Scott Wharton

[robinrover]

Gone on loan to Cambridge
maybe the wage rise rumours were correct
the mind boggles what's going on at this club
next out on loan maybe Mahoney?while we struggle with injuries and consistency.

[Despair]

My suspicion is that Mahoney is 'up for offers' not him personally but by the club.

[AucklandRover]

Perhaps we (the supporters) are the ones being naive about these youngsters. A succession of managers (even Gary Bowyer, who knew them well) have been unwilling to introduce these players in significant numbers. People like Lenihan have partially had to rely on injuries to come in and make a case.
Coyle's argument seems to be that you mainly need players who have experienced for some time the intensity of proper League football. Unfortunately, it's even more difficult to experiment when you're bouncing along the bottom.
Having said that, it seems to me he contradicted his own argument by bringing in people like Byrne, Samuelsen and Hendrie! We might as well have had our own youth-products warming the bench as them. Perhaps it was a case of the grass being greener on the other side of the hill, and not knowing until we'd tried them out.
One thing that has puzzled me over the last few years is that we have so often looked to France (and, disastrously, to Portugal!). Isn't there something to be said for looking at experienced players from the lower-level British Divisions, rather than going for PL cast-offs and reserves, or European guesses? We're in a position where battling qualities are perhaps more important than "promise" shown at a higher level. Too often, that "promise" has come to nothing.

[robinrover]

My suspicion is that Mahoney is 'up for offers' not him personally but by the club.

I really hope not despair
this guy is the real deal and will provide us with consistency on the right when Marshall finally packs his bags.

[Bobcrompton1896]

Yes it does seem ridiculous that NO youngsters can ever get any game time at Ewood,Nyambe excepted.

Only Lambert seemed interested in promoting any of them,and even then only when he had decided to pack his own bags. Maybe its a Venkys way to keep the wage bill down,but whatever it is,it seems total nonsense. Mahoney especially deserves his chance.

[AucklandRover]

I'm pretty sure Mahoney will start against Blackpool. Coyle is saying he won't be experimenting much, but Mahoney has featured in cup-games before, and this seems an obvious chance.
Good to see Rankin-Costello signing professional forms. He has clearly been earmarked as one who IS going to make the grade.

[robinrover]

Completely agree aucks
Rankin Costello signing a new contract is great news and will hopefully prove how a decent academy can produce the goods
we are in the mire financially so use some of the kids.

[AucklandRover]

Completely agree aucks
Rankin Costello signing a new contract is great news and will hopefully prove how a decent academy can produce the goods
we are in the mire financially so use some of the kids.

Well, Robin, Coyle certainly did NOT take any risks with the line-up against Blackpool!
I take it he thought an experimental team which failed might be the straw that broke the camel's back. To be fair to him, a lot of the mouth-foamers on the LT site WOULD have taken great delight in a team including several youngsters being beaten by Blackpool. As it is, we won, so it will probably be relatively quiet in those comment columns!