Reserves......

[Lofthouse Lower]

ANOTHER goal for Eaves - 8 in 9 I believe
ANOTHER goal for Blakeman.

Time to give them a go? Wouldn't do any harm having the young striker on the bench or even sending him out on loan somewhere, plus the reports on Blakeman are fantastic

[t_o_molloy]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

[Wandering Willy]

ANOTHER goal for Eaves - 8 in 9 I believe
ANOTHER goal for Blakeman.

Time to give them a go? Wouldn't do any harm having the young striker on the bench or even sending him out on loan somewhere, plus the reports on Blakeman are fantastic

I don't think now is the time - we had a strong team and bench on Saturday and that's the personnel we'll see for a while, fitness permitting. This is an important part of the season with a decent league position and still in the cup. Should things peter out towards the end of the season I think moving one or two up to the bench would be a good idea if OC thinks they're good enough. I like the loan idea.

[Lofthouse Lower]

GOALS from Tope Obadeyi, Adam Blakeman and Tom Eaves made it three wins out of four for the reserves, but it was Josh Vela who emerged as a future star in the emphatic victory over Wigan.

The 17-year-old’s performance in the centre of midfield marked him out as the one to watch out for of Wanderers’ current crop of youngsters.

Salford-born Vela, who has been at the Reebok since he was nine, was outstanding for John Henry’s rejuvenated side.

Technically excellent and strong in the tackle, Vela is composed on the ball, rarely surrenders possession and knows when to burst forward to join his strikers.

It was the type of display that left those at Leyland’s County Ground asking when, and not if, he will graduate to Owen Coyle’s squad.

[calcalstar]

I thought I had read somewhere that Coyle brought Vela with him to the Reebok with Liam Irwin, maybe not. Most worryingly Josh Vela has on the website that the most played song on his Ipod is Celine Dion - My heart will go on!

[CAPSLOCK]

I know (unfortunately) Velas uncle

He was boring me one night about this kid and I was only pretending to listen, but I think he said David Reeves is his agent

[Lord Kangana]

Poor bastard.

[Salford Trotter]

My daughter is best friends with a reserve team player and I asked him the other day who he felt was the most promising player (apart from himself of course) coming through the ranks, he said without question it was Danny Ward and referred to Eaves as a donkey.

[Riviman]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

Blakeman is a better midfield player than Alonso, Alonso is a better full back than Blakeman. They play in different positions !!
Vela is certainly a real prospect and could well make the grade over the next couple of years (when he'll be the ripe old age of 19 !!)
Eaves is improving with every game and Danny Ward is looking more like his old self
Rob Lainton in goal is another great prospect.
In fact for the first time in years we seem to have some young reserves who could make it through to the first team, and I'm not including Tope in those players.

[TKIZ!]

Vela has the potential from what I've seen to be the new 'Hunt/Nolan/JOB' but better. He's that player who's homegrown and has been a Wanderer since he was 9. There was an interview with him in the last programme and he seemed to come across alright.

[t_o_molloy]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

Blakeman is a better midfield player than Alonso, Alonso is a better full back than Blakeman. They play in different positions !!
Vela is certainly a real prospect and could well make the grade over the next couple of years (when he'll be the ripe old age of 19 !!)
Eaves is improving with every game and Danny Ward is looking more like his old self
Rob Lainton in goal is another great prospect.
In fact for the first time in years we seem to have some young reserves who could make it through to the first team, and I'm not including Tope in those players.

Blakeman is a left-back by trade, who's been pushed forward due to his goalscoring exploits, if I'm not mistaken.

[elfil76]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

Blakeman is a better midfield player than Alonso, Alonso is a better full back than Blakeman. They play in different positions !!
Vela is certainly a real prospect and could well make the grade over the next couple of years (when he'll be the ripe old age of 19 !!)
Eaves is improving with every game and Danny Ward is looking more like his old self
Rob Lainton in goal is another great prospect.
In fact for the first time in years we seem to have some young reserves who could make it through to the first team, and I'm not including Tope in those players.

Blakeman is a left-back by trade, who's been pushed forward due to his goalscoring exploits, if I'm not mistaken.

our version of bale ?

[t_o_molloy]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

Blakeman is a better midfield player than Alonso, Alonso is a better full back than Blakeman. They play in different positions !!
Vela is certainly a real prospect and could well make the grade over the next couple of years (when he'll be the ripe old age of 19 !!)
Eaves is improving with every game and Danny Ward is looking more like his old self
Rob Lainton in goal is another great prospect.
In fact for the first time in years we seem to have some young reserves who could make it through to the first team, and I'm not including Tope in those players.

Blakeman is a left-back by trade, who's been pushed forward due to his goalscoring exploits, if I'm not mistaken.

our version of bale ?

Not quite, he's been pushed forward into the centre of midfield, stangely enough with Danny Ward occupying the Left Wing.

[elfil76]

That Vela looks a real talent as well. Was the best player in the Youth Cup at the Reebok, was apparently the best player last night and only turned 17 in December.

Plus from what I've seen (they've played together on the same team numerous times) Blakeman is better than Alonso

Blakeman is a better midfield player than Alonso, Alonso is a better full back than Blakeman. They play in different positions !!
Vela is certainly a real prospect and could well make the grade over the next couple of years (when he'll be the ripe old age of 19 !!)
Eaves is improving with every game and Danny Ward is looking more like his old self
Rob Lainton in goal is another great prospect.
In fact for the first time in years we seem to have some young reserves who could make it through to the first team, and I'm not including Tope in those players.

Blakeman is a left-back by trade, who's been pushed forward due to his goalscoring exploits, if I'm not mistaken.

our version of bale ?

Not quite, he's been pushed forward into the centre of midfield, stangely enough with Danny Ward occupying the Left Wing.

I see, thanks, I am too far off to hear any development on our youth team and the players. Thanks for these periodic updates.

[General Mannerheim]

is the right back any good???

[t_o_molloy]

is the right back any good???

I actually had quite an extended chat with him on Facebook after the Wigan game, and I said to him what will happen for you if Ricketts gets injured.
His reply was: 'Depends if the gaffer can trust me or not'
My guess would be the same back 4 that ended yesterday's game with young Connolly on the bench.

[helpinghand]

is the right back any good???

I actually had quite an extended chat with him on Facebook after the Wigan game, and I said to him what will happen for you if Ricketts gets injured.
His reply was: 'Depends if the gaffer can trust me or not'
My guess would be the same back 4 that ended yesterday's game with young Connolly on the bench.

I'm guessing you saw his rooney-esque overhead effort that hit the post against wigan. Great video of it, whoever took it.

[t_o_molloy]

Yeah, I saw it, quality effort.
But he's been playing very well in general recently and he did cost £1Million

[bobo the clown]

One of the problems of the Premiership's vast place money (around £800k per league table position I think) plus the lure (??) of European possibilities, means that experimenting with a few juniors once a club are safe from relegation is a very expensive option.

[Lord Kangana]

Lets see if Worhty can do a sum.

The cost of losing a few places to blood a few youngsters and the cost of the academy versus the cost of buying off-the-shelf players.

Could make quite interesting reading. Surely there has to be a balance?