Interesting stats showing the number of minutes U23 players have played per team in the EFL so far this season. We're about middle in 38th. Although MJ has made massive and welcome strides in reducing the average age of our side, it looks like we're no different to most clubs and way behind others like Yeovil, Crewe and Swindon in our league..

72. Bolton (#bwfc) 1417 mins
71. Stoke (#scfc) 1468 mins
70. Notts County (#notts) 1517 mins
69. Bury (#buryfc) 1529 mins
68. Sheffield Utd (#sufc) 2135 mins
67. Middlesbrough (#boro) 2303 mins
66. Bristol Rovers (#utg) 2601 mins
65. West Brom (#wba) 3019 mins
64. Birmingham (#kro) 3211 mins
63. QPR (#qpr) 3288 mins
62. Millwall (#millwall) 3358 mins
61. Southend (#blues) 3843 mins
60. Gillingham (#gills) 4018 mins
59. Sunderland (#safc) 4070 mins
58. Crawley (#ctfc) 4120 mins
57. Nottingham F (#nffc) 4123 mins
56. Northampton (#ntfc) 4137 mins
55. Plymouth (#pafc) 4312 mins
54. Blackpool (#UTP) 4439 mins
53. Tranmere (#trfc) 4459 mins
52. Rotherham (#rufc) 4540 mins
51. Ipswich (#itfc) 4681 mins
50. Lincoln (#imps) 5184 mins
49. Leeds (#lufc) 5227 mins
48. Luton (#ltfc) 5245 mins
47. Exeter (#ecfc) 5349 mins
46. Reading (#royals) 5364 mins
45. Newport (#ncafc) 5482 mins
44. Norwich (#ncfc) 5564 mins
43. Bradford (#bcafc) 5675 mins
42.Sheffield Wed (#swfc) 5758 mins
41. Accrington (#asfc) 5826 mins
40. Hull (#hcafc) 6016 mins
39. Wycombe (#wwfc) 6099 mins
38. Grimsby (#gtfc) 6165 mins
37. Fleetwood (#ftfc) 6320 mins
36. Cambridge (#cufc) 6350 mins
35. Aston Villa (#avfc) 6479 mins
34. Port Vale (#pvfc) 6501 mins
33. Morecambe (#shrimps) 6512 mins
32. Cheltenham (#ctfc) 6530 mins
31. Wimbledon (#afcw) 6636 mins
30. Blackburn (#brfc) 6913 mins
29. Derby (#dcfc) 6940 mins
28. Burton (#bafc) 6947 mins
27. Stevenage (#boro) 7021 mins
26. Portsmouth (#pompey) 7308
25. MK Dons (#mkdfc) 7334 mins
24. Macclesfield (#mtfc) 7393 mins
23. Wigan (#wafc) 7483 mins
22. Peterborough (#pufc) 7677 mins
21. Carlisle (#cufc) 7812 mins
20. Shrewsbury (#salop) 7882 mins
19. Doncaster (#drfc) 8033 mins
18. Bristol City (#bcfc) 8310 mins
17. Oxford (#oufc) 8710 mins
16. Rochdale (#rafc) 8886 mins
15. Brentford (#bees) 8949 mins
14. Coventry (#pusb) 8950 mins
13. Mansfield (#stags) 8968 mins
12. Preston (#pnefc) 9031 mins
11. Charlton (#cafc) 9246 mins
10. Oldham (#oafc) 9463 mins
9. Barnsley (#COYR) 9709 mins
8. Walsall (#saddlers) 9831 mins
7. Colchester (#ColU) 10,099 mins
6. Forest Green (#fgr) 10,346 mins
5. Scunthorpe (#sufc) 10,382 mins
4. Swindon (#stfc) 11,031 mins
3. Crewe (#cafc) 11,477 mins
2. Swansea (#swans) 11,480 mins
1. Yeovil (#ytfc) 13,245 mins

Wonder where we were on this list this time last year under Slade?  ;D

Quoted from Bigdog

Interesting stats showing the number of minutes U23 players have played per team in the EFL so far this season. We're about middle in 38th. Although MJ has made massive and welcome strides in reducing the average age of our side, it looks like we're no different to most clubs and way behind others like Yeovil, Crewe and Swindon in our league..

