[Baggie79]

It seems that the promising youth teams we have are starting to supply players that can challenge for squad places or better.

The obvious ones are the likes of Field, Harper and Leko but it seems now that we have a good crop coming through behind them as well.

Palmer, Wilkins, Melbourne, Fitzwater, Tulloch, Edwards, Jameson, Dyce all look capable and could possibly feature at some point if needed. I have probably missed a few but you get the idea.

It just makes me feel positive that the academy is proving its worth and working well.

[Xpresso]

Field is beyond the youngster stage and I would expect to be a regular this season. For me, Leko has some catching up to do before he's first-team material. But I fully expect Darren Moore to blood Wilson, Fitzwater, Jameson, Harper, Edwards and maybe Tulloch and Dyce at some stage. Not all at once and not all together but they are the future and they deserve to be given the chance to step up to the plate.

[baggie38]

Leko is nowhere near first team material. He has alot of maturing to do as a player. He is very skillfull but doesn't know when to release the ball. Sometimes he will take a player on go past him and instead of releasing it he would rather go back and take them on again. As the poster above said Field is past the youngster stage now and he could easily become a valued member of the first 11 this season. Ive even gone as far as saying that in 3/4 years he could possibly represent England at full senior level. Edwards and Wilson also look handy and could play a part this season but I wouldn't go any further than that.

[beechyboy90]

Think leko needs a season on loan with the saddlers. We need Burke to be getting game time.

[HampshireBaggie]

Edwards looking bright so far in pre-season

[telford baggie]

apart from field i dont see any youngster near 1st team squad but barry, livermore and brunt will keep him out and there is our problem. edwards is defiently pushing and looks handy but leko i really cant see making it, will end up lower league all pace and no idea

[Smethwickender93]

I think Fitzwater will be pushing for the first team this year. I know Pulis rated him when sending him out on loan and you know how he likes his defenders!

Jimmy Shan always speaks highly of him on Twitter.

[Dan]

It's now or never for the academy. There's a few promising players coming through - namely Morgan Rogers who's one of the absolute best prospects in the country his age, and also Tulloch (recently in the England under 17 euro squad), Ferguson (just named in the England under 19 squad for the european championship).

But if they can't see the likes of Field playing regularly, the other  academy players like Wilson, Harper, and Edwards getting minutes this season - they would be well within their rights to wonder why they should stay here. People like Rogers can go to basically any club in the country, if we can't offer opportunities, we offer them nothing.

[nick_wba]

If we, a Championship club, can’t offer them a place in the squad, then they obviously aren’t good enough at this level. If they aren’t good enough at this level, then there is no need for us to keep them.

I think young, ambitious players are beginning to cotton on that it is nigh on impossible to break through at a top 6 Premier League club. Loftus-Cheek being the most recent player to come out and say young players have to leave the bigger clubs to give themselves the best opportunity.

Rogers, Field, Tulloch etc. know that and I think they’ll stay and try their hardest to break through. If they are good enough, they’ll play, if not then they obviously aren’t good enough and are surplus to requirements.

[Adder]

If Edwards continues his form in the remaining friendlies, I wonder what chance he has of starting against Bolton ?

I think we need to get away a bit from the idea that the Championship is some sort of massive step-up. It may be so going on what he's played in previously but if a young player is in form and confident I think we should look to give him his chance. McLean should be out of the picture, Edwards seems to be showing more than Leko at the moment and probably only Phillips of the wide players would be pretty certain to start.

[Baggies]

While there was an excuse while in the premier, the second tier is a different standard and our academy has to start producing some players for the 1st team now, even if it is only 1 or 2.

Our problem in judging development is that in my lifetime, we have "graduated" very few players from our academy and so it is hard to tell where the players should be in their development based on age and position.

Sam Field, if he can ever stay fit, seems to be top of the queue, but after that, it's anyone's guess who is the most likely to break through.

Kyle Edwards has had a great pre season so far, but then again, he is the same age as Marcus Rashford and last year he was still not a regular starter for league 2 Exeter, scoring only 2 goals all season. It's possible he is a late developer, or maybe he can be developed into more of a wide forward in a non goals orientated role. He will be an interesting experiment in if somebody can develop a bit later than expected.

Leko seems to have lost all of his momentum, and for some reason I can't see him breaking through now. Instead it feels like Rakeem Harper has over taken him as the midfielder with the best chance of first team opportunties next season.

Fitzwater had a good spell at Walsall and I hope we show some faith in him in a back up role. Test if he can make the step up.

Kane Wilson could be interesting as there may end up being gaps at full back, although I personally feel he might be better served by another full loan spell.

The other young defenders coming through like Max Melbourne, Kyle Jameson, Nathan Ferguson and Tyrese Dyce all have the potential to burst onto the scene this year.

The best chances however are usually strikers. Strikers can make more mistakes as it is further up the pitch and the role takes less to learn. They usually develop quicker and so it will be interesting to see if someone like Rayhaan Tulloch or even Morgan Rogers (maybe 1 or 2 years too early) can make their mark this year.

Lets hope they can take the chances they get this season.

[wardy65]

Agree there is a real possibility we could see more home grown talent on the hallowed Hawthorns turf, than ever before. Big fan of Kane Wilson, and i'm sure i read somewhere, he played all of the recent friendly at Swindon, & was the only player to do so. From what i can gather, although Leko seems to have stalled somewhat, the likes of Harper, Fitzwater, Edwards & Field, could get quite a few first team minutes in the coming season.

[SmethDan]

Agree there is a real possibility we could see more home grown talent on the hallowed Hawthorns turf, than ever before. Big fan of Kane Wilson, and i'm sure i read somewhere, he played all of the recent friendly at Swindon, & was the only player to do so. From what i can gather, although Leko seems to have stalled somewhat, the likes of Harper, Fitzwater, Edwards & Field, could get quite a few first team minutes in the coming season.

I wasn't at Swindon and I don't know how accurate this is.

But a pal of mine who did go thought Wilson had stacked on a wee bit of timber over the summer.

If so then it may explain why he played for so long out in the hot sun.

[Adder]

I wasn't at Swindon and I don't know how accurate this is.

But a pal of mine who did go thought Wilson had stacked on a wee bit of timber over the summer.

If so then it may explain why he played for so long out in the hot sun.

Could be but he's always had that sort of stocky build about him. Human metabolism and genetics, some people stay stick thin, others put on weight more easily. Hopefully the fitness guys are more measuring the physical performance rather than the shape.

[seteefeet]

My mate's a ST holder at Walsall and rates Fitzwater very highly and has no doubt he can make the step up.
Hope he does and keeps Dawson on the bench.

[AlbionFan]

My mate's a ST holder at Walsall and rates Fitzwater very highly and has no doubt he can make the step up.
Hope he does and keeps Dawson on the bench.

Dawson is a financial asset and keeping him sat on the bench would devalue that asset, with the obvious knock on effect to the clubs spending power

[Maresca Was A Baggie]

Dawson is a financial asset and keeping him sat on the bench would devalue that asset, with the obvious knock on effect to the clubs spending power

But why should Dawson play ahead of a player thats pledged his future to us, rather than a player desperate to leave?? He want's out so let him sit out each game.

[seteefeet]

Dawson is a financial asset and keeping him sat on the bench would devalue that asset, with the obvious knock on effect to the clubs spending power

I know all that, but that is exactly why football in general is in the gutter at the minute, because everything is driven by money, even fan's opinions! I love the Albion but, they don't drop a brown envelope round my house every Friday, so I try not to let the financials guide my thoughts.
Dawson has disrespected the club, and so loses all respect from me, and my principles lead me to hope that he doesn't play again but nor does he get his wishes. If that means him sitting on the bench whilst a young kid gets the chance then so be it. Of course it makes no financial sense but wouldn't it be nice to take a principled stand for once.

[Albionic]

I know all that, but that is exactly why football in general is in the gutter at the minute, because everything is driven by money, even fan's opinions! I love the Albion but, they don't drop a brown envelope round my house every Friday, so I try not to let the financials guide my thoughts.
Dawson has disrespected the club, and so loses all respect from me, and my principles lead me to hope that he doesn't play again but nor does he get his wishes. If that means him sitting on the bench whilst a young kid gets the chance then so be it. Of course it makes no financial sense but wouldn't it be nice to take a principled stand for once.

A few non-sensical financial decisions at the club in recent times to be fair,

[Baggie79]

I thought Melbourne looked very assured last night, looks a good prospect.

[MarkW]

I thought Melbourne looked very assured last night, looks a good prospect.

Has gone on loan to Partick Thistle

[iwastherein68]

I thought Melbourne looked very assured last night, looks a good prospect.

I thought so too mate....................but what do we know.
In the overall scheme of things can't see many opportunities for "the crop" . If still here the old guard will rule the roost.

[paulosull]

We need youth players to step up as it looks like owner won't be with regards to investing in first team.

[beechyboy90]

I thought Melbourne looked very assured last night, looks a good prospect.

Hence why the kid has got his loan at Patrick thistle

[Cullompton baggie]

i always worry that other clubs will snap up our youth players without us trying them in the first team. we then see the player shine elsewhere and then have regrets! Roofe/Wood being examples of other sides that have benefited