Re. Harvey Bradbury
It’s amazing what fans want to see from a promoted youth teamer. I recall Callum O’Dowda’s full debut against Charlton (I can’t remember if was in the FA Cup or League Cup … ?). He was reasonable and steady on the ball but clearly didn’t have the confidence or nous to beat his marker and played with a fear of losing the ball so he kept things very safe. Not a bad debut by any means but nothing more than a 6/10.
When I saw comments about him on the boards, you would have thought Ronaldo Mrk II had played. His debut was mythicised into one that was ‘fantastic’ by one poster. I had to remind them it really wasn’t. Generally, the OTT comments tend to come from players we’ve developed ourselves.
This is not to write Bradbury off – his size, scope and playing style make him sound like a real asset for the future – but it may go some way to explaining that some fans see what they want to see from a YTS player.
I'm fully with you on this. We've often heard how great our youth players are and here outrage from some fans when they don't get thrown straight into the first team. Aaron Woodley. Alex Fisher. Tyronne Marsh. There's probably a lot more if I take the time to think about it.
Re. COD - I remember writing in the FV at the time that I didn't see him as being the answer to our problems (we always have problems of one kind or another). I know I wasn’t the only one and about four years ago I wrote – “when my mate suggested that he would be playing in the Jersey League in five years time, that was probably quite a bit OTT, but I wouldn’t put money on him having a lengthy Football League career.”
I know one poster on here kept having a go at me for these views. A relation with a vested interest perhaps and if I’d been in those shoes I would probably have done exactly the same.
But some youngster develop where as others don’t. More than once having spotted a young ‘un after the summer break there’s been comments such as “bloody ‘ell he’s bulked out” or “he’s turned into a man”.
I’ve also written this a few times before but COD turned into a very good player for us. I think the quantum leap was when he began playing with his head up and became much more aware of what was around him. But I’m not a coach who spots what’s what in training day in day out and knows which players have genuine ability that can be developed and those that have not.
Fair play to the lad, he’s making a very good living at Bristol City and is a full international.
I also remember Michael Duberry writing in the Oxford Mail when he wrote a small weekly column that he thought COD would end up in the Premiership. Not quite there yet but a lot closer to the Etihad than King’s Sutton.
And in no way have I written Bradbury off. Of course I haven't but as someone sat just in front of me on Saturday said, this is a steep learning curve for him.