Wilder's comments on the kids

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BoroPhil

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Chris Wilder admits it's unlikely that his Middlesbrough squad will feature any academy breakthrough stars this summer, despite using a few throughout the summer so far. Six academy players have been used in their two pre-season friendlies, with work still to be done to strengthen the quality and depth of his squad.

Bryant Bilongo, Daniel Dodds, Hayden Hackney, Joe Gibson, Cal Kavanagh and Sonny Finch have all had bright moments in the two wins over Bishop Auckland and York City respectively. Kavanagh and Finch even netted goals in the 3-2 victory over York City on Friday evening.

And while the door is not completely shut on any of the above following in the footsteps of Isaiah Jones after his remarkable first-team emergence last summer, the highly ambitious Boro boss admits it's unlikely that any of six young boys will be part of the squad on the opening day of the league campaign.
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The Boro boss said: “Listen, let’s be right about this, this is top end Championship we’re looking to play. This is not being disrespectful to the young boys. They’ve done great against Bishop Auckland and York. But they’ve got to carve out a career. Would I expect them to be in the squad for the first game of the season? No.

"You never know, but I think there is still a lot of work to be done with them and a lot of development for them. The one good thing is that this club will always develop good young footballers, but when we want to be at the top of that division, and you look at how strong that division is, we’re going to need players who know how to win at the top end of the Championship."
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I would never completely close the door on any of them. If one of them comes all the way through pre-season then I’d be daft not to. That has happened before. But I think there has to be an appreciation for the standard of opposition that we’re playing today, and that will obviously take a step up when we go out to Portugal.”
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www.gazettelive.co.uk

Boro youngsters involved in pre-season and their breakthrough chances

Middlesbrough's squad has been propped up by some academy players so far this summer
www.gazettelive.co.uk www.gazettelive.co.uk

I'm a bit disappointed with this really - whilst I wouldn't necessarily want any of them starting I'd hope some of them would be in and around the squad this season.
The article calls them 'young boys'. Gibson is 21 in September. Dodds is 22 in January. They both signed new contracts in the summer, so if not now, when?
 
He might just not rate them, not every player in our academy will be up to scratch.
He had no problem giving players debuts at previous clubs.

He gave David Brooks his debut at 19, Aaron Ramsdale his debut at 18, etc.
 
I think it's a bit naive to suggest none of them will be in the squad the first game of the season, especially when we still need to bring in several more players.

Aren't there 9 subs on the bench this season as well? Kav and Bilongo will be in the first squad I reckon.
 
No issue with them comments. If your good enough your old enough. I have high hopes for Bilongo and would be keen to see him go out on loan to a club who plays 3 at the back and will play him left sided centre back. The likes of Dodds and Gibson may never make it in our first team but I’m sure the experience is good for them and they need to go out on loans too ideally
 
TheYorkshireTerrier said:
I think it's a bit naive to suggest none of them will be in the squad the first game of the season, especially when we still need to bring in several more players.

Aren't there 9 subs on the bench this season as well? Kav and Bilongo will be in the first squad I reckon.
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Still just 7 subs on the bench.

They've just increased the number of substitutions you can make.
 
TheYorkshireTerrier said:
I think it's a bit naive to suggest none of them will be in the squad the first game of the season, especially when we still need to bring in several more players.

Aren't there 9 subs on the bench this season as well? Kav and Bilongo will be in the first squad I reckon.
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I would say those 2 have the most chance
 
I'd assume that's what he means isn't it Phil? Not expecting them in the squad on day 1 because we need experienced hands on the deck to get where we need to be but as and when opportunities arise peope may get used if they're rising to the occasions
 
He's aiming high with signings, hence the comments. If Wilder signs who he wants, then I think it is safe to assume that none of the kids will be any more than fringe players. Its unusual to hear someone say that, but to be honest unless someone breaks through like Jones, then despite the fact that everyone loves it when a homegrown player does well, what Wilder says is spot on.
 
wilder is also sending a message to steve gibson and co - if you want to be top end of this division "i need some new experienced players in, soonish!"

if that dont happen come next easter he can say "i did raise the matter last july"

it will also act as a motivator for some of the young kids to prove him wrong, he has also left that door wide open for them.
 
