MacDonald has faith in youngsters (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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SWINDON TOWN: MacDonald has faith in youngsters
6:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport By Andy Warren
Town boss Kevin MacDonald
MANAGER Kevin MacDonald has no concerns over throwing untried youth team players into the heat of a League One promotion battle if his threadbare squad needs reinforcements.
The Town boss handed midfielder Alex Ferguson and striker Connor Waldon spots on the bench for Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Yeovil having had the pair in the matchday squad in recent weeks, while fellow youth teamers Aaron Ferris and Jake Simpson also travelled to Somerset.
With the transfer embargo hanging over Town currently stopping MacDonald from adding to his squad the former Aston Villa coach is happy to turn to youth, and would have no concerns over bringing them off the bench if it was required.
“We took four to Yeovil with Aaron Ferris and Jake Simpson travelling as well, and I have known through the years that Swindon have a good youth set-up, and while I was at Aston Villa there were people who knew them very well,” he said.
“We have had a look at them, and we don’t have anyone else which means we need to get them to play, and if it means putting them on the pitch then that is what we will do.
“I wouldn’t have any worries in doing that, and the big thing is that the four of them, and others, have the keenness to do well for Swindon Town.
“I don’t know what the previous manager’s ideas were, but I know my idea is that if there is nobody else and no senior players available you have to stick someone else in, because you never know you might find a little gem.”
MacDonald has sensed the second-year scholars’ desire to win themselves permanent deals at the County Ground, and has also been impressed with the way his first-team squad have welcomed the youngsters.
“There is an eagerness without a doubt, but a lot of the first-team boys are playing for contracts as well, and the big thing for me is that the youngsters have been integrated by the seniors very easily,” he said.
“They have trained with us a bit over the last few weeks and we have had a little bit of a look, and the senior guys wrap the ball into them to test their touch and see they’re good enough, and they appreciate and understand why we have brought them back.”
One scholar who is unlikely to have the chance to impress the new manager between now and the end of the season is defender Aaron Oakley, who suffered a stress fracture in his foot playing against a combined services team at St George’s Park earlier this month.
MacDonald insisted the injury would not hinder the teenager’s ability to win a professional deal, and suggested contract talks may have to take a back seat as he plots Town’s path to promotion.
“Aaron trained with us and then got a stress fracture, but maybe talking about contracts is a little bit premature at the moment and we have to see where we are,” he said.
“All of the kids have impressed me, and that is the important thing for me at the moment.”
Comments(19)
smirg kcab
says...
7:52am Thu 21 Mar 13
McDonald has NO choice to use youngsters.
Onwards and upwards
Results like Tuesday who gives a tosss
Get over it NO players will come
mancrobin
says...
8:13am Thu 21 Mar 13
arkells wrote:I think we knew full well what the previous manager's views were. His open critism of the youth set up and reported fall out with Paul Bodin was evidence of that.
kev states he dosent know what the previous manager ideas were,neither did anyone else kev, totally agree with the youngsters applying there trade and as he stated we might find a gem, think this guy as got his head on the right wavr lengh here.
DiCanio claimed progress was being halted by a lack of young talent coming through. Clearly Kevin does not share that view and the growing stature of the Thompsons, Bedwell and Oakley will prove that a complete falsehood if any of this new batch are also able to step up to the mark.
My view is that PdC's critism was a tactic to extract even more cash out of the Board. One of the many straws that eventually broke the camels back.
Is that you Lovesey
says...
8:22am Thu 21 Mar 13
Robinonfire
says...
8:45am Thu 21 Mar 13
spiker71
says...
8:46am Thu 21 Mar 13
If you don't try how will you ever know if they can cut the mustard in the real action?
Remember a young 16 year old coming on as sub for the toffees v Arsenal? A wonder goal and the rest is history.
A club of our stature has to look to bring through young talent, it will be the only way to stop this continuous overspending.
Forge links to bring in talent, the likes of Hoddle's academy.
If it ment a few lend years then so be it.
A financially stable club with young bright, eager to impress talent instead of wasted money on journey men looking for the most money or cup hunting.
Just take Tuesday for instance, who was by far the best player on a terrible pitch and never put a foot wrong?.........I rest my case.
louiscassius
says...
9:06am Thu 21 Mar 13
smirg kcab wrote:As long as we keep winning and churning out results, as you said, no-one will give a t0ss!!
