Quote ="MorePlaymakersNeeded"There seems to be a problem of trust with giving Dean and Longstaffe a run in the first team, which I think is a symptom of our slide down the SL table. I'm frustrated that they've hardly featured in the first team, but have shown enough promise for me to be worthy of further first team experience. The recent examples of GOB BP and HL, all had far more game time, which helped to make ones mind up regarding what their ability level was at the time, and going forward. Without being party to what he wanted, and what we offered, personally, I'd have kept GOB as he would have made a very useful squad player.
Things is, were in a position where we cannot judge Dean and Longstaffe, due to limited appearances, in the same way that we currently judge Thewlis and Wrench. The latter are worthy of the shirt, and I have a feeling that the former are too, and would like Powell to give them a go. Powell seems to be missing an opportunity, where we sadly lack a creative half back, and have two very underperforming second row forwards.
This sends out the wrong message, in that there's not enough trust in what were doing with our whole academy development structure, and for some, on an individual basis.'"
While I agree with some of this, it surely isn't as simple as throwing these lads in and hoping it pays off?
Firstly, what everyone seems to forget is that Powell and his coaching staff see these lads everyday in training and, for all we know, they might not be tearing up any trees there in the same way that Thewlis and Wrench may have done?
Also, and I think this is the key issue, Powell may be thinking that a relegation battle isn't the best place to be throwing too many youngsters into as a group and that it might sink a couple of them unnecessarily.
Undoubtedly, I think if we were 4 or 6 points better off right now, I think we would likely be seeing a lot more of Dean and Longstaff, as Powell would probably think there was less pressure and the lads could be eased into first team rugby.
So overall, I think unfortunately the pair of them are paying the price for the side's poor form. Their development would be a lot easier in a successful side - look at how Saints are able to bed in youngsters at a steady rate - its a strategy that we have never really mastered, but is one we will need to be able to do in the future if we are to ever progress.
