Brad Holmes

That if previous history is anything to go by, he will be released and fade into oblivion, or play in the Prem after being released and score on his England debut.

Joking by the way, hope we're well beyond offering our young prospects 2/6d a week.
 
I tried to scout him for Blackpool when he was younger (9-10ish) but he and another Poulton lad went to Bolton W (who were a more attractive club at the time). He was a very quick and useful right winger at the time.
 
When you see some of the poor loans we've had and have given them minutes at their parent clubs gain, I wonder why we don't give our kids a try first. Holmes is a goal scorer and whilst mens/league football is very tough, the goalposts don't move. Get him on the bench and give him an opportunity I say. It will really boost the academy team to see someone progressing and being given a chance.
 
NewburyOne said:
When you see some of the poor loans we've had and have given them minutes at their parent clubs gain, I wonder why we don't give our kids a try first. Holmes is a goal scorer and whilst mens/league football is very tough, the goalposts don't move. Get him on the bench and give him an opportunity I say. It will really boost the academy team to see someone progressing and being given a chance.
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I totally agree also using a goalkeeper Sims as your homegrown player is an utter waste he's never going to get used is he?
One sub apperance in two season tells you that the likes of Holmes should be brought into the squad you've nothing to lose if your winning easily or getting stuffed to get them some minutes.
 
Insider said:
Sadly I only know what I see on social media and the Bradford cup game that was streamed. Youth team games have been (and are still) behind closed doors. TAM is your man on this as he coached Brad at a young age. He is a Blackpool lad and comes from a family of Blackpool fans I believe.
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Correct I know one of the family(that's where I got the info he was signing for us Insider!) who is a ST holder.
 
seasidecoach said:
I tried to scout him for Blackpool when he was younger (9-10ish) but he and another Poulton lad went to Bolton W (who were a more attractive club at the time). He was a very quick and useful right winger at the time.
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He went to Liverpool first Seaside Coach - he was there for at least three years before going to Bolton

Suspect you scouted him when he was playing for Poulton Youth

I also had Dylan Thompson who went to Blackpool - and is now at Everton
 
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To answer the OP Bradley played for Poulton Youth when younger before signing for Liverpool aged 9-10.

When he played for me he generally played right wing ( note this was 7-a-side ) though sometimes upfront. With 7 a side you tend to have a player who is good at holding the ball and playing others in ( like Madine ) as your striker hence the reason I played him wide where there was more space.

Bradley was lightening quick and the most natural player running with the ball at his feet I ever saw at his age.

He's strong, about 6ft and clearly not lost any of his pace or eye for goal.

Not seen him in the flesh due to Covid but his Dad puts his goals on Facebook and the Academy twitter feed also shows the goals. He's on 19 from 15 games in all comps or 17 from 13 in the league.

If you go to the Podcast from yesterday I talk about the youth team at 1hr29mins.

Can't be far off a call up.
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
To answer the OP Bradley played for Poulton Youth when younger before signing for Liverpool aged 9-10.

When he played for me he generally played right wing ( note this was 7-a-side ) though sometimes upfront. With 7 a side you tend to have a player who is good at holding the ball and playing others in ( like Madine ) as your striker hence the reason I played him wide where there was more space.

Bradley was lightening quick and the most natural player running with the ball at his feet I ever saw at his age.

He's strong, about 6ft and clearly not lost any of his pace or eye for goal.

Not seen him in the flesh due to Covid but his Dad puts his goals on Facebook and the Academy twitter feed also shows the goals. He's on 19 from 15 games in all comps or 17 from 13 in the league.

If you go to the Podcast from yesterday I talk about the youth team at 1hr29mins.

Can't be far off a call up.
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Just had a listen to your words of wisdom.
To fill in a couple of blanks.
We have 4 players in the current youth team squad on professional contracts.
Brad Holmes : I think by now we know a bit about him.
Rob Apter: Again he's been much talked about. I think he has a younger brother at Everton's academy. He signed on a pro contract until June 2022
The lessor known are:
Nathan Tsholi: Hasn't been starting for the Youth team recently. He's a mid-fielder from North Londoner and was part of " Onside Academy" player development programme (Sebastian Wylie is another member of the squad who came from "Onside").
Cameron Hill: Poached him from Salford's academy. He's a CB. Cameron hasn't played since the streamed game against Bradford in the FA Youth Cup. I'm guessing that's because of injury.
All the above are in their second year.
Luke Mariette is a first year, is still on a scholarship and only turned 17 last October. He played previously in Wigan's academy and is a mid-fielder.
Ewan Bange is no longer part of the Youth team set up. He was granted concessionary status as youth team player at the start of this season following an injury hit 2019/20 season. Ewan proves himself and signed an 18 month pro-deal last December. Consequently he no longer plays youth team football.

