Chem is on loan until the end of the season, at which point he’ll likely return to Wolves. I don’t think he’s even good enough to start for us every week, so I’ll be surprised if he gets a Championship loan.
Considering how well Al-Hamadi has done at Wimbledon and how Vokes has been injured so much lately it's a big shame we didn't retain him. But hindsight is wonderful, and he may not have hacked it at this level, who knows?
I'd imagine he's now valued in the £100s k now though and we won't be signing players like that.
My main concern about players leaving was Scowen- but we've got him!
Biggest need is some creativity, but we want players with a good attitude too. Something Ainsworth did so well at.
We can't expect to fill out the squad with ready made players, aside from the cost - if injuries calmed a bit we'd have multiple players not playing and wanting out, and it leaves no room for development. I'm not sure TJ is going to be the next Vokes but he's a useful option and has a lot of potential.
I strongly disagree. Campbell only turned 22 in December and is still learning. He was rated highly enough by Wolves to play five times in the Premier League earlier this season and, as a winger, has scored three goals in 12 games for Wycombe (if Wikipedia is to be trusted).
I would be very happy if we were able to keep him.
Too soon to judge how good Tjay is going to be. He’s been called upon to play in too many positions for that but, as I said earlier, it would be interesting to see him close enough to Vokes to latch on to his second balls. Whoops, that sounds painful !
Clearly he's a talent, but he needs another season in L1. No way is he ready for higher. I'd be happy to have him back next year but he's a frustrating player that hopefully can turn that frustrating side of his game into something more consistent as Anis did and become the star he probably should be. Less is more Chem, less is more.
I was shocked in his first game that a player who had made Prem appearances seemed so naive out of possession. Is the game really that different at that level?
I'm often surprised about how these 'very well thought of' talents are so technically gifted but so green when it comes to the actual playing of football. Campbell despite playing in the Premier League looked miles off when it came to his defensive work and you could see the bench telling him what to do constantly. He's 22 not 17.
As has been said many times before these young lads play 'friendlies' every week in the U23 leagues. There is barely a game with any significance so they can play from an 8 year old til they get released at 23 and not experience a meaningful game.
Interesting that Trent Alexander Arnold has started a program focussing on young player well being. It won't stop talent hoarding of course but it might highlight what a toxic system we have with young player development.
To be fair though the quality of young English footballers emerging into the Premier League and on into the England team is arguably the highest level it has been in my lifetime. That has coincided with the academy system changes. It may be coincidence but I suspect it isn't.
I agree though there is a wellbeing issue with the majority of kids whose dreams are dashed.
I've got no data but I would also suggest that we have never had so many players in academy systems as today. It used to be the case that you knew a bloke that knew a guy who walked a dog with the dad of a kid who had a trial at Arsenal. Now most schools have kids in one academy or another, and from ridiculously young ages. All these kids (and parents) aligned to the dream that the sweet Premier League cash is coming just you wait and see. Only to find out that at 16 they can barely get a game for the dog and duck and they don't have a single GCSE to their name.
This show highlights what I thought was a responsible club with excellent processes in place for the players. But it is still a brutal game of enormous numbers being taken in and one or two making it.
If you want to see young men desperate to succeed in sport in a system where education is somewhat sparse I would recommend Last Chance U on Netflix. Heartbreaking but engaging.
Even if Wing leaves, as seems to be the assumption now, we are now have the platform of a decent starting XI for next season:
Stryjek
Grimmer
McCarthy
Forino
JJ
Scowen
Gape
Young
Wheeler
Hanlan
Vokes
There is still clearly more to do, such as determine the futures of GMac, Taffs, Willis, Freeman, Obita and Curtis, but we do have a foundation to build off now. I would not be massively upset if we had to use the above lineup for the odd league game, though it would not be ideal as a primary option.
Re U23’s yes they play friendlies but when Villa kids turned up for the mid week Mickey Mouse cup they absolutely destroyed us once they worked out a winning strategy.
Comments
Chem is on loan until the end of the season, at which point he’ll likely return to Wolves. I don’t think he’s even good enough to start for us every week, so I’ll be surprised if he gets a Championship loan.
Actually, weren't we all dining in because of Lockdown? 🤔
Considering how well Al-Hamadi has done at Wimbledon and how Vokes has been injured so much lately it's a big shame we didn't retain him. But hindsight is wonderful, and he may not have hacked it at this level, who knows?
I'd imagine he's now valued in the £100s k now though and we won't be signing players like that.
My main concern about players leaving was Scowen- but we've got him!
