Injury table and expected return....

[Hoop Blah]

There does seem to have been a switch in policy where we’ve not loaned out the youngsters as much as we used to but I wonder how much of that is a conscious thing, to keep them in the under 21s and at the club, and how much it’s just down to the current crop of youngsters not quite being old enough to go out to League One/Two sides yet.

The likes of D’Ath, Ugwu, Bignall, Partridge and Walcott all went out on loan at various levels over the last few years. It’s just we seemed to have a run of a few of years where we didn’t have the products to go out quite as high up the leagues perhaps.

Of the Academy players who’ve made it here I think it was only Pearce and McCarthy who had loan spells in the Championship. Karacan, Kanu, Church, Cox and Henry all went out to League One and Two. Perhaps they were just better than the last generation who haven’t quite made it at that level (yet).

[SCIAG]

U18s
The current U18 team is a different issue. Having attended the FA Youth Cup game away at Arsenal I'm probably one of the few on here that has seen the U18s play this season (I believe that has been the only game open to the public). As a collective they didn't look anywhere near as good as last year's team.

I think you provided a sensible analysis. Away games are often open to the public (you'll often see fans of other clubs posting reports online) and you can even go to home matches if you are so inclined. I saw a few pre-season friendlies but I don't think anyone on here has seen more than you since then.

I think the problem with the U18s isn't just one of quality, but more balance. There isn't a true left-sided player in the squad and the three older central midfielders - Husin, Waritay and Collins - are pretty similar in style. They've also had a few problems with injury, particularly to Ethelston and Sheppard, and although we have four talented strikers, they haven't formed a partnership yet. (There have also been some players who just haven't lived up to expectations, particularly Urbancic and Lawal, but Cardwell's also had a disappointing season). Although they're not as strong as last year's side, there's still six or seven players who wouldn't make me recoil in horror if you told me they were going to be in the first team in two years, which is much better than five years ago.

[From Despair To Where?]

Of the Academy players who’ve made it here I think it was only Pearce and McCarthy who had loan spells in the Championship. Karacan, Kanu, Church, Cox and Henry all went out to League One and Two. Perhaps they were just better than the last generation who haven’t quite made it at that level (yet).

I was thinking that Henry, Gylfi and Karacan all went on loan to the top end of League 1 (Henry to Millwall, Norwich and Forest, Gylfi to Crewe or as it Shrewsbury and Karacan to Bournemouth) rather than the bottom end of League 2 or non league which is more the norm.

I think that with a greater level of consistancy of the oposition in the academy leagues now, the club may think there's more to be learned there than going on loan to a League 2 struggler or conference side where the pressure isn't as great.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Weren't Pearce, Karacan and Henry (and maybe even one other) all at Bournemouth at the same time?

[SCIAG]

Yes. Scott Golbourne was the other player. I wouldn't mind having him back.