severnside gull
Well-known member
Firstly, good luck to Cook. Think he is an excellent prospect and don't blame him for signing for Bournemouth but maybe he wouldn't have if he had featured more over the last 5 months. As for JFC, I was, for those didn't realise, being facetious as I have no doubt that he isn't now going out on loan but that is on the basis of one performance, a performance he only got the chance at because of suspensions and injuries. He didn't become that good overnight so begs the question why he hasn't been more involved earlier. Not necessarily starting but at least on the bench and coming on for some game time. There are plenty of people that have been singing his praises for a very long time but he hasn't really had a sniff of a first team game. We have this development squad and it seems the only other player to break through was Dunk (notwithstanding Hall yesterday), not on merit but due to injuries. He subsequently proved himself, apart from the odd yellow card. Had Elphick or El Abd not been injured for the start of the season we may well have seen Dunk on his way on loan and subsequently permanently for a knock down fee.
As Gus pointed out before the season began, the reduction to 5 subs restricts the chances of younger players to sit alongside established first teamers on the bench - not his fault - not the club's fault. As he has also repeatedly said - it is up to the players to grab the chances when they do come along