Development squad

[djoftherovers1]

Heard yesterday that all but one of the lads have been told they will be released at end of the season.
Very strange decision due to them doing well in the league and even just a couple of weeks ago 2 of them were on the front cover of the programme with the title about being the future of drfc.

[The Red Baron]

I'd heard that, except that it isn't the Development Squad (ie the under-21s) but the second year YTs (under 18s).

I've also got a fairly shrewd idea of the one who is being retained but won't post here until it is in the public domain.

I was a bit surprised as I expected first year YT contracts to be offered to three or four of them. It's possible they are looking at lads who have been released by other clubs. Last week the under-21s included two trialists, one from Reading and one from Leeds.

[djoftherovers1]

Yea my mistake.  I'd have thought a couple would have been kept on as there was certainly potential there.
I know the one lad who has been kept on and we'll done to him, I also heard that the club are looking to bring in non league players under 20 to look at them.

[GazLaz]

Who's been kept? M'Buti?

[djoftherovers1]

Nope although he was one of the 4 or 5 I would have kept

[DonnyOsmond]

Linley, Carberry or Pugh.

[rtid88]

So not only is our 1st team shite but also our Youth Team that we are supposed to be building from! Brilliant!!
 

[craigdrfc]

Cost cutting maybe???

[The Red Baron]

Cost cutting maybe???

It's hardly likely as employing a couple of 19 year olds would be cheaper than signing a seasoned professional.

[The Red Baron]

The Under-21s won 2-1 at Gateshead this afternoon. Joseph Pugh scored both goals.

Starting xi was Marosi, Fielding, Barker, Walker, Mbuti, Bingley, Whitehouse, Davies, Pugh, Mandeville and Longbottom.

[wing commander]

   Maybe after handing out pro contracts to young players who have since proved to be extremely disappointing has served as a warning...I haven't seen much of the youth team so wouldn't pass judgement but there isn't much in the development squad what I've seen to get excited about unfortunetly

[DonnyOsmond]

Mandeville is pretty decent and should be more in the team next season as our number 10.

Longbottom has potential too, he's a first year and managed to get in the first team squad.

The rest are hit and miss.

[TheFunk]

I can't find it now, but I'm sure I read in the last couple of weeks, an interview with DF, where he said he hasn't decided whether to have a development squad next season.

[Draytonian III]

If we don't have development squad next season when are squad players going to get match practice, it's ok having training but nothing beats a competitive match against another team, this could be another one the manager's mistakes

[dickos1]

We never had a reserve side under sod

[Chris Black come back]

We barely have a first team under Ferguson.

[Sammy Chung was King]

One of our players, mentioned on twitter a couple of days ago, something along the lines sorry to hear they had been released and not to give up, he never mentioned names.
I like players to get enough time to develop, but if the guys who see them regular don't see enough ability, they have to make way for new additions, it's cruel but a neccesary part of football.

[Wade Falana]

One of our players, mentioned on twitter a couple of days ago, something along the lines sorry to hear they had been released and not to give up, he never mentioned names.
I like players to get enough time to develop, but if the guys who see them regular don't see enough ability, they have to make way for new additions, it's cruel but a neccesary part of football.

It was Ben Greasley, released and has joined Goole.

[The Red Baron]

Ben Greasley left us several weeks ago.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

I can confirm that only one of the lads has been offered a contract. I'm mates with one of the players brother who was devastated about being let go. Shame.

[Chris Black come back]

One thing that has come good in recent years is lower league players making it at the very top level eg Vardy, Alli etc. Hope for all those young lads out there now without a contract at present.

[The Red Baron]

It's been on Twitter now, so congratulations to Joseph Pugh, who has been offered a professional contract for next season. That was the name I'd been told.

Comiserations to the other second year YTs who didn't get an offer. I hope they can find a club where they can develop their skills and maybe prove DRFC wrong!

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Mbuti has been given till the end of the season to prove himself worthy. We'll see. Well done to Joe!

[The Red Baron]

Mbuti has been given till the end of the season to prove himself worthy. We'll see. Well done to Joe!

That's interesting. I did notice that Mbuti played for the under-21s at Gateshead last week. They have two games left and the under-18s have four. Their last two have been postponed.

[graingrover]

   Some young players( I will  self impose an injunction on names)  should perhaps shut down the twitter/ rapper chat and communicate in real speak .   
     Joe Pugh's rapid development is great to see and well done to him. There is a an interview with him on Player which reveals a feet on the ground but positive and 'leader ' characteristic in him. He may aleady be having a positive influence on Kevin M'Buti .

[DonnyOsmond]

Mbuti needs to get his head down for 2 month and show he wants to stay with us.