Incoming.

[Blue_and_Gold]

https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/linnets-swoop-for-striker-who-worked-under-wayne-rooney-at-d-9327073/

[Mallard]

Interesting signing.  Let’s wish the guy well.  He can’t be any worse than the guy who led the line Saturday.  Have we cancelled his loan deal ?

[Nigel1505]

He's a big lad, hopefully knock in  a few for us.

[Pink]

Interesting signing.  Let’s wish the guy well.  He can’t be any worse than the guy who led the line Saturday.  Have we cancelled his loan deal ?

Why would we cancel his loan deal at this point ? Like everyone else, he needs a few games to bed in and be fairly assessed and if as seems likely we are going to change back to a big un and a little one up front, we need two big uns in the squad, to cover for when one is injured or suspended.

[FenRam]

Looked like he was going to develop at Derby under Rooney but never progressed. Hasn't done much during his loans. Needs to develop physically. Could be a good signing

[Mallard]

The lad has had a few games and a full time pre-season on top of the pre-season game.  IMHO Pink he is way short of what’s needed.  He looked unfit, poor first touch, not the most mobile.  Ponticelli was clearly totally p’eed off with in those opening 45 mins.  Is it a coincidence that with in 72 hours of Saturdays game we have a 6’ 6 striker onboard ? 

Last season we had Gold but he was the only target man striker we had in the squad.  Maybe I am being harsh on the lad but ask anyone who was there Saturday what they thought.

[Linnet]

Looks like  a "bean pole" to me
Lets hope Mr Cleeve is more welcoming than the unfriendly giant was in his castle

[Pink]

The lad has had a few games and a full time pre-season on top of the pre-season game.  IMHO Pink he is way short of what’s needed.  He looked unfit, poor first touch, not the most mobile.  Ponticelli was clearly totally p’eed off with in those opening 45 mins.  Is it a coincidence that with in 72 hours of Saturdays game we have a 6’ 6 striker onboard ? 

Last season we had Gold but he was the only target man striker we had in the squad.  Maybe I am being harsh on the lad but ask anyone who was there Saturday what they thought.

Yes Mall, I take all of your points.

I maybe wrong, but I think there has been a shift in the model, in the sense that the budget set, is looking to bring in and develop young talent. This will require a degree of patience…and there will be hits and misses along the way.

The latest recruit is only 20 and according to the Solihull manager who he was last with, is a prospect, but still has plenty of developing to do. Bartley is 19……with plenty of developing to do also, from what you say.

We seem unlikely to bring in an experienced, proven goal scorer at this stage.

What I was suggesting in my earlier post, is that we keep both the aforementioned forwards for a while and see how they both develop…neither is the finished article.

[gs50]

PS why dont you look at qualifications of the Acadamy Director upto our Manager to see if they are qualified.

[Mallard]

Not a case of qualifications = success.  Two words.  Simon Clark.  I rest my case

[Mallard]

Pink if the shift in terms of age and experience is the way forward then it must be a serious rethink by the Chairman in terms of what he is looking to achieve, or rather the timescale involved.   I guess like many I’d like to see the Club become self sufficient. 

I am hoping that at some point the lads coming through from
The Academy will start breaking into the starting line up.  A couple have come through to join the first team squad this season.  Will be interesting to see if they can make that next step.  Plus see what else will come through to make the squad.

[dillydilly]

Not sure “developing” players really works.  Jimmy Greaves would listen to BillNicholson’s dressing room diatribe then say “Boss, you can either do it or you can’t”!

[Mallard]

Really Dilly?   Not sure it did Fergie or Man Utd any harm when Messrs Nevilles, Butt, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham all came through the Academy to first team then international status, do you ?

[Blue_and_Gold]

Really Dilly?   Not sure it did Fergie or Man Utd any harm when Messrs Nevilles, Butt, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham all came through the Academy to first team then international status, do you ?

That was Manchester United and the greatest Manager of all times.

The alignment of the Stars and a once in a lifetime event.

 

[Pink]

Not sure “developing” players really works.  Jimmy Greaves would listen to BillNicholson’s dressing room diatribe then say “Boss, you can either do it or you can’t”!

This will be a test of this Forum’s popularity………..if Academies up and done the country and throughout the globe are closed down with immediate effect we will know that it’s far reaching and they have all seen Dilly’s post and acted on it.

My “first” club has always encouraged players to play in a certain way and developed them through their academy….yes there are certain attributes an individual has that can’t be taught, but you sure can take the raw talent, nurture and build on it. This club was smaller than many of the adjacent rivals and didn’t have the big bucks to splash out on players, so it produced its own. It used to be called (and maybe still is) the West Ham Way.