Steve Evans":1wh0jbiu said:
i see no point in a youth system if our young players don't get a proper chance.not just a few sub appearances when the game is up.'tis worth noting that alex scored against fleetwood when he came off the bench.he and any other outfield player can only score against league one players if they are selected!i would play alex up front alongside either freddie or ryan for the remainder of this season.
The point of a youth system is obviously to develop your own talent, but there are many things that can get in the way of a young man's professional development - either physical, skill based or indeed societal distractions which are a normal part of most people's early years (even worse today perhaps). So in the end you are really looking for one or two that develop the right attributes as a player as well as he right attitude. In other words it's not just about ability and events such as the 'Class of '92' are an absolute rarity.
I'm not suggesting any individual at Argyle lacks attitude - I really have no idea. But if you ask professional coaches they will talk about that aspect being as important as anything else (if not more so).
As for our youth system, it has to be said that those who have broken through in the last 5 years have not made the grade. In anyone's eyes - other than those supporting youth to the detriment of anything else - it could be seen they lacked in either ability, stature or fitness. None of the three principle breakthroughs in that time has gone on to be successful elsewhere - certainly not at an equivalent or higher level, so you have to conclude the club was right.
i do think Fletcher has something about him and would like to see him get some game time - especially with the improved strength/ stature that some have mentioned as I felt that was his weakness. But I suggest he's in the wrong place - DA will not be playing 2 strikers any time soon and Fletcher is not a lone striker. Personally I think he should have gone out on loan to a League 2 club/upper Conference because he won't get sufficiently tested where he is. That would allow him to get a better level of football, prove himself (or otherwise) and for him to bide his time - after all who knows what the managerial situation will be later in the season and should he start banging the goals in in League Two, even DA may have to take notice.