Ryan Mason is a classic example of the issues insightfully discussed by the posters above.
In terms of the oldest group:
Born 1991 (must be registered in 25 man squad for 2013/14) : Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason, Adam Smith, Grant Hall
Imo Mason is the most naturally talented of those four, and from what I've seen was better than Pritchard at the same age. (NB Pritchard looks good, and I'm not knocking him.)
Mason's an excellent team player, adept at pass and move football, and like Modric willing to receive possession in tight spaces. Playing as a second striker in the Academy, he showed he's an excellent finisher, and this season we've been using him as a deeper lying CM as well for the U21s.
Mason has been loaned out, but had terrible luck with injuries. He's also slightly built, so some managers may have been unwilling to risk him in fiercely competitive Championship and League 1 football. Nigel Clough hardly played Carroll when he had him on loan at Derby, and Jackett hardly played Mason at Millwal.
Spursidol and Misfit are correct, at Mason's age he either needs to be loaned to a club that will give him a run in the first team, or he needs to get chances in the first team squad - eg in the early rounds of the domestic and European cups. Otherwise we may as well sell him.
The new U21 league seems better than the old reserve nonsense, but it's only for giving players some match fitness.
I think one of the problems this season is that we had three youngish players fighting for a single attacking midfield slot on the bench: Townsend, Falque and Mason.
Personally, I'm not sure why we've been messing around with Falque as nothing I've seen suggests to me that he's better than Mason. However, the problem of those three youngish players is that at most one has been getting on the bench, and even then they rarely got any meaningful playing time.
It's a logjam, and Mason, at his age, need to be learning in competitive football.
In pre-season, AVB seemed to decide that Livermore, Townsend, Kane and Carroll were the young players who had a chance of breaking through. Kane then got loaned to Norwich on deadline day (once we'd brought Dempsey in), and an injury has derailed his season.
Livermore made the full England squad, but now he's back behind Parker and probably Huddlestone for a CM spot, and may be loaned out.
Townsend has been given very little playing time, and I still think for all his competitive playing time on loan, he's more raw potential than PL regular quality. He's a very direct player but needs to get his head up more.
Personally, I think Carroll has more chance of being a top level PL midfield player than Livermore, but again he needs to play.
This is AVB's first season, and naturally he's been getting to assess the squad. Also, I fully support his use of Caulker as a full member of the first team squad, getting regular starts, this season
Hopefully, next season AVB will identify 2 or 3 players from the development and academy squads, and commit to giving them some playing time - initially in the cups. Then we'll see.
In terms of the oldest group:
Born 1991 (must be registered in 25 man squad for 2013/14) : Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason, Adam Smith, Grant Hall
Imo Mason is the most naturally talented of those four, and from what I've seen was better than Pritchard at the same age. (NB Pritchard looks good, and I'm not knocking him.)
Mason's an excellent team player, adept at pass and move football, and like Modric willing to receive possession in tight spaces. Playing as a second striker in the Academy, he showed he's an excellent finisher, and this season we've been using him as a deeper lying CM as well for the U21s.
Mason has been loaned out, but had terrible luck with injuries. He's also slightly built, so some managers may have been unwilling to risk him in fiercely competitive Championship and League 1 football. Nigel Clough hardly played Carroll when he had him on loan at Derby, and Jackett hardly played Mason at Millwal.
Spursidol and Misfit are correct, at Mason's age he either needs to be loaned to a club that will give him a run in the first team, or he needs to get chances in the first team squad - eg in the early rounds of the domestic and European cups. Otherwise we may as well sell him.
The new U21 league seems better than the old reserve nonsense, but it's only for giving players some match fitness.
I think one of the problems this season is that we had three youngish players fighting for a single attacking midfield slot on the bench: Townsend, Falque and Mason.
Personally, I'm not sure why we've been messing around with Falque as nothing I've seen suggests to me that he's better than Mason. However, the problem of those three youngish players is that at most one has been getting on the bench, and even then they rarely got any meaningful playing time.
It's a logjam, and Mason, at his age, need to be learning in competitive football.
In pre-season, AVB seemed to decide that Livermore, Townsend, Kane and Carroll were the young players who had a chance of breaking through. Kane then got loaned to Norwich on deadline day (once we'd brought Dempsey in), and an injury has derailed his season.
Livermore made the full England squad, but now he's back behind Parker and probably Huddlestone for a CM spot, and may be loaned out.
Townsend has been given very little playing time, and I still think for all his competitive playing time on loan, he's more raw potential than PL regular quality. He's a very direct player but needs to get his head up more.
Personally, I think Carroll has more chance of being a top level PL midfield player than Livermore, but again he needs to play.
This is AVB's first season, and naturally he's been getting to assess the squad. Also, I fully support his use of Caulker as a full member of the first team squad, getting regular starts, this season
Hopefully, next season AVB will identify 2 or 3 players from the development and academy squads, and commit to giving them some playing time - initially in the cups. Then we'll see.
Alex pritchard
