Players Released

[Hoop Blah]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

[P!ssed Off]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

Because we've never released good young players before, have we?
Did you watch the play-offs last night by any chance?

[maffff]

Charlie Austin? Carl McHugh? Dan Carr? Marvin Bartley? Johnny Hayes? Tom Hateley? Adam Mekki? Adam Lockwood? Johnny Mullins? James Rowe? Abdulai Bell-Baggie?

All released and had/have league careers. I bet a lot of them have gone on to do a lot in their career than Uwgu/Arnold/D'Ath will.

Remember the amount of tears shed when we opted to release our u21 CB Jack Mills?



You might remember he and Jacob Walcott doing good things at Telstar on loan.....

He's since made it!
to
Oxford City
Slough Town
Hayes and Yeading.



The club tend to know what they're doing. No matter how unpopular it might be. Of coruse we always carry a risk that someone might develop with more exposure to he senior game.

[Major Monkey]

Jimmy saville is a massive turbot gobbler

[maffff]

Isn't that mafffff?

I had to double-take....

[maffff]

Well, Ugwu was behind ALF, Pog, HRK, Blackman and competing with Samuel for 5th choice at present, we might lose one or two strikers and sign one or two.... If we are thinking of predominately playing with one upfront (or not, even) next year and we have Samuel who has another year on his contract and is 20, going on 21 it's probably one or the other.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Samuel go on a free next year.

ftr both Samuel and Ugwu were born in April.
I'm not sure the phrases "going on 21" and "pushing 22" are entirely appropriate.

HRK and Blackman are not strikers. Samuel has done very little in 2 years.
Leaves us with 2 recognised seniotr strikers. One of which we've been actively trying to get rid of for a year, and the other is out of favour with the manager.

Ugwu was April 1993
Samuel April 1994.

The important point being one qualifies as under 21, the other doesn't.

[ZacNaloen]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

Exactly.

Tanner is the attacking talent in our youth team atm.


13 weeks out injured then in 16 games scored 13 goal and got 12 assists.

[P!ssed Off]

Well, Ugwu was behind ALF, Pog, HRK, Blackman and competing with Samuel for 5th choice at present, we might lose one or two strikers and sign one or two.... If we are thinking of predominately playing with one upfront (or not, even) next year and we have Samuel who has another year on his contract and is 20, going on 21 it's probably one or the other.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Samuel go on a free next year.

ftr both Samuel and Ugwu were born in April.
I'm not sure the phrases "going on 21" and "pushing 22" are entirely appropriate.

HRK and Blackman are not strikers. Samuel has done very little in 2 years.
Leaves us with 2 recognised seniotr strikers. One of which we've been actively trying to get rid of for a year, and the other is out of favour with the manager.

Ugwu was April 1993
Samuel April 1994.

The important point being one qualifies as under 21, the other doesn't.

You can have a number of over 21 players in your U21 squad so "qualifies as under 21" is not an issue.

The point I was making was that someone who turned 21 3 weeks ago is not "pushing 22".
By that you're either suggesting that he is almost 22, which is clearly incorrect, or you're just reminding us that 22 comes after 21, in which case .

[Colin Cheeselog]

Remember the amount of tears shed when we opted to release our u21 CB Jack Mills?

No. What was the amount?

[Elm Park Pasty]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

I'm not really surprised the Ugwu was let go to be honest. I think in the current climate, we are not going to keep 21/22 year olds on the books if they haven't been pushing for inclusion in the first team squad (I'm not necessarily sure we should view 'being on the bench' as 'pushing for inclusion').

I was also wondering (and someone who knows about these things may be able to provide an answer) if our elevation to Class 1 or A or whatever will be having a negative effect on the youngsters that are in the U21 bracket, as they have been the last that really are coming of age under the previous level. With someone like Cardwell, who we all seem to feel has a good look about him, coming through I would wonder if those in the group above really have to show something to be able to stay. The raw material we will be getting now will be better so hopefully will be the end product. For those that say Cardwell is too young, if you're good enough you're old enough. I know we have had this argument before about sending players on loan for development when they are young, but maybe some of our 19/20 year olds should be pushing to get into matchday squads now.

[maffff]

The more I look at our u21 squad and the number of u18's that will have to move up a class this year I can see some very tough decisions on who we have to keep/let go. Looks like we could field two strong u21 sides with the talent available.

Funnily enough, we are lightest upfront.

