Sam Bell…

[BCFC1512]

Is he really the answer!! Can’t cross to save his life and offers very little scoring threat!! 

[REDOXO]

8 minutes ago, Taunton_BCFC said:

Is he really the answer!! Can’t cross to save his life and offers very little scoring threat!! 

It depends what the question is. If do we have a player that has out paced every full back he’s played against then the answer is yes. His blatant grounding yesterday was an utter disgrace right in front of the ref. 
 

If the question is can he be developed into a great player and his timing and crossing worked on the answer is still yes

If the question is, is he under 20 (I think he is still 19) the answer is yes

If the worry for Sam is getting his homework in on time I would say no, he always gets subbed off after 60 minutes!

Edited April 19, 2023 by REDOXO

[GrahamC]

Depends on the question.

Who is Mickey Bell’s son? Definitely the answer to that.

He’s 20 & blows hot & cold, great finish against Boro recently (remember that?), a few excellent goals in the FA cup.

He wouldn’t be an automatic starter for me but has already proved his value.

Plus if we think that we got his Dad cheap, he was even cheaper…

[1960maaan]

Gone a bit early on this.

He's a young kid that is in his break through season, he's played 20+ games in or around his natural position and I'm not sure he was expected to be the answer to any question.

He has shown some great promise and shown he can finish when the chance arrives. 
Is he the finished article ? No, no where near . But someone that has his pace and can finish has a great chance.

[REDOXO]

9 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

FFS.

Hard here sometimes isn’t it!

[Roger Red Hat]

12 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

FFS.

Agreed.

[Wellspokenman]

Even Mrs Well Spoken Man thought this was a bit of harsh on the young lad. She’s even had another Sherry to calm her nerves bless her !
He’s got speed, confidence and conviction. At his age, he can learn the rest.
 

[Big C]

24 minutes ago, Taunton_BCFC said:

Is he really the answer!! Can’t cross to save his life and offers very little scoring threat!! 

who's this crossing for Vyner?

https://streamin.one/v/fd159de7

[bearded_red]

Jesus christ.

[Simon bristol]

3 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

Quite the range of "intelligent" inputs, that's for sure! 

You mean anything that you happen to disagree with!

[97Red]

Thought he was one of our best players on Saturday and one of our best players last night. The ball over the top to him between the centre half and the RB is always on, he's always giving us an outlet making those runs in the channel. Getting in those positions in the first place and splitting the defenders with those runs is the hardest thing. His finishing and end product will come. 

[1960maaan]

Just now, 97Red said:

Thought he was one of our best players on Saturday and one of our best players last night. The ball over the top to him between the centre half and the RB is always on, he's always giving us an outlet making those runs in the channel. Getting in those positions in the first place and splitting the defenders with those runs is the hardest thing. His finishing and end product will come. 

He is available nearly all the time and my biggest moan lately is that we haven't used him more often.

[Davefevs]

I’ll bite too!

Back around Xmas I said if I had to lay all my money on red (make it) or black (not make it) as to whether Bell would make it as a player here (at Champ level) I said “Black - No, he won’t”.  But trying to decide that for a 20 year old who’d barely played any first team football, still developing, etc, is a tough call, and I said with a wink I’d have a side bet on “red 20” (Bell’s shirt colour and number in case anyone missed the reason) too!

My view was based on as I said, limited first team minutes, but also u21 / u23 games I’d watched, little bits if highlights from his loan at Grimsby, his position…as well as comparing him Conway too.

As it stands he is generally a decent finisher.

He has good pace.

He doesn’t appear to have the edge of Conway, nor the maturity (physically and mentally) of game of his fellow 20 year old either.

But that run of games (and goals) just after the new year showed there is a player in there who is still developing his talent…and imho just needs to be given time to continue that, whilst us fans allow him to be inconsistent, as players are…at any age, not just 20.

I think he’s missing Pring at LB.  I think Mehmeti is also.

I don’t think anyone usually expects a 20 year old having his first real spell in the first team to be “the answer”, but I think Scott and Conway have raised the bar of impatience amongst fans for players like Bell.

Currently he’s having a little bit of an in and out period.

It’s a bit of a crap OP really.

[The Original OTIB]

When will the bells end ...

[DaveF]

Cant we ban morons like this? They must be on a windup...

