Slough Town Youth V Reading Youth RESULT

[chris sliski]

The Youth Team move into 2nd place in the ACYFL premier division tonight ! tues 22nd March 2011

 

after winning 5 - 2 at home to Reading Town Youth.

 

full match report soon on www.sloughtownfc.net

 

cheers chris s

[Chris]

Out of interest did Tony Mendy score tonight?

[Mr Rebel]

Mendy got 3 of them from probably 4 chances. Slough were under pressure much of the match but were simply a class above in terms of finishing

[chris sliski]

Thanks to those who attended the Youth game last night ...

 

appreciated.... Chris S

[Chris]

Bit suprised that Mendy was not involved with the first team last night considering Ben Abbey was not on the bench

[Ian]

Bit suprised that Mendy was not involved with the first team last night considering Ben Abbey was not on the bench

 

 

Can I ask, what is the purpose of the youth team we have at Slough? I can think of two reasons to have a youth setup within the club - firstly to promote the club at all ages in the community and second, to act as a progressive stepping stone for players to get to the first team.

 

With this in mind why is Tony Mendy not getting opportunities? I think I recall something a while ago about his availabllity on Saturday's but as Chris has said, he's not even getting chances on the midweek games. If we're not going to give players who are ready the chances, is there much point in having it? This question is not meant to detract from the excellent work that Tony has done with the youngsters. It's more a question over the long term strategy behind feeding the first team.

 

I don't think Mo got sufficient opportunities but when he did he made a real impact. I can see Tony disappearing off and playing for another local club where he'll get the chances to play.

[Tom]

I think it is particularly hard for any manager to take a risk on youth when there isn't a reserve side to give them the stepping stone between Youth and Senior football, which is massive.

 

I don't think Bateman is averse to playing youth (Mo and Kyle Jeffrey prove that) but there is more to it. Availability is a major factor most U18s have college during the week and a part time job at the weekend where they would earn more than playing football. Some of them have difficulties getting to games as not all of them drive and on top of that some of them just want to play with their friends and not play Senior football.

[Ian]

I think it is particularly hard for any manager to take a risk on youth when there isn't a reserve side to give them the stepping stone between Youth and Senior football, which is massive.

 

I don't think Bateman is averse to playing youth (Mo and Kyle Jeffrey prove that) but there is more to it. Availability is a major factor most U18s have college during the week and a part time job at the weekend where they would earn more than playing football. Some of them have difficulties getting to games as not all of them drive and on top of that some of them just want to play with their friends and not play Senior football.

 

I can understand that for many players at that level the step up is a big one and the lack of a reserve side hinders their progress in that respect. Mo was clearly ready however and it's clear that Tony Mendy is too good for the level he's playing at with the youth side.

 

Not sure about Mr Bateman's willingness to play youngsters though. Kyle Jeffrey only played 13 times and 2 of those were B&B Cup games. Mo managed to rack up 25 appearances but there was a 4 month gap in that season where he wasn't picked at all. I'd like to see local lads like Tony Mendy play for Slough but can't really recall anything other than established players being given opportunities in the first team.

[Tom]

That's the issue though - play established players or take the risk with youth.

 

At this stage of the season should a manager in contention for the play-offs or battling relegation take the risk on a youth player who although is good enough for Youth football might not be able to make the jump to Senior level. You play him or stick him on as a sub and he isn't good enough or costs you a game. That won't help his development at all, conversely you won't know if he is good enough until given a go. That risk is massively heightened when they haven't played any sort of Senior football.

 

I believe Mendy had his chance earlier on in the season (and in pre-season) and if the rumours are true he didn't take them for one reason or another, hence why there were a few games where the bench was short or filled by John Lawford. If that's the case why should Bateman take the risk again when he could fill the bench with someone who is more dedicated (and proven) at this stage of the season. Mo showed his dedication and look where that has got him now.

 

I also firmly believe without the club having some sort of reserve side the Youth team is just creating players with no benefit to the playing side, I know the U21's league is trying to fill that void but it isn't the same.

 

Perhaps the answer is partner with sides in lower leagues and loan out players on the verge on Senior football to give them that experience?

[Martin]

I completely agree Ian. We need to give mendy a chance or at least get him involved in more first team squads. I am sure he wants to play football at the highest level he can. The loss of Mo was a big disappointment and as alluring as the deal was with qpr you have to wonder what might have happened if he had been playing week in week out for the first team. Don't want to see Mendy slip through our fingers too.

 

That said having a youth set up now stands us in good stead if we get our own ground. We will then be able to plug the gap with a reserve side and hopefully have more age group level sides.

[Ian]

I also firmly believe without the club having some sort of reserve side the Youth team is just creating players with no benefit to the playing side, I know the U21's league is trying to fill that void but it isn't the same.

 

Perhaps the answer is partner with sides in lower leagues and loan out players on the verge on Senior football to give them that experience?

 

 

Yes, and that's exactly my point. As it stands the youth setup offers little benefit to us from a playing perspective. I still think it's a good thing from a community point of view. There needs to be some way of bridging the gap, whether that's a reserve side which I believe is expensive or, as you suggest, getting players to play at a slightly lower but more senior level.

[Chris]

I'm suprised we don't try and build a local relationship with someone like Holyport and send a few youngsters their way for some first-team experience at various stages throughout the season. Would benefit both sides as we clearly have some talented youngsters (you only have to look at their results the last 2 seasons) and would give them good experience at a decent level before coming back to us, plus at Holyport they are an excellent club and we have a good contact there in Derek Sweetman.

 

Just throwing another idea out there - how much does it cost to run a capital league side (have no idea)? I know Holloways park could not probably take another team playing on it, but could we not speak to someone, again like Holyport about playing Capital league games there which are normall Weds night? When we were at Windsor we were getting between 50-100 people for Capital league games. That's probably more than Holyport get for first-team games and if they have a bar it would certainally benefit them with those numbers?

Edited March 26, 2011 by Chris

[chris sliski]

Hi ..Thanks and appreciated the above comments...re our youth squad...

 

lots of things that don't help us ..is that this year the youth ream are only allowed to train on tuesday nights at the polish association

due to the request of the association...so the first team and youth dont get together much ...this season Tony Mendy also plays for

real Milan (slough) team ...so he plays a lot of football... even though he is signed on Southern league forms...we as a club can not

put him on a contract while he is at collage full time ! This I am sure would engage Tony a Little bit more ! He is a typical young lad

who needs extra attention to be focussed and encouraged, the youth team management can only do so much..

This coming week Tony, is needed badly by the youth team in its drive to win the next few matches ...giving Slough a great chance

of winning the ACYFL .... away to Oxford city on Monday with a crunch match on Wednesday away at Wealdstone 1st versus 2nd !

 

Also in the mean time Tony has been picked to represent Slough in the Berks and Bucks under 18's team...and has played 3 matches for them

this season and these take place on Saturdays ...It really does not help that Tony is pulled all over the place and has to show some loyalty to

to those requests too...

 

a difficult and at times frustrating for all concerned ...

 

I personally hope if Tony does not get snapped up ...we can ensure he will have a contract and will be involved next season in his own right !

 

fingers crossed for some hope for STFC ... cheers chris s Personally