Defensive duo set for loan experience next season

If they turned out to be a revelation theyÂ’d make it into the team the following year a lot quicker and the manager would know for sure if he needed replacements in that area.

Galloway looks useful for us already and IÂ’d of thought heÂ’d of been more involved with first team next season.

But a loan move wouldnÂ’t do him any harm at all. MK Dons would be a good move for him, a team and manager he knows, there now in the championship and they try and play out from the back and play decent football, would be a great learning experience for him imo!

He played in the dead rubber game against the Russian team, but that was virtually a reserve team so he shouldnÂ’t be judged on that performance.

Unless he has been injured he hasnÂ’t been used by Martinez, so It looks like the manager doesnÂ’t have the lad in his plans.

Let's face it, we have no money and canÂ’t attract top names to the club at the moment so weÂ’ll be looking at overseas cheap, unproven imports and loans like Atsu (waste of time and money) so why not give these boys a chance? Seriously, given this past season's failures what have we got to lose? We finished below Swansea, Stoke and Palace, for fuck's sake!

Yes, we have to bring in a few but to boost numbers our own academy is where we should be looking. Who knows, if just one or two of them makes it then weÂ’ve saved millions in transfer fees but you donÂ’t know unless you try.

Not all of them will be any good – McAleny, Lundstram and Long are even out of contract this summer, I think, so what’s the harm in giving them a one-year deal with the promise of an opportunity to show what they can do throughout the season and earn another contract at the end of it?

I’m sure you’ll see more passion this coming season than what we did last by doing that. I’d rather see our own boys out there trying their best and playing for the badge than an unproven lower French league player who doesn’t even know who Andy King was – RIP.

Browning, Galloway, Garbutt (if he signs for us), McAleny, Ledson among the potential first-teamers should go on loan.

Our first-team squad would then look something like this:

GK: Howard, Robles
LB: Baines, Oviedo
RB: Coleman, Hibbert
CB: Jagielka, Stones, New 1 (Besic & Hibbert as back-up)
Wingers: New 2, Pienaar, McGeady, Mirallas
Central MF: Barkley, Barry, Besic, McCarthy, Osman, New 3
Forwards: Lukaku, Kone, Naismith, Long, New 4

That is a squad of 24; ideally it should have been 3-4 more than this but considering there is no Europe this year, we should be okay. The key of course is to find the right 4-5 new players who can come in and make an impact straight away. My wish list (based on Sam HoareÂ’s wish-list on another thread): Van Dijk, Deulofeu, Nolito, Hernandez.

The starting XI for the season opener:

Robles
Coleman Jagielka Stones Baines
Deulofeu Barkley McCarthy Nolito
Hernandez Lukaku

Subs: Howard, Van Dijk, Oviedo, Besic, Mirallas, Pienaar, Kone.

I guess this also means new faces in the first team squad.

The others you mention are kids. You canÂ’t just throw them in to the most competitive league and expect them all to even hold their own, never mind perform to any sort of level.

How many kids do you see in the league regularly? Not many. You have got to accept there is a reason for that. They need loan spells and then breaking in gently, probably around the age of 20-21 – not in their teens.

We will have a few quid, itÂ’s not all doom and gloom.

I understand and see your point totally. IÂ’m just giving a different view of how to nurture these youngsters.

DonÂ’t you agree that itÂ’s great to see our homegrown players representing our club? IÂ’m not saying we thrust them all in and hope for the best in any way; IÂ’m talking about substitute appearances, the odd start and cup games for a couple at a time, and cover when injuries occur. Just being around the first team will make them better players.

Browning, Galloway and Garbutt are the cream of the current crop and are all defenders at the right age so thereÂ’s no doubt we all want to see them in and around the first team and not out on loan.

McAleny played 7 times for Cardiff scoring 2 goals so that’s a strike rate of 1/3(-ish). Chris Long played 10 times for Brentford scoring 4 goals (1/2½). Both much better than Kone for example. If both of those aren’t going to be given a crack this season, then let them go because at their age now there’s no point in another loan for them.

Lundstram hasnÂ’t impressed on loan so IÂ’ll give you that one.

Ledson, Kenny and Dowell are all coming on 18 and while that is young it has been done successfully by clubs the past few seasons.
Januzaj broke in to the Man Utd team at 18, Luke Shaw, Callum Chambers and Ward-Prowse played a whole season for Southampton at that age. Sterling and our very own Barkley and Stones were all 18 when they started in their respective clubs first team. IÂ’m just saying it can be done so why not give it a go?

I do understand your point and I’m not naïeve enough to think they’ll be able to perform week-in & week-out. Our current crop of first team players can’t even do that.

Obviously with Stones, Garbutt and Barkley they should be getting that in our first team now.

Given that Browning is from our youth team, it makes sense that he gets a season elsewhere - a la Coleman.

Galloway was already in the MK Dons first team however, so I hope he goes out to a higher level or plays for us this season.

I guess pre-season will give us a clearer idea.

Level has to be at least Div 1/Championship for the better sides (given the performances in European competitions). So why are the youngsters who have had minimal games not sent to Sweden/Norway for 3-4 months to get experience of playing in a better quality league. Will also get them used to another culture and that will also test out their mental and personal development.

Because after a full season of training and playing, the last thing any young player needs while still physically developing is to go and run their bollocks off in Norway for three months before another full season back in England. ThereÂ’s a good reason why these lads get the summer off.

I thought Browning played very well against Krasnodar, even though he does not look a natural RB. If the two lads are being loaned out, then we will be making signings at CB. It would have worried me more had we been keeping them, as Jags and Stones need competition and cover.

Moreover, we need a different CB to what we have. A player who can dominate aerially in both boxes. Jags and Stones do struggle when faced with a Benteke or a Drogba. Distin, on the other hand...

I agree with your logic. Youngsters, while BANKING WAGES, are on vacation instead of being sent out to train and play in active leagues.

"Well, itÂ’s the way itÂ’s always been done. So . . . . . ."

Antique thinking.

ItÂ’s pretty simple. Playing kids all year round is going to damage them physically. They may be BANKING WAGES but they would also be BANKING WAGES when crocked and burnt out at 22 or 23.

They are professional athletes and their bodies are assets of the club (that sounds more creepy than it should) so playing them til breaking point is not in anyoneÂ’s interest.