Don’t really understand this. Why do we think Reid is any better a prospect than Moffat? I see no point in bringing the boy Reid onboard just to elbow him in a couple of years because he didn’t measure up.
How many of the ‘wonderkids’ have we brought in over the past few seasons just to get rid of them without them ever really getting a chance? If I’m honest I would advise the boy not to join us. In fact I’m not sure why we even bother with a youth development program. How many in the team have come through that way? CMG, JF, AR and SW seems like a poor return for what this must cost us.
Again BB we go full circle upon the issue regarding youth development.
Already we can claim to have a very decent squad of 22 with 2 players for each position in the formation as it stands at the moment, and I'm leaving Forrest out of the 22 on purpose for explanation reasons.
Out of that 22, only 5 are from a Scottish requirement for european football and should also feature for the domestic games also.
Hence Forrest, bain, MJ and McCarthy making up numbers with Forrest as the most useful of the 4 to ourselves for making up a squad, so therefore a claim of 6 Scottish influence out of 23, bain makes it 24 with having to have 3 keepers.
So in reality only 1 place available and yet MJ and McCarthy could well be moved on by tomorrow still.
The game has changed with the 5 sub rule now in place so 16 players used on a matchday, include the 2 keepers who you wouldn't want to have to use, and suddenly the numbers aren't looking so great if injuries start to ever become a factor.
We have set a standard this season now, with the players we have currently and happy enough in general with that standard that has been achieved, and the expectations in the future will be that the standard remains at least the same yet there will be calls for the standard to actually improve also.
With the eye starting to come upon the Scottish game in general, bargains can be got, especially with no development process within Scottish football as far better career opportunities lay elsewhere still, and even for our Scottish players currently within the squad the financial rewards elsewhere could also be huge for them also, especially with them being in the shop window moreso with CL football on offer.
Not a problem for ourselves this season as such, but still holds all the potential of becoming a potential disaster for ourselves if continuing to be left unaddressed imo.
As you pointed out BB our returns haven't been great with Scottish players as such, yet far better than the scum have provided, yet far from secure in been able to keep the conveyer belt moving still, especially one to our liking as such, and with all the potential of the conveyer belt stopping altogether, with nothing in place for young players development within Scottish football still.
The problem exists and needs to be addressed very quickly and a solution found also as the current situation that exists is unacceptable imo any longer.