I'm going to make the guess that we might see a couple of loans out. Think I remember hearing that O'Brien for one was angling after one.

There are different models of career progression but the staged one where there is exposure to "men's" football at a lower level is a fairly well established one. Historically we haven't really made it work for us and we've come up trumps with the fast tracking route into the first team squad but now the academy set up is at a different level and perhaps we are better equipped to match a player with a good loan club.

AWB and Mitchell were both accidental promotions iirc that came about through injury. Might just be that the COVID and AFCON combo might see the next star emerge. For that to happen they need to be on the bench first.

What is it that makes a player 'premier' ready?
Is it their ball control? I seem to remember Fergie always saying top players are like having the ball on a piece of string attached to their foot.
Raki Saki always looks so fast when he is on the screen. But he obviously isn't as good as Olise or he would be getting the time. Olise to me seems to be on a different dimension. I watch his runs and some of his passes that are better than good. Its like he's on a different level. His ball control is extraordinary.
Any expert care to comment? Im way behind some of you top analysts.

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Indeed. Playing men's football is very different to playing boys' and most U23s tend to be in the 18-21 age range and often struggle when playing [in] a professional men's team.

None of the current U23s who have been (or are) out on loan have prospered at lower league clubs, so what makes people think they'll suddenly make PL players? The better members of our U23 squad are very much works in progress. A couple might make it in the Premier league in due course. Hopefully a few of the others might be good enough for a Championship or League 1 club.

I think obviously will be a future star, Scott Banks will be Decent and i Also think Rich Baggypants will be a good player, he was a late starter, ian wright style

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn