Match thread Portsmouth v WBA 31 Jan 2026

[Omegstrat6]

Why aren’t the youngsters ready? If they don’t play, we don’t know. By all accounts, we are trying to sign a 19 year old from the Vile (not another one), so why give ours a go?

I think that playing in the Championship is a big step up from playing in PL2 or even League One Ketts. Bostock has proven himself at junior level and both Whitwell and Williams have done well out on loan but they are all naturally far from the finished article and Bostock's cameo in the cup game, for example, showed both his inexperience as well as his clear potential.

That said, whilst it would ordinarily be best for our promising youngsters to be loaned out for a period to aid their development, given both the lack of depth and quality in our current squad, it seems pointless to retain them at home and get them training with the first team but then not actually give them their opportunities to play.

They all have ability and potential and sometimes in life you have to take a calculated risk so why not give them some minutes and let them learn on the job? I'm sure many of us have been "thrown in at the deep end" at some point and it hasn't hurt us; sure we would have made mistakes but if you have a level of ability, the potential and the desire then you learn and improve and come good.

[kettering_baggie]

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why Ailing gets into the team and Bostock doesn’t! Ollie may have little experience but he cannot possibly be as bas as Ailing. Years ago, a young player with little top flight experience was plunged in at the deep end and had the crowd on their feet as he hit a superb goal. Remember him? His name was Cyrille……..

[baggieal]

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why Ailing gets into the team and Bostock doesn’t! Ollie may have little experience but he cannot possibly be as bas as Ailing. Years ago, a young player with little top flight experience was plunged in at the deep end and had the crowd on their feet as he hit a superb goal. Remember him? His name was Cyrille……..

You are right Ketts. Remember Fellows and he was only thrown in out of desperation because of injuries then he kept Wallace out although CC tried to accommodate Wallace as a CF 😂

It?s as if big wage earners who are s hite have to be accommodated before god forbid a youngster!

Even on one leg Bostock could be no worse than Junior or Wallace. Same with Williams when you look at his competition.

Serve us right if Villa take them!

[Dubbag]

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why Ailing gets into the team and Bostock doesn?t! Ollie may have little experience but he cannot possibly be as bas as Ailing. Years ago, a young player with little top flight experience was plunged in at the deep end and had the crowd on their feet as he hit a superb goal. Remember him? His name was Cyrille??..

Cyrille was already well built in stature and hard to stop. Took his chance when it came. There would be a different mental attitude in players today.