Agree, I think we can all accept Jones is going to be part of the 1st team from now on… So you add him to Trent, and then Elliot you can see a clear plan of maybe 1-2 players per year to join the 1st team and contribute.
I’d add Jota in also, he’s only 23 so I’d say the spearhead of the next group of attackers.
Whilst its probably fantasy you can see why a name like Mbappe (22), Haaland (20), Sancho (20) fits etc.
But in what role? When our CB are fit again so our midfielders don’t have to play that position I see him as a guy who plays in the early stages of the League and FA-cup. perhaps coming off the bench late in the game, nothing more.
Crazy, he’s developing into a top class center midfielder. A True no.8.
Jota is 24.
As for the kid from Derby, let’s first see what type of player is he and what he develops into. Very early days, as with Elliott. We don’t even know how he plays. Wouldn’t be the first time that a pretty talented player struggles to make it at the top level. What Trent did without any loan moves or anything like that is not what normally happens. Talent/quality is the key, but yeah, sometimes other circumstances as well.
So… planning in terms of having talented players spread out in all positions is what you do. Sometimes you can add extra if you feel a kid merits it.
But as for the first team, there are different tests along the way. Some might be really promising at first, but end up being useful for 2-3 seasons and move elsewhere. Let’s not forget that is also a possibility. It’s not always a complete top or flop. Not all players can get the same chance, it’s about the first team staff to evaluate it every now and then.
I think Jones has done or is doing enough to be part of the central midfield roster for next season. He’ll probably be here for next few seasons. He’s not as important as Trent (yet), we don’t have to pretend that we know he’ll ever be. It’s up to him to prove it little by little. What else can we predict or guarantee at this stage. It would be just playing imaginary games.
Specifically for midfield, let’s say we need 6 central midfielders. Let’s say Gini leaves, we get one in, but maybe someone else leaves, like Ox par example. Not necessarily a problem if Millie (someone who covers both #8 positions and both full back positions) stays here for his final season, we have some versatile players there.
I wouldn’t link so much the club buying some top talents with first team planning for the short term. Planning is great, but planning doesn’t mean much before we see the talent/quality of them first hand and how they develop. It’s what I feel fans and especially fans of top clubs need to learn or just realize. A lot of them are not and will not make it. It’s difficult. Especially if the team is doing so well and challenging/winning trophies every season. Even at a place which actually provides a nice pathway and champions meritocracy.
We usually don’t buy the finised article from other top/rich clubs, our coaching structure between the first team and Academy is doing a good job. But even in this situation, only the best few will make it.
So it’s nice to get talented players, some are overrated immediately as talents before they even start developing into proper senior players. We either get important or at least useful (for a while) first team players for them or make money by making the right decision at the right time. That’s it.
Not if he does not learn how to play directly, without wanting to touch the ball at least 5 times before he plays.
That level of expectation for a 19 year old is crazy man.
It’s not about where he is now but where he wants to be, he has to learn that, stop running with the ball from sideline to sideline, see where the free man is before he receives the ball or he will never be a top-class centre midfielder.
I don’t disagree that is what will turn him from a good player into a top class one, but I do think you are overly harsh… This is his first senior season, at 19… I can’t really think of many other players who have the speed of thought and ability to make the pass you are talking about at that age… Maybe a handfull of players.
There are also occasions him taking a minute is actually what we need, that Xabi like ability to pause a game, slow the tempo then release at pace… It’s about game management… Again putting it together over 90mins at 19 is never happening.
It took Mane, Salah, Firmino a few years to get to the level of understanding where their movement, and subsequent quick release ball worked.
It’s not as though we don’t have existing players (Gini for example) who also have a habit of being slow to release the ball.
Not a slight on Jones (although I do also think he needs to quicken it a but that will come in time) but having watched us play at a snails pace for a month now that is absolutely the last thing we need.
That’s an issue with quite a few of our first 11 at the moment.
Just not on it this season. Last year that’s in
Useless ffs
Backline more spread open than a pornstars legs
oh shit this isn’t the Spurs thread HAHAHAHAHAH
Some top notch transfer chat in the last few posts.
A good summary of our issues though for potential targets in the market
A. Fucken. Centre. Back.
Not sure what Mourinho’s problem with Alderwiereld is. Maybe we could help?
Issa Diop has barely played.
Skrtel is a free agent apparently. Martin Kelly hasn’t played for Palace this season. Get the pair in!
Apparently available on a loan and would please @Kopstar no doubt as he’s been suggesting him for awhile.