After the busy trading in the transfer window, the change in the clubs circumstances over Jim Magiltons management reign are unmistakeable. Darren assesses the upgrade of the playing personnel in this time.
Jim has benefitted in very recent times from a sudden injection of cash, allowing him to strengthen his squad further. However, its worth taking a moment to acknowledge the job that he and the board have done in the months and years prior to Marcus Evans takeover.
The squad is unrecognisable from that which Joe Royle left him with. Not just because Jim has simply gone and brought in his own players, but because the quality is clearly dramatically improved.
Its most evident in the case of the young players. In Joe Royles last season, he utilised the young players that had just won the FA Youth Cup. It has to be acknowledged that Joe himself said that some of these players were being used much earlier than he would have wished, simply because the options werent there from within the squad.
Players such as Shane Supple, Billy Clarke, Owen Garvan, Matt Richards, Danny Haynes and Dean Bowditch were all regulars in the first team squad during that 05/06 season. Yet, at this moment in time, four of those players are out on loan at lower league teams, whilst a fifth, Owen Garvan, finds himself on the bench currently.
Its not a bad thing. Joe was right- these young players need protecting and need nurturing. Its a measure of just how far we have come that the quality in the squad is so great that we can afford to send them out on loan, or use them sparingly, as they come to terms with the life of a professional footballer.
We are great at producing young players and its good that we are now able to complete their education in the way we would wish.
No comments:
Post a Comment