Bolton Under 23's the Champs.

[Prufrock]

I see Hall didn't play. All set for 5 mins at the end on Sunday!

[palindromeofbolton]

The cynic inside me wants to say KA's instructed PP to put Hall in the 18 tomorrow to work as some kind of pacifier for the braying crowds.

That said, without Clough and Walker he's obviously struggling for options up front so it's logical he's been prepped for Sunday.

I emailed the FBI again regarding Obasi's whereabouts but they still haven't found any trace.

Whatever happens tomorrow, tho, the U23s have given us something to be proud of. Young Politic sounds like he could be a good 'un.

[Mar]

Would be crazy to give them a run out now. I am very surprised they've not been given a game despite doing so well this season.

Does make you wonder how good they actually are.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

No Hall in the 18.

Congrats to Didsy's kids. We may need them next season.

[The_Gun]

The U23s kicked off their season with a 3-1 victory against Bristol City last night. Sounds like we've got a couple of real promising lads coming through (Politic and Navarro particularly) who hopefully will be given a chance to get games at senior level (here or on loan) this season.

[The_Gun]

Another victory for the U23s last night, this time against Coventry. Connor Hall on the score sheet once more, with rumours swirling that he will be loaned out this week should we succeed in bringing in a senior striker.

[The_Gun]

Does anyone on here with contacts at the club have any insight into which of our youth players are considered the brightest prospects? Based on the limited info you get from match reports it sounds as though Navarro, Politic, Connell, Turner and obviously Hall seem to be the most prominent players in the youth system, but that may well be because of the positions they play in.

[BWFC_Insane]

Does anyone on here with contacts at the club have any insight into which of our youth players are considered the brightest prospects? Based on the limited info you get from match reports it sounds as though Navarro, Politic, Connell, Turner and obviously Hall seem to be the most prominent players in the youth system, but that may well be because of the positions they play in.

No massive inside knowledge but I know from a conversation over the summer that Politic is highly rated and being watched. Now, I don't think that means he'll be starting for our first team this year. But seems to be the "talk" of the place right now.

Also the lad we signed from Spurs, Pritchard seemed decent to me pre-season and he's one I'd not be surprised seeing in a cup game or even on the bench sometimes if the chance presents itself.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Does anyone on here with contacts at the club have any insight into which of our youth players are considered the brightest prospects? Based on the limited info you get from match reports it sounds as though Navarro, Politic, Connell, Turner and obviously Hall seem to be the most prominent players in the youth system, but that may well be because of the positions they play in.

Can't claim insider info but these are the ones for whom the club has awarded a professional, rather than development, contract.

Jake Turner (pro, 25/02/99, goalkeeper, work-ex loan to Stalybridge allows continued eligibility for BWFC U23)
Harry Brockbank (pro, 26/09/98, centre-back)
Liam Edwards (pro, 02/10/96, centre-back)
Chiori Johnson (pro, 05/10/97, right-back/defender)
Joe Muscatt (pro, 15/12/97, left-back)
Jack Earing (pro, 21/01/99, central midfielder)
Marcus Wood (pro, 12/02/98, midfielder)
Joe Pritchard (pro, 10/09/96, midfielder)
Dennis Politic (pro, 05/03/00, winger)
Stephen Duke-McKenna (pro, 17/08/00, forward)
*Yoan Zouma (pro, 06/05/98, centre-back)
*Connor Hall (pro, 18/02/98, striker)

The last two are contracted until 2020, the others for one year. It might be notable that Politic was given a pro contract when barely 18; as a general rule, the younger that players are awarded pro contracts, the more the club think of them - although again it doesn't necessarily mean they're banging on the first-team door, while conversely the older ones aren't necessarily washed up. Pritchard, who's 22 next month, might be closer; we only signed him this summer, from Spurs U23s, whom he had sometimes captained, and who kept him on after many others had been released - he joined them at age 7. As ever in football, one club's cast-off might become another club's corner-stone.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Jake Turner was doing well on loan at Stalybridge...

...but then he seems to have got injured...

...so they've borrowed another of ours, James Aspinall...

[officer_dibble]

Connor Hall doesn’t look like he is getting much game time at Accrington. Will he make the step up?

[The_Gun]

Interesting loan move for Dennis Politic as he goes to the upwardly mobile Salford City until January. Hopefully he gets some game time for them as he looks one of our most exciting prospects.

[The_Gun]

Interesting loan move for Dennis Politic as he goes to the upwardly mobile Salford City until January. Hopefully he gets some game time for them as he looks one of our most exciting prospects.

Positive feedback on Dennis from the Salford fans after he made his debut on Saturday. Hopefully he proves a valuable asset for us going forward.

[The_Gun]

Interesting loan move for Dennis Politic as he goes to the upwardly mobile Salford City until January. Hopefully he gets some game time for them as he looks one of our most exciting prospects.

Positive feedback on Dennis from the Salford fans after he made his debut on Saturday. Hopefully he proves a valuable asset for us going forward.

First goal for Politic on Saturday and further positive feedback from their fans. In these dark times it's slithers of good news like this that I have to hang on to.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Connor Hall's back from Acc - and might be needed for us against Walsall, given we're short of men thanks to the partial registration embargo - but looks to be dropping down to the fourth tier for a Jan-to-June loan. Quoth Marc Iles: "It is understood, however, that the longer-term plan is to send him back out on loan for more experience and the former Sheffield United front man has two League Two sides looking to take him for the rest of the campaign."

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/1 ... eague-two/

Connor made 17 appearances for Accy, but only 5 were starts, and 4 of those were in the Checkatrade - in which he scored twice and got two assists. He neither scored nor assisted in the league, so you can see why they're thinking of dropping him down a division to aid his development. Bury, Tranmere, Oldham, Crewe, Vale and Macclesfield might be local options.

Iles also says that Joe Pritchard - not one of last season's U23 champs, but one who's been with the development lads since leaving Spurs in summer (since when he's turned 22) - is being considered for some gametime against Walsall.

[officer_dibble]

How many teams can you play for in one season, given hall started against Leeds? I thought it was two but do cup games not count? League two must be his level, done fck all at accy by the looks of it.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

How many teams can you play for in one season, given hall started against Leeds? I thought it was two but do cup games not count? League two must be his level, done fck all at accy by the looks of it.

Think you can be loaned, but not owned.

[The_Gun]

So despite our U23s winning their league last year, so far this season Bolton have given fewer minutes of first team football to players under 23 than any other team in the football league.



To me this is an absolute disgrace, especially given our senior players are generally of a low standard. If/when this new regime comes in I really hope they emphasise youth development. I'm generally appreciative of what Parky has done for the club, but I can't see an excuse for his unwillingness to play our young players. Last week he was talking about only playing youngsters when they're ready, but for that reasoning to hold it would have to mean that our academy players are less ready than those at every other league club in the country.

[Harry Genshaw]

I did ask the question last week but didn't get a reply. Prior to Connell, how many home grown players have made a league debut under Parky?

I couldn't think of any. After years of producing next to nothing we came up with Holding and Clough and a very handy £6m (give or take) in transfer fees. If we employ a manager unwilling to give youth a chance, how much longer can we continue to run an academy?

[TANGODANCER]

Does playing for the First XI involve appearance bonuses and higher wages? Just wondering?