I genuinely don't get when people slate our younger players?! We have Steve Bruce and the Steve's coaching them. With no tactics. Just ****ing stop it We saw potential under Rafa. Leave him alone until after 6 months of a different manager
Agree on this point. One player can make a really big difference and make the others around them come alive. Longstaff could turn out to be much better than we are seeing at the moment. Comes down to years of no particular recruitment strategy.
That is time stamped as to being about 6 and a bit months ago. Things can change in that time. I still think he's **** but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt until we've had half a season under a new manager
This is very true of the U23 level. The two lads who train where I do, one released by Sunderland in the summer and one in the current NUFC first team squad, are both scathing of U23 football. They say its a crap standard, the fitness levels and standard of coaching is terrible. They said its a known fact across all young players in the 23's at any club, you need to get out on loan ASAP and avoid the 23's if you want to progress. It was obviously set up to improve reserve football, but it looks to have gone the exact same way. There are players choosing to be released rather than sign a new contract for U23 football. Feeling they have a better chance of making it by dropping right down to the likes of Gateshead or South Shields rather than wallow in the depths of the 23's. Doesn't seem to get spoken about.
Personally don’t see the point in u23. By that stage you should be knocking on the first team. U18 I get because your body is still developing. I personally think it should be U18, reserves and the first team. And in the football world at the age of 22/23 you should be coming to your prime. Your career spans 18-34 for most players at the top level. So at 22/23 your 1/4 into your professional career. Appreciate not everyone will agree with me.
I mean obviously I did have this bit of sport. He's not a Sunderland fan. I haven't seen him play. Cracking lad (bar murdering me when he did fill in training me). I think he turned down the contract they did offer because it was crap. I'm sure he has signed for South Shields but never managed to play. He has an injury of some sort. Anyway don't you know they are ganna win the Premier League within 5yrs man. Ganna breeze League One and the Championship is what my mackems mates are telling me. Its for real this time. The child who owns them has a vision. I can't remember the rest of their craic as I was laughing too much. At least I'm realistic about my club. We are ****e.
