Indeed Brands influence is there, plus a number of factors. Two years ago we reduced the number of Scholars getting pro contracts, so fewer players going on to block the u 23s . Then at u18s last season we played our talented Schoolboys right from the start of the season, Welch , Price, Whitaker , Butterfield, featuring , Small was a bit later . So credit to Tait there .That season Unsworth also started to include u18s like Onyango / Dobbin early on in his U23s teams. This season it’s exploded at U23s and u18s with Tait, Unsworth and Brands all seemingly coordinating together. There were probably more u18 mins played in last night’s U23s match than in the whole of the Gordon/Simms time when they were u18 2 years ago. The confidence in playing two Schoolboys in two matches at U23s ( Metcalfe and Quintyne) is pretty rare for any teams and irrespective of their talents the fact that we are preparing them for playing two levels up is very positive, particularly as both are still maturing physically . So yeah , it is exciting ..... but a long way to go , and we’ve been here before with Martinez’s “ Golden Generation” so let’s just enjoy the ride!Really excited about the current crop of youngsters coming through ,I wonder if we are seeing the influence of brands finally coming through regarding the ages of the players at u18s and u23s
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