Big deal out of nothing

[boingy]

Albion averaged 27.6 years from a squad of 28 players used in the Championship in 2023/24. That was six months older, on average, than the next eldest squad.

What rubbish. 27 is a great age for a still young footballer. We often hear that a player is approaching his peak which is surely what you want isnt it? I agree we need some younger players but to suggest that we have to bring an age down from a young 27 is just stupid. Theres always going to be a club with the oldest squad but as long as were not talking about 40 or something I cant see what the fuss is about. Worlds gone mad. Wish I was 27 again I could push walls over.

[Albionic68]

Let's break things down. Including those added in January players aged 30 and above by the end of the season from the first team squad of 2023/2024 (figures courtesy of Transfermarkt):

Semi Ajayi 30
Okay Yokuslu 30
Jed Wallace 30
Conor Townsend 31
Adam Reach 31
Andreas Weimann 32
Matt Phillips 33
Kyle Bartley 33
Martin Kelly 34
Yan M'Vila 34
Eric Pieters 35

There are some good players there. On the other hand other than being 30 and upwards by the end of the season most of them had one thing in common. Some looked like they were running through treacle at the start of the season, by its end others would have struggled to make it to the toilet on time never mind track the runs made by their opponents.

That's the thing with using mean averages. When placed in a situational context they don't always mean a lot. And given time and tide waits for no man situational context can be quite mean at times; especially when older football players come up against younger and physically more dynamic ones looking to make names and futures for themselves.

Throw in Mowatt and Swift both aged 29, who've never been renowned for their pace or physicality, and it's hardly surprising we didn't go as far as we as supporters would have wished. By the time we got to the playoffs most of the players named above (who weren't on the treatment table or paddling in the hydro pool) were probably too knackered to move 😊 .

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Albion averaged 27.6 years from a squad of 28 players used in the Championship in 2023/24. That was six months older, on average, than the next eldest squad.

What rubbish. 27 is a great age for a still young footballer. We often hear that a player is approaching his peak which is surely what you want isnt it? I agree we need some younger players but to suggest that we have to bring an age down from a young 27 is just stupid. Theres always going to be a club with the oldest squad but as long as were not talking about 40 or something I cant see what the fuss is about. Worlds gone mad. Wish I was 27 again I could push walls over.

I think the real problem was the age of the 1st team regulars from that season. The average was brought down by the Academy players who didn't get a game.

Townsend, Bartley, Ajayi, Pieters, Chalobah, Reach, Mowatt, Yokusklu, Wallace, Phillips all over 30 some well over. Under 25 we had Fellows! So yes I think it was a problem.

[Albionic68]

I think the real problem was the age of the 1st team regulars from that season. The average was brought down by the Academy players who didn't get a game.

Townsend, Bartley, Ajayi, Pieters, Chalobah, Reach, Mowatt, Yokusklu, Wallace, Phillips all over 30 some well over. Under 25 we had Fellows! So yes I think it was a problem.

I'd completely forgotten Nathaniel Chalobah was in that squad so poor was his overall contribution. How very depressing.

[boingy]

When you look at those first 7 games, and how we looked really good with the squad we have and actually without Some key players added later theres absolutely no reason why that couldnt have continued. Its a tough league and its more about mentality than legs. We do need to bring the age down but it was never the tragedy some are suggesting. The teams who went up we stood toe to toe with and actually outplayed at times. You dont do that with pensioners.

[baggiematt]

27 isn't old for a footballer but it's an old average age and several members of the first team were 30 plus.

We should be aiming to have an average age below 24.

[boingy]

The average age is 26.9
Lots of teams in the championship ar
e around 25/26
Is it really that bad? When you can have lazy 20 year olds and very fit mid thirties players? I think you replace players that need replacing and dont worry too much over the age thing. Obviously you dont want a team of too old players but you also dont want a team of green behind the ears players either. It should be a good mix of what the team needs.

[Albionic68]

The average age is 26.9
Lots of teams in the championship ar
e around 25/26
Is it really that bad? When you can have lazy 20 year olds and very fit mid thirties players? I think you replace players that need replacing and dont worry too much over the age thing. Obviously you dont want a team of too old players but you also dont want a team of green behind the ears players either. It should be a good mix of what the team needs.

I agree squads should have a mix of ages. There can be too much emphasis on youth over experience.

At the same time an over reliance on experience over youth brings a whole different range of problems.

Balance in all things, and as far as I'm concerned the squad we had in 23/24 lacked said balanced and we saw the consequences.

[boingy]

I agree squads should have a mix of ages. There can be too much emphasis on youth over experience.

At the same time an over reliance on experience over youth brings a whole different range of problems.

Balance in all things, and as far as I'm concerned the squad we had in 23/24 lacked said balanced and we saw the consequences.

Agreed. Thats how I look at it. Im also reminded that we spent most of the season in the top six with this supposedly aging squad.

[Albionic68]

Agreed. Thats how I look at it. Im also reminded that we spent most of the season in the top six with this supposedly aging squad.

...... because we had a very good manager who played with systems and structures in place to get more from the squad than the sum of it's parts.

However, you can only oil rusty parts for so long before wear and tear takes it's toll which it did as exampled by some very tired mental and physical performances.

The older members of that squad were absolutely and utterly knackered by the end and would have benefited from having more youthful legs scattered amongst them.