How many times have you seen Cooper play gwru? I saw him in two semi-competitive games in the Mickey Mouse Cup, once against an under 23 side and once against a Donny reserve side. He looked very raw. He is miles away from being ready to play in the Championship. You've gone far too early again You did it with Bailey-King, Hinds and Lamy and now you are doing it with Cooper and Kayode. Leave it to the professionals who work with these young players day in day out to bring them through at the right pace. They know what they are doing whereas you have no idea whatsoever.
Only young player we've had come through is Wiles & he keeps getting played out of position. My opinion Lamy should still be here. What is the point of Price & Jones being here? Kayode would have kept him here & got shut of Vassell. Other sides bring young players through, we don't for whatever reason. Cooper who knows if he's progressed? he's got the size, scope to.
He's done the same thing with every young player on the verge of the first team over the last few years, he also did it with Yates and Wiles and it won't long before he's doing it with Gratton and Hull. He does it for one reason only, so that if they turn out to be any good he can say he spotted them first. He's obsessed with being the first to spot if a player 'has it'. All the occasions that he gets it wrong will get brushed under the carpet for the one time a young player turns out to be really good. He hasn't spotted anything, he's just blindly gambled.
He also picks a couple a couple of senior players to throw his unconditional backing behind, such as Lindsay, and also a couple who he will criticise no matter how well they play, such as Crooks. He does it every season, just so he can say 'I told you so' if he ends up being right. He doesn't spot anything, in fact it wouldn't surprise me if he drew the names out of a hat.
It's quite pathetic really.
-- Edited by realmiller on Saturday 19th of September 2020 01:34:33 PM
With the sad news of today at that time I remember the doc pitching Neil Hague straight into the 1st team came from the same village where I live. As I keep repeating the kids are alright.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. They have to earn their spurs sooner or later, but you have to let the coaching staff make the shout as smiler is constantly saying 'they are the ones who work with the young uns everyday' . So we have to leave it to their professional judgement.
When our glorious leader first took over he got better training facilities he made a big part of his plan was to bring some young players through. Nearly 4 years on only 1 player it might just be me but he has failed.
C'est la vie. Maybe there was no one amongst them to make the grade. Don't forget we are talking about young lads who may show promise, it's up to them to prove their worth. I expect many think they are better than they are, others may be distracted by girlfriends, nightclubs etc or are lazy: not surprising considering their ages. Occasionally there might be an odd one maybe 2 that put in the time, and effort with enthusiasm and are charged with team spirit and a will to win,. Coaching staff are there to whittle them into hard working professionals.
Getting Barlaser tops off what I think has been a great set of signings, with possible exception of no natural cover for Mattock, but hopefully right backs can fill in. Well done RUFC..
It is a frustrating one with the left back situation. After Mattock we have half a few players who could do a job at left back (Robertson, Clarke, Jones, Olosunde, maybe Harding) but none who appear naturals. The issue is brought into focus by the fact that Mattock is a bit injury prone and has also been known to have the occasional suspension. I would say it is the one place in the squad where we are struggling a bit.
I've got that right Crooks isn't a championship player along with Vassell who are Warney boys. Need to wheel & deal. Need a left back, right winger & another forward at least. Reading Warney in tizer saying Olosunde can't get in match day 18 why? Vassell doesn't bring nothing to the side.
