08 Nov 2025 10:50:14
It seems Fletcher has been drafted into the squad to maintain the record of having an Academy player in every squad. Whilst I applaud this decision, it shows how far off our Academy is, we lost 3 first teamers in the last couple of years and there's a lack of new ones coming through. Hopefully, the new structure will get this fixed.
08 Nov 2025 12:21:40
I don't think that's a fair summary. We have a lot of gifted players coming through.
08 Nov 2025 12:29:25
Window dressing to keep a record alive but with that sort of naming in the squad the record is false and not worth upkeeping.
08 Nov 2025 13:24:24
DonRed, maybe, but they aren't ready yet.
Ken, you and I have debated this before, I take your point, but after 88 years, I can't see anyone letting it slip. I wonder how often this has happened in the past. The big issue is having to do this, and not having anyone automatically in the squad.
08 Nov 2025 14:45:38
Who would you have put in the squad that wasn’t from the academy then Ken?
08 Nov 2025 15:11:00
With the expanded benches these days, no excuse. It is about rewarding the players in the youth set up. They get to experience what the en environment is like around the senior team and in some games maybe they will get a chance to play.
Fletcher is not a 16 year old kid and is very well thought of. He may have been knocking in the door of a league cup appearance this year, this is about the best we can do for him this season.
08 Nov 2025 15:48:44
I don't put anyone in any squad gds2. But we have been window dressing this for some time. i'm all for keeping the record if they're are no better options. But sticking a kid in with no intention of playing them to keep the record alive is daft.
It may not hand been the case today maybe nobody b better was available but going on about a record like its meaningful imo is a complete vanity metric.