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I keep hearing references to the age of our youth players compared with the general age in most of our opponents teams. Was this a decision by the acting committee or what MS wanted?
If it was the latter then perhaps many of these younger players won't be able to compete in the more physical UCL Premier league next season?
Discuss.

Trek wrote:I keep hearing references to the age of our youth players compared with the general age in most of our opponents teams. Was this a decision by the acting committee or what MS wanted?
If it was the latter then perhaps many of these younger players won't be able to compete in the more physical UCL Premier league next season?
Discuss.

I know a few players that play for Rushden & Higham that are youth (one is 16), and he got into there 1st team and scored a few goals! It is a physical league, but I think a few will be able to handle it.

That 16 year old has just signed for AFC.

Trek wrote:I keep hearing references to the age of our youth players compared with the general age in most of our opponents teams. Was this a decision by the acting committee or what MS wanted?
If it was the latter then perhaps many of these younger players won't be able to compete in the more physical UCL Premier league next season?
Discuss.

I don't mean this in a disrespectful way to the players in any shape or form, but to a certain extent I think Starms took what he could get to start with, we were kinda late starters remember and struggled to get lads along to trials, but he's pulled in some real Diamonds (pun intended ;) ). Plus of course the squad is developing as the season goes on.

This isn't any inside track, I know no more than you about playing decisions, but one thing I do know is that we have a large number of players in our squad that have the potential to be with us for the next 2 seasons at Under 18 level and grow into the first teamnas they develop under Starms' stewardship, last nights opposition will have none of their players as they'll be ineligible - if you look at the table what has been achieved is incredible. We're really competing and I don't think that there were many managers of local sides who thought we'd do that, I was told of one who had said we'd be whipping boys this year !!!

Players will be attracted to our club once the Senior side is up and running, whether certain people believe it or not, our name is still a pull and I'm sure we'll have a good and competitive Senior side, plus we'll have a terrific under 18s side coming up to support and supplement the first team squad, thats what its all about.

Starms has publicly stated that he sees the under 18s as a platform for the lads to progress. He's got the skills and knowledge to bring these players on over time, but no-one is saying that we'll just drop the existing squad into the UCL (for example), that would be suicide and a disaster for the player's development. I think we have some terrific prospects and as last night showed, they're growing in confidence and ability and that is a testament to the ability and skill of our coach/manager - and to the boys themselves of course who are working so hard !!

We should all be really proud of the lads and the management team.

I think good young players will be fine in the UCL but you need a mix of experience and youth to compete and challenge for promotion.

I have watched quite a bit of U18 football over the past 3 years, from what I have seen from AFC they will be one of the teams to beat next season.

NORTHANTS48 wrote:I have watched quite a bit of U18 football over the past 3 years, from what I have seen from AFC they will be one of the teams to beat next season.

100% agree - no pressure lads ;)

Trek wrote:I keep hearing references to the age of our youth players compared with the general age in most of our opponents teams. Was this a decision by the acting committee or what MS wanted?
If it was the latter then perhaps many of these younger players won't be able to compete in the more physical UCL Premier league next season?
Discuss.

As Jim said, it was a case of seeing who was available rather than deliberately targeting younger players. Because of how late we started in comparison to the rest of the league, the majority of older, more experienced players were already signed to other clubs.

Our team next season will (hopefully) include a few of this season's youth side, but we will certainly need a core of experienced players for us to compete in whichever division we start in. In many ways our league position and results this season are irrelevant (although we obviously want to do as well as possible), as our youth setup is all about nurturing young players and preparing them for mens football - some for next season, some for the season after, and probably a couple for the season after that! The likes of Cogenhoe and Chenecks build sides to compete in the NSYL, none of their players play for the respective mens teams and aren't likely to next season.

Thanks for clarifying that, Dave.

davealbon wrote:

Trek wrote:I keep hearing references to the age of our youth players compared with the general age in most of our opponents teams. Was this a decision by the acting committee or what MS wanted?
If it was the latter then perhaps many of these younger players won't be able to compete in the more physical UCL Premier league next season?
Discuss.

As Jim said, it was a case of seeing who was available rather than deliberately targeting younger players. Because of how late we started in comparison to the rest of the league, the majority of older, more experienced players were already signed to other clubs.

Our team next season will (hopefully) include a few of this season's youth side, but we will certainly need a core of experienced players for us to compete in whichever division we start in. In many ways our league position and results this season are irrelevant (although we obviously want to do as well as possible), as our youth setup is all about nurturing young players and preparing them for mens football - some for next season, some for the season after, and probably a couple for the season after that! The likes of Cogenhoe and Chenecks build sides to compete in the NSYL, none of their players play for the respective mens teams and aren't likely to next season.

Dave I don't think the comment I have highlighted is very respectful or true about the clubs you have mentioned. Certainly here at Kempston we have at least four players from our current U18 squad playing in our reserves on a regular basis and our 17 year old goalkeeper played for the first team in there 2-1 win at Holbeach yesterday.
All clubs in the UCL use the NYSL to bring U18 players up to the next level before using them in there Reserves or First team!