Unless we are planning on giving them plenty of game time (and not 5-10 mins here and there), I would send both out to a team keen to give them first team games. Ideally League 1 but League 2 if we need to. Give them some senior football experience which is far more beneficial than U21 football at this stage in their career.Do we keep Ajay and McCabe here next season and use them as part of the squad or send them on loan.I see McCabe as a replacement if Hackney leaves.
Frankie Whelan also released.Think Derby or Whitby are looking at himThey both need to go out on loan.
We've let too many players fizzle out in the reserves over the years - Jeremy Sivi was one - He looked great at 18 but didn't get a loan move till this season (21), and he'll be 22 in July.
As soon as they hit 22 it's pretty much over for them here unless they've established themselves, because we'd need to give them a squad number.
Joe Gibson's just been released, it wouldn't surprise me if Sivi was sold/released too.
I know it's probably difficult going out on loan at 17 years old - but even a loan to Hartlepool is better than playing in the U21 in my opinion.
Well I think that's an obvious choice.Frankie Whelan also released.Think Derby or Whitby are looking at him
I was just looking at this couple of days ago. The nearest I got was a PL directive but hopefully the same applies in EFL. You can be 21yrs 7 months and 2 weeks old at the start of the season (say Aug 14th) and still be registered to play in the U21 setup for the full season. Any older and you must register as player number for the seniors.
Terrell Agyemang was born in Nov or Dec and he's already 21 now so just misses out by 6 weeks or so . If Boro wish to keep him he will have to be registered as a senior.
I would keep anyone under 20 playing with the U21 unless they show already a good maturity, then maybe possibly try for a half season loan Aug- Dec in non league or lower but also still up North , Sheffield area or above.
Havent you answered your own question,Ash. Rigg is playing for his own club.In your opinion.... What's the benefit of keeping a player with the U21 instead of sending them out to Hartlepool / Darlington / Spennymoor?
Players like Jack Hannah will be 22 in December too and he's only played 2 games of professional football.
I know he's a one off talent and players mature at different ages... but Sunderland have 16 year old Chris Rigg playing in our division.... 5 and a half years younger than him.
I'd say that's enforced desperation. Getting nothing from Rusyn, Semedo, Burstow all season , then Pritchard leaving in a quickfire moment and JC on the other side out of the game. I know nothing of S U21 obv but likely some they would have tried were already out on loan and committed. Perhaps Rigg was only suitable fall back. He only seems to have gained game time from end of Feb so like 11 games. Roll of the dice from Sunlun in absence of any other optionI know he's a one off talent and players mature at different ages... but Sunderland have 16 year old Chris Rigg playing in our division.... 5 and a half years younger than him.
I'd say that's enforced desperation. Getting nothing from Rusyn, Semedo, Burstow all season , then Pritchard leaving in a quickfire moment and JC on the other side out of the game. I know nothing of S U21 obv but likely some they would have tried were already out on loan and committed. Perhaps Rigg was only suitable fall back. He only seems to have gained game time from end of Feb so like 11 games. Roll of the dice from Sunlun in absence of any other option
If you want to progress your career with good football and a stable club, I’d sign for Whitby.Frankie Whelan also released.Think Derby or Whitby are looking at him
Law McCabe played in the Championship at 17 - that is phenomenal by most standards. Finn Cartwright got minutes at the age of 16. The reality is that these lads are sharing an Academy changing room with players who will only ever be good enough for non league. Excellent players - but not at the level of some of their peers. Boro realise this and know that to improve standards in the academy they need to bring in better quality - so that the potential gems (Cartwright, McCabe, Matthews, Lennon, Hamelberg) are challenged in training. Hence the recent influx of players from London. The theory being that raising the overall quality of the academy programme, means that we get more Championship level players out.
I tend to agree that loans can be very useful. Downing, Johnson, Ben Gibson, Hackney, Coburn... all benefitted from loans.Hopefully that's true - some of the London players look pretty good - I liked the look of Prince Acheampong - and Hamelberg was signed after being released from Fulham U21.
The point I'm trying to make is, the conversations we're having about Cartwright, McCabe, etc... this season, are the same conversations we've had about Gibson and Sivi.
Going further back we probably had the same conversations about Connor Malley and others.
They NEED to go out on loan sooner rather than later in my opinion, for 6-12 months, or like you say... they'll end up playing together at the same level again.
I tend to agree that loans can be very useful. Downing, Johnson, Ben Gibson, Hackney, Coburn... all benefitted from loans.
Others did it without loans including Tav, Fry, Morrison, Cattermole, Wheater etc. I don't think it is one size fits all. On many occasions loans haven't worked for lots of our youngsters including: Kav, Nathan Wood, Chapman, Stott and many others even at non league level.
I'm really not sure Sivi, Gibson, Malley, Hannah etc were rated anywhere near the level of some of the current crop. I don't recall them representing top level international teams regularly. I might be wrong but they were perhaps the best of a rather weak group.