Leo Smith

[pagl]

Strangely enough another one that has failed to progress. Seemed to have more potential than Robbie Evans did as it looked as though he did want the ball and could pass it (unlike Evans).

I guess that CDs limited availability has meant a lack of improvement throughout the squad. Is he only available match days?

[Junior Shabadoo]

Originally Posted by FatLesthepieman

Many thought Leo might make the breakthrough to the first team this year, but sadly it was not to be. The little I've seen of him this season makes me think he has regressed if anything.

He joins a lengthening list of young players who make no improvement whatsoever while they're here and are then released to the LoW or beyond.

And we keep focusing on the individuals, write them off with a "if he was good enough he'd be playing" and fail to look at the underlying issues. The club is simply unwilling and/or unable to develop any player they haven't flogged by the age of 17. It has been established on other threads that nobody is giving this a scrap of attention at the club. Why would anybody progress?

[NottsRed]

TBH we should come to some agreement with him to let him go. A year spent doing nothing won't have done him any favours and if we are being brutally honest hes shown no improvement to push into the first team.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by Junior Shabadoo

And we keep focusing on the individuals, write them off with a "if he was good enough he'd be playing" and fail to look at the underlying issues. The club is simply unwilling and/or unable to develop any player they haven't flogged by the age of 17. It has been established on other threads that nobody is giving this a scrap of attention at the club. Why would anybody progress?

As I mentioned its not just our young players that have failed to progress is it?

Makes me wonder if AD really is up to the job after all.

[elles-dragon]

If we insist on no reserves, how hard would it be to harbar links with a club like Cefn Druids. Loan them some of the up and coming youngsters/fringe players that need game time. As local could still train at Wrexham and easy to monitor their progress?
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[Junior Shabadoo]

Originally Posted by elles-dragon

If we insist on no reserves, how hard would it be to harbar links with a club like Cefn Druids. Loan them some of the up and coming youngsters/fringe players that need game time. As local could still train at Wrexham and easy to monitor their progress?
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The problem was until the end of January we didn't even have a first team squad big enough for loans out. After that I don't know what was on the table (Marx took a chance then) but if you were Leo Smith and you'd watched a midfield fail to create anything for six months you'd probably be put out to have to go and play for Prestatyn rather than get any games here.

[Junior Shabadoo]

Originally Posted by pagl

As I mentioned its not just our young players that have failed to progress is it?

Makes me wonder if AD really is up to the job after all.

Maybe but our squad age has gone under the radar. There aren't the Morrell era pensioners but not much in the way of development potential amongst the considered players either, aside from Akil Wright. I'm not sure everyone gets how route one we're going in every sense.

[pagl]

Originally Posted by Junior Shabadoo

Maybe but our squad age has gone under the radar. There aren't the Morrell era pensioners but not much in the way of development potential amongst the considered players either, aside from Akil Wright. I'm not sure everyone gets how route one we're going in every sense.

Yeh I agree.

[Red Light]

Simply down the pecking order after the signings of Wedgbury, Kelly & Wright but with Holroyd, Boden and the likes of Rutherford / Mackreth also making midfield appearances (depending on your tactical outlook of how we set up) then Leo Smith never stood a chance.

No reserves so little chance to develop and no loan out to another club to give him chance to build himself - you just wonder what he has done for most of the season.

Ultimately just another young lad, like many others who has come up against a solid closed door of opportunity - unless you arrive in the first team squad instantly good enough to hold a place in the first 11 or close to you are unlikely to survive - competition is no doubt extremely tough especially if you are young.