Good Enough, Old Enough

[DB23]

Just seen the comments that we have near signed Ishmael Miller. Think the lad might be a good signing IF we can get the right attitude. My concern though is the impact of the young lads like Main, Reach, Williams etc. Yes Carayol and Ledesma look interesting signings, Miller may prove a masterstroke, but are some of our lads not now good enough, despite their age.

Really enjoyed the match on Tuesday but was most happy because some of our kids were involved, and in fact settled the game in spectacular fashion.

So my point is which of our lads do we think are good enough, despite their tender years? Oscar made his debut for Brazil at 20. McEachran, who looks a gem, couldn't get much of a look in at Chelsea and Swansea.

So who is now good enough and does anyone else out there think sometimes we are clamouring for signings when we have some pretty decent prospects at home. Can see Main doing a better job than Miller and Williams a better job than Ledesma. Any views?

[garymarz]

I think all of them will be needed at some point in the season, depending on opposition and injuries. It just gives us another option and dimension. Plus the 7-sub rule will help us a lot this season compared to last, we've got plenty of players who can change games now.

[Air Resistance]

The issue lies when you come to rely on a youngster. If they are the only option and can't be talent out of the firing line if things aren't going well then they are liable to get long lasting ill effects.

[Prowler]

I see this as being the season where we see a lot more of the likes of Main, Reach and Williams, probably more of Smallwood too but they'll be used as impact players/subs to replace tiring starters and to cover injuries, in my opinion.

[Smogster]

I think it's the first time in a long time when I've been fairly happy with the depth of our squad. I can see all the younger lads playing a part at some point through injuries and fatigue, if not by purely earning their place.

[boroinbishop]

i think most are good enough just that we have better players at the club, although i would like to see reach start more he is too young to be a regular, however, i think maino has the confidence (and ego) to start games, i'd like to see him as a reglar, IMO he's one of the best strikers we have at the club (big shout i know) he has all the qualitites needed in this division, if he played all matches he was fit i reckon he'd get 15ish goals this year, probably more.

although i can see him getting stuck behind, emnes juke and miller all year whihc will be a massive shame

[garymarz]

Just read an article, it mentioned that McEachren is only 19 yet everybody would have him in the starting line-up after Tuesday, and I agree with that, so yeah I suppose if they're good enough then they're old enough.

[starbuy]

(24-08-2012 12:28 PM)garymarz Wrote:  Just read an article, it mentioned that McEachren is only 19 yet everybody would have him in the starting line-up after Tuesday, and I agree with that, so yeah I suppose if they're good enough then they're old enough.

I don't think it is just age either though. When you take somebody like McEachran as an example, he doesn't play like he is 19. He has a natural maturity to his game. There's footballing ability and then there is mentality.

At the game on Tuesday I thought that the biggest difference between McEachran and our own youngsters was the understanding of the game and therefore maturity on the ball. There's no doubt Reach, Williams and Main have the ability, but the thing that seemed to make McEachran stand out was his maturity in play whilst I felt frustrated at times with Reach and Main in particular.

That's not to say I wouldn't want them to play because I think they need to get those games to learn and they'll both be even better players when they mature and make better decisions on the ball.

[Ollie10]

another question....can you see any of them wearing the 3 lions on a consistant basis in the future?