The Under-23s Thread

[teamsoutheast]

The likes of Olayinka, Cottrell, Swanson, Dinzeyi, Akinola, John Jules, George Lewis, NEED loans. They need to be playing regularly for a football league club otherwise they will just rot in U23's level football. It's concerning that when some of these guys go on loan they just aren't competing for a matcday squad place and getting into the first teams regularly enough. They have to AT LEAST be playing regaularly in the lower leagues to stand a chance of getting in the Arsenal first team.

 

[AbouCuéllar]

The likes of Olayinka, Cottrell, Swanson, Dinzeyi, Akinola, John Jules, George Lewis, NEED loans. They need to be playing regularly for a football league club otherwise they will just rot in U23's level football. It's concerning that when some of these guys go on loan they just aren't competing for a matcday squad place and getting into the first teams regularly enough. They have to AT LEAST be playing regaularly in the lower leagues to stand a chance of getting in the Arsenal first team.

The reality is John Jules is the only one of those players with more than longshot chances at a decent career (Championship or above. Maybe Akinola will end up making for a decent championship midfielder but doubt he'll ever play in a biggish league)

It's not really surprising that they are struggling at their loan clubs (minus John Jules, who I recall was doing pretty well when not injured at his loan club last season--not sure what has happened this). The players they are competing with are players as talented or maybe in some cases even more so than them and much more polished, to put it another way they are competing with the Olayinka, Cottrell, Swanson, Dinzeyi, Akinola, Lewis level talents of yesteryears who are polished pros unlike them.

 

[lomekian]

The reality is John Jules is the only one of those players with more than longshot chances at a decent career (Championship or above. Maybe Akinola will end up making for a decent championship midfielder but doubt he'll ever play in a biggish league)

It's not really surprising that they are struggling at their loan clubs (minus John Jules, who I recall was doing pretty well when not injured at his loan club last season--not sure what has happened this). The players they are competing with are players as talented or maybe in some cases even more so than them and much more polished, to put it another way they are competing with the Olayinka, Cottrell, Swanson, Dinzeyi, Akinola, Lewis level talents of yesteryears who are polished pros unlike them.

Would also say Olayinka has been REALLY unlucky with injuries on loan, and again recently. Everytime he finds some form he gets crocked

 

[MutableEarth]

Arsenal.com is showing the U23 game vs Chelsea tonight. 7PM kickoff. I'll have that on alongside the Man U game (Balogun might be in that game!).

 

[MutableEarth]

Poor start so far. Still 0-0 but we look jittery and ponderous.

 

[MutableEarth]

Chelsea lead. Deserved so far, they've not been very good but we've been utter bollocks so far. Real scrappy game. Azeez invisible on his return - needs to be deeper.

 

[MutableEarth]

Hutchinson with some great skill just now. Only player that's turned up for us so far.

 

[MutableEarth]

1-1. Zach Awe's first goal at this level. We've looked much better since we went behind. Still much improvement to be made.

 

[NieThePiet]

What a goal by Salah

 

[MutableEarth]

Great goal from Salah-Eddine. Been poor but he stepped up there.

 

[Arseshavin]

How tall is Zach Awe? Looks pretty lanky.

 

[MutableEarth]

How tall is Zach Awe? Looks pretty lanky.

6'4

 

[Arseshavin]

Hutchinson looks like a class above btw.

 

[MutableEarth]

Hutchinson looks like a class above btw.

Always is. Level's too easy for him.

 

[MutableEarth]

3-1. Another Omari Hutchinson worldie.

 

[NieThePiet]

Hutchinson isn't real

 

[Arseshavin]

This guy deserves sub appearances for the first team.

 

[MutableEarth]

Hutchinson isn't real

Really should have had a first team cameo by now. I wanted him to go on loan - U23 is way too easy for him.

 

[NieThePiet]

Really should have had a first team cameo by now. I wanted him to go on loan - U23 is way too easy for him.

Could happen already this season, with the thin squad we have.

But hopefully he will get the summer preseason with the first team. Really need this international competition to give some minutes to Hutchinson & Co - would have something positive at least, if we don't reach the CL.

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Really should have had a first team cameo by now. I wanted him to go on loan - U23 is way too easy for him.

We have to make a lot better decisions with him than we did with Nelson who IMO is a similar profile although Hutchinson has covered many more positions through his development but please no LWB with him!