Youth Development

[andyhanrahan]

Whats the point of these young fellas breaking into the first team when theyre 18 - 19 most young prodegies bodies are totally fecked by their mid twenties. Gerrard was heading heading that way until Houllier started resting him in his 2nd/3rd season.From watching reserve team coverage though I would say that Spearing should be given a chance ( maybe not in midfield but as a full back).Pleisis has looked terrible at reserve level any time Ive seen him but Pancheo has that little bit of class about him

[Sarb]

Because Degen is an experienced international and Darby is still very young and is more of a risk at this time. How do you know that Carra will play there is Arbeloa doesn't? It is not like Degen has been available for you to make that judgement.

So will Darby ever get a chance?

[Shaggy]

Pancheo

[Maxiedge]

Because Degen is an experienced international and Darby is still very young and is more of a risk at this time. How do you know that Carra will play there is Arbeloa doesn't? It is not like Degen has been available for you to make that judgement.

Exactly. He's rated really highly back in his homeland and it's not just for shi*s and giggles.

[Sarb]

Exactly. He's rated really highly back in his homeland and it's not just for shi*s and giggles.

Switzerland. It's like that one wherr Mark Gonzalez was the best player in Chile

[Maxiedge]

Switzerland. It's like that one wherr Mark Gonzalez was the best player in Chile

Hey, the Swiss aren't bad you know

He's obviously better than what we've seen so far from him so I think it's too early to call whether giving Darby the chance would've been the better move. Let's see how he does when he returns but if continues like this for a much longer period of time then yeah, sure, Rafa was wrong to sign him.

[1 True Red]

I think that people are taking a very short term view here. To my mind we will only be able to tell in the next maybe four or five years how the youth development changes are/have worked.

Part of the problem seems to me a mismatch between peoples feeling that we should have young players breaking through at the age of 16-19 where Rafa seems to feel that players will be ready to play between 18 and 21.

People seem to totally discount the fact that El Zhar has played a decent number of games and looked like a useful squad member and Insua seems to genuinely improved in the reserves going by his first team appearance this term.

It took Wenger 10 years of total control to get to the point he is at now where he has started bringing through players from the youth set up right through to the first team. Most of the players he has had up until now have had experience in a first team elsewhere or like Toure and Fabregas came through development programs up to the age of 15 or older elsewhere.

We also already have a pretty young squad so talk of a few players retiring derailing us entirely seems a bit dramatic.

Can't argue with that dww

[1 True Red]

But that's not the point is it. The key is, why did we go for him rather than give a youngster a chance. Don't you think there needs to be a slight change? Degen isn't going to displace Arbeloa and when Arbeloa doesn't play Carra plays there. So why didn't we promote Darby instead?

Good points you make there bud but, it's what Rafa decides at the end of the day mate so, who are we to argue!

[Mattshark]

So will Darby ever get a chance?

Yes, but he is 3rd choice. He will get some cup games and as a sub. Why are you so sure he is ready?

[Harv]

poor Degen.

written off before he's even really kicked a ball FFS.

No wonder he broke down in the dressing rooms after he picked up his latest injury.

[Marky]

im only worried about the now and i'm happy with the ways things are going at present.

[Sarb]

im only worried about the now and i'm happy with the ways things are going at present.

Got to think about the future too mate

[Matt]

I've said it before but I think this years FA Cup should be used to give our best young talent a big stage to perform on.

If the young players know that the Cup squad will have 7 or 8 places open to them then it acts as an incentive to work hard in the reserves. If you balance it out with first teamers then you've still got a team capable of beating most others.

A game playing in the middle with Gerrard or Alonso rather than another youngster could do wonders for Spearing, for example.

[Exiled_red]

I've said it before but I think this years FA Cup should be used to give our best young talent a big stage to perform on.

I agree with that, but if we lose in the FA Cup people will be having a go at Rafa for devaluing the competition (Including some people on here)

[Matt]

I agree with that, but if we lose in the FA Cup people will be having a go at Rafa for devaluing the competition (Including some people on here)

Maybe, but you can't please everybody. We're still in with a shout for the two biggest competitions so surely they're our priorities.

Besides if you balance it out equally between youngsters and first teamers you'd still beat all but the very best sides.