Biggest need is some creativity, but we want players with a good attitude too. Something Ainsworth did so well at.
We can't expect to fill out the squad with ready made players, aside from the cost - if injuries calmed a bit we'd have multiple players not playing and wanting out, and it leaves no room for development. I'm not sure TJ is going to be the next Vokes but he's a useful option and has a lot of potential.
I strongly disagree. Campbell only turned 22 in December and is still learning. He was rated highly enough by Wolves to play five times in the Premier League earlier this season and, as a winger, has scored three goals in 12 games for Wycombe (if Wikipedia is to be trusted).
I would be very happy if we were able to keep him.
Tjay is not going to be the next Vokes.
But in your reckoning thats a good thing!
TJay might be the next Stuart Beavon though.
Got it in one @Theatre_of_Chairs .
Too soon to judge how good Tjay is going to be. He’s been called upon to play in too many positions for that but, as I said earlier, it would be interesting to see him close enough to Vokes to latch on to his second balls. Whoops, that sounds painful !
Clearly he's a talent, but he needs another season in L1. No way is he ready for higher. I'd be happy to have him back next year but he's a frustrating player that hopefully can turn that frustrating side of his game into something more consistent as Anis did and become the star he probably should be. Less is more Chem, less is more.
I was shocked in his first game that a player who had made Prem appearances seemed so naive out of possession. Is the game really that different at that level?
I'm often surprised about how these 'very well thought of' talents are so technically gifted but so green when it comes to the actual playing of football. Campbell despite playing in the Premier League looked miles off when it came to his defensive work and you could see the bench telling him what to do constantly. He's 22 not 17.
As has been said many times before these young lads play 'friendlies' every week in the U23 leagues. There is barely a game with any significance so they can play from an 8 year old til they get released at 23 and not experience a meaningful game.
Interesting that Trent Alexander Arnold has started a program focussing on young player well being. It won't stop talent hoarding of course but it might highlight what a toxic system we have with young player development.
Great post and spot on.
Well we got in for 2 games each.
Hopefully not the only Wycombe championship level games we'll ever physically attend!
Slightly worried that you think Tjay is actually, or has the potential to be better than Vokes!
Yes, but do you mean the start or end of his spell here? Rather than the goal laden spell?
To be fair though the quality of young English footballers emerging into the Premier League and on into the England team is arguably the highest level it has been in my lifetime. That has coincided with the academy system changes. It may be coincidence but I suspect it isn't.
I agree though there is a wellbeing issue with the majority of kids whose dreams are dashed.
I've got no data but I would also suggest that we have never had so many players in academy systems as today. It used to be the case that you knew a bloke that knew a guy who walked a dog with the dad of a kid who had a trial at Arsenal. Now most schools have kids in one academy or another, and from ridiculously young ages. All these kids (and parents) aligned to the dream that the sweet Premier League cash is coming just you wait and see. Only to find out that at 16 they can barely get a game for the dog and duck and they don't have a single GCSE to their name.
This show highlights what I thought was a responsible club with excellent processes in place for the players. But it is still a brutal game of enormous numbers being taken in and one or two making it.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/football-dreams-the-academy
I think player education is probably at the highest it's ever been too. I'm sure you have to get some schooling now as part of the academy process.
Didn't I read somewhere that Phil Foden was privately educated on the Man City dollar?
If you want to see young men desperate to succeed in sport in a system where education is somewhat sparse I would recommend Last Chance U on Netflix. Heartbreaking but engaging.
Even if Wing leaves, as seems to be the assumption now, we are now have the platform of a decent starting XI for next season:
Stryjek
Grimmer
McCarthy
Forino
JJ
Scowen
Gape
Young
Wheeler
Hanlan
Vokes
There is still clearly more to do, such as determine the futures of GMac, Taffs, Willis, Freeman, Obita and Curtis, but we do have a foundation to build off now. I would not be massively upset if we had to use the above lineup for the odd league game, though it would not be ideal as a primary option.
GMac and Freeman would be 'essential' keeps for me. The others have work to do to convince based solely on fitness, worthy that they are.
Re U23’s yes they play friendlies but when Villa kids turned up for the mid week Mickey Mouse cup they absolutely destroyed us once they worked out a winning strategy.
Apparently yes, a college between 3-18.
Unfortunately I think Forino will be at Loftus Road next season as part of Gazzas revolution.
Don't see that at all.
Gareth can't be thinking long term at QPR, and Forino is a long term development project. He can't slot straight into a championship level side.
I think simply having a second set of balls would be painful enough.