23 Apr 2022 09:31:45
I may be wrong here (won’t be the first time) but is too much made of our u23’s being relegated?
I mean I get a winning habit is good, but when we cruised the league last year that’s when Joffy, greenwood etc got noticed but the reality of the situation is that you’re looking for the odd diamond and who can make the jump to the first team.
Ordinarily you do not get the unprecedented amount of injuries which has resulted in so many U23 players having the opportunity to step up, most likely in a normal season in the EPL you see one or two players at most making the jump.
Jesse has gone on record to say he doesn’t want the model he inherited of first team and u23 being so close, he wants to create the environment where by it creates the hunger for an individual to excel and get noticed and make the jump to the elite side.
I think we put too much stall by the u23’s league status and whilst I do really enjoy watching the youngsters play, if they’re good enough they’ll get picked.
I appreciate our funding situation when compared to rest of EPL says this is the way we have to go, not a problem, it is what it is, but quality will shine through and then training with the first team will confirm if the player has what it takes.
23 Apr 2022 11:30:47
I think it is an issue. It will make it more difficult to attract young players, the players don't get ro play against higher quality players and therefore that impacts their development and it probably shows a lot of our younger players aren't actually that good.
23 Apr 2022 12:22:47
I’m not sure Alf half the premier league teams are still in the division below (which we may rejoin) unsurprisingly Man City are the runaway leaders of the U23 league, some ten points ahead of West Ham in second with Liverpool nearly 20 points behind in sixth and Chelsea currently sit below us in one of the relegation slots albeit with two games in hand.
Blackburn u23s are safe above us and shows a better correlation between teams who truly rely on youth coming through.
EPL today whether we like it or not teams, success in the epl (the Leicester miracle aside) has a direct correlation with the deepest pockets.
Playing in the EPL will always be enough draw for the financial rewards alone. I’m certainly not decrying the importance of the U23s for a club like ourselves I’m just saying too much emphasis is placed on results rather than successful conversion to first team player.
Sadly, I do not think youth alone is enough to stay in this league you must have sufficient quality to survive.
Bub negated that initially but injuries and lack of depth has shown it’s not sustainable.
23 Apr 2022 14:07:45
I, personally, do not put too much store by the divion we are in or the results we obtain.
The U23s are purely a nursery school for young talent. Firstly we must recruit the cream but the we must school them in the Leeds (now the Marsche, way) . Any bright lights must, by nature, glow above the rest and gravitate to the first team by way of the bench. It is however incumbent on their teachers to rein in ther youthfull exuberance and, in some, their cocky "Gods gift" attitudes. Demanding immediate advancement.
As you say, every season only a few make it but also, every season many are cast aside who later prove to be late bloomers. It is the job of U23s staff to spot huge potential early and to minimise our leakage. Not easily done, as some mature later than others but vital to a club not owned by a beneficial billionaire where every ascent thro the ranks means millions on the bottom line.
No, I am not too bothered if we are relegated, if the scouts do their job and the young diamonds are polished in the right way to step up and be the future faces of Leeds United.