Balu Makumbi

[SloughFlyer]

EDS Vice Captain, CB, signs with the first team until the end of next season. Was announced on the pitch on Saturday before the game and on the website now. Been dual reg with Norrhwood this year.

I wonder if we will see anything of him for the rest of this season and if he makes the actual squad or is loaned out again next season.

Brilliant to see yet another EDS graduate into the first team squad though, hopefully he is as good as is said in the PR and can help the first team next year.

[Nathan]

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Not wishing to be a doom-monger, but this seems like a big gamble on a EDS player who's only experience of senior football (not counting the B&B cup match) has been 7 appearances (most recently on 18th January) for a Step 4 side who currently sit 2nd from bottom.

[GlenSTFC]

12 minutes ago, Nathan said:

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Not wishing to be a doom-monger, but this seems like a big gamble on a EDS player who's only experience of senior football (not counting the B&B cup match) has been 7 appearances (most recently on 18th January) for a Step 4 side who currently sit 2nd from bottom.

But how does any young player gain experience if not given the opportunity? He’s likely to get some further first team opportunities once we’re safe. He’ll no doubt be loaned out next season initially to see how he fares. 

Edited 16 hours ago by GlenSTFC

[Nathan]

20 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

He’s likely to get some further first team opportunities once we’re safe.

That's the intention according to Scott's interview.

Maybe I've jumped the gun and assumed that if a player gets a contract, then there's some imminent prospect of them becoming a first-team player. I'm just a bit perplexed as to why he hasn't appeared for Northwood at all for the past 9 games?

And I'd like to correct my previous statement (before somebody else does): he's actually made 13 league appearances for Northwood and not 7; I blame the contradictory information on their website (see here and here)!

[Curtis]

He’s 19 years old & has already been playing at Step 4, so in my opinion if he continues his development there is a good possibility he will be playing regular Step 2 football in two to three seasons.

So, I am very pleased we have put him on contract & another club hasn’t. This signing, and the development and signing of other similar age talented players on contract is planning for the future of our club.

[Reading Rebel]

It's a win win situation.

Putting the best of the EDS players on a contract safeguards us in the event of them being poached by bigger clubs without us having the liability of having to pay their wages.

 

[Reading Rebel]

16 hours ago, Nathan said:

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Not wishing to be a doom-monger, but this seems like a big gamble on a EDS player who's only experience of senior football (not counting the B&B cup match) has been 7 appearances (most recently on 18th January) for a Step 4 side who currently sit 2nd from bottom.

Why is it a gamble?

These players are full time students at A23 so the cost to us is nothing.