Probably a combination but one more factor that isn’t blameless are the fans. They can be very guilty of judging a youngster not good enough when he does make it into the first team when he’s still learning and far from the finished product, whether it be that players own fans or opposition fans. In 2014 Ashton Golding was player of the series against the Aussies and a youngster that actually got given a first team chance at a young age and has faced plenty of criticism from both Leeds and opposition fans because he wasn’t as good as Hardaker.

I agree with you both. Its difficult to judge at youth as size and speed always make you look better and you can be found out when you progress and everyone has that.

But the road to the top is never a straight line. Nothing wrong with going to a lower club to establish yourself before going back to the big show.

I recently read an article anoyr Shoot magazines ones to watch with the best 15 year old footballers in the country.
Of those named a couple had Premier league experience but most were complete unknowns. Only Bertrand had really made it to national level and he's probably lost his place now......though worthy of his one to watch tag, he didn't get there quickly.

Well of course they won’t have premier league experience as they are only 15 years old and the youngest premier league player was 16 lol

At a guess & seen as PT mentioned Bertrand and since he's played for England and has probably has lost his place, Plus he's played in every national youth England team before that - he's talking about an old article and the players who went on to make it when judged as a 15-year-old.

I guess I should have explained it was 10 year old article looking at how they'd progressed.

Apologies. That makes sense then