[GTFABM]

He is doing well. Like @Davefevs said if i had to make a punt i would go with not make it. He reminds me of Wes Burns, stood out due to raw pace but technically not brilliant. Hope he proves me wrong.

[phantom]

5 minutes ago, DaveF said:

Cant we ban morons like this? They must be on a windup...

Sadly replying to them adds to the problem

Though I think it's very telling when some one posts something so random but doesn't hang around to debate their point 

[Shuffle]

Bell is a really good finisher, fast and will become our number 9.  Needs to bulk up and become more physical but that will come as he gets older.  Moved to left hand side for the fact that he is so quick & the hardest thing to mark as a defender is pace. Needs to improve his left foot as clearly favours the right but as a breakthrough season he can be well chuffed when he looks back at this season whilst on the beach.

I think the problem any of our academy lads face is that they will get judged against the standards that Alex Scott has set and that’s unfair. Some will just need more time to develop and in Bell’s case, he will.

 

 

[Super]

Where we are playing him now isn't his best position. We see a lot of strikers now playing out wide and it's not easy. He'll make a career playing up top.

[Stockwood gate]

I think Sam is going to be really good in all fairness 

[Red Army 75]

As the season has progressed Sam Bell has with it. The Goal against Swansea has given a big boost. Plenty to come yet from SB

[GrahamC]

10 minutes ago, Shuffle said:

Bell is a really good finisher, fast and will become our number 9.  Needs to bulk up and become more physical but that will come as he gets older.  Moved to left hand side for the fact that he is so quick & the hardest thing to mark as a defender is pace. Needs to improve his left foot as clearly favours the right but as a breakthrough season he can be well chuffed when he looks back at this season whilst on the beach.

I think the problem any of our academy lads face is that they will get judged against the standards that Alex Scott has set and that’s unfair. Some will just need more time to develop and in Bell’s case, he will.

 

 

We’re of a similar vintage & for years the only striker we produced was bloody Nigel Hawkins..

The fact that this season alone we have had Semenyo (who was with us at 16/17 whether he’s technically an Academy product or not), Conway, with 8 Championship goals already at 20 & Bell.

We’d have been happy with one of these in the past & like @Davefevs I’m in the camp that he’s shown more this season than I expected.

[Lrrr]

41 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I’ll bite too!

Back around Xmas I said if I had to lay all my money on red (make it) or black (not make it) as to whether Bell would make it as a player here (at Champ level) I said “Black - No, he won’t”.  But trying to decide that for a 20 year old who’d barely played any first team football, still developing, etc, is a tough call, and I said with a wink I’d have a side bet on “red 20” (Bell’s shirt colour and number in case anyone missed the reason) too!

My view was based on as I said, limited first team minutes, but also u21 / u23 games I’d watched, little bits if highlights from his loan at Grimsby, his position…as well as comparing him Conway too.

As it stands he is generally a decent finisher.

He has good pace.

He doesn’t appear to have the edge of Conway, nor the maturity (physically and mentally) of game of his fellow 20 year old either.

But that run of games (and goals) just after the new year showed there is a player in there who is still developing his talent…and imho just needs to be given time to continue that, whilst us fans allow him to be inconsistent, as players are…at any age, not just 20.

I think he’s missing Pring at LB.  I think Mehmeti is also.

I don’t think anyone usually expects a 20 year old having his first real spell in the first team to be “the answer”, but I think Scott and Conway have raised the bar of impatience amongst fans for players like Bell.

Currently he’s having a little bit of an in and out period.

It’s a bit of a crap OP really.

I mean the question is really 'is someone really judging a player who predominantly plays as a centre forward for playing out of position after a handful of games there' and the answer is 'of bloody course its OTIB'

Edited April 19, 2023 by Lrrr

[REDOXO]

33 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Blah Blah Blah!

It’s a bit of a crap OP really.

Fixed!

[Davefevs]

25 minutes ago, GTFABM said:

He is doing well. Like @Davefevs said if i had to make a punt i would go with not make it. He reminds me of Wes Burns, stood out due to raw pace but technically not brilliant. Hope he proves me wrong.

Reminds me of Wes in a lot of ways too.

I saw Wes play CF for Wales u21s v Eng u21s, and he was brilliant.  Gave a couple of high profile Eng CBs a really tough night…John Stones / Nathaniel Chalobah!!!  Wes was a bit more aggressive in fairness.

As @Shuffle’s said, he is a good finisher, pretty composed too.

