Looking at the friendlies so far could this be the breakout season for a few of our youth players? The likes of Wright, Pollock and Rose have had a fair amount of game time and with the season start looming and no more transfers looking likely in the immediate future I feel they could be featuring in a lot of match day squads at least on the bench. Personally I would be happy to see some of our youth team break through into the first team like Clifton has. If we can show young players that it is possible to make it to the senior squad I feel we would have a chance of attracting even more potential into our youth system which could then in turn feed the senior squad. The club runs on a fairly tight budget and this would be a good way of saving money on transfers and even make some money if we develop players that then get sold onto bigger clubs.

Jolley Babes?

I’d be really happy to see our young players play in the first team if they are good enough and the standard of that team overall allows us to compete in the top half. The prosperity of the club is paramount and the young players are part of that long term, but I don’t want yet another year of a meagre budget, scratching around in 17th - 22nd position trying to survive because we didn’t acquire good enough players and the young lads are having to fill the void and play under unfair pressure.

Looks like we’ve got a good crop of academy graduates and they will get their chances I’m sure. I trust Jolley to manage them well.

‘You can’t win anything with kids’

Think we are going to have to , can’t see Cook , Vernham and Cardwell playing many games , all three being Darren Anderton esc sicknotes.

From this season you have to have 2 academy graduates in your match day squad. Not sure if Clifton counts anymore due to his age so worst case, at least 1 more will make the 18. Call me a cynic, but I imagine a lot of fresh faced goalkeepers will be on benches across the land this season.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

From this season you have to have 2 academy graduates in your match day squad. Not sure if Clifton counts anymore due to his age

He graduated from the academy so he is a graduate.

Quoted from GrimRob

Jolley Babes?

Some kind of cheerleaders Rob ? 😉

Think you missed an ‘ i ‘ !!

Quoted from jamesgtfc

From this season you have to have 2 academy graduates in your match day squad. Not sure if Clifton counts anymore due to his age so worst case, at least 1 more will make the 18. Call me a cynic, but I imagine a lot of fresh faced goalkeepers will be on benches across the land this season.

Clifton is younger than Wright, which surprised me a bit

(I think Wright is our 3rd longest serving pro!)

Can definitely see Pollock becoming a mainstay. Every time I see him he's improving and the way he dealt with Marquis who is a quality striker at the level above and looks set for Sunderland who should return to the championship this season. He has all the attributes of a modern day centre half who can carry the ball and play out from the back but every time I watch him he's putting his head in where it hurts and takes me back to an old school centre half. Reminds me of John Terry with the way he plays.

Honestly if we started a game with pollock, Wright, clifton and Rose all in the first 11, I'd still think we'd have a good chance against at least half the teams in league 2, and there's others coming through too that I don't know as much about yet, I think that's really exciting.

Plus it was cliftons first full season as a regular and people were saying we missed him in some of the games he didn't play, I think he'll be even better this season and I'm interested to see what direction he goes in and what sort of role he carves out for himself

Im told that young Buckley looks one of the better prospects.

Will be difficult if we dont hit the ground running this year as it will more than likely be a shove in for the more experience pro signed through panic, something that hasn't worked for us in the lat few years by getting journeymen in.
If we struggle i would rather struggle with the youth in the team because at least then it builds the experience for the future rather than paying off some expensive has been.
Hoping the youth perform really well this year and we have a league version of the class of 92.

Was a shame that Buckley was injured for the last part of last season as i think we'd have seen him get a few appearances like some of the other graduates.

Anyone know his best position? Thought he was a forward/number 10 type player but from what i can see he's been playing midfield or wide in pre-season.

Quoted from sam gy

Was a shame that Buckley was injured for the last part of last season as i think we'd have seen him get a few appearances like some of the other graduates.

Anyone know his best position? Thought he was a forward/number 10 type player but from what i can see he's been playing midfield or wide in pre-season.

Maybe he could turn out to fulfill this allusive creative CM role...

It all looks hopefull with this young crop, Clifton is petty much a mainstay in the team now which is pretty impressive  at 20.

There's quite a difference in ages in this  group though so you'd be looking at the likes of Rose and Wright and I'd  suggest this is a must breakout season for them , while the other four are quite a bit younger so I'd have thought we'd be looking at  loans for most of them (although Pollock seems closer to inclusion  as we are very light at the back).

Heard a lot of positive things about Joe Starbuck. I think I’m right in saying he’s only just 17, played right back last night but normally plays further forward.

Wright and Rose can both turn defences winning throw ins, free kicks and pens playing across the attack not  solely as wide players. Wright has more minutes against senior defenders and has a great work ethic.
Pre season is showing Rose to have greater team awareness now and good heading ability. Both will learn by inclusion in matchday squads and are ahead of Cook for me.

Battersby, Pollock, Wright, Rose. A goalie, centre back, winger and striker. good diversity in positions as well.

Quoted from Oly1987

Battersby, Pollock, Wright, Rose. A goalie, centre back, winger and striker. good diversity in positions as well.

Ah diversity. Important nowadays. Which one do you think is the lesbian?

Quoted from AussieMariner

Ah diversity. Important nowadays. Which one do you think is the lesbian?

Let's just assume all of them, play it safe, we don't want to get in trouble here.

Quoted from Heisenberg

Let's just assume all of them, play it safe, we don't want to get in trouble here.

Quite right. No stereotyping on this site.....

Quoted from sam gy

Was a shame that Buckley was injured for the last part of last season as i think we'd have seen him get a few appearances like some of the other graduates.

Anyone know his best position? Thought he was a forward/number 10 type player but from what i can see he's been playing midfield or wide in pre-season.

Couple of years ago he was playing for the youth mainly in a wide role with instruction to cut inside.  I wouldn't say quite as obvious as someone like say Scott Neilson.  But you get the idea, a bit of a licence to roam and influence things with perhaps a little bit of relaxation on his defensive duties. What helped is that the lad he had at full-back behind was excellent.  I forget his name but he was one of the lads who got his debut in the Check-a-trade farce trophy.  Was actually surprised he didn't get a contract.  On one occasion I saw him play it was as a striker but dropping off a bit.  Looked more comfortable on the wing to be honest and at that point looked too lightweight to operate as a striker.

Last few times I've seen Buckley he's played central midfield and has bulked up a bit, this was I believe the concern with him.  He's got a lot of natural skill and technique but on a couple of occasions he did go into hiding a bit after a rough challenge.  When I saw him in the second half against Clee Town he was more than holding his own in those stakes.  Difficult to say on one half but he looked to have cut a lot of the fancy stuff out of his game too and rather look to be more effective and productive than flashy.  

Wouldn't be surprised to see him involved at various parts of the season.  His versatility will help no doubt but I think there's a fair degree of talent that means he's deserving of that chance too.

It genuinely is really positive and encouraging to see all these young lads come through.  I've said before that I'm in no doubt Jolley is having to turn to them (and has turned to them) because of budget constraints, but I think the vast majority would have got their chance regardless of the budget because they're good enough.