JT says we have a weak squad, and CA says that it the responsibility is too big for the youngsters to carry…"When you are not in a good moment, it's very difficult to put in the young players because you don't want to put responsibility on their shoulders’. So when is a good time? Seems to me that we are frightened to take that ‘Quantum Leap’ and blood the young players for any length of time. Instead of ‘blooding’ the young players as they become more mature we tend to farm them out to other teams; some in the lower leagues, some abroad, and a very few in lower Premier league teams. I know what you’ll say...’they have to get experience’, so why not here? It appears that we are on the merry go round. Let’s face it Drogba, Lampard, Anelka, Terry, Cole are not going to be around much longer. Where are their replacements?….being farmed out and later probably sold before they can have a decent crack at making the team.

How many of the existing youngsters currently in the limelight will be in the first team in 3 years? If its youngsters and about the future fine, we have all seen the raw talent and I’ll suffer a couple of barren years – but I doubt Roman will, that’s why we’ll try and buy ‘proven’ players of international quality in January and again in the summer which makes it even more difficult for the youngsters to get a look in. I appreciate that very few teams within the Football League can actually build an entire squad from their youth program. So what is our grand plan? I’m a bit confused?

Anyone else have any thoughts on when that ‘quantum leap’ will take place?

There are six players in our squad who could probably be counted as 'youngsters'; Daniel Sturridge (21), Gael Kakuta (19), Patrick Van Aanholt (20), Fabio Borini (19), Jeffrey Bruma (19) and Josh McEachran (17). Between them they have made 50 appearances this season, and would probably have made even more had Borini and Kakuta not had contract problems.

They may not quite be Puyols or Messis yet, but it's certainly an improvement on our youth policy of the past. Patience is a virtue...

I'm patient but I am wondering how patient is the owner? As you so rightly stated the youngsters have made 'appearances'. Do you know how many 'starts' they have had in the league? Cup competitions? At what in time do they actually get penciled in over the existing first team 'veterans'? When do you think we will see the likes of Drogba, Lampard etc on the bench and the youngsters in the starting line up? Mind you it will be a hell of a bench!

I don't know how many starts each of them has had, but I do know that they'll get their place in the first XI over Lampard and Drogba when they are better than Lampard and Drogba.

Oh sorry I confused myself for a minute then :D

In all seriousness, I think it will simply be a gradual transformation over the next couple of years. There are bound to be further additions to the squad, some young and some more experienced. Quoting Plokoon 'Patience is a virtue'.

Edited December 24, 201014 yr by Scooby Blue

It woulda be nice to ocassionally see an established player get dropped for a agaubst he giwqAÆyoungster. As much as the impact seemed toa be; for Drogs to be replaced by Nic there's no threat that Anelka is actually going to take his place (especially if you feel that Anelka should be dropped as we'll. So shouldn't w

You been on the sherry Barn?

I don't know how many starts each of them has had, but I do know that they'll get their place in the first XI over Lampard and Drogba when they are better than Lampard and Drogba.

I guess the cycle will continue then...the kids only get starts when the vets get injured and by the time they are 'old' many of todays kids would have moved on and new kids will take their place.....and we'll be talking about the same thing for the next 10 years