Young Guns blog (by John Jones) -Â Sun 25 Aug 19.
Ryan Astley (Everton)
Ryan’s
involvement with the Everton first team pre-season preparations
confirms the high opinion that management at the club have as regards to
the talent he possesses. It was not all that surprising that it
occurred, as last season he played regularly for the U-23 team. Having
only started in full time football in the summer of 2018 as a first-year
scholar with the Toffees, the consensus at the club has been to
challenge him with as high a level of football as his ability allows him
to cope with. He seems to have succeeded, making more appearances for
the U-23’s than the U-18 team. The next step will of course be a
decision of when to confront him with the demands of first team football
and that may come relatively soon if an opportunity to select him for a
League Cup or FA Cup tie is considered suitable. With his 18th birthday
still some weeks away, it does seem inevitable that Ryan is progressing
at a rate that will see him integrated into the first team squad in his
teenage years. First team football at the upper levels of the game and
particularly so in the Premier League, is an extremely tough assignment
when physical development has not reached its peak and it takes a
special talent to make it viably possible. It seems that Ryan fits into
such a category. It could be that another Everton defensive lynchpin
with North Wales roots, captaining the team as well as his national side
is progressing for such a role. It is a tradition that stretches back
for best part of a century.
Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest)
Although
a second-year scholar last season, Brennan was only utilized in the 2
matches the U-18 team regarded as most important to field the strongest
team possible, the FA Youth Cup ties that were played. Other than in
those, he played exclusively for the club’s U-23 team, ending the season
as the team’s top scorer having played in about three quarters of the
games competed. Although he is a midfield player, it is in an attacking
role and the club will not mind him occupying a position in the
opposition half if he continues to convert a goal rate at greater than 1
every 2 matches as he did last season. Moving on to this season, he has
already made his first team debut when introduced as a late substitute
in the first Championship match of the season and then building on that
by playing the last quarter of the League Cup tie. He is undoubtedly
going to add further appearances as the season moves along, Forest seem
to be using an approach of introducing him to the physical rigours
encountered in the Championship in a cautious manner at present.
Probably a wise choice, allowing him to adapt his silky skills to the
more challenging brand of football than he has experienced previously.
It does seem only a matter of time before he becomes a first team
regular, even though Forest have been an aggressive purchaser of talent
and consequently the squad, in Championship terms, is both large and
expensive.
Sam Pearson (Bristol City)
Second-year
scholar Sam is certainly one that management at Ashton Gate have very
high hopes of assisting the first team in the future. Preparation for
such a scenario is being pushed in as rapid a pace as deemed advisable
with his step up into the U-23 team numerous times last season. A first
team debut is probably not imminent in terms of weeks, but Sam was given
an idea of how the environment is for the first team, with his
inclusion in the squad and a subsequent appearance on the bench for an
FA Cup tie last season. Although of course still eligible for U-18 team
competition, Sam will most probably be challenged with appearances for
the U-23 team as well. If he can continue to impress as he did last
season, decisions will be required as to how best to prepare him for
first team football readiness and it is best to wait and see how things
develop rather than just speculate blindly. By the way, Sam will not be
the only Pearson mentioned in Young Gun chronicles in the coming months.
Twin brother Callum, also at the Robins, will get column time to report
on the good progress he is also making.
Terry Taylor (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
After
being a standout performer for the Wales schoolboy international team
in their Victory Shield tournament matches, representatives of the
Scottish FA persuaded Terry to switch allegiance back to the country of
his birth, resulting in him representing them at U-17 and U-19 level. As
a schoolboy he was affiliated with Aberdeen, the city of his birth, but
Wolves recruited him at the time of his move into full time football
and so he joined them as a scholar. Now, as a full time professional, he
is listed as a member of the U-23 squad at the club, but it is expected
for him to make his first team debut before too long. All his
pre-season preparation time was spent with the first team squad and so
it is obvious how highly he is regarded at the club. Equally effective
in either a midfield role or as a cultured central defender, he not only
has an abundance of skill but also an ability to be versatile. An
injury sustained prior to the start of the season has delayed his
introduction into competitive action, fortunately he will be ready to
return to full fitness in a matter of days. Once he has had some games
to re-establish his competitive edge, there will almost certainly be an
introduction to first team football competition. Probably done in a
cautious manner, such as a cup tie and then it will be a case of how
well he performs before a decision on what the next steps will be.
Having mentioned his representative honours for Scotland, it is now time
to say that he has reverted to the national team of the country of his
mother’s birth and was a member of the squads that attended the senior
team training camps last season. We must admit that it seems an
excellent gain for Wales and add a consoling feeling of sympathy for
Scottish fans who will feel robbed of a potential star performer.
Neco Williams (Liverpool)
After
completion of 2 seasons as a scholar with Liverpool, Neco now steps
into the U-23 squad at the club. It will not be unfamiliar territory for
him however, as he has already played well for the U-23 team on
numerous occasions over the last 2 seasons. Impressive statistics, at a
club that prides itself on trying to recruit and develop talent of the
highest level. It generally leads to large squads at all levels of
competition they are involved with and are usually amongst the leading
contenders. An example is that their U-18 team, of which Neco was a
member, were the victors in last season’s FA Youth Cup final. A triumph
that often bodes well for a club in future years. Neco and other members
of that team will have their sights set on eventually performing when
wearing the team shirt in first team circumstances, but also knowing
that nothing short of improving their ability to the highest standards
will see them attain the ambition. With Liverpool fans craving the
fulfillment of securing a Premier League title and the staff intent on
leaving no stone unturned to satisfy that demand, playing for the first
team or even being a member of the squad for it, is reserved for only
those whose standard is considered as exemplary. That is the challenge
set before Neco, an immense one, but so far, he is treading a path in
such a manner to suggest that the goal may be attainable.
Five
young men with a common birth year of 2001, all with a resume of
football achievements that belies their tender age of approximately 18
years old. The level of ability they have reached to this point, makes
it easy to suggest that representing Wales at senior international level
in the future, is well within their means. There is, of course, a good
deal of hard work to be performed, needing the utmost dedication and
determination on their part, to turn such a prediction into reality.
That is in some way the beauty of football, whatever may have happened
in the past cannot in any way be taken for granted to be continued in
the future. Even so, they seem to exhibit not only the physical
aptitude, but also a mental one as well, for a belief that I can
confidently state that it is a strong possibility for each of them.
These 5 are the most prominent at present, from a large group of players
with the common birth year, many of whom are doing very well and some
in fact only slightly behind in comparison of terms of achievement.
Still at an age to be eligible for Wales U-19 selection, I think it is
an expectancy that the team who competes at that age group level this
season will be a strong one. As was suspected might happen for some of
them, Brennan and Terry have been selected for the U-21 squad and so
will not likely be considered for the U-19’s. Likewise, Jack Vale, who
is also from the same year group and doing well. Even in their absence, I
still believe the U-19’s will be a strong team. I think it is time for
me to conclude what has become quite lengthy and save some of my
thoughts for next week.
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