Apologies if I've missed anyone.
 
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Whether it be Apter, Holmes or Bange who breaks into the 1st team on a regular basis, one thing stands out.
We've got a good future ahead of us with this crop of kids coming through 👍🏻

And it can only get better imho
 
spudgun said:
He trialled unsuccessfully with Sheffield Utd, and has trials with Birmingham and Cardiff arranged.

A smashing lad with a lot of talent...
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A bit weird this, I was talking about him to a family member of his an hour ago, ye they mentioned Cardiff, but apparently not allowed into wales cos of restrictions 😯
 
It’s great to see so much potential talent coming through.
Of course we have had many disappointments in the past.

Remember the youth side around 2012. Think they ended up top of league.
Players like Harrison McGahey , Dom Telford and other who went to Stoke.
They have ended up average lower league players.

We are long overdue a home grown class player.
 
I loved that I get a Twitter commentary from my kids when the youth team are paying.

Here's hoping they have a chance at a professional career.
 
Please proceed with caution over the excitement of how well the U18s are doing and the star players. They have a LOT of developing to do.
I remember when we won the U18s league last time under Donnelly, not one made it through to the first team.
The Academy live tweets and things are all well and good, but it is heaping pressure on young lads.
Holmes has a real chance and I actual know from his dad he will have plenty of determination about him.
But no pressure yet...long way to go for the kid.
 
A friend of mine knows brad Holmes well
When he signed for us he said we had a very exciting prospect

Critch knows his stuff about young lads and I'm sure he 'll put him in when he tho is he is ready
 
AngelBFC said:
A friend of mine knows brad Holmes well
When he signed for us he said we had a very exciting prospect

Critch knows his stuff about young lads and I'm sure he 'll put him in when he tho is he is ready
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Exciting prospects don't always become exciting and successful players but the lad deserves a chance! I'd much rather we gave our players a chance before bringing in and improving other teams youngsters. If our youngsters don't cut it, we can then look to bring in others.
 
In Critchs post match spiel, he strongly hinted that Brad would likely be on the bench in forthcoming games and likely to get a run out as he'd done so well for the youth team.
Interesting that Ged Garner scored again for Fleetwood and James Hill ( just 17) and seemingly a helluva prospect have both come through from Fleetwood s academy. Seems like we have a bit of catching up to do
 
Critch smiling and telling us how well the youth team set up are doing. And congratulating Holmes for making the bench and what a great moment it is for him and his family. Having known young professional footballers his not playing or having even a minute would have been a huge disappointment to both him and his family. Apter got the same platitudes after his minimal playing time....and now doesn't. At least he got 10 minutes - and he shone.

We don't score goals and his non playing of either shows how little faith he actually has in them and the youth set up IMO. This squad is crying out for a couple of young lads to be given a proper chance. And I mean a proper chance. Like they do abroad and they produce conveyer belts of good players. Yet we persist with Simms not scoring goals (who I actually think is a very good footballer) but will be gone and has no affiliation to our club. And he's 23 - not a kid.

For me you have a youth system to use, or you don't. Might as well scrap it and loan young players from other clubs. Otherwise what is the point? Thought Critchley would be chucking them in at every opportunity. Clearly not.
 
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Macseasider said:
Critch smiling and telling us how well the youth team set up are doing. And congratulating Holmes for making the bench and what a great moment it is for him and his family. Having known young professional footballers his not playing or having even a minute would have been a huge disappointment to both him and his family. Apter got the same platitudes after his minimal playing time....and now doesn't. At least he got 10 minutes - and he shone.