HEADLINES
McDonald has NO choice to use youngsters.
Onwards and upwards
Results like Tuesday who gives a tosss
Get over it NO players will come
Upwards and beyond......
peatmoor pirate
says...
9:22am Thu 21 Mar 13
hertz
says...
9:31am Thu 21 Mar 13
berswin
says...
9:36am Thu 21 Mar 13
It is very important to promote players from the youth squads to avoid cashing out on average players that doesn't improve the team.
southside7
says...
9:43am Thu 21 Mar 13
berswin wrote:Fully agree. Music to my ears, so nice to have an adult like approach from a manager, knowing we are a small club with limitatons and adapting to it. Not worrying about the length of players hair and whether or not they should have croutons in their pre-match soup.
Finally a manager who talks positive about the youth team.
It is very important to promote players from the youth squads to avoid cashing out on average players that doesn't improve the team.
avo
says...
9:45am Thu 21 Mar 13
meadowred
says...
9:57am Thu 21 Mar 13
louiscassius
says...
11:06am Thu 21 Mar 13
meadowred wrote:Good post!
Great new from the Manager and hopefully supported by the new board as any Youth set up needs full backing to work. Hopefully both will see fit to run a Reserve Side next season to allow Youth team players and fringe/injured players the chance to play competitive football and a regular basis. We have plenty of quality within the Youth Set Up so give them a chance to play for the Club they have worked so hard for surely on cost basis will save the Club money and along side good seasoned Pros will give the team a good balance.
I think when a Youth player with obvious raw talent comes along, exposure is so important.
Kev, certainly will uncover more than 1 player with this type of new policy.
We will reep the rewards i'm sure, however this will indeed take time; but is still worthy of commendment.
Well done everyone envolved.
Oi Den!
says...
11:11am Thu 21 Mar 13
themoonraker
says...
12:32pm Thu 21 Mar 13
On the subject of our youth set up,
hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I wonder how Master Henshall feels right now, the greener grass and talent nuturing seems to have ended with a place on the subs bench in an average bottom league side.....oh the innocence of youth and the power of ''wannabe'' parents.....another one who probably would have benefitted from PB's experience instead of trying to chase a dream that was always going to blocked by overpaid, non-uk imports.
It's a shame that his career seems to be heading more for working for Ronald Mac, when if he stayed with his local club and progressed he could now be looking at working with Kevin Mac........it's such a shame
louiscassius
says...
1:08pm Thu 21 Mar 13
themoonraker wrote:Mate,
You would hope that our youth players are STFC at heart and that at least should mean that they will play will pride and determination, if selected, something which appeared sadly lacking in some of our loan or outright purchases in the past.
On the subject of our youth set up,
hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I wonder how Master Henshall feels right now, the greener grass and talent nuturing seems to have ended with a place on the subs bench in an average bottom league side.....oh the innocence of youth and the power of ''wannabe'' parents.....another one who probably would have benefitted from PB's experience instead of trying to chase a dream that was always going to blocked by overpaid, non-uk imports.
It's a shame that his career seems to be heading more for working for Ronald Mac, when if he stayed with his local club and progressed he could now be looking at working with Kevin Mac........it's such a shame
He's still only 19, and still on Man City's books.....
Good luck to the lad, i hope his dreams come true....
burley01rs
says...
1:47pm Thu 21 Mar 13
sp1dersw3b
says...
8:09pm Thu 21 Mar 13
mancrobin wrote:I have always been a pro PDC supporter and will forever be grateful to the man for the success enjoyed over the last 20 months or so.
arkells wrote:I think we knew full well what the previous manager's views were. His open critism of the youth set up and reported fall out with Paul Bodin was evidence of that.
kev states he dosent know what the previous manager ideas were,neither did anyone else kev, totally agree with the youngsters applying there trade and as he stated we might find a gem, think this guy as got his head on the right wavr lengh here.
DiCanio claimed progress was being halted by a lack of young talent coming through. Clearly Kevin does not share that view and the growing stature of the Thompsons, Bedwell and Oakley will prove that a complete falsehood if any of this new batch are also able to step up to the mark.
My view is that PdC's critism was a tactic to extract even more cash out of the Board. One of the many straws that eventually broke the camels back.
I don't know if you are correct with your observation concerning a 'tactic to extract even more cash' but thank you very much for this contribution - you may indeed be right upon reflection.
arkells says...
7:44am Thu 21 Mar 13