I know I'm biased but..

Insider

Insider

Well-known member
...we seem to be struggling to fill that leftie on the rightie spot.
A sign of intent could be to bring Rob Apter back in January.
Give him a game in the FA Cup on 8 January and put him on the bench and give him some minutes in the league and assess him.
It would be a great incentive to the Academy to see a player breakthrough into the first team.
If he's ready great, if not let him go back out on loan.
He's not to shabby at set piece delivery either.
Just a thought.
#5for25
 
Insider said:
...we seem to be struggling to fill that leftie on the rightie spot.
A sign of intent could be to bring Rob Apter back in January.
Give him a game in the FA Cup on 8 January and put him on the bench and give him some minutes in the league and assess him.
It would be a great incentive to the Academy to see a player breakthrough into the first team.
If he's ready great, if not let him go back out on loan.
He's not to shabby at set piece delivery either.
Just a thought.
#5for25
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Agree in principle but do not want to field a weakened side in FA cup as I think we have great potential to have a good run
 
Insider said:
...we seem to be struggling to fill that leftie on the rightie spot.
A sign of intent could be to bring Rob Apter back in January.
Give him a game in the FA Cup on 8 January and put him on the bench and give him some minutes in the league and assess him.
It would be a great incentive to the Academy to see a player breakthrough into the first team.
If he's ready great, if not let him go back out on loan.
He's not to shabby at set piece delivery either.
Just a thought.
#5for25
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I think you’re right , especially giving him minutes off the bench , it would certainly with his development.
 
Insider said:
...we seem to be struggling to fill that leftie on the rightie spot.
A sign of intent could be to bring Rob Apter back in January.
Give him a game in the FA Cup on 8 January and put him on the bench and give him some minutes in the league and assess him.
It would be a great incentive to the Academy to see a player breakthrough into the first team.
If he's ready great, if not let him go back out on loan.
He's not to shabby at set piece delivery either.
Just a thought.
#5for25
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Agree your idea but I think it's too early for Apter. I'd be looking to the new season. At his age, half a season is a lot of time
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Yes, accepted...
A la Rooney at Everton. I don't see that with Apter.
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And how many times have you seen him play, and train ? He’s progressed to the under 19 Scotland set up, and scored for them , he’s coped very well in none league, so in my opinion he is well worth a shot in the first team squad !
 
Fatboy said:
And how many times have you seen him play, and train ? He’s progressed to the under 19 Scotland set up, and scored for them , he’s coped very well in none league, so in my opinion he is well worth a shot in the first team squad !
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I saw him do well at Wigan. He put a peach of a cross in for Simms to score. I just don't want him found out by well established Championship players.
 
Not for me massive gulf in class between a youth playing in non league and going into the Championship would rather we loaned someone.

And before anyone quotes Soney Carey he'd played 63 times not a handful of appearances like Apter.
 
Apter should be playing on loan at a club in a higher league than where he is. If I was Critch I'd be getting him out on loan to a league one or two club.
 
BFC_53 said:
Apter should be playing on loan at a club in a higher league than where he is. If I was Critch I'd be getting him out on loan to a league one or two club.
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Totally agree but do a lower league club want him when like us last season you can get a Simms or Ballard type of player in the loan market?

Nope he has to work his way up if Rob is streaks ahead of the level he's playing at he'll get noticed and move up but thrown in at Championship no way.

The other week went to see my wife's local side while away, they had a young player on loan from Hearts in the Scottish third division(8 goals in 3 games) and scored another 2 on the day he was way above that level and that's what Apter has to do before stepping up.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Agree your idea but I think it's too early for Apter. I'd be looking to the new season. At his age, half a season is a lot of time
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Pitch him in and let him prove himself. He's currently head & shoulders our best prospect.
Use him or lose him.
I don't know if he's ready but all I'm saying is let him demonstrate whether he is or not.
He can still go back out on a "youth loan" and he won't affect the squad numbers.
 
