He didn't start either game for the England U20s this break, which suggests he's not as good as some are wanting him to be.

It's also worth putting some perspective on this; no one in that England U20 squad is playing Premier League football - in fact, I think Rak-Sakyi is one of only two players in that squad with a Prem appearance to their name, the other being James McAtee who is one of the best prospects in the country.

He's developing fine - I hope he does get an appearance or two before the end of the season, particularly with our safety pretty much assured, but some perspective needed

I think he's now at least 5ft 10 ins and more than holds his own against bigger players in the U23s. Having said that, he has been unfortunate to find Olise in situ but if Olise's injury is going to keep him out for several weeks, Rak-Sakyi may well get some game time as he offers something different to Ayew.

Another way of looking at this he has the least first team football of any of the mids in that squad. His experience is less than or on a par with the players from City or Liverpool. The vast majority of the mids in the squad have reasonably extensive experience at Champo level - even if on loan.

The England U21 manager is on record as saying how highly he rates him but finds it hard to place him simply because he has only U23 experience. A couple of mins week 1 off the bench is frankly irrelevant.

Edit: this is the relevant article

[Link]

The most relevant bit is

“What I’ve noticed is trying to compare a player who is playing in the U23s with a player that’s playing in the Championship is very difficult,” explained Carsley. “I expect one to do really well and I expect one to struggle and it’s having the eye to see how [these players] would fit in there.

“The quicker these players can get out on loan or play senior football it helps them [as] part of their development. It’s an important part of making that next step.”

I wouldn't be drawing any conclusions from his England U20 record at all on the basis of this.

Edited by Omph (31 Mar 2022 11.23am)

Edited by Omph (31 Mar 2022 11.24am)

I hadn't read that interview before - interesting; thanks for sharing

I think you're misinterpreting my point, which is not to suggest that a loan is a bad idea, just that minutes in the Premier League are exceptionally hard to come by at that age.

I think in hindsight we should have loaned him to the Championship this season - maybe they thought he'd get more opportunities or didn't expect Olise to be quite as impactful straight away etc.

Yes, that was Said Aigoun who came with quite a big reputation.

Wasn't PV's role at City also to help identify talent and manage the transition from youth to men's football?

I also think it would've been part of Parish's pitch to any potential manager last summer that we've got these two youth squads coming through, new academy opening etc. and made clear that the expectation would be for some of those to make it into the first team, so potentially JRS was kept here as the best hope of achieving that.

Definitely agree it was a decision not to loan him out - it won't have been a lack of interest given what he's done in the development league.

They are two different systems. The U18 leagues are regional in that there is a north and a south. the winners of the two leagues play to decide who is the overall U18 champions. I think last season Citeh beat Fulham (the latter having pipped us on goal difference despite us doing the double over them).

The U23s did get promoted to the top league through the play-offs (Leeds won the 2nd division). We are now playing against the top teams although some of them (Chelsea being the prime example) are struggling because their best U23 players are out on loan (think Gallagher, Broja, Gilmour etc.) Indeed Chelsea U23s are in danger of relegation (currently 13th out of 14 teams). We are doing well in 5th place, whereas Leeds who romped to the 2nd division title last year are down in 11th. We've been playing our strongest team most of the season. Leeds on the other hand have had to shore up their first team squad with youngsters. Some of our more experienced youngsters did go out on loan in January (by which point our U23s weren't in any relegation danger). Both O'Brien ()at Swindon and Street (at Newport) seem to be getting regular men's football albeit in League 2 (both teams fighting for a play-off place so good experience for our lads).