Kids ?

[Guest]

I agree with you on the objective of the reserves, but I still think it's nice to be champions and I don't think there's anything wrong with pointing out to someone who said they weren't champions, that they are!

Nemeth could do a job in the first team. That's about it really. But seriously if you are thinking we are going to get one player a year to force a Torres, SG, El Jefecito out of the first team, then I'd suggest you are smoking some good stuff. If we can get an SG or a Torres once every 5 years and an Aurelio / Arbeloa every couple of years then the system will have over-performed relative to the investment.

Being champions at their level is great for young kids, it gives them confidence and it's an achievement.

People would never be happy. We've got a terrific youth set up which is still evolving and people are still comparing us with Arsenal's kids who haven't won anything of yet.

[Craig_H]

Never heard of Wilshere. Is he another Pennant ?

I suggest you read up, research and watch these players before commenting that our kids are 'as good' as them.

Otherwise you come across as ill informed, clueless and laughable.

[ukfootballfan101]

Arsenal's philosophy was implemented 12 years ago. Rafa's been in the job for 4 years.

Stop drooling about youngsters FFS, it's the first team that is important and we're ahead of them at the moment. I also don't doubt that our kids can give them a run for their money.

I'm not drooling over the youngsters, I've actually said most of them won't make it.

You don't know much about the situation from what you have just said, read my previous posts and the one by El Jefecito. There is a major issue with the academy and reserve team setup. Rafa has nothing to do with the academy so there is no comparision with Arsenal. Wenger put in a structure to develop players from a very young age inline with how the first team play. Rafa is so unhappy with our youth setup he is bring kids in from all over the world to fill up the reserve team rather than promoting lads from the academy.

[Guest]

When you're playing schoolboys, yes it's an achievement. And that's the same Wigan who played their strongest team. Cant give a **** about the Carling Cup? You should try watching the games and seeing how much they care.

The fact that it's the Carling Cup is the crucial point, that's the only time kids can get 1st team experience. Your clueless capacity knows no bounds.

I wasnt talking about reserves, i was talking about kids (for the tenth time), but since you mention the reserves, how are they doing? Where are they in the reserves league?

Well the reserves is at a higher level than the youth level.

You are talking out of your arse sorry. Arsenal's kids haven't won anything and they can beat the Wigan's or the Sheffield's of this world in a mickey mouse cup I don't give a flying ****. I don't watch it.

[Craig_H]

Well the reserves is at a higher level than the youth level.

You are talking out of your arse sorry. Arsenal's kids haven't won anything and they can beat the Wigan's or the Sheffield's of this world in a mickey mouse cup I don't give a flying ****. I don't watch it.

You dont watch it, which gives you no right to comment.

Youth/reserve team football isnt about winning things, it's about developing and progressing, with a view to turn into a good first teamer.

You really dont have a clue fella, as people on here keep telling you time and time again. It's no coincidence that everyone tells you it.

[El Jefecito]

When you're playing schoolboys, yes it's an achievement. And that's the same Wigan who played their strongest team. Cant give a **** about the Carling Cup? You should try watching the games and seeing how much they care.

The fact that it's the Carling Cup is the crucial point, that's the only time kids can get 1st team experience. Your clueless capacity knows no bounds.

I wasnt talking about reserves, i was talking about kids (for the tenth time), but since you mention the reserves, how are they doing? Where are they in the reserves league?

Don't revert to type DJ. Support the kids, don't belittle them as an excuse to beat Fredo.

[Guest]

I suggest you read up, research and watch these players before commenting that our kids are 'as good' as them.

Otherwise you come across as ill informed, clueless and laughable.

Well have they won anything with this philosophy? They've got money to burn but still they are also ran, until they prove me wrong. There's no point having a team full of kids playing Harlem globe trotter football if they aren't winning anything.

I'm not drooling over the youngsters, I've actually said most of them won't make it.

You don't know much about the situation from what you have just said, read my previous posts and the one by El Jefecito. There is a major issue with the academy and reserve team setup. Rafa has nothing to do with the academy so there is no comparision with Arsenal. Wenger put in a structure to develop players from a very young age inline with how the first team play. Rafa is so unhappy with our youth setup he is bring kids in from all over the world to fill up the reserve team rather than promoting lads from the academy.

Wenger is also bringing kids from all over the world. I don't know what's happening with the academy so I won't comment.

[ukfootballfan101]

I agree with you on the objective of the reserves, but I still think it's nice to be champions and I don't think there's anything wrong with pointing out to someone who said they weren't champions, that they are!