[KC Royal]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?
Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

Tanner? He could have been on the bench instead on the most recent occasion Ugwu made it. It was a surprise he didn't as he was much better in the Man Utd game shortly before. I know they're different types of players, but it doesn't make much sense looking back now to pick someone who wasn't going to be around for next season over someone who hopefully will be challenging for a starting spot. Unless of course Ugwu decided to leave himself.

As for HRK/Blackman, I don't expect Blackman to play up front again for us, he's a better option on the wing, and with McAnuff gone I expect HRK to be on the left wing more next season.

[From Despair To Where?]

Charlie Austin? Carl McHugh? Dan Carr? Marvin Bartley? Johnny Hayes? Tom Hateley? Adam Mekki? Adam Lockwood? Johnny Mullins? James Rowe? Abdulai Bell-Baggie?

All released and had/have league careers. I bet a lot of them have gone on to do a lot in their career than Uwgu/Arnold/D'Ath will.

Remember the amount of tears shed when we opted to release our u21 CB Jack Mills?



You might remember he and Jacob Walcott doing good things at Telstar on loan.....

He's since made it!
to
Oxford City
Slough Town
Hayes and Yeading.



The club tend to know what they're doing. No matter how unpopular it might be. Of coruse we always carry a risk that someone might develop with more exposure to he senior game.

You've missed out Curtis Osano who is tearing it up in the Indian top flight.

[Hoop Blah]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

Because we've never released good young players before, have we?
Did you watch the play-offs last night by any chance?

Released as 21/22 year olds having kept them to give them enough time to develop and stake a claim? Can't think of many, if any to be honest.

Austin has done wonders after getting booted out at 16 or whatever age he was. But it took him a fair while to make it where he has. All clubs make mistakes obviously, but generally I think we get it spot on.

[Hoop Blah]

Tanner? He could have been on the bench instead on the most recent occasion Ugwu made it. It was a surprise he didn't as he was much better in the Man Utd game shortly before. I know they're different types of players, but it doesn't make much sense looking back now to pick someone who wasn't going to be around for next season over someone who hopefully will be challenging for a starting spot. Unless of course Ugwu decided to leave himself.

Not sure which game it was and how it fitted in with Tanners schedule for the youth teams at the time but it may be it would've been too many games in a short space of time? More likely though it was that Ugwu was higher up the pecking order but that doesn't mean they don't see Tanner as the better option next year and beyond or that they think Ugwu is worth keeping on.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Hi Craig, it's Nige. Just wondering if you'd like to be on the bench for the first team this weekend?

Hey Gaffer, sounds good, I'll just check my schedule. Ah, sorry boss, nocandoosville, got lunch with Liam Kelly.

[Wimb]

I really can't undertand the angst at these lads moving on. None of them have shown enough quality to really compete for a place here so there is no real need to keep them. #

It seems too many just fall for the hype and PR from the club about how great some of these kids look. Even the stats can make these kids look a lot better than they are but when you Ugwu as a 20 year old up against 16 year old centre backs at times he really should look promising when in reality he's probably not going to play above League Two at best. As for being on the bench being a barometer for potential, who else was fit and available at the time for Adkins to put in ahead of them?

Hopefully the likes of Tanner and Cardwell will kick on next season and start to push for involvement with the first team but there is no point financially or in any other way to keeping players on the books if they're not going to get games and challenge for the first team.

How many are still rueing the loss of Andre Sheppard, Peter Castle or even Andre Boucard?

^^^ this

No club can hold onto a player forever, even if they think he does have potential. Unless you're a serious contender for a first team place it helps neither the player nor the club to hang on. What's better for Uwgu next season, sitting on the bench & playing U21 football, or moving to a League 1/2 club having a genuine chance to getting a run in the team and working your way back up to Championship level?

[jellytot]

Which player is next for the chop?

[maffff]

Just did a huge post and lost it all.

Basically, don't be surprised if we lose one or two youth goalkeepers, Partridge should leave I imagine and maybe one or two other youth players, possibly a defender and one of the u18 strikers that will be becoming a u21.

We have a lot becoming ineligible for the u18's and so much talent stepping up we might have to let a few go.

[maffff]

My money is on

One of Dan Lincoln or Stuart Moore
Sean Long
One of De'Juane Taylor-Crossdale and Germaine Ofori, possibly both. Maybe Hakeem Odoffin, but he's in a younger age category so might get more of a chance.