U21 Loan Watch

[Iron Duke]

I don’t know about you, but I love it when a player makes it through the ranks to become a first team regular. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen often these days. This is a shame because giving young players a chance is an area where we could have an edge over the traditional top 6.

The current crop give me some cause for optimism, having won the FA Youth Cup and U18 League South a couple of seasons back. Maybe two or three can make it. No fewer than eight U21 players have gone out on a season loan to lower league clubs. Meanwhile, Casey, Scarles and Orford remain at the club. Hopefully, they will get a few minutes on the pitch, but I’m not holding my breath. Mubama had a few chances last season but mostly disappointed with his lack of technique. Inexplicably, he has now joined Man City to give Haaland competition.

So, to the eight who are currently out on loan. How are they getting on?

1. Callum Marshall - Huddersfield (League One). After a disappointing loan spell at West Brom last season, Marshall has dropped down to League One. So far, he has done quite well and already found the net. Yesterday, he played for 67 minutes before being replaced.

2. George Earthy - Bristol City (Championship). A lot of great things expected of Earthy. He didn’t make the squad yesterday. Is he injured?

3. Michael Forbes - Bristol Rovers (League One). Did not make the squad.

4. Freddie Potts - Portsmouth (Championship). Player of the season at Wycombe last year, but unused sub yesterday.

5. Krisztian Hegyi - Motherwell (Scottish Premier). Unused sub.

6. Patrick Kelly - Doncaster (League Two). Came on in the 78th minute.

7. Levi Laing - Cheltenham (League Two). Unused sub.

8. Gideon Kodua - Wycombe (League One). Came on in the 88th minute.

I make that 81 minutes of football between 8 players yesterday. Early days but a bit worrying. I’ll keep this updated throughout the season (if I can be bothered).

[Iron Duke]

A bit of joy for our boys in the international front.

Orford got the winner for England U19s in a 2-1 win v Bulgaria. Casey kept a clean sheet in England U20s 4-0 thrashing of Germany. While Earthy played 20-odd minutes as a substitute as he made his England U21s debut in a 0-0 draw at Spain.

[Iron Duke]

Wins for Earthy and Potts.

Marshall played the first half in Huddersfield’s 2-2 draw.

Forbes came off the bench for Bristol Rovers - his first appearance in quite a while. Must have been injured.

Kelly played 90 minutes again for Doncaster in their 1-1 draw at home to Notts County.

[Fauxstralian]

Earthy & Potts start
Bristol City 1-0 up at Norwich 
Portsmouth 2-0 up v Preston

[Fauxstralian]

Good start
u18’s win 3-1 at top of the table Aston Villa
Sowunmi hat-trick … 2 pens

[Iron Duke]

Earthy started at right midfield, but had to fill in at right back from 6 minutes in. I caught about 30 minutes of the second half, but from what I saw he looked very assured in an unfamiliar position. I hope he isn’t back on the bench next game.

Portsmouth losing 1-0 at Plymouth. Still rock bottom.

U21s very disappointing again.

[Fauxstralian]

Earthy subbed on 80
Concede on 86
Red card on 95
Concede again on 98
Bristol City 1 Sheff Utd 2

[onsideman]

What has happened to the U21s?
Braintree, never heard of them.


 

Yep, something gone very wrong

[onsideman]

Earthy subbed after 80mins
Bristol City leading Sheff Utd 1-0

it all went to shit after he went off

[Mex Martillo]

What has happened to the U21s?
Braintree, never heard of them.

[Fauxstralian]

Earthy subbed after 80mins
Bristol City leading Sheff Utd 1-0

[Iron Duke]

Earthy starts for the first time, but it looks like he is having to fill in at right back after an early injury. From what I’ve seen, he’s done really well.

[Massive Attack]

That Scarles is gonna be some player. He always looks quality whenever I watch him play at any level. Only a matter of time before he breaks through regularly in to the senior Squad, maybe next season if not this.

[Takashi Miike]

Live now....

[onsideman]

Earthy's first start tonight. Go on George, son

[Iron Duke]

Nice to see Kelly and Kodua on the scoresheet. Shame about Earthy - looks like he picked the wrong club and manager to go to. Maybe things will improve for him - we’ll see.

Marshall also played in the cup last night, but with less fortune. He came on at half time with Huddersfield trailing non-league Tamworth 1-0. He was unable to rescue the tie and the Terriers went out. If he ever does make it with us, at least he will be used to going out to lower league teams on the TV.

[Fauxstralian]

George Earthy unused sub again in Bristol C win at Preston
Freddie Potts another 90min in Portsmouth draw at Hull

In the FA Cup
H/t sub Patrick Kelly scores Doncaster’s late winner at Barrow
Kodua scores in Wycombe’s 3-2 win over York City

[Sir Alf]

The concensus from a couple of Pompey fan sites I looked at a short while back is indeed that Potts is just a bit lightweight but seen as a starter by everyone along with a player called Lang.  They talk about their midfield being over run ( hmmm sounds familiar ) but the need for more pace and physicality arpund Potts as he’s seen as the one who can “pull the strings” in the middle for them.

Need to watch a few games to judge of course but he doesnt sound out of place in the championship. But thats why he’s there. To learn and develop the physicality at that level.  One of the few benefits of playing in a struggling side is that, assuming you can maintain a positive attitude, it will be a side where you have to put in the work rate and learn how to battle as every point counts for survival

[Massive Attack]

Was Potts actually that bad? The consensus seems to be that he is a good footballer but lightweight. I don’t think it’s his fault that Pompey are so bad. At least he’s getting game time. Just needs to toughen up.

No. Amongst a sea of shit that surrounds his newly promoted side, he's actually been 1 of their brighter players in it. They lost their first 2 games he hadn't played for them. Once regularly starting he then helped them to draw 2 and win the last game away at QPR whilst also scoring.

Now played in 4 aways, 2 home games. First two games he played against were recently relegated 3rd place Burnley and 4th Sheffield Utd more than holding his own for his age and having only just rocked up. 

Like Earthy and Marshall, they're all showing plenty of promise. 

[Fauxstralian]

How did you manage to watch the Portsmouth game Mad Ferret?
On a stream, tv or live in the stadium?

[Iron Duke]

Was Potts actually that bad? The consensus seems to be that he is a good footballer but lightweight. I don’t think it’s his fault that Pompey are so bad. At least he’s getting game time. Just needs to toughen up.

[Mad Ferret]

Potts with another stinker of a performance tonight.

Pompey must be proper shit if they keep having to start him.

[Fauxstralian]

So …. Earthy can do it on a Tuesday night at Stoke?

Personally would have kept him & Freddie Potts with us to liven up our moribund midfield 

[twoleftfeet]

Bristol City 2-0 down at half time, Earthy comes on and now 2-2 within 7 minutes.

Goal for Kadua as well.

[Iron Duke]

Some news to cheer us up.

Freddie Potts was on the scoresheet as Portsmouth moved off the bottom with a win at QPR.

Callum Marshall also scored for Huddersfield in a 3-1 win at home to Bristol Rovers.

George Earthy came on for the last 20 minutes for Bristol City in their 2-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Kelly played for Doncaster, while Laing and Kodua came on as subs.

 

[Django]

Earthy got a total of 14 minutes game time, including time added on. Did he do anything worthy of note, Django?

Incidentally, the Cardiff manager is Omer Riza. Does anyone remember him?

No not really. He had a few touches but didn’t make an impact. He played out on the left, he’d be better in the middle or coming in off right imo. Hopefully he starts getting more game time as they are definitely lacking in creativity at the mo, but manager seems to prefer Scott twine and max bird in the no 10 role.