Nemeth could do a job in the first team. That's about it really. But seriously if you are thinking we are going to get one player a year to force a Torres, SG, El Jefecito out of the first team, then I'd suggest you are smoking some good stuff. If we can get an SG or a Torres once every 5 years and an Aurelio / Arbeloa every couple of years then the system will have over-performed relative to the investment.

You're right, there is no way we would get a SG or torres every year, every 5 years would be amazing. But to develop one squad player a year? I think thats an acceptable target.

[Craig_H]

They actually not doing well, that's just a fact isnt it?

The bigger picture is the development of youngsters and hopefully seeing them turn into first teamers, who will save us transfer funds.

By 18 or 19, you'd want there to be signs of being able to feature in the first eleven and compete. The Arsenal kids are showing these signs at every time of asking. Ours dont generally seem to get a chance to, and that's a concern, dont you think?

[El Jefecito]

You dont watch it, which gives you no right to comment.

Youth/reserve team football isnt about winning things, it's about developing and progressing, with a view to turn into a good first teamer.

You really dont have a clue fella, as people on here keep telling you time and time again. It's no coincidence that everyone tells you it.

Did you read the article I posted. Makes the case that Wenger creates carling cup semi-final winners who then go on to get hooked at half time for championship teams. Let history be the judge.

[Craig_H]

Well have they won anything with this philosophy? They've got money to burn but still they are also ran, until they prove me wrong. There's no point having a team full of kids playing Harlem globe trotter football if they aren't winning anything.

It's not about winning things at that level, it's about making the grade at first team level - which they are.

Ours arent.

[ukfootballfan101]

You dont watch it, which gives you no right to comment.

Youth/reserve team football isnt about winning things, it's about developing and progressing, with a view to turn into a good first teamer.

You really dont have a clue fella, as people on here keep telling you time and time again. It's no coincidence that everyone tells you it.

You got it spot on there mate

Thats why they do stuff like playing centre backs in midfield - to make them better on the ball.

That is also why Bruna is playing for the reserve team when some people think he should be playing for the under 18s - he's being push outside his comfort zone to help him develop faster.

[Guest]

You dont watch it, which gives you no right to comment.

Youth/reserve team football isnt about winning things, it's about developing and progressing, with a view to turn into a good first teamer.

You really dont have a clue fella, as people on here keep telling you time and time again. It's no coincidence that everyone tells you it.

Football is not about developing kids it's about developing a competitive team. That's the ultimate aim of any manager.

If reserve / youth football wasn't all about winning why would they bother competing in cups etc ... Winning is good for kids confidence and it's a crucial aspect of nurturing kids. It gives them the hunger and a 'feel' of things.

You are the one talking bollocks with your negative stance.

[-V-]

Ok lets talk about these supposedly amazing Arsenal youngsters

Fabianski- Average at best. He will never make the grade. He is 23 now and still looks average

Djourou- Average. Never in a million years would he get into our 1st team

Song- Average, never get near our team

Gibbs- Has potential

Gavin Hoyte- Is he supposed to be good? He will end up in the championship

Randall- Too early to judge

Ramsay- £5m from Cardiff

Merida- Looks okay but speculative to whether he will make it

Simpson- Potentially a good poacher but i cant see him ever making it as a regular even for Arsenal.

Vela- Good spot by the Arsenal scouts, looked quality in la liga last season

Wilshire. Top quality.

So out of all them Vela and Wilshire will be stars. The rest? Meh nothing special at all. Btw they outclassed Titus Bramble, Emerson Boyce, Figaroua and hasbeen Melchiot. And Cattermole. Lets put things into perspective, not the greatest defensive players in the game

Liverpool FC are a class above. It would be unthinkable for us to lose to teams like Fulham, Hull and Stoke in the space of a couple of months. Arsenal have serious problems that are masked by occasional top quality performances. These young 'kids' wont change a great deal for them because only 2/3 will make it into the first team

[Craig_H]

Did you read the article I posted. Makes the case that Wenger creates carling cup semi-final winners who then go on to get hooked at half time for championship teams. Let history be the judge.

I read the article and it's speculative and relies on coincidental 'evidence'.

But nobody is saying all those Arsenal kids will become great players, many wont make it. They certainly look at a far more advanced stage of development than ours do though, you cant dispute that.

They stand out. Most kids hold their own at best, but those lads tonight actually outclassed fully established premier league players. That's highly admirable.