[RedM]

I love it when Bell and Conway play, adds a bit of excitement.

He was slaughtered when he came on as sub and then subbed off that time, for having a stinker not injury. He has shown great character and desire to pick himself up from that. 

 I want more Bell (and Conway) next season and for the record I think Wells brings out the best in them

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

Bell- can't cross, rarely scores send him on loan

Cornick- a WTF? signing

Max O'Leary- not good enough, need a new keeper now

Weiman - best is behind him, runs and points a lot, time to move on.

Wilson- didnt make it, big ego so gone in summer

Williams- sick note

Naismith- mistake prone, injury prone

Scott- head's gone

Mehmetti- hasn't caught on fire, flash in the pan

Vyner- should never put on a shirt.... yes he should.... not sure...hang on....

Kalas- expensive for what he is.

So that's 11 new players needed unless there's anyone I've missed?

 

[johnbytheriver]

You can see what NP is doing giving young players as much championship expirience as he can.Looking a bit to the future.Sam will develope into a decent player at this level. Same goes for Conway who is probably ahead of sam at this moment. Problem is once they become good we sell them on. We ain't never going up!

Edited April 19, 2023 by johnbytheriver
omitted a letter

[W-S-M Seagull]

I wouldn't expect a striker playing left wing to be very good at crossing tbh.

[ScottishRed]

36 minutes ago, johnbytheriver said:

You can see what NP is doing giving young players as much championship expirience as he can.Looking a bit to the future.Sam will develope into a decent player at this level. Same goes for Conway who is probably ahead of sam at this moment. Problem is once they become good we sell them on. We ain't never going up!

Sad as it is we will have little choice.

We are still losing money, even if we get the much touted £25m for Scott we can’t spend all of it as it is required for running costs.

You also have to remember that when an EPL club comes in for a Championship player it is almost inevitable they will go. The selling club may not want them to go but if the fee is right they will concede defeat.

For the player, the opportunity to play at a higher level and of course the rewards will make it an easy decision.

Look at it this way, Scott is 19, assuming he gets his move, this time next year he will be a millionaire with much more to come.

That is the reality.

Edited April 19, 2023 by ScottishRed
Spelling

[downendcity]

44 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Bell- can't cross, rarely scores send him on loan

Cornick- a WTF? signing

Max O'Leary- not good enough, need a new keeper now

Weiman - best is behind him, runs and points a lot, time to move on.

Wilson- didnt make it, big ego so gone in summer

Williams- sick note

Naismith- mistake prone, injury prone

Scott- head's gone

Mehmetti- hasn't caught on fire, flash in the pan

Vyner- should never put on a shirt.... yes he should.... not sure...hang on....

Kalas- expensive for what he is.

So that's 11 new players needed unless there's anyone I've missed?

 

Well there's that manager fella. Waste of time, can't sort out defence out given the time he's had. A dinosaur and  past it . Need a proper manager if we are going to ever challenge for promotion

[W-S-M Seagull]

31 minutes ago, downendcity said:

Well there's that manager fella. Waste of time, can't sort out defence out given the time he's had. A dinosaur and  past it . Need a proper manager if we are going to ever challenge for promotion

We have 1 fit centre back. Chill out. 

If Nige isn't a proper manager than I'd really like to know who fits the description of a proper manager? 

[downendcity]

8 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

We have 1 fit centre back. Chill out. 

If Nige isn't a proper manager than I'd really like to know who fits the description of a proper manager? 

If you read the post to which I was replying you'd realise that you've been whooshed! 

Without my tongue firmly in my cheek, I happen to think that given the shambles he inherited, the need to address major financial concerns and an apparently continual injury plague he's doing a very good job.

Edited April 19, 2023 by downendcity

[Port Said Red]

13 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I’ll bite too!

Back around Xmas I said if I had to lay all my money on red (make it) or black (not make it) as to whether Bell would make it as a player here (at Champ level) I said “Black - No, he won’t”.  But trying to decide that for a 20 year old who’d barely played any first team football, still developing, etc, is a tough call, and I said with a wink I’d have a side bet on “red 20” (Bell’s shirt colour and number in case anyone missed the reason) too!

My view was based on as I said, limited first team minutes, but also u21 / u23 games I’d watched, little bits if highlights from his loan at Grimsby, his position…as well as comparing him Conway too.

