No inside knowledge but I wonder if the loan player is someone like Ki-Jana Hoever from Liverpool, equally comfortable as a centre back and right back. Desperately need cover in both positions.
Have the likes of Ness or Vega played for us yet? They'd be ahead of Barker in normal circumstances
Would they? If Barker is the better of the three, he should be ahead of them both IMO.
Agree the best player (who’s also ready mentally) should play, but from what Richard Cawley has said Barker played because he’s a scholar (defined by age and/or contract?).
Playing an u23 would have added them to our “senior” squad and therefore stopped us from making a signing this week.
So we can play a 17 year old and it doesn't count as one of the embargo 23 limit, but can't play a 19 year old as it would do...
I imagine there are a few frustrated older academy players out there, seeing the quirk of the embargo rules allow Barker to leapfrog them!
I said elsewhere I thought that might be the case. It explains why Barker and Henry played ahead of several u23 CBs and CMs.
I’m 99% sure Henry has already signed a pro deal and therefore counts towards the squad cap.
Henry also played against West Brom in the FA Cup so either he's regarded as a scholar or he's already taken a squad place in the embargo prior to this season
Have the likes of Ness or Vega played for us yet? They'd be ahead of Barker in normal circumstances
Would they? If Barker is the better of the three, he should be ahead of them both IMO.
Big IF though. Fair play to Barker, sounds like he's impressing. But it also sounds like he was picked on his age and our embargo status rather than being better than Ness and/or Vega.
Have the likes of Ness or Vega played for us yet? They'd be ahead of Barker in normal circumstances
Would they? If Barker is the better of the three, he should be ahead of them both IMO.
Big IF though. Fair play to Barker, sounds like he's impressing. But it also sounds like he was picked on his age and our embargo status rather than being better than Ness and/or Vega.
But we've not seen anything to suggest Ness or Vega are close to coming through yet either.
Where's the usual lot that see the U23's and U18's to let us know which of them deserves a shot? So far all we've seen from Barker has been just about good enough for League 1.
Alongside a half decent CB partner he should do well.
Have the likes of Ness or Vega played for us yet? They'd be ahead of Barker in normal circumstances
Would they? If Barker is the better of the three, he should be ahead of them both IMO.
Big IF though. Fair play to Barker, sounds like he's impressing. But it also sounds like he was picked on his age and our embargo status rather than being better than Ness and/or Vega.
But we've not seen anything to suggest Ness or Vega are close to coming through yet either.
Where's the usual lot that see the U23's and U18's to let us know which of them deserves a shot? So far all we've seen from Barker has been just about good enough for League 1.
Alongside a half decent CB partner he should do well.
I think it's very very early to start talking about Barker starting League 1 football. I saw him Saturday and thought he looked good. I also still believe we need 2 CBs if we are going to compete at the top end.
Absolutely no disrespect to young Barker because he’s clearly done very well and has impressed Bow and the team, long may that continue. But he hasn’t even had a season with the U23s yet, he should not be expected to be apart of a first team who needs to looking at getting promoted from what is a tough league.
Last time we had Bauer, Bielik, Pearce, and Sarr. That was very good for League One, probably too good. This time at the moment we have Oshilaja and Pearce, of which Pearce is out injured. We need another two centre backs of top end League One quality.
Let Barker learn the game, let him develop naturally, let him pick up the art of defending from someone like Pearce without the pressure of playing in a team where we will need results. He’s taken it very well so far, but let’s not ruin him before his career has even started.
Barker a bit like others has shown that there is no right age for a player to be thrown into mens football - Some can just do it at 17, others when they're in their 20s, others for whatever reason just cant hack it at all despite being highly rated in the youth setup.
Certainly agree though that if Barker is of the type that can just naturally hack it then it has to happen at the right pace, a bit like Shelvey and Gomez we cant just go throwing him into a full 50-game + season
Very different circumstances I’ll admit but given Karlan’s far too early baptism into first team football which I believe really set him back and his subsequent achievement after a period of rehabilitation from that early shock and disappointment, I wouldn’t expect or want Barker thrown in too quickly for his own development. Good for the lad that he’s had a taste and will want more but only when he ready, not out of necessity.
Him, his agent, and Man Utd are barking mad or pig ignorant coming our way in light of recent news.
Not sure on this,
best case he plays a whole season of mens football at a good level with a coaching staff who have a track record of improving midfielders specifically.
worst case we go bust and he's back into the U23's at United and loaned back out in Jan.
Comments
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alfie-doughtys-school-hard-knocks-22637935.amp
I imagine there are a few frustrated older academy players out there, seeing the quirk of the embargo rules allow Barker to leapfrog them!
https://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/88244/euan-williams-signs-pro-contract
Where's the usual lot that see the U23's and U18's to let us know which of them deserves a shot? So far all we've seen from Barker has been just about good enough for League 1.
Alongside a half decent CB partner he should do well.
Last time we had Bauer, Bielik, Pearce, and Sarr. That was very good for League One, probably too good. This time at the moment we have Oshilaja and Pearce, of which Pearce is out injured. We need another two centre backs of top end League One quality.
Let Barker learn the game, let him develop naturally, let him pick up the art of defending from someone like Pearce without the pressure of playing in a team where we will need results. He’s taken it very well so far, but let’s not ruin him before his career has even started.
Certainly agree though that if Barker is of the type that can just naturally hack it then it has to happen at the right pace, a bit like Shelvey and Gomez we cant just go throwing him into a full 50-game + season
best case he plays a whole season of mens football at a good level with a coaching staff who have a track record of improving midfielders specifically.
worst case we go bust and he's back into the U23's at United and loaned back out in Jan.