Scott interview - MP

Quoted from cod.gtfc

I don't get this youth player sentimentally thing, either they are good enough or they ain't. We are a non league team we don't have the luxery of keeping players in the hope that one day they become good enough.

See what you mean but then isn't the entire youth team also "the luxery of keeping players in the hope that one day they become good enough" ?

At what age should players be judged in terms of being good enough for the 1st team cos they can improve with age, coaching and 1st team experience. Some may even get overlooked in training or show their best on matchdays.

It's all well and good talking about bringing youth through but if you're realistically chasing promotion every year, they're unlikely to get the chance or the experience they need to improve and develop into better players (sadly we don't have a top drawer coaching setup).

It's not just youth either, just look at Scott Garner !!!
There were many who were crying out for Woodsy to give him 1st team experience but he just wouldn't !
Yes he got loan experience but what would have happened if we hadn't have needed to recall him ?
Like a lot of players loaned out then shown the door before him, he could have easily have been on his bike and written off as "not up to it".

Even Fenty himself talked about managers only considering their own position when choosing not to play youth at last years fans forum.
What he didn't mention is it's the clubs own target of "promotion" that drives managers(including Woods ironically) to do exactly the same thing.
He trusted Woods with a huge budget too and look what happened - almost all the so called "journeymen" have now gone.
With hindsight, wouldn't it have been better to stick a lot more younger players in ?

The club should always consider being honest with the fans about having a "rebuilding year" - if we do get promoted I'm certain we need to embark on a strategy of (cheaper) younger players who can gel with each other for the future.
Though I wouldn't be suprised if the new managers are already doing it to some extent...

No more aging players unless it's specifically for promotion please.

Quoted from 1600

See what you mean but then isn't the entire youth team also "the luxery of keeping players in the hope that one day they become good enough" ?

At what age should players be judged in terms of being good enough for the 1st team cos they can improve with age, coaching and 1st team experience. Some may even get overlooked in training or show their best on matchdays.

It's all well and good talking about bringing youth through but if you're realistically chasing promotion every year, they're unlikely to get the chance or the experience they need to improve and develop into better players (sadly we don't have a top drawer coaching setup).

It's not just youth either, just look at Scott Garner !!!
There were many who were crying out for Woodsy to give him 1st team experience but he just wouldn't !
Yes he got loan experience but what would have happened if we hadn't have needed to recall him ?
Like a lot of players loaned out then shown the door before him, he could have easily have been on his bike and written off as "not up to it".

Even Fenty himself talked about managers only considering their own position when choosing not to play youth at last years fans forum.
What he didn't mention is it's the clubs own target of "promotion" that drives managers(including Woods ironically) to do exactly the same thing.
He trusted Woods with a huge budget too and look what happened - almost all the so called "journeymen" have now gone.
With hindsight, wouldn't it have been better to stick a lot more younger players in ?

The club should always consider being honest with the fans about having a "rebuilding year" - if we do get promoted I'm certain we need to embark on a strategy of (cheaper) younger players who can gel with each other for the future.
Though I wouldn't be suprised if the new managers are already doing it to some extent...

No more aging players unless it's specifically for promotion please.

Speaks volumes