As it stands he is generally a decent finisher.

He has good pace.

He doesn’t appear to have the edge of Conway, nor the maturity (physically and mentally) of game of his fellow 20 year old either.

But that run of games (and goals) just after the new year showed there is a player in there who is still developing his talent…and imho just needs to be given time to continue that, whilst us fans allow him to be inconsistent, as players are…at any age, not just 20.

I think he’s missing Pring at LB.  I think Mehmeti is also.

I don’t think anyone usually expects a 20 year old having his first real spell in the first team to be “the answer”, but I think Scott and Conway have raised the bar of impatience amongst fans for players like Bell.

Currently he’s having a little bit of an in and out period.

It’s a bit of a crap OP really.

I agree with you, presumably the OP is one of those who would rather see us going out and spending millions on the finished article. If we want the kids to make it here, we have to give them the chance to develop without the knee jerk reactions of some fans knocking their confidence.

On a pedantry point if "red 20" is a reference to the roulette wheel, 20 is black on the French style wheel we use in this country. 

One of those weird memory things, it's 30 years since I worked on a casino floor and yet I can recite the wheel forwards and backwards, and yet I would struggle to tell you what I had for breakfast yesterday. 

[Super]

13 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

I wouldn't expect a striker playing left wing to be very good at crossing tbh.

Yep. I'm pretty sure it's not a strong point of someone like Rashford either.

[bearded_red]

Excellent today.

[BCFC Rich]

He has come on so much by getting minutes, great game today. What I love about this season and it's a big credit to the staff and players is the level of improvement from so many players. The most improved player award could go to half the squad! You could make a case for Bell, Conway, Vyner, Pring, Tanner, Max, Scott, and even Sykes maybe. 

[Pezo]

3 minutes ago, bearded_red said:

Excellent today.

I thought he was our worst player . What I saw from him was a player standing off the ball and standing out of challenges when he could have at least made a defender work for it.

Lots of good runs but very little output for all that running.

I will have to watch the highlights and see what I missed.

[Davefevs]

For me, some really nice work, but needs to find a way to stay involved in the game and being an influence (stopping the opposition build pressure).  Second half, when Ogbene got 1-on-1 far too many times against Pring.

(on a slight aside I think some of our loss of control of the game comes from King tiring)

[Dynamite Red]

Him and Pring today were excellent.

[redsocks]

Get him the gym in the summer and build up his upper body.a good kid who could be even better with a bit of strength.to weak at the moment but we said that last year about tc and Scott but look at them now.

[Numero Uno]

49 minutes ago, Pezo said:

I thought he was our worst player . What I saw from him was a player standing off the ball and standing out of challenges when he could have at least made a defender work for it.

Lots of good runs but very little output for all that running.

I will have to watch the highlights and see what I missed.

He put a cross on a plate for Cornick to miss from a yard for a start so denied "output" by his team mate..........first 30 seconds of the game he took an awkward ball inside the defender, decent save from the keeper. Played a pass in the move that saw Conway thwarted by another good save.

[Mr Hankey]

Looked like a child at times i thought today, funny how people see things differently. Hopefully they bulk him up in the summer, not sure if he’s worth giving a full season on loan in league 1 starting week in week out, or if we keep him around the first team next season, but there is definitely something there to work with as his pace will always scare defenders.

Edited April 22, 2023 by Mr Hankey

[pongo88]

I think he’s found his found his true position as a wide left sided attacker. He just needs, as has been mentioned, to develop so that he can be involved more when City aren’t attacking.  

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

Do you think that as he's our out ball that he's told to stay higher on the left? Agreed there was a spell where Ogbene was on top of Pring, felt like Cam was having a "funny five minutes" when watching but I suppose that could be down to being overly exposed.

 

Yes, perhaps.

But an “outball” doesn’t always have to be a ball over the top, that inevitably requires a Hollywood pass when the passer is under pressure.  The outball can be short, hold it up, get teammates near, etc.  Conway and Wells go “both ways”!

I guess I don’t think his tactical side is that mature…yet.  Not unusual at all for a 20 year old, but I guess Conway and Scott’s is at a higher level.

 

Listening to BBCRB post-match and both Chris Honour and callers are beginning to see that TC really is the real-deal.  I said a while back that his goals (and other elements of his game) could mean he could actually be more important than Scott!