Of course we're way behind clubs like Crewe. They have a 30 year history and philosophy of developing players from a young age and bringing them into the first team squad. Our 6 years in non league has put us almost starting again on that system. But it's positive signs that we have one player in the starting team, another who is out on loan and looking good. There are a couple who look like they could be useful in the youth team too. It probably takes the best part of 10 years to see a well run youth system come to fruition, but having a manager that is willing to give these players a chance is the most important part and MJ seems to be one of those managers.

Scunny are my worry looking at that I have heard numerous times they have an excellent set up and often pinch our local talent :-/

Why is it in reverse order?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Scunny are my worry looking at that I have heard numerous times they have an excellent set up and often pinch our local talent :-/

Put it this way, my nephew who has been scouted by Rotherham, Doncaster and GRIMSBY, has turned all their academies down to join sunny....he cannot speak highly enough about how they treat their young lads and the time that is put not just into their football but their academic studies too..

What happened to Famewo? He looks a real prospect. Not been making the bench.

Quoted from immariner

What happened to Famewo? He looks a real prospect. Not been making the bench.

Been injured for a month..

Quoted from Bigdog

Been injured for a month..

Thought that was most likely. I had a quick google, couldn't find anything.

Don't think there's any need to worry about Scunny in terms of poaching Grimsby talent. Hull have taken some Gy lads in recent years but their higher category academy standing (and with that, extra £££££) gives them a bit more pulling power to some. But Scunny's Academy is the same EPPP category as ours and I've not really heard of kids in the younger ages choosing them over GTFC.

Quoted from pen penfras

Of course we're way behind clubs like Crewe. They have a 30 year history and philosophy of developing players from a young age and bringing them into the first team squad. Our 6 years in non league has put us almost starting again on that system. But it's positive signs that we have one player in the starting team, another who is out on loan and looking good. There are a couple who look like they could be useful in the youth team too. It probably takes the best part of 10 years to see a well run youth system come to fruition, but having a manager that is willing to give these players a chance is the most important part and MJ seems to be one of those managers.

This is a bit misleading. It is only in quite recent weeks that Town has had a younger side out there. At the start of the season younger players hardly featured except on the bench, we had Welsh etc. and it was injuries and that bad run that changed the selections and gave the manager confidence to pick Clifton & co. It is like Norwich who have a very young side but it was injuries and desperation from their manager in a cup game in the middle of their bad run that made it happen and then they took off up the table. It will make more sense to look at these stats later or at the end of the season to get a true picture. I’d guess they and Town will be nearer the top end of this table by then.

Quoted from pizzzza

Why is it in reverse order?

