The Champions Go Again! FLT at Home v Salford Sept 5th, 7:45

[BWFC_Insane]

I would say that given our fabled B team approach that I’ve always been a bit sceptical of but given it exists and given we’ve extended contracts for a number who have been here a year then surely quite a few of them should be ready to step in here?

In football now if at 18/19 and at the latest 20 you are deemed completely not ready for first team games at this sort of level for a competition like this I’d question what on earth we are doing with them?

Development of players you can look round and look at stats and yes there are outliers but the vast vast majority are breaking through before they are 21 usually considerably earlier. If Khumbeni for example isn’t starting this then what’s the point?

[The_Gun]

I would say that given our fabled B team approach that I’ve always been a bit sceptical of but given it exists and given we’ve extended contracts for a number who have been here a year then surely quite a few of them should be ready to step in here?

In football now if at 18/19 and at the latest 20 you are deemed completely not ready for first team games at this sort of level for a competition like this I’d question what on earth we are doing with them?

Development of players you can look round and look at stats and yes there are outliers but the vast vast majority are breaking through before they are 21 usually considerably earlier. If Khumbeni for example isn’t starting this then what’s the point?

I am broadly in agreement with you here. If none of the players are deemed good enough by Evatt to play in a fixture like this then I respect his decision, but we would really want to have at least a couple of B/youth players on the fringes of the first team.

I do accept that the current set up is still in relative infancy, but at the moment we're one of three clubs in League One with zero youth products in our first team squad (the other two being Blackpool and Wycombe).

[BWFC_Insane]

I would say that given our fabled B team approach that I’ve always been a bit sceptical of but given it exists and given we’ve extended contracts for a number who have been here a year then surely quite a few of them should be ready to step in here?

In football now if at 18/19 and at the latest 20 you are deemed completely not ready for first team games at this sort of level for a competition like this I’d question what on earth we are doing with them?

Development of players you can look round and look at stats and yes there are outliers but the vast vast majority are breaking through before they are 21 usually considerably earlier. If Khumbeni for example isn’t starting this then what’s the point?

I am broadly in agreement with you here. If none of the players are deemed good enough by Evatt to play in a fixture like this then I respect his decision, but we would really want to have at least a couple of B/youth players on the fringes of the first team.

I do accept that the current set up is still in relative infancy, but at the moment we're one of three clubs in League One with zero youth products in our first team squad (the other two being Blackpool and Wycombe).

Yeah and I think my main point is that its no good having players at 24 who haven't got a clue because they've barely played any proper football. We can see with Nlundulu that exact issue. He needed to have 5 years football league experience at appropriate levels behind him. Instead his raw attributes will probably never materialise into anything. Its very very rare that a player will get there past a certain age.

So much talent is wasted nowadays because lads sit in premiership academies then U23's etc without ever playing anything approaching proper football till it is way too late. We all accept this.

Yet we have lads at 20 sitting in our B team who have never played any real football - we're signing them on again yet they seem miles away from the team. This is madness. If at 19 you're not good enough to be considered at least a bit part option in league one then...you probably should be on a year long loan somewhere to get that experience.

My issue with the B team approach always has been its too late. You have diminishing returns as players get older. Yes we should always look out for the ones discarded who lost their way but could be turned round. But for me we should be looking to the fringes of large local academies to the younger end the players who maybe feel like they won't make it and taking them at 15/16/17 - and giving them a chance. There is a better chance we can work on their raw talent and make something out of them and statistically speaking we're intercepting the talent pipeline at a stage where the probability some make it is greater.

[sonicthewhite]

Evatt hinting he may just do that;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... team-news/

[Mar]

According to BN:

Youngster Luke Hutchinson has already been recalled from a loan spell with Hyde United to ensure there is goalkeeping cover in the short-term.

[The_Gun]

Evatt hinting he may just do that;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... team-news/

We'll see. Evatt hasn't particularly shown that he's a manager willing to trust in young players up to this point, so I would be surprised if there are many in the squad tonight.

Salford are surely likely to rotate their own squad given that they do have a game on Saturday. Perfect opportunity to give the B team lads a chance if you ask me.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Evatt hinting he may just do that;

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... team-news/

We'll see. Evatt hasn't particularly shown that he's a manager willing to trust in young players up to this point, so I would be surprised if there are many in the squad tonight.

Salford are surely likely to rotate their own squad given that they do have a game on Saturday. Perfect opportunity to give the B team lads a chance if you ask me.

I suspect there'll be three or four in the 18, but it will really be dictated by the seniors' unavailability rather than the kids' progess.

I make it we have 22 in the squad, but four are away on duty, plus Johnston, Coleman and (tonight) Dempsey are injured; possibly Iredale too if we'd rather not rush him back. So that makes 14 (or 15 with Iredale) for an 18-man matchday squad.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Pretty much as expected. JDC and Williams both play tho <wince>

Salford make six changes, including three debuts

[sonicthewhite]

I would imagine if we're winning comfortably then both JDC and Randy will get subbed early.

[TANGODANCER]

Given all in all, that's an encouragingly strong looking team. Four away on international duty plus changes, gives the Whites a chance to shine as is. Good opportunity for Jon Bod to show his talents, so...COME ON YOU WHITES...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I would imagine if we're winning comfortably then both JDC and Randy will get subbed early.

Aye. Not sure who for in Randy’s case. Gethin, with Iredale pushed to LWB?

[Mar]

Strong lineup... if we're winning it'll be youth players coming on. If we're losing it'll be the first teamers. Either way sensible approach.

Surprised we've got Hutchinson on the bench. Would've thought that'd be a position not needing swapping. If we lose we've still got two other games so worst case scenario Baxter getting injured wouldn't have been as damaging as a league game.

Either way decent night of football. Weather's good for it at least

[officer_dibble]

Right, get 8-0 up and bring some subs on.

[Worthy4England]

Ref sounds like an ATM...

[officer_dibble]

There’s 1, 7 to go

[Worthy4England]

Should count 2 that one...

[The_Gun]

Get the subs on.

[TANGODANCER]

Rocket man. Take that Mancs.

[sonicthewhite]

Get in!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Surprised we've got Hutchinson on the bench. Would've thought that'd be a position not needing swapping. If we lose we've still got two other games so worst case scenario Baxter getting injured wouldn't have been as damaging as a league game.

I hear you but we've recalled Hutchinson, it'd be a bit rude not to bench him in this game in favour of a fellow kid - cos we've got nowt else