Edited April 22, 2023 by Davefevs

[mozo]

Despite his blistering pace and obvious enthusiasm, I've been a little disappointed by Bell's recent performances, but I thought today he was really good. Some very impressive wing play today. Well done lad.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, mozo said:

Despite his blistering pace and obvious enthusiasm, I've been a little disappointed by Bell's recent performances, but I thought today he was really good. Some very impressive wing play today. Well done lad.

No different to Semenyo a few years ago who was very patchy and described as "League 2 at best" by the odd sage on here. What is slightly unlucky for Sam is that we have been spoiled by watching Scott and Conway come straight in and doing it from Day 1 more or less. I think he will stay next season rather than being sent on loan.

[shelts]

Feel he’s improving all the time with more to come . I think he’s found his position . So quick . Final ball improving 

[ScottishRed]

I think Nige is giving him as much game time as possible in order that he gets the experience he needs ASAP.

May have been different if we needed points for the playoffs or avoid relegation.

Really can’t see him going out on loan next season.

[mozo]

10 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Listening to BBCRB post-match and both Chris Honour and callers are beginning to see that TC really is the real-deal.  I said a while back that his goals (and other elements of his game) could mean he could actually be more important than Scott!

 

2 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

I almost added the caveat to my praise of Bell that Conway might well be the best talent we've had come through our traditional academy route. He'll be better than Bobby imo! Everything about him is class, his movement, aggression, finishing, work rate, ball retention, passing. 

This is the first squad of players in my lifetime where there's not one player I don't like- even Dasilva who I've never been "keen" on is a really decent pro.

 

Yep Conway seems to be the real deal. He's come into the side a bit like Lita in that he's got no self-doubt and he loves scoring goals.

Tommy's had his setbacks and has needed coaching at times but there's no doubt he'll have a successful pro career.

It's impossible to say how far he can go in the game but to be a competent Championship striker already is a great start.

[grifty]

I think he suffers more when playing the full match. He had a good first half, slow start to the second and then was anonymous for the last 20.

I think we should have subbed him at 60mins off the back of a solid/good performance as while he tracks back well and works hard for the team, he didn't get it right with the ball later on.

[Davefevs]

8 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

I almost added the caveat to my praise of Bell that Conway might well be the best talent we've had come through our traditional academy route. He'll be better than Bobby imo! Everything about him is class, his movement, aggression, finishing, work rate, ball retention, passing. 

This is the first squad of players in my lifetime where there's not one player I don't like- even Dasilva who I've never been "keen" on is a really decent pro.

 

That’s quite a nice way of looking at it.  I agree.

I have no player that I go “effing ‘ell” when I see their name on the teamsheet.

[mozo]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

That’s quite a nice way of looking at it.  I agree.

I have no player that I go “effing ‘ell” when I see their name on the teamsheet.

Absolutely. Andy King's not playing centre back any more 

(He's also playing really well).

[CyderHead92]

On 19/04/2023 at 19:39, GrahamC said:

We’re of a similar vintage & for years the only striker we produced was bloody Nigel Hawkins..

The fact that this season alone we have had Semenyo (who was with us at 16/17 whether he’s technically an Academy product or not), Conway, with 8 Championship goals already at 20 & Bell.

We’d have been happy with one of these in the past & like @Davefevs I’m in the camp that he’s shown more this season than I expected.

Leroy Lita? 

[miketh2nd]

I think Bell had one of his best games for a while , him and Bell know each inside out from academy days and having pring back was huge boost but should dropped back at times to support him but I Obgene isn't being touted from a big move for nothing.  

I think he suits 4-3-3 more than 4-2-3-1 but when have Naismith,Williams and  James (King this 2nd half of the season) all been fit at the same time? Which I'm sure Pearson must have this position pretty high up in priority in the summer window . Although we will hopefully have a almost new signing in when Benayon returns. 

I think Pearson is wise enough to not just play one formation but if Scott leaves , it would make more sense to go towards 4-3-3 given the amount of  strikers we have! 

[Corsham Alf]

I thought Belly had a good game today. He has electric pace and is very direct off the left. 

He carved them open for the sitter Cornick missed & you could see the fear in the eyes of the Rotherham defence.

He needs to develop physically but he gives us serious pace & goal threat. Def masses of potential 

 

[megansdad]

thought he was excellent - worked really hard and created opportunity. Room to improve but he has a very bright future.

