Signings

Quoted from Tinymariner

Evan Khouri has been given the number 31 shirt.

Hope 28
Starbuck 29
Painter 30
Idehen 32.

It's great to see so many YTs stepping up to the first team squad.

Oh yeah I didn't mean he won't be involved (obviously he already has been) but was just pointing out he's not a first year pro like the other 4 players that's all.

Quoted from Tinymariner

Didn't we also sell Rumarn Burrell to Middlesborough from that age group?

I think he was the year before.  Pretty sure he was due to end his YT tenure and sign a pro deal the summer 'Boro snapped him up.

Either way, it's a good return on the youth and further highlights a) the importance of the set-up to the club and b) the great job done by Neil Woods and his staff.

Quoted from Tinymariner

Didn't we also sell Rumarn Burrell to Middlesborough from that age group?

Burrell was the same year group as Curran, Battersby, and the recently departed Buckley. Pollock is a year below them alongside Joey Hope and Joe Starbuck. Think Khouri might be younger still but not sure on that one.

Quoted from Tinymariner

Evan Khouri has been given the number 31 shirt.

Hope 28
Starbuck 29
Painter 30
Idehen 32.

It's great to see so many YTs stepping up to the first team squad.

It is, but it remains to be seen if it's because we have a particularly good batch of players at the moment, or it's out of necessity. I've always been an advocate of developing players through the youth system and also scouring the lower leagues for those that have been missed and have potential, but one has to ask whether this surge in youth players is as a consequence of having a salary cap to work to, and the fact that you now have to have home grown players in the matchday squad?

I'm really hoping they are there because they have the potential to be first teamers, and not just to make up the numbers. We do seem on the face of it to have some good 'uns coming through.

Quoted from Boris Johnson

Gibson 3 years.....who was the last player to get a 3 year deal

Probably the last person who said they’d play for £400 a week so the board tied him up to it for 3 years 🤣

Mckeown wasn't it.

Quoted from ginnywings

It is, but it remains to be seen if it's because we have a particularly good batch of players at the moment, or it's out of necessity. I've always been an advocate of developing players through the youth system and also scouring the lower leagues for those that have been missed and have potential, but one has to ask whether this surge in youth players is as a consequence of having a salary cap to work to, and the fact that you now have to have home grown players in the matchday squad?

I'm really hoping they are there because they have the potential to be first teamers, and not just to make up the numbers. We do seem on the face of it to have some good 'uns coming through.

Khouri looked very competent when he came on. I hope we get him signed up on a pro deal as soon as possible.
Starbuck made a couple of appearances last season and Holloway suggested he was very close to the first team squad before the season got cancelled.
Clifton has been capable at this level even if his progression has stalled a little lately.
Wright looks promising although a bit hot and cold, which happens with that type of player when young.
Burrell was snapped up by a Championship club.
Pollock has established himself as a first choice centre back.

I'd say it's pretty good for a team at this level, and 5 of the above were before the new financial problems and salary cap were around.

Neil woods (and the youth coaches)  have worked wonders and deserve every single bit of credit they are due. It just shows his strength of character, coming back from having to manage that bunch of pi5s taking bell ends that stole a living from the club. Long may it continue and am sure IH recognises the work that is being done 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