Easily rectifed

1. Yeovil (#ytfc) 13,245 mins
2. Swansea (#swans) 11,480 mins
3. Crewe (#cafc) 11,477 mins
4. Swindon (#stfc) 11,031 mins
5. Scunthorpe (#sufc) 10,382 mins
6. Forest Green (#fgr) 10,346 mins
7. Colchester (#ColU) 10,099 mins
8. Walsall (#saddlers) 9831 mins
9. Barnsley (#COYR) 9709 mins
10. Oldham (#oafc) 9463 mins
11. Charlton (#cafc) 9246 mins
12. Preston (#pnefc) 9031 mins
13. Mansfield (#stags) 8968 mins
14. Coventry (#pusb) 8950 mins
15. Brentford (#bees) 8949 mins
16. Rochdale (#rafc) 8886 mins
17. Oxford (#oufc) 8710 mins
18. Bristol City (#bcfc) 8310 mins
19. Doncaster (#drfc) 8033 mins
20. Shrewsbury (#salop) 7882 mins
21. Carlisle (#cufc) 7812 mins
22. Peterborough (#pufc) 7677 mins
23. Wigan (#wafc) 7483 mins
24. Macclesfield (#mtfc) 7393 mins
25. MK Dons (#mkdfc) 7334 mins
26. Portsmouth (#pompey) 7308
27. Stevenage (#boro) 7021 mins
28. Burton (#bafc) 6947 mins
29. Derby (#dcfc) 6940 mins
30. Blackburn (#brfc) 6913 mins
31. Wimbledon (#afcw) 6636 mins
32. Cheltenham (#ctfc) 6530 mins
33. Morecambe (#shrimps) 6512 mins
34. Port Vale (#pvfc) 6501 mins
35. Aston Villa (#avfc) 6479 mins
36. Cambridge (#cufc) 6350 mins
37. Fleetwood (#ftfc) 6320 mins
38. Grimsby (#gtfc) 6165 mins
39. Wycombe (#wwfc) 6099 mins
40. Hull (#hcafc) 6016 mins
41. Accrington (#asfc) 5826 mins
42.Sheffield Wed (#swfc) 5758 mins
43. Bradford (#bcafc) 5675 mins
44. Norwich (#ncfc) 5564 mins
45. Newport (#ncafc) 5482 mins
46. Reading (#royals) 5364 mins
47. Exeter (#ecfc) 5349 mins
48. Luton (#ltfc) 5245 mins
49. Leeds (#lufc) 5227 mins
50. Lincoln (#imps) 5184 mins
51. Ipswich (#itfc) 4681 mins
52. Rotherham (#rufc) 4540 mins
53. Tranmere (#trfc) 4459 mins
54. Blackpool (#UTP) 4439 mins
55. Plymouth (#pafc) 4312 mins
56. Northampton (#ntfc) 4137 mins
57. Nottingham F (#nffc) 4123 mins
58. Crawley (#ctfc) 4120 mins
59. Sunderland (#safc) 4070 mins
60. Gillingham (#gills) 4018 mins
61. Southend (#blues) 3843 mins
62. Millwall (#millwall) 3358 mins
63. QPR (#qpr) 3288 mins
64. Birmingham (#kro) 3211 mins
65. West Brom (#wba) 3019 mins
66. Bristol Rovers (#utg) 2601 mins
67. Middlesbrough (#boro) 2303 mins
68. Sheffield Utd (#sufc) 2135 mins
69. Bury (#buryfc) 1529 mins
70. Notts County (#notts) 1517 mins
71. Stoke (#scfc) 1468 mins
72. Bolton (#bwfc) 1417 mins

Quoted from Tommy

Wonder where we were on this list this time last year under Slade?  ;D

Most of the players got invited to the Chelsea pensioners Christmas party

Quoted from Tommy

Don't think there's any need to worry about Scunny in terms of poaching Grimsby talent. Hull have taken some Gy lads in recent years but their higher category academy standing (and with that, extra £££££) gives them a bit more pulling power to some. But Scunny's Academy is the same EPPP category as ours and I've not really heard of kids in the younger ages choosing them over GTFC.

When we were in non league the youngsters of NELincs were raped and pillaged and signed for Scunny & Hull.

Topliss was a ‘star’ went to Hull and then Nth Ferriby-think he may be with Clee Town now?
Galli’s lad went to Scunny but no idea were he is in the set up now.
Very very few make it, hopefully Woods and Co can produce a player or 2 who can be fortunate enough to get an opportunity

Quoted from Cloudy

When we were in non league the youngsters of NELincs were raped and pillaged and signed for Scunny & Hull.

