Match day thread - Cup vs that team that doesn't like us for bizarre reasons

I think Gent has a lot of potential, but he doesn't look ready yet. He's also over committing and giving the ball away in dangerous ares (he's not the only one) and as our back 3 aren't in sync or consistent yet, I think it creates a lot more problems. And let's be honest, we've only seen small cameos from both, so its a very early instinctive thing to say I'm leaning towards Lofthouse. In time, I could see Gent and Lofthouse as first choice wing backs.

Yoganathan, he's young and raw but he's clearly talented. He's not a first team regular, but a few games here and there, i think would be the best way to bring him through. Personally, I'd rather we keep talent near our squad rather than loaning them out and just getting minutes. It's not always evident minutes alone are improving our contracted players. When we loan out we're also at the others clubs coaching mercy, and as we've seen, they aren't always guaranteed to get picked either.

 

It is early days, you’re right. I think I’m probably a bit scarred from the euros of seeing a left wing back cut back on to their right side and inevitably pass it back inside. I want the wide players to go by the defender, get to the byline and get a cross in with their stronger foot and I think that’s why Gent has been brought into the club and started the first 2 games of the season. I guess we will see which way Clarke goes with it. Would much prefer to see Lofthouse on the right side but seems, at the minute anyway, he’s third choice for that behind O’Keeffe and Cotter.

There is that argument regarding Yoganathan yes. Keep players here so they can stay within the club’s culture and style of play and then possibly take their chance in our team, if it comes. I just think, at this point, getting minutes in proper league games would benefit him more personally. I’d like to think we’d do our research on the team we’d send him to too, not only for our benefit but the player’s benefit too. Again, I guess we will see what the club decide is best. Whether he stays or goes out on loan, I think it’s quite clear there’s a good player coming through and with some good decisions and hard work, could see us have a very valuable player on our hands in a few years.

 

I guess the thing with young kids is you just never know. We thought we had stars in Wolfe and Digby and sadly they didn't pan out. Sometimes you just need to give them a go and trust in them and some will blossom more than you thought. I think of the 80s and 90s and we seemed to play far more players at an early age who went on to become regulars.

 

I don't know Wuz lol, I think that was about 18 months before I became a fan.
But going back to '78 and Clarkies first season here, the stats say that was Wigan's first ever season in the Efl!.

 

I guess football these days is a lot more impatient and unless youngsters absolutely hit the ground running when they get their chance, they don’t last very long. That means castoffs are picked up and we’ve certainly picked up a fair bit ourselves in recent years.

 

Yes it was their first season. First time they played us was earlier on in the season at Oakwell. A 0-0 draw. I think it was David Speedie's debut for us.. seem to recall him having a 20-yard effort brush the top of the crossbar.

 

I think if you go back to those times and earlier there was less money in the game and in the club.
These days fans look at gaps or weaknesses in the team and automatically speculate who we're going to BUY to fill those gaps. It's expected that we go out and purchase five, six, seven new players year on year.
Obviously players were also bought previously but it was far more common and accepted that youth team players would transition into the team and be given time and opportunity to do so.

 

I guess the other thing was you often had a core of players to build around who knew their jobs and the players around them so slotting one or two kids in was relatively easy. What is ironic (for us at least) is we seem happy to give young kids of other clubs a chance but not always those from our academy.