving in Div 1 without having to spend a fortune.

If they're not up to it, then we will need to rebuild the whole team next year anyway as there are quite a few who are reaching the end of their careers at the top who are currently playing week in week out.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

if we went up it would be a down to other teams being so bad, it would also take a miricle to stay up

 

[Marc]

I say YES give the young guns a chance, they aint gonna learn any other way and we need the fresh blood to come through sooner rather than later as you say Hart/Watson et all are loosing decency.

A shake up could do the job and also an average first 11 age of 22 would be class

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

not robinson
reasons he is to small at the moment and with knight up front our hoof ball tactic would work even less

 

[Trigger]

El-Abd for Watson most definitely!

 

[Zebedee]

El-Abd for Watson most definitely!

Agreed and we should look to replace Mayo as well. Both our wing backs are crap when faced with pacey, skillful players - sadly, they just haven't got what it takes.

 

[fatboy]

Kuipers
El Abd Hinshelwood Butters Harding
Piercy Oatway Carpenter
Yeates
Knight McPhee

Is what we should be playing. With Robinson on the bench.

 

[perth seagull]

Gotta have a mix between new and old, too many young players will lead to costly and pointless mistakes.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I would like to see Marney given a run out on the right wing instead of Hart.

 

[Fran Hagarty]

May be a good idea but, don't forget, last time this happened was when Hinshelwood was in charge and people moaned then. That was, however, in the 1st Division so it may be OK now we're in the second division. If they're good enough they must get a chance some time.

 

[Titanic]

Kuipers
El Abd Hinshelwood Butters Harding
Piercy Oatway Carpenter
Yeates
Knight McPhee

Is what we should be playing. With Robinson on the bench.

agreed - except Danny C for Guy B, (and Blackwell for Hinshelwood when fit)

a midfirld slot for Simon Rodger when fit (probably for Charlie)

Hart and Robinson on the bench as attacking options...

with Hinshelwood/Butters, Oatway/Rehman and Flitney.

 

[Storer68]

Looks like the Martin Hinshelwood school of management has another graduate.

Anyone remember last season "giving the kids a chance"/

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Looks like the Martin Hinshelwood school of management has another graduate.

Anyone remember last season "giving the kids a chance"/

The problem is past managers (including the great MA) did not give the kids much of a chance which meant that when we needed them they weren't ready.

We need the kids to come through as they are the only way to survive. The problem is too many fans who think we should be winning the Premier League and won't give the team a chance to mature. Adams had a season and a bit to get it right before the great march up the leagues - maybe we need to let McGhee have the same chance. He did bring through a few useful youngsters at Millwall, both their own and Premier loanees.

 

[Johners]

I think it is definitely time for both full backs to be replaced.
El-Abd looked a fine prospect at right back, More pace than Watson, OK I know that's not hard, Better tackler, again not hard, and a decent passer and crosser of the ball, the 2 aspects that used to keep Watson in the side.
Mayo is constantly being outpaced and is struggling with his distribution. Why not give Harding a few games there.

The only point against this policy at present is the tough January we have with succesive games against QPR, Barnsley & Plymouth to finish the month. But at the same time, they have to learn at some time, so why not now?

 

[graz126]

thimk el abd should be a certain first choice right back

 

[Titanic]

Looks like the Martin Hinshelwood school of management has another graduate.

Anyone remember last season "giving the kids a chance"/

That was in Div 1 - this Div 2 is not exactly high quality - it is the ideal chance to see what they can do in a match situation.

 

[SeagullSimon]

el-abd does look a good prospect although he has made one or two mistakes. but he is young and learning

 

[Dover]

Yes. El Abd, Marney, and Robinson need a better run.