Replacing Danny Cadamarteri (U-18) and Michael Duff (U-23)

[jdrobbo]

Morning all,

Just a thought...

We’re in the very unique position of requiring replacements for our U18 and U23 setup, at the same time.

Whilst we obviously would want the best two candidates for the respective roles, withdrew it not be worth trying to bring in the next two coaches as a pair? There are pairs of coaches I’m sure, perhaps even working outside of the top flight, with fantastic track records, who we surely could bring in.

Is it not time to box-clever and flex our Premier League muscles a bit? Sean Dyche talked last season if his want to make incremental improvements at the club, whilst acknowledging at the same time, that this didn’t always mean ending a season in a higher points total (see our automatic promotions, title win, survival, training ground, European journey etc). Maybe thus now presents a huge opportunity for a massive improvement at our club to be made.

Here’s hoping anyway!

[piston broke]

If they are training them to be first team ready Jonny Wilkinson could do a job.

[jdrobbo]

Piston, totally accept your attempt at humour and why, following yesterday’s poor showing, your reference to rugby has been made, but seriously, do you not think that this is a significant area if our setup that could be improved markedly?

[Foulthrow]

Vitally important. In all reality if we are going to produce players for the first team it is probably through the U-23s. In reality, even if we went for an academy, as we've seen at BRFC and others, it rarely produces players that get into the first team. The academies seem to be dominated by those clubs with the deepest of deep pockets. Inevitable, though, they let a lot go at the age of 16 to 21. Clubs like us must try to recruit these in the hope that a 'gem' has been missed by the big boys.

Added to the fact that we have no reserve team, the U-23s is absolutely vital for those players in the first-team squad who aren't getting regular playing time in the PL.

Hopefully, then, the club will put in a great deal of time, effort and focus into getting this area correct.

[jdrobbo]

Agreed

[randomclaret2]

I agree these 2 appointments are critical.Lets hope the club dont take the safe easy options.Incidentally The U23s were demolished at Bournemouth yesterday whilst the U18s had a good win at Birmingham

[jdrobbo]

You’re not wrong random, but also worth noting that Bournemouth played Pugh, Mings and Daniels.

[randomclaret2]

Fair point JD ...but there seems little sign of any of our Under 23s , McNeil apart, being anywhere close to pushing for a First Team squad place.

[piston broke]

I can see your point regarding a pairing but if one is taking the U18s and t’other U23s and it should all be under the umbrella of SDs direction(going off the Ajax model) I’m not sure what benefit there would be.

Not having seen them recently are our age groups playing similar to the first team or are they set up by their own coach?

[Foulthrow]

Fair point JD ...but there seems little sign of any of our Under 23s , McNeil apart, being anywhere close to pushing for a First Team squad place.

Wasn’t Agyei in and around the first team squad at one point?

[Dark Cloud]

I often feel that U23 results and league tables are somewhat mis leading as teams can (and do) at times play some very experienced and seriously proven "older" players for various reasons. We could be fielding a team shortly for example with both Defour and Brady in it and the opposition might, on that particular day, be a team made up entirely of youngish hopefuls. Another week it's us who can have a team full of lads stepping up from U18's pitted against a much stronger team. Hence I tend to feel it's more about getting the games, getting the the experience, showing the capacity to improve individually and actually playing competitively against quality opposition, meaning sometimes the result itself is not the be all and end all.

[boatshed bill]

I often feel that U23 results and league tables are somewhat mis leading as teams can (and do) at times play some very experienced and seriously proven "older" players for various reasons. We could be fielding a team shortly for example with both Defour and Brady in it and the opposition might, on that particular day, be a team made up entirely of youngish hopefuls. Another week it's us who can have a team full of lads stepping up from U18's pitted against a much stronger team. Hence I tend to feel it's more about getting the games, getting the the experience, showing the capacity to improve individually and actually playing competitively against quality opposition, meaning sometimes the result itself is not the be all and end all.

Add to that we lend out some of our better prospects.

[FeedTheArf]

Time to bring Wader home!

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/elliot ... nt-manager" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dazzler]

What's Steve Davis doing these days ?

[Buxtonclaret]

Time to bring Wader home!

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/elliot ... nt-manager" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bet he'd improve our crossing if nothing else.

[Hipper]

From Stoke link: '(Wade Elliott)... has been a captain at every club that he played.'

Did he ever captain us?

[bfcmik]

The word last week was that we had received some exciting applications for the u23 job and had decided we needed to go through a thorough interview process before appointing someone (which was cited as one possible reason for the Cadamateri departure). I would think we can attract several high quality applicants for the u18 position too.

[jdrobbo]

Hope you’re right there