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Yes, but he's 18 years old. Just because he's played a season at U23 level doesn't mean he's ready to START first team games, especially in the Premier League, that's ridiculous. What he needs at that age is game time. He isn't going to get that with Wanyama, Dier, Winks, Dembele, Dele, Eriksen and Sissoko etc. all in front of him (Who have all played central midfield this season) and I wouldn't expect him to. All those mentioned are international footballers who all have 100+ senior mens appearances to their name, nor did ANY of them start Premier League games consistently at 18 years old (With the exception of Dele who we signed for £5,000,000).
He SHOULD get game time against West Ham. He'll likely be in the team with NKoudou, KWP, Foyth and other players who will barely start any more than 3 games this season due to the fixture being 2 days after Man City - I also hope we get a lower league team in the FA Cup 3rd round so he can play a part.
Last thing I'm suggesting is to start in front of that lot unless we have a ridiculous amount of injuries. I think he could benefit from a loan where he's playing hardened pros in Champ or League 1. He has good control and can find the best pass very quickly, so I don't think he'd be out of his depth.
I doubt no one seeing as all away fans are having to collect their tickets for tonights game in person +3hrs before the game. The queue is apparently over almost 2hrs long, with only 2 PSV staff members dealing with handing out over 3k tickets!!! Farce.
I would confidently guess none
They should have read How to win friends and influence people. Instead of How to be twats and annoy football fans unnecessarily and then complain when there's trouble
This line about chances if good enough just doesn't really wash any more, does it? It's like a different criteria of wonderfulness seems to have to apply to academy players than some of the dross that teams buy. Plenty of kids are good enough to be getting more minutes than they are getting, more small chances than they are getting. It's like a catch 22, players need game time to prove they are ready and can fulfil some kind of remit, but if they don't get it, people still say they aren't ready. I can't really remember the last time I saw a very promising academy player let their team down badly (or any worse than senior players). We seem happy to tolerate purchases making mistake after mistake, or at least being far from perfect, but won't countenance the possibility of a kid making a mistake on first team duty - that would apparently be a catastrophe? Was Sancho really not ready to get minutes, even for a team as good as City ? Was he 70m less use than Mahrez will be to them?
It's like the job we ask Dier or Sissoko to do requires the tactical genius that is way beyond Amos, Marsh or Skipp. These kids have been coached by the same coach on the same pitch, playing with the same players. If they haven't got the savvy of Sissoko, they may as well quit now.
With regards to Skipp - or any academy player - I think if he's just training with the first team and not getting to play any U23/U19 games at all and not getting on the first team bench (a bit like KWP for a year or two) that isn't great. But I think it's a slightly different issue if he's actually making the first team bench because not only will he feel like he is progressing and getting "nearer" but there is actually a small chance that he will get some first team minutes, and that could be absolutely massive in his development and ultimate integration. If he does come on for 10-20 minutes (even 30) and actually doesn't look out of place - he's effectively taken a giant step toward the next stage of integration.
The ideal is training with the first team, getting bench time with a few sub minutes here and there, whilst also paying the odd full u23 and u19 game to keep up match fitness levels etc isn't it ?
They (excluding Berchiche) came later on, around 6+ years later, so in youth terms, almost another era.
Unfortunately didn't catch any of it, but Onomah played full 90 for ShefWed on Tuesday, and I know this is just a collection of stat algorithms, but he received whoscored's top rating for SheffW (7.6) which is pretty hard to do when you don't score or assist etc. 64 passes, 90%, 2 key passes. Again, hard to judge just on umbers, but they at least suggest he was heavily involved. Although they lost they had 63% possession, so sounds a bit like a they were a bit unlucky, maybe? If anyone comes across a link let us know, wouldn't mind watching it.
From some Sheff Wed fans:
Apparently he put in a very good ball at one point though and their player missed from 6 yards out - so could have had an assist.
I’m guessing those ratings are going to be heavily coloured by the fact that they lost 3-0.
He also started brightly for Villa then faded. I honestly don’t see the PL player there
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