Insider said:
Pitch him in and let him prove himself. He's currently head & shoulders our best prospect.
Use him or lose him.
I don't know if he's ready but all I'm saying is let him demonstrate whether he is or not.
He can still go back out on a "youth loan" and he won't affect the squad numbers.
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It's not a bad idea... but that kinda decision I'd rather leave in the hands of Critch. If he thinks he's ready then bring it on!
 
poolseasider said:
Totally agree but do a lower league club want him when like us last season you can get a Simms or Ballard type of player in the loan market?

Nope he has to work his way up if Rob is streaks ahead of the level he's playing at he'll get noticed and move up but thrown in at Championship no way.

The other week went to see my wife's local side while away, they had a young player on loan from Hearts in the Scottish third division(8 goals in 3 games) and scored another 2 on the day he was way above that level and that's what Apter has to do before stepping up.
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I don't think any old L1 side and certainly most L2 sides can just go sign a Ballard or Simms. From what little I know, I think people might be surprised what quality loans like them will have cost us. Just a hunch, but I would imagine he might attract a conference or L2 loan from what I've seen of him.
 
BFC_53 said:
Apter should be playing on loan at a club in a higher league than where he is. If I was Critch I'd be getting him out on loan to a league one or two club.
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I agree with this regrettably they go to the best level clubs can get them to. League one and two clubs can get 18 & 19 years olds from prem clubs. Rob and Bange have both done well at Bamber Bridge and as a result Bange has moved up a league. It takes time if they continue to show they are above the level they are playing at there will be interest from clubs higher up the pyramid. When you look through the Northern Prem there are loads of young lads from local clubs out on loan.
 
considering Critch was working with the Liverpool academy kids you'd think he'd be keen on giving young players a chance but I sense he's reluctant to do that. And I think based on the size of the squad we have he's more likely to utilise that for the FA Cup game. Let's face it he could put out a totally different eleven to that which started on saturday with the bench made up of players who did start. And it's far more important that they get some game time than the likes of Apter and Holmes. Of course who we draw might well be a factor too.
 
20togo said:
considering Critch was working with the Liverpool academy kids you'd think he'd be keen on giving young players a chance but I sense he's reluctant to do that. And I think based on the size of the squad we have he's more likely to utilise that for the FA Cup game. Let's face it he could put out a totally different eleven to that which started on saturday with the bench made up of players who did start. And it's far more important that they get some game time than the likes of Apter and Holmes. Of course who we draw might well be a factor too.
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I just think with Apter we need to take a chance. I've no idea if he's good enough but he's playing against men now and more than holding his own and believe me they are no mugs at the level he's currently playing and I say that having watched a few games.
IMO he's our best prospect and if he isn't good enough we move on and wait for the next crop.
It's a ruthless industry.
 
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Insider said:
I just think with Apter we need to take a chance. I've no idea if he's good enough but he's playing against men now and more than holding his own and believe me they are no mugs at the level he's currently playing and I say that having watched a few games.
IMO he's our best prospect and if he isn't good enough we move on and wait for the next crop.
It's a ruthless industry.
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As an earlier poster said if they’re good enough they’re old enough. Some of the one who seem reluctant to give youth a chance need reminding how old a certain Alan Ball was when he made his debut and how old he was when he got a World Cup winners medal. I accept he was exceptional but we will never find out unless they get a chance. As you say use them or lose them, if SS’s idea of a self sustaining club is to come to fruition these are the sort of players we need.
 
No chance of that at the moment, if he was good enough we would not have loaned him out. We need to coach the players we have to be better in that last bit of the attack, we work it really well get in terrific positions and then let ourselves down, I'm sure the coaching team will be working away on that, improve this area of our play and we go to the next level.
 
