Anyone think that Boro are too cautious nowadays about playing our young academy players?
We seem to have fewer coming through into the first team than we used to, but when they do the success-rate is arguably higher than for players the club has bought in.
I cant think of many who were given a run of games and ended up not being up to it - Coulson, ??? More players who have been given the chance have ended up being first-team fixtures - eg Hackney, Fry. Are we missing out by being too risk-averse with them?
It's certainly a long way from the club that put out a team of 10 academy players (+ Malcom Christie) under McClaren in the Premier League against Fulham at the end of the 2005/6 season before the UEFA cup final.
We seem to have fewer coming through into the first team than we used to, but when they do the success-rate is arguably higher than for players the club has bought in.
I cant think of many who were given a run of games and ended up not being up to it - Coulson, ??? More players who have been given the chance have ended up being first-team fixtures - eg Hackney, Fry. Are we missing out by being too risk-averse with them?
It's certainly a long way from the club that put out a team of 10 academy players (+ Malcom Christie) under McClaren in the Premier League against Fulham at the end of the 2005/6 season before the UEFA cup final.