Hitchcock released

[zeberdee]

The guy struggled to get in Rotherham's starting 11 when they were in the first division and only made one sub appearance for us last season. Obviously there is something wrong somewhere. No point keeping him if there is things not right somewhere. Supporters don't see him day in day out in training.

good point. we dont know all the ins and outs but loaning young players out to the lower leagues gives everyone an external judgement of where a player is at. youth systems at a club can progress a player so much but then giving them a go on loan at the sharp end in the real world is often more telling than performances in semi competitive youth, reserve, friendly games. from what i have seen seems like petrasso for example cut the mustard on loan and hitchcock and some others did not.

[Nick]

Shame really.... what I don't understand is why people still use his loan at Rotherham against him. Just because he struggled getting into ROTHERHAM'S team managed by one of the best managers around, who knows everything about young up and coming player's....'Steve Evens'!!!!

And when he has played for them he's don his job and scored (5 goals in 7 appearances).

IMO if this lad is to be tested he needs to step up a level....

[West Acton]

Im not fussed if honest at the age of 21 I would have expected a player to have broken into the squad/team by that age and the fact we loaned him out and he still never got a run of games sums it up for me.

I know there are loads on this forum who really get off on youngsters but surely just being young is not enough to earn you place surely you have to have some ability to go with the age????? at 21 he should have kicked on by now

[Kirill]

If he was 15 years older and playing like this then I bet Harry would be all over him.

[Norths]

If he was 15 years older and playing like this then I bet Harry would be all over him.

Harry out!!!

[Nick]

Im not fussed if honest at the age of 21 I would have expected a player to have broken into the squad/team by that age and the fact we loaned him out and he still never got a run of games sums it up for me.

I know there are loads on this forum who really get off on youngsters but surely just being young is not enough to earn you place surely you have to have some ability to go with the age????? at 21 he should have kicked on by now

Totally agree mate, especially that player's these days seem to be hitting their best form at a younger age.... also playