Ben White is superb for Leeds so have a look at the Leeds forums. They are afraid that we will call him back in January. Two more players coming through are Haydon Roberts and Ryan Longman. Under Chris H none of this would have happened so the youth suddenly have their chance and are taking it.
[Albion] Our youth players coming through (are we Ajax in disguise)
- Thread starter vagabond
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Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Amazing to think there was a near meltdown when we decided to give so many of the youngsters a go against Villa.
CH made it very easy to make such sweeping comments.
But, we could just be watching the end result of CH wanting to Hughtonise these 'kids'.
Neither Connolly or Alzate just appeared, they'd spent x months training with the first team squad, waiting to be trusted.
Sure that moment might not have come as quickly, but we ought not deny the fact that CH had been schooling the youngsters last season.
Molango's visa
Molango's visa
This. I was thinking about it yesterday. I wonder whether clubs have been taking note of Southgate's outlook? I remember Rodney Marsh not getting his England debut till he was 29 and already showing signs of the effects of indulgence, perhaps brought on by the embitterment of being repeatedly overlooked. Nobody wants that.
el punal
Well-known member
“The new Rooney”? - I’m just hoping he’ll be our new Peter Ward. A lot of similarities too - same build, ability to torment defenders, eye for goal, ability to react quickly to goal scoring situations, has had a successful period in the development squad and we got him for nothing (?).
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Agree, this bouncing of Hughton threads and suggesting they wouldn't have got a chance very disingenuous to me. Even though he was sacked, and looking like the right decision, it's a manager that still left with a positive legacy overall.
I thought it was obvious we were signing loads of good 16, 17, 18 year olds, were investing hugely in their development and they would come through when ready
I'm almost certain we could find a post on here by someone blythly dismissing the signing of connolly as 'another one for the black hole of the u23s'. Probably by you
Not me, not about Connolly anyway - I don't remember us signing him
(though obviously we did!). Harper on the other hand ....................................
That is definitely true of Connolly. Not so much Alzate - he was out on loan (Swindon) for the first half of last season, and then out injured for most of the rest of it.
Ever heard the expression 'too much of a good thing'? That team against Villa certainly was. Shows that even Potter can get it wrong sometimes.
Connolly - signed summer of 2016, yes.
Alzate - signed a year later, from Leyton Orient, having made 12 first team appearances (at 17)
Ben White, signed at the age of 16, in summer 2014, having been RELEASED by Southampton. Cheers, you mugs.
Literally nobody objected to youngsters being blooded in the Villa match.
It was all about the balance of the team, and the fact that - unlike any other Premier League team in the competition - Potter didn't bother putting any seniors on the bench.
This suggested he didn't want to win the tie. That was the problem.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
It suggested, given the dire injury/illness situation, that he prioritised the team for Chelsea over the team for Villa. Nothing more. Nothing about not wanting to win the tie.
Baldseagull
Well-known member
If Haydon Roberts doesn't make it through, he will somewhere else.
Remind me, how well did that work?
nwgull
Well-known member
I didn’t realise White had been with us since the academy opened. Although I think the signing of a 16 year old defender released by another club would pass under the radar of all but the geekiest of fans, particularly with the excitement of signing Chris O’Grady in the same window.
No, no, some fans definitely said that Potter effectively threw the tie.
I'm one of them.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Very badly in the end. The idea had merit, though.
blue-shifted
Banned
There will be plenty of speculation here and in the tabloids about Connolly's transfer value.
Meanwhile, Bloom, Potter etc will be utterly oblivious to it as they absolutely no intention of selling him whatsoever.
Even if we received a ludicrous offer, beyond our wildest dreams even in this ridiculous market, Bloom will quite rightly reason, that offer will probably double in the next 18 months.
We don't have to sell, it makes no sense to sell and we won't sell. That goes for all our starlets
Meanwhile, Bloom, Potter etc will be utterly oblivious to it as they absolutely no intention of selling him whatsoever.
Even if we received a ludicrous offer, beyond our wildest dreams even in this ridiculous market, Bloom will quite rightly reason, that offer will probably double in the next 18 months.
We don't have to sell, it makes no sense to sell and we won't sell. That goes for all our starlets
Really? Without the benefit if hindsight, many of us thought it a rubbish idea. Without merit.
el punal
Well-known member
Just been on the Southampton Echo comments section after their 4-1 stuffing. A lot of Saints fans bemoaning the fact that they haven’t got any decent central defenders. So, as you say, Ben White was on their books and they decided to get rid - probably the sort of player they are now desperate for. Yep, mugs!