Topliss was a ‘star’ went to Hull and then Nth Ferriby-think he may be with Clee Town now?
Galli’s lad went to Scunny but no idea were he is in the set up now.
Very very few make it, hopefully Woods and Co can produce a player or 2 who can be fortunate enough to get an opportunity

Yeah, I was talking more of the "now", rather than when we were in Non League with minimal staff/structure at our own Academy. Understandable IMO that some were lost to other Clubs during that 6 years in the abyss, when in truth, we did well just to keep an Academy running. Let alone get Harry Clifton through as well as some of the other promising lads in the 15's/16's/18's.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

This is a bit misleading. It is only in quite recent weeks that Town has had a younger side out there. At the start of the season younger players hardly featured except on the bench, we had Welsh etc. and it was injuries and that bad run that changed the selections and gave the manager confidence to pick Clifton & co. It is like Norwich who have a very young side but it was injuries and desperation from their manager in a cup game in the middle of their bad run that made it happen and then they took off up the table. It will make more sense to look at these stats later or at the end of the season to get a true picture. I’d guess they and Town will be nearer the top end of this table by then.

Harry Clifton has played almost every game under Jolley. It's not always been in central midfield, but I think Jolley's first game had Clifton starting. A lot of the other young players were injured at the start of the season or joined late on, but I was talking about our youth system and not players like Embleton or RHJ anyway.

Regardless of the reasons, Jolley came in and put Cardwell and Clifton into the starting line up from very early on in his tenure. Slade didn't do that despite the woeful performances and stuck with the older pros. However you look at it, MJ has given young players a chance when his predecessors, for quite a long time, have not.

Paul Wilkinson was the one who have Clifton his full debut.

Clifton made 3 starts in the Checkatwat trophy under Slade. He came on as a sub against Yeovil under Wilko in the league, then made his full debut against Exeter again under Wilko.

He's started 25 out of 37 games under Jolley and been a sub for a further 3. 68% and 76%.

Quoted from TheRealJohnLewis

Clifton made 3 starts in the Checkatwat trophy under Slade. He came on as a sub against Yeovil under Wilko in the league, then made his full debut against Exeter again under Wilko.

He's started 25 out of 37 games under Jolley and been a sub for a further 3. 68% and 76%.

Yeah Wilko gave him his first League start.
Sorry to be a pedant but Slade was still in charge for the Yeovil game and was roundly criticised for putting Clifton on in a situation when we were getting tonked and down to 9 men, just for the last few minutes.

Quoted from pen penfras

Harry Clifton has played almost every game under Jolley. It's not always been in central midfield, but I think Jolley's first game had Clifton starting. A lot of the other young players were injured at the start of the season or joined late on, but I was talking about our youth system and not players like Embleton or RHJ anyway.

Regardless of the reasons, Jolley came in and put Cardwell and Clifton into the starting line up from very early on in his tenure. Slade didn't do that despite the woeful performances and stuck with the older pros. However you look at it, MJ has given young players a chance when his predecessors, for quite a long time, have not.

You are taking an anti-Slade line on this when it does not hold water. Clifton was a year or more younger with Slade and less ready to play and in any case as someone pointed out it was Wilko who gave him his full debut. Also for example, Slade played Dembele and the winger we had on loan from Norwich whose name escapes me. The average age was bumped up by the two centre backs but I would guess overall there is not a lot of difference in that average age between his sides and Jolley’s so far.

I’m not criticising either manager though. The simple truth is that they live by results and depend on circumstances. Jolley is using what he thinks are the best players for the job each game, whether they happen to be 16 or 60. If he doesn’t he is risking his own neck. Just my opinion but the idea of using a young player for the sake of them being young does not work better for a side than using any other age player. What does work is when you get a bunch of them who have grown up together in the juniors/reserves and they create your team and your team spirit. I’d like to see that happen again.

Quoted from Tommy

Yeah Wilko gave him his first League start.
Sorry to be a pedant but Slade was still in charge for the Yeovil game and was roundly criticised for putting Clifton on in a situation when we were getting tonked and down to 9 men, just for the last few minutes.

Not really pedantic, just correcting a silly error.