Charlie Allen

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Just flicked through the U23 game and Charlie Allen was playing in CM - still young only just 17 but looks a proper player - controlled the midfield

[joellufcprice]

Allen, McKinstry and Dean all very young in our attack and look like they all could do the business.

Add to that the potential with Gelhardt, Drameh, Kenneh, Greenwood and some others we have quite a few who could step up. If even just one or two can make it that would be brilliant.

Really hope we can get one of our genuine youth products into the first team, love that we have these signed players in our youth set up like Gelhardt, Greenwood and Drameh but always nice to see a kid who has been here since they were 10/11 make it to the first team. Someone like Kenneh, Huggins or Cresswell and I don't mean just a few appearances, I mean really break into the team and get 4/5 starts before end of season.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Allen, McKinstry and Dean all very young in our attack and look like they all could do the business.

Add to that the potential with Gelhardt, Drameh, Kenneh, Greenwood and some others we have quite a few who could step up. If even just one or two can make it that would be brilliant.

Really hope we can get one of our genuine youth products into the first team, love that we have these signed players in our youth set up like Gelhardt, Greenwood and Drameh but always nice to see a kid who has been here since they were 10/11 make it to the first team. Someone like Kenneh, Huggins or Cresswell and I don't mean just a few appearances, I mean really break into the team and get 4/5 starts before end of season.

Totally.

Agree that Dean looks good and Cresswell and Casey both developing nicely. Mcinstry looks to have grown and filled out and improved his pace.

[WTF11]

Totally.

Agree that Dean looks good and Cresswell and Casey both developing nicely. Mcinstry looks to have grown and filled out and improved his pace.

All these positive comments are stuff and nonesense unless and until the powers that be (specifically, Bielsa), decide to give them, as Joel says, REAL time in the first team, and not just warming the bench. Not suggesting they get thrown to the wolves as some have characterised it, nor into games that are v i t a l to our continued presence in the PL, but once that is secured (and please, no absurd suggestions about Europe next season) then the U23s should be given as much of a chance as the remaining games allow no matter who the opposition might be.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

All these positive comments are stuff and nonesense unless and until the powers that be (specifically, Bielsa), decide to give them, as Joel says, REAL time in the first team, and not just warming the bench. Not suggesting they get thrown to the wolves as some have characterised it, nor into games that are v i t a l to our continued presence in the PL, but once that is secured (and please, no absurd suggestions about Europe next season) then the U23s should be given as much of a chance as the remaining games allow no matter who the opposition might be.

True WTF but if you look at the YEP last week he gave quite a good interview - he sees stretching them as being important and is desperate for them to be promoted a league up so that they come across better opposition.

I guess he is reluctant to throw in with too big a step up but who knows.

[UbiqueLUFC33]

I thought Allen was one of the stand out players vs Wolves on Friday but he does looks a bit small and even weedy. Not sure how he would do up against some of the stronger midfielders in the Prem.

[Billyni]

Crawley.
Just saying like.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

He might be slight but he put in a lot of tackles and made some key interceptions. He looks physically tough even if he is still small.

[WTF11]

I thought Allen was one of the stand out players vs Wolves on Friday but he does looks a bit small and even weedy. Not sure how he would do up against some of the stronger midfielders in the Prem.

Only way we will find out is if he gets game time against credible opposition. No point retaining his services as an U23 if he doesn't feature in the senior squad (same applies to all the other names mentioned in this and other threads).

As for Allen looking a "bit small and weedy", and at the risk of getting all kinds of sh1t thrown at me, Billy wasn't exactly the biggest player on any park, but would you have crossed him?

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Only way we will find out is if he gets game time against credible opposition. No point retaining his services as an U23 if he doesn't feature in the senior squad (same applies to all the other names mentioned in this and other threads).

As for Allen looking a "bit small and weedy", and at the risk of getting all kinds of sh1t thrown at me, Billy wasn't exactly the biggest player on any park, but would you have crossed him?

Or Bobby Collins - even smaller but even harder.