By the way, what a mockery this current situation makes of our loan system. Right now, we have two players in Devine and Donley who have had regular match experience and carry with them some talent, fight and hunger, not to mention versatility. Lankshear has managed to gain some valuable time. Moore is doing really well. I’d even argue that Abbott (not sure if he is injured right now?) would’ve made a good addition?
ALL players who are ready to drop in for emergencies, all players who would help. A player like Donley yesterday off the bench at least gives you energy, engine and some vision.
Yet between the manager and our brilliant sporting director, we decided we needed none of them (Moore is the only one I understand as his tactics would’ve killed the kid).
Pathetic all round.
Disagree mate, we killed two generations of academy players by having them hang around the squad and never get game time. Let me make you think for a second, Winks took till moving to Leicester to have a season with as much game time as Skipp had on his loan with Norwich, getting 45+ games in a season at 19 vs. 27 is a major factor in your development (regardless of individual ceilings).
I'd actually argue the next manager needs to have a plan for Gray/Bergvall/Odobert development/play time or I would loan some of them out too (no Europe next season). I'd leave Vuskovic out on another year loan (new contract, raise and extension required), I'd give Moore another season out as well. And LWB needs to play, his loan next season better be right.
The reason we were so light on the week-end is because we failed to act in January appropriately, not because we should have had a few more kids on the bench.