23 Oct 2025 07:54:41
Big shout out to Enzo Maresca for backing our academy graduates yet again. Last season he gave debuts to lots of young homegrowns and he continued that last night in the champions league. I can't remember any former managers backing the academy as much as he does and that will hopefully bode well going forward.
23 Oct 2025 09:04:24
Agree he gives them a chance, from memory so did Lampard, but Achepong looks quality as does Walsh for one so young not fazed at all.
Quality academy players coming through are useful to be able to rest players sadly they are also useful on the financial selling side. I still expect George to be sold in Jan.
23 Oct 2025 09:04:35
Totally agree Greenaway, hopefully we keep our outstanding academy players and they are part of our future, not an item on the balance sheet.
23 Oct 2025 10:05:13
Yes Seymns2, Lampard did give the youth a run out but sadly fell out with a few of them as well. Tomori comes to mind. Bill, with literally hundreds of academy players on the books some will always be sold but the manager knows his onions and will build around the ones he wants and expect to see a lot of Reggie Walsh over the coming years. I also think he rates young Josh very highly and I can see a back 4 of Reece James, Josh, Levi and Cucu going forward. That would be 3 academy graduates in defence.
23 Oct 2025 11:34:36
All players are on our Balance Sheet and in my opinion they all have a price.
23 Oct 2025 16:54:20
We certainly are a very young side with 3 teens all scoring which is some sort of a record in a champions league game I think?
23 Oct 2025 17:40:01
Of course you are correct Tom however we can include the coaches in that sentence as well.
23 Oct 2025 20:44:27
Bill, of course!