U23's ...and other problems.

[david in sweden]

as if we didn't have enough distractions with first team injuries (Long, Bertrand, Targett, Cedric) the U23's have the same problem.

- it'll be interesting to see who gets first team game-time in the upcoming fixtures against Sunderland and Chelsea.

 

Tonight (Monday) U23's are home to MAN.CITY.....(wonder how many young players Citeh have available?)

but with McQueen having been taken out of the U23 set-up now and perhaps us bringing in Hesketh, Reed, Stephens for the Wednesday game...it looks as though quite a number of younger players will get a boost to a higher level this week?

 

U23's have had their own injury problems and six U18's have already had game time with their big brothers in PL2.

Obviously the first team "comes first", but the U23/U18 sides also want to give a good showing /win fixtures, so there may be some new faces appearing in all teams this week.

 

Claude Puel has shown that he has no "first-choice eleven" that he will use in every game, and if we don't make it to the Prem. top 5/6...then a trophy (FA Cup / League Cup) may also be an important way into Europe next season).

 

We can only hope for a speedy return to fitness and form for those who... have / have had ...injuries of late and maybe see who's next to get a first team debut. Tonight's game may be an indicator of that ...and who will get a run-out on Wednesday.

 

U23 games often available on YouTube btw.

Edited 24 October, 2016 by david in sweden

[Dangermouth]

U23s will probably now be shown on the new site like most other vids. I like the idea of putting players up an age group of they're doing well. It's almost like a mini-loan to a league side in that they get to see what the next step is.

[david in sweden]

After Monday's U23 defeat v. a very good Man. City team, we can begin to see where the gaps are in the system.

 

Many "big money clubs" have an enormous staff of both experienced and youth players......heard the comment that Chelsea had 35 players out on loan last season, and I began to wonder if we have that number of players in the whole club?

 

The U23 Man.City game was a steep learning curve for the youngsters and they started the game with four U18 players, and the entire bench... (three of whom got game time in the second half)..we were all U18, and some of them "not-so-regular".

 

Some of the more "regular " U23s found themselves playing for the first team v. Sunderland in the EFL Cup game.

 

Rotation of players isn't " an experiment ", but with our limited resource of fully-fit players, it's an absolute necessity.

Edited 27 October, 2016 by david in sweden

[VectisSaint]

The U23 Man.City game was a steep learning curve for the youngsters and they started the game with four U18 players, and the entire bench... (three of whom got game time in the second half)..we were all U18, and some of them "not-so-regular".

David, 8 of the Man City starters were aged 18 or under, none of their subs were more than 18. Even without Gardos, I suspect the average age of our team would have been higher than theirs. I don't think you can claim Man City's team was any more experienced than ours.

[david in sweden]

David, 8 of the Man City starters were aged 18 or under, none of their subs were more than 18. Even without Gardos, I suspect the average age of our team would have been higher than theirs. I don't think you can claim Man City's team was any more experienced than ours.

 

Exactly as Martin Hunter said...very skilful. Just think of the players that they must have rejected in order to get just those ...