06 Dec 2020 19:19:41
Does anyone think Louie Barry should be involved in squad because surely he's better than elghazi, and can finish better than trez, he could save us millions everyone knows his talent it's time we unleashed him.
06 Dec 2020 19:48:28
Looks a bit lightweight to me, think a loan next season and then he should be ready for first team.
06 Dec 2020 19:51:00
Yes JH, I think we should be blooding players like Barry.
I don`t think he is ready for any lengthy game time yet, but I think he should be given some taster minutes.
06 Dec 2020 19:55:12
He's still only 16 and has no professional experience. Make sure he can do it consistently for the 23s this year and get him a loan or cup games next season.
If we give him time like we did Jack then he'll be the real deal, let's not ruin him before he's ready just because the current options aren't world class.
06 Dec 2020 20:15:39
17 actually rk, Rooney wasn’t held back at that age, that turned out ok I seem to remember. The thing is you don’t know until you try, and I agree he should be on the bench and given 10 or 15 minutes cameos, just to see what he can do, and begin his integration into the first team squad.
I watched the under 23’s against Stoke recently and none other than Ryan Shawcross was marking Barry. With Shawcross’s hard man reputation, that would be a daunting prospect for any striker. Apart from the aerial duels, Barry’s sharpness got the better of Shawcross, and he went on to score in that game. I believe he scored 2 more in the following game. I say give him his chance.
06 Dec 2020 20:53:59
Well said mark, very good point, neither was Sessagnon, Wilshire, Lennon, the list goes on.
06 Dec 2020 20:58:58
Rooney had the body of a man at 16 though Mark, for me Barry looks very lightweight - Agree RK, Jack should be the template, a loan to League 1 for a season and some improved strength and conditioning and we have be the real deal.
06 Dec 2020 21:17:28
Can't compare to Rooney when he wouldn't be playing centre forward, there's a lot more to playing the wide role.
If we are going to compare to Rooney though, his record at Everton was 1 in 4. Trez is currently 1 in 6 while playing out wide so while we're frustrated at his misses, his return is decent.
Everton had a well organised experienced squad around Rooney which we don't. Let's encourage promising youngsters and give them opportunities in the right environment at the right time.
Cup and late season if comfortable mid-table with not much to play for for me. If Watkins gets injured and Wesley isn't ready then maybe have to try.
06 Dec 2020 21:24:10
Giggs, Owen, Foden, all lightweight, all 17 when they made their debuts.
06 Dec 2020 21:24:58
We got rid of Alan Clarke of Leeds fame, because he was too small, and lightweight.
06 Dec 2020 21:44:25
In reference to playing Barry now, all of the players listed suffered burn out and lacked longevity past their mid 20s except for Rooney. I'm sure if the coaching team thought he was ready for the 1st team then he'd play.
06 Dec 2020 22:04:13
Anybody remember Mercers minors?
Late 50's and we had a lot of kids.
Hazeldene, Tindall, Deakin and others.
06 Dec 2020 22:15:03
That’s going back too far for me ToV, but I remember Busby’s babes and Fergies fledglings, they didn’t do so bad did they?
06 Dec 2020 22:37:19
I agree BK and RK, seen quite a bit of him since he’s joined, he doesn’t quite set things alight the way a Rooney or Owen did when they were his age.
Not to say he won’t go on to make it, but no need to force it and potentially ruin him. Let nature run it’s course. As they say in boxing, he still needs to get his man strength.
07 Dec 2020 06:22:44
I also think an important point to remember is that the reserve matches 20 years ago had less restrictions so Rooney was playing against more pro players.
U23 now will usually only have a maximum of 1 experienced player who is returning from injury and therefore not match fit.
07 Dec 2020 11:55:54
I just think we need to manage him, we throw him in now and he doesn't perform that could have a long term effect - Let him continue to bang in goals for the under 23s, send him on loan next season and then when he is 19/ 20 he should be ready for the first team. I wouldn't rush him, or any of our talented youngsters, we are in a very fortunate position where we have some great potential at under age, we need to manage them in a mature fashion.
07 Dec 2020 12:16:00
Bang on BK.
07 Dec 2020 15:43:08
If its mature fashion we need to treat Barry with then keep him away from Jack.
07 Dec 2020 20:49:33
Jack does seem to have a worrying lack of maturity Moose - Really needs to get his act together.