I thought the same as the OP TBH; I was a bit disappointed by those comments as I hoped one or two would be pushing through this season. It sort of goes against what he was saying when he was appointed as well, when he talked of the club's history of producing its own players and how he'd be creating a pathway for them over the next however many years.

I suppose most managers say the same sort of stuff TBF. I'm sure he'll bring one through if he thinks they're good enough but my biggest issue with this is that signings will be made who won't contribute much to the cause. The general wastage is mad really. Like when Warnock went mad and got Mendez-Laing, Bolasie and Kebano only for Coburn to outshine them all.

It's up to those young lads to show him they're good enough though.
 
I’ve no issue with those comments. He’ll not want to big any of them up too much too soon and will want experience as first choice but I bet he won’t be afraid to use them if they do impress enough. It’s just a sensible approach.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
I suppose most managers say the same sort of stuff TBF. I'm sure he'll bring one through if he thinks they're good enough but my biggest issue with this is that signings will be made who won't contribute much to the cause. The general wastage is mad really. Like when Warnock went mad and got Mendez-Laing, Bolasie and Kebano only for Coburn to outshine them all.

It's up to those young lads to show him they're good enough though.
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Did he?
Coburn played 49 minutes of football in that season.

He scored a cracking header in one of his 4 sub appearances, but he certainly didn't outshine them. Bolasie scored in that same game.

Not that any of those 3 signings ripped up trees here.
 
We always want Academy lads to break through, but surely only if they are good enough (rather than old enough)?
Our academy breeds some good players, but few appear good enough to play first team for Boro.
We have had more success with raiding the London academy cast offs (Spence, Jones) than with our true academy output.
Wilder is not here to sort the academy, Scott is.
Wilder is here to get the first team to the PL and keep it there. He is right to be ruthless and I am glad he is.
 
TeaCider said:
Did he?
Coburn played 49 minutes of football in that season.

He scored a cracking header in one of his 4 sub appearances, but he certainly didn't outshine them. Bolasie scored in that same game.

Not that any of those 3 signings ripped up trees here.
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I mean in the sense that he came through and made an impact whereas the others didn't deliver much at all.

He was nowhere near the team in the January but finished the season involved and gave us a bit of hope, as opposed to the signings who disappointed and were never going to be coming back that summer. In fact I think those three signings were so poor that it contributed to Warnock getting the sack TBH.
 
TeaCider said:
Did he?
Coburn played 49 minutes of football in that season.

He scored a cracking header in one of his 4 sub appearances, but he certainly didn't outshine them. Bolasie scored in that same game.

Not that any of those 3 signings ripped up trees here.
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That said, I've just checked the stats on whoscored.com and Coburn didn't outshine them in terms of goals and assists so I apologise for overstating Coburn's contribution.
 
UgoAfro said:
Good job we didn't take that attitude with Jones last pre-season.
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I'm fairly sure Ameobi's immediate injury is the reason Jones got a chance.

He was saying in that recent podcast that he was still expecting to be loaned out to a lower league club at the start of last season, but a spot opened up on the bench for him and the rest is history.

Assuming everyone is fit, and the excluded players leave, we currently have 17 first team players (if you count Boyd-Munce), that's before any further incomings.

The matchday squad is only 18 players.

We'll be wanting at least 3 strikers, a keeper and 1 defender to add to that, so that's already 22 players to make an 18 man squad before accounting for academy players.
 
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Don't feel too worried about that, he is just being honest there. He isn't ruling them out completely, just saying they will have a lot to do in pre season to make him think he can rely on them to produce from the first game, in place of a more proven champ player.
 
TeaCider said:
He might just not rate them, not every player in our academy will be up to scratch.
He had no problem giving players debuts at previous clubs.

He gave David Brooks his debut at 19, Aaron Ramsdale his debut at 18, etc.
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I think was a big issue in the past where all academy players were hailed as being of the same calibre when in reality most were barely conference standard.

Kennedy
Ormerod
Williams ( Luke)
Etc

Not all our academy players will be up to it.
 
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