Tosin adarabioyo

[seventwo]

I'm with TM, can't make too many changes at once. Players need time to bed in usually.

[robinrover]

Unfortunately aucks any one of our signings will have precisely 2 games to show their class or some of the fans will be panning them.
Ben brereton was a prime example constantly being made into a 7 million flop,we didn't pay 7 million and he is young
Never mind that though,we paid 7 million for a useless player.
Honestly some of our fans you cannot win with.

[AucklandRover]

It may indeed be that they are both in decline, Champs, and we might be nearing the end of the road for both of them. On the other hand, players DO go through bad patches. They have a couple of poor games, lose confidence, and then it becomes a vicious circle.
As far as Bennett is concerned, his versatility has actually made life more difficult for him. I still think he is best used as Craig Conway was. EB is not a full-back, and he is not a Chapman-style winger, but he is very good at protecting the flank and covering for the full-back. What we really need is for Nyambe to fulfil his promise, which would mean that Bennett can be slotted in as a sub, or used in that wide-defensive role when we are away to the better teams.

[AucklandRover]

I forgot to add that playing Rankin-Costello at full-back would also be a risk. He has looked good in pre-season, but it's not his natural position, and we all know what a big step-up it is to senior football at Championship level.
It's pure guesswork, but I'd speculate that our U-23 team (as a whole) would probably slot in at about National League level, at best.

[champs95]

I forgot to add that playing Rankin-Costello at full-back would also be a risk. He has looked good in pre-season, but it's not his natural position, and we all know what a big step-up it is to senior football at Championship level.
It's pure guesswork, but I'd speculate that our U-23 team (as a whole) would probably slot in at about National League level, at best.

Of course. Just look at how the top level academy Under 23 sides from Man City, Chelsea etc get on in that EFL trophy. A weakened Mansfield side beat them with ease. Stick a whole side of young lads with no experience in a game vrs seasoned pro's, and the same thing will happen every time. Which is why it never happens.

If you introduce young players alongside experience, then they will improve if they are goo enough. Look at Travis, to name one of numerous players. Travis was probably good enough to play all of last season, but spent the first 6 months watching Smallwood not quite be good enough. Like Rankin Costello will have to watch Bennett not be up to it.
But Travis only every got in the side due to injury and suspension. Not by saying, you are better than him, I have every faith in you.
Maybe we need a little more faith in our lads.
You often raise the point, why do we bring in a young lad from another academy which effectively stunts the growth of one of our own lads. This is only the same. Why opt for a player who was given a whole season to prove himself, and showed he wasn't good enough? Its not like we used him, then discarded him, when we got better.
Bennett isn't the future, nor will he drastically improve. Nor will we be going anywhere fast with guys like this. But he will start either way tomorrow.
I can explain most things, and find rationale behind it. Not with things like this.

By all means, keep him involved. Use him as cover, bring him in if one of the young lads are struggling. But don't keep playing him. He was a good Div1 player. We have passed the 'bedding in' stage in this division, which meant rolling over in far too many games.
We are now looking to push on.

[seventwo]

I've never understood why Nyambe isn't our first choice RB

[champs95]

I've never understood why Nyambe isn't our first choice RB

It was always a balancing act with him. Stick or twist?
If we play an attacking player, say Armstrong, Nyambe would get absolutely no cover.
No matter how good he is, or how raw, the opposition (from xmas onwards) quickly realised they could expose us. One ball inside of him, and numerous teams found success. He was never torn apart, it was just we played in a system that left both full backs exposed.
The neanderthal's blamed both full backs and 2 young lads got blamed. One even got taken out of the side. And replaced with Bennett, who was even worse. I get that his confidence probably needed a bit of protection, as the crowd where on his back. Then he got injured. His only sustained period out of the side was only ever down to injury.

[AucklandRover]

I agree, Seventwo, and I'm hoping this season will see that become an established fact. I think it's just a matter of him developing the right level of confidence. It would help if TM showed a bit more faith in him, perhaps!

[AucklandRover]

Champs - nobody disputes the idea that youngsters have to be fitted in gradually, so that they can learn and improve.
What DOES get overlooked, though, is that fans don't see training. I find it really unlikely that the management/coaching team will watch a youngster consistently out-perform a senior day after day, but still pick the latter just because he is older.