Brad Young.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12367

According to the BBC, Man utd, Chelsea and Arsenal are showing an interest in the young Hartlepool keeper.

born toulouse · **Posted:** Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:47 am

He signed a professional contract didn't he? Does that mean we would get an actual fee as opoosed to compensation? If so, maybe we should stick him on Ebay with a decent reserve and then enjoy watching the bidding war

ptbap · **Posted:** Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:59 am

Paper talk innit. However, he's out on loan at Billingham Town and we've got a guy on non contract terms who doesn't want to commit to the club, how exactly does that work? Getting a bit tired of these highly rated youngsters who don't seem to be anywhere near our first team. The kid Rochdale sold (Luke Mathson), playing 20 odd games for them at 16 and sold on for a cool £1m, I don't buy the age thing.

born toulouse · **Posted:** Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:12 pm

Difficult one with a keeper in particular though. He's certainly tall and a strong lad for 17 but there are plenty of bulky forwards who would cause nightmares for him from corners and dead balls into the box. I'd agree with you on outfield players but I can see how sending to play at Billingham might gve him a chance to get experience and buid strength while he's out of the spotlight. Bit harder to avoid the spotlight after this specuation.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37482

There are exceptions, outfield players fair enough, but especially with goalkeepers it’s a bit early at 17.

Johnjo1 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:52 pm **Posts:** 1625

Dean Henderson played for Grimsby against Pools about 4yrs ago when he was only 18/19yrs old I have never seen a young goalkeeper with such confidence. He is now expected to be the next England keeper. Another at that time was Jack Grealish he played for Notts County at Pools he too was outstanding.

Yubep · **Joined:** Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:35 pm **Posts:** 25266

That is the exception rather than the rule, the majority of clubs dont put a 17 year old kid in goal, and for good reason. A few mistakes and it could shatter his confidence for good.

ptbap · **Posted:** Wed Feb 12, 2020 1:59 pm

I don't buy that, you could say that about any position on the pitch and at what age is ones confidence unshatterable? I mean, a bad experience at the M&S self service and I stay clear of it for weeks.

Johnjo1 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:52 pm **Posts:** 1625

There is a saying if your good enough your old enough. The reality is however many young players are good playing in their age group but find it tough when they play against men in competitive games.

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Johnjo1 wrote:

Dean Henderson played for Grimsby against Pools about 4yrs ago when he was only 18/19yrs old I have never seen a young goalkeeper with such confidence. He is now expected to be the next England keeper. Another at that time was Jack Grealish he played for Notts County at Pools he too was outstanding.

Not sure if he played at the Vic more than once but the time I saw him he was subbed off and had been utterley terrible.

Agreeing with others, 17 is too young for a keeper.

People will no doubt trot out the usual garbage of "If Man U want him then he must be good enough for the National League" etc etc simply because they fail to understand that clubs sign youngsters for their potential not their current ability. Was the same shite when Rangers took Blackford on trial for a 6 a side game.

Johnjo1 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:52 pm **Posts:** 1625

Just shows football is all about opinions. I agree 17 is too young for a goalkeeper but I clearly remember Grealish looking a classy player. I do not remember him being subbed but I do remember going home and googling him and have kept an eye on his progress into a top player.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37482

Play an outfield player at 17 and worse case scenario he’s covered by the group around him. A keeper is alone and there’s nowhere to hide. Like Yubep said, you can easily shatter a young players confidence at that age.

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Johnjo1 wrote:

Just shows football is all about opinions. I agree 17 is too young for a goalkeeper but I clearly remember Grealish looking a classy player. I do not remember him being subbed but I do remember going home and googling him and have kept an eye on his progress into a top player.

Maybe played more than once then at the Vic, certain he got subbed and threw a slight tantrum.

Johnjo1 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:52 pm **Posts:** 1625

Give managers their due they do not play young players if they do not think they are up to it. How many times on here have people said give young players a try but the manager knows they are not up to it. Blackford was a good example with a well known poster going on and on about him.

Joe Mac · **Posted:** Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:06 am

Oxlade-Chamberlain must have only been 18/19 when he played against us aswell.

Yubep · **Joined:** Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:35 pm **Posts:** 25266

Goalkeeping is a specialist position, as we've seen over the years when you have a top keeper, you can relax.

Stick a young kid in goal, makes a mistake, drops a clanger, its a goal, confidence drops, crowds on his back.

Put an 18 year old in centre mid and his mate next to him can dig him out the shit or the defenders behind him.

I'm not even saying dont play him, but if challinor isnt playing him you've got to assume he isnt really ready.

Especially since hes played 3 different keepers since he came in.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 19773

[quote="Johnjo1" The reality is however many young players are good playing in their age group but find it tough when they play against men in competitive games.[/quote]
some lads play their best football between say 16 and 18. its not just about being unable to adjust to mens football its the other stuff that goes on with lads getting older. women and out with their mates seem to take over their lives where once they ate and slept football. been there, done it and ended up playing local football. old heads on young shoulders do not happen too much.

Joe Mac · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2020 11:05 am

Not bad a team to be fair... Curveball of Mousa Dembélé, he just didn't make the cut as he turned 20 a few weeks before we played AZ back in 07.

http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/UI/Match.aspx?oid=4575

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

MadJohn wrote:

Joe Mac wrote:

Oxlade-Chamberlain must have only been 18/19 when he played against us aswell.

He was just 17, and had been an unused sub against us at 16. Harry Kane was also 17 when he played for Orient at the Vic.

I'm a bit short on keepers and right backs (you can never have too many RBs) but here's my team of teenagers to play against Pools in the last ten years...

1. Dean Henderson
2. James Tavernier
3. Aaron Cresswell
4. Danny Drinkwater
5. Harry Maguire
6. Shane Duffy
7. Andros Townsend
8. Jack Grealish
9. Harry Kane
10. Danny Ings
11. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Subs: Steven Caulker, Jonjo Shelvey, Jordan Ibe, Patrick Bamford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Chris Wood

The only two I remember looking impressive in that list is Oxlade and Townsend.

How old was Mings when he played against us? Was a Cup game I think. Feels ages ago.

He was brilliant.

poolieinnottingham · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:53 pm

I remember Maguire absolutely running the show against us. He looked about 30 even then.

Joe Mac · **Posted:** Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:43 pm

Mings was 22, the old bastard.

yloop · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:26 am

Would have added Lallana but he was 21. He absolutely destroyed us that night.

Bramstein · **Joined:** Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:49 pm **Posts:** 1526

yloop wrote:

Would have added Lallana but he was 21. He absolutely destroyed us that night.

Was that when Southampton beat us 3-1? I remember him scoring an absolute belter.

Rinkender · **Joined:** Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:36 pm **Posts:** 787

What about Dele Alli ?

Brad Young.

Gadgies online