[Pezo]

1 hour ago, Numero Uno said:

He put a cross on a plate for Cornick to miss from a yard for a start so denied "output" by his team mate..........first 30 seconds of the game he took an awkward ball inside the defender, decent save from the keeper. Played a pass in the move that saw Conway thwarted by another good save.

Thanks. I think all your examples are from the first half - I sit the other end so may have missed them, for example didn't realise it was him that put the ball in for Cornick.

[Loosey Boy]

Thought he looked dead on his feet in the last 15-20 mins - thought Mehmeti would have come on to replace him.

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, Pezo said:

Thanks. I think all your examples are from the first half - I sit the other end so may have missed them, for example didn't realise it was him that put the ball in for Cornick.

He's definitely not the finished article, nowhere near it and I do think he will be more of a slow burner like Semenyo was than a Scott/Conway straight on the scene and doing it regularly type. But even they needed a kick up the arse the other night and look at the reaction they showed today......to the fans almost crying that Pearson had thrown them under the bus I say Uncle Nige knows what he is doing!!

[Davefevs]

20 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

to the fans almost crying that Pearson had thrown them under the bus I say Uncle Nige knows what he is doing!!

Some fans just can’t wait to jump on Nige.  Even in Tuesday’s post-match interview he explained his thoughts and actually said how good they’d been across the season….but that’s ignored.  Repeated that again today.

Edited April 22, 2023 by Davefevs

[GrahamC]

2 hours ago, CyderHead92 said:

Leroy Lita? 

Good shout, no less “Academy” than Semenyo, though we got him because he was released by Chelsea.

[1960maaan]

Another solid 90 + minutes. His ability to go outside the FB at pace is a real and continued threat. Always available and always tracks back. Probably could do with being more involved, but I think that will come. Possibly needs to build up as a physical presence , but again something to work on. I've heard some teams are very interested in him, I can see why.

[Kodjias Wrist]

It used to annoy me last season when people were banging on about giving Sam Bell more games because what I saw of him suggested he was nowhere near league 1 football let alone Championship. 

Its amazing how he has come on, you can see that confidence and sharpness improving all the time. Tinman said last season was it that in a couple of seasons time Bell and Conway sill be leading the line for City first team....never doubt Tins....

[PHILINFRANCE]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Some fans just can’t wait to jump on Nige.  Even in Tuesday’s post-match interview he explained his thoughts and actually said how good they’d been across the season….but that’s ignored.  Repeated that again today.

Indeed.

Contrast the club pre-match interview, which I watched and in which, in my opinion, he answered reasonable questions fairly, politely and as openly as he was able, to the RB interview (which I didn’t listen to) where, apparently, he was rude and abrupt.

If I understood correctly, however, he praised all his young players, including the two who came in for some criticism on Tuesday, and was certainly not going to let a brief cameo appearance colour his judgement, but nor was he going to get involved in a lengthy argument in a pre match radio interview - I’m sure he had more pressing and important things on his mind.

[Davefevs]

29 minutes ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

It used to annoy me last season when people were banging on about giving Sam Bell more games because what I saw of him suggested he was nowhere near league 1 football let alone Championship. 

Its amazing how he has come on, you can see that confidence and sharpness improving all the time. Tinman said last season was it that in a couple of seasons time Bell and Conway sill be leading the line for City first team....never doubt Tins....

The beauty of Academy and first team being on a single site.

The beauty of not having a chockablock first team squad that means that academy players not only don’t play, but don’t get to train with the players they are aspiring to be like…if only to understand the levels and professionalism required.

I couldn’t believe Benarous got first team football as early as he did, and although his first 20 mins v Barnsley was not very good, his next games showed he was able to fit in.

Bell has done similar.

OTC too…jeez he was at Yate Town earlier this season.

I’m all for trying to stay balanced and open minded on are youngsters, but maybe we are generally creating better players and quicker…than we’ve ever done before.

That also means no disgrace in not making here either, just means they haven’t quite reached what we need.

It’s great really.

6 Academy starters today.  Most clubs can only dream of that…across a whole season, let alone one game.

[Numero Uno]

10 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Some fans just can’t wait to jump on Nige.  Even in Tuesday’s post-match interview he explained his thoughts and actually said how good they’d been across the season….but that’s ignored.  Repeated that again today.

The bloke who writes as a fan in the Evening Post being one of the biggest culprits too.