We don't score goals and his non playing of either shows how little faith he actually has in them and the youth set up IMO. This squad is crying out for a couple of young lads to be given a proper chance. And I mean a proper chance. Like they do abroad and they produce conveyer belts of good players. Yet we persist with Simms not scoring goals (who I actually think is a very good footballer) but will be gone and has no affiliation to our club. And he's 23 - not a kid.

For me you have a youth system to use, or you don't. Might as well scrap it and loan young players from other clubs. Otherwise what is the point? Thought Critchley would be chucking them in at every opportunity. Clearly not.
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This.^^

It’s all platitudes and no action.
We’ve been starting Simms. Not much to choose between them imo, and Holmes is OUR player.
There have been some matches we haven’t even had an alternative forward player on the bench and crying out for a goal threat to turn these draws into wins. Or is NC happy with the safety of a nice, comfy mid-table draw? I’d rather he just went for it.
 
Macseasider said:
Critch smiling and telling us how well the youth team set up are doing. And congratulating Holmes for making the bench and what a great moment it is for him and his family. Having known young professional footballers his not playing or having even a minute would have been a huge disappointment to both him and his family. Apter got the same platitudes after his minimal playing time....and now doesn't. At least he got 10 minutes - and he shone.

We don't score goals and his non playing of either shows how little faith he actually has in them and the youth set up IMO. This squad is crying out for a couple of young lads to be given a proper chance. And I mean a proper chance. Like they do abroad and they produce conveyer belts of good players. Yet we persist with Simms not scoring goals (who I actually think is a very good footballer) but will be gone and has no affiliation to our club. And he's 23 - not a kid.

For me you have a youth system to use, or you don't. Might as well scrap it and loan young players from other clubs. Otherwise what is the point? Thought Critchley would be chucking them in at every opportunity. Clearly not.
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The likes of Holmes, Apter, Antwi and Bange definitely deserve some game time. I'm not convinced about Everton's Simms although he is still young at 20.
 
It was pretty poor he didn't play him Tuesday.

But we know Neil has no interest in giving youth a chance. This football club has wasted so much talent. Neil is doing similar it seems. Shame.

He also hates making subs with his first proper decent but glaringly obvious sub taking place Tuesday. 40 odd games into management. I worry about the direction we're going.
 
SeasideKurt said:
It was pretty poor he didn't play him Tuesday.

But we know Neil has no interest in giving youth a chance. This football club has wasted so much talent. Neil is doing similar it seems. Shame.

He also hates making subs with his first proper decent but glaringly obvious sub taking place Tuesday. 40 odd games into management. I worry about the direction we're going.
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You worry about going upwards?
The kids will be given a chance of that I have no doubt.
 
Proceed with caution in putting too much pressure on Brad. He's making great progress but we can't expect miracles. He's years off being our number 9, so we need to be patient!!
 
Yourfathersgun said:
Proceed with caution in putting too much pressure on Brad. He's making great progress but we can't expect miracles. He's years off being our number 9, so we need to be patient!!
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Why is he years away? Out of curiosity, why do you have to be 23 to be a first team player?

The way you find out how good players are from a youth team, is by giving them 15/20 minutes on nights like Tuesday where Yates was ineffective. Simms wasn't anywhere near in the game.

What's the worst that could happen? He gets on the end of a cross? I see a lot of other clubs doing it. How did United find Greenwood and Rashford? By giving them a chance. We have to do that in situations like Tuesday. Part of it stems from people desperate to keep their jobs and worrying more about a point then actually the future of the club. Neil isn't the first at this club to refuse to use the youth team nor the last.
 
I’d love to see one or two of the youngsters feature, Apter especially. But it’s wrong to say Critchley won’t give the kids a chance. He gave Nathan Shaw his league debut the other week, Apter has made two first-team appearances, Jack Sims, Luke Mariette and Brad Holmes have all been on the bench. Critchley has since said Holmes could make his debut in the coming weeks. All heading in the right direction, isn’t it?
 
What's the point in having a youth team if they are not given a chance at senior level at some point? Seems to me a waste of time and money.
 
62years&counting said:
The likes of Holmes, Apter, Antwi and Bange definitely deserve some game time. I'm not convinced about Everton's Simms although he is still young at 20.
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Surely they can do no worse than Ellis Simms, and I do not mean that as a slight on Ellis but is he any better than say, Apter, Bange or Holmes?
 
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