Having read all of the above. A large part of me would love Apter to be recalled, get 25 min. Skin 2 defenders and bang a rocket of a rising shot into the top left/right corner.
I didn't get Roy of the Rovers every Saturday for no good reason you know 😁
 
Insider said:
...we seem to be struggling to fill that leftie on the rightie spot.
A sign of intent could be to bring Rob Apter back in January.
Give him a game in the FA Cup on 8 January and put him on the bench and give him some minutes in the league and assess him.
It would be a great incentive to the Academy to see a player breakthrough into the first team.
If he's ready great, if not let him go back out on loan.
He's not to shabby at set piece delivery either.
Just a thought.
#5for25
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Wonderful insight into another dream world
 
Camberwell1 said:
Wonderful insight into another dream world
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I thought dreaming was part of being a football fan.
A couple of things to add.
Rob trains with the first team squad on a regular basis so Critch will know what he is about.
Rob's talent has been recognised by Scotland so he is getting international experience now to add to his development.
 
Insider said:
Pitch him in and let him prove himself. He's currently head & shoulders our best prospect.
Use him or lose him.
I don't know if he's ready but all I'm saying is let him demonstrate whether he is or not.
He can still go back out on a "youth loan" and he won't affect the squad numbers.
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Do you think he'd cope with the physicality? He looks about 15! Extremely talented though. Only one way to find out, I guess!
 
Insy, only seen Rob play once live - at the SQG game. He was up against older blokes there, and did pretty well really, I also thought it was quite a physical game for a pre-season. obviously playing regular since will have helped him on further. I'd be interested to see how he went in a Cup game too.

Just as an aside, Brad Holmes is mentioned here as well. What's he up to now? He got a couple of cameo appearances last year, since then all the talk's been of Apter and Bange.
 
CGP1 said:
Insy, only seen Rob play once live - at the SQG game. He was up against older blokes there, and did pretty well really, I also thought it was quite a physical game for a pre-season. obviously playing regular since will have helped him on further. I'd be interested to see how he went in a Cup game too.

Just as an aside, Brad Holmes is mentioned here as well. What's he up to now? He got a couple of cameo appearances last year, since then all the talk's been of Apter and Bange.
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Brad is on loan with FC United of Manchester. Just had a look and he's scored 8 goals in 14 appearances.
 
Great shout, saw him come on as a sub in a cup match. Full of energy and didn't seem overawed. Lets bring our own talent on
 
CGP1 said:
Insy, only seen Rob play once live - at the SQG game. He was up against older blokes there, and did pretty well really, I also thought it was quite a physical game for a pre-season. obviously playing regular since will have helped him on further. I'd be interested to see how he went in a Cup game too.

Just as an aside, Brad Holmes is mentioned here as well. What's he up to now? He got a couple of cameo appearances last year, since then all the talk's been of Apter and Bange.
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I tend to talk about Apter & Bange because I've watched them at Bamber Bridge.
I don't get to see Brad Holmes at FC Utd so it's difficult to offer an opinion.
Bange has gone to Telford now to join up with Cameron Antwi but he hasn't featured in the last coiple of games so I think he might be injured.
For those worrying about Apter's stature I'd say it's not too different from David Silva and it didn't seem to affect him.
 
Unfortunately, he has a lot of competition for that spot in the team with Bowler, CJ and Mitchell. If we draw a lower league team in the FA Cup then I agree it would be a good opportunity to have a look at him.
 
Seainsea said:
Unfortunately, he has a lot of competition for that spot in the team with Bowler, CJ and Mitchell. If we draw a lower league team in the FA Cup then I agree it would be a good opportunity to have a look at him.
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None of them are pulling up trees though.
If Rob develops, as we all hope he will, I wouldn't necessarily see him a wide player in the future.
 
Look gang. If these youngsters are doing well in non-league then put them with a League two outfit. We're playing against top seasoned pros who are trying to get in the Prem. They'd be eaten for breakfast.
 
One thing the club doesn't ever seem to do like other clubs is a monthly "Loan Watch" where they write up how our players are doing out on loan etc?
 
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