Sorry I forgot he wasn’t a first year pro .Apart from Pond.
Yikes! I was just about to ask what had happened to the second year scholars/U18s.Just seen that none of the 2nd year academy lads have been offered
a pro contract,can’t remember the last time that’s happened.
That includes Archie‘s twin brothers .
H did OK at Vale but nothing more than that, it wasn't a great performance by us. Not being critical, just saying I didn't watch him in that game and think "we must sign him, what a player", I watched him and thought "he did OK and it's a decent point".Yeh and Vale away
Being in L1 raises the bar for the academy, and almost inevitably, fewer players will make it. Listening to the MT interview however it sounds like a couple of them were very unlucky, as they were released as their pathways were blocked by existing youngsters (Cox and Diabate).Yikes! I was just about to ask what had happened to the second year scholars/U18s.
Bit surprised re Eli Collins who I thought looked useful. However it shows how tough it is and how much pruning goes on at each step. City have released quite a few after one year as a pro recently (like Louis Morison last year and Veale + Johnson this year). Perhaps have decided to be a bit more ruthless at first pro contract stage.
As mentioned the one player from the U18 age group retained is Pond, but IIRC he had a pro contract already.
Does that have to be the case? Argyle have beefed up theirs and they are established L1 these days.Being in L1 raises the bar for the academy, and almost inevitably, fewer players will make it. Listening to the MT interview however it sounds like a couple of them were very unlucky, as they were released as their pathways were blocked by existing youngsters (Cox and Diabate).
I've seen him in a few of the cup games and would have agreed with your assessment. But, buoyed perhaps by his first league start, he looked different gravy in that Stevenage game.H did OK at Vale but nothing more than that, it wasn't a great performance by us. Not being critical, just saying I didn't watch him in that game and think "we must sign him, what a player", I watched him and thought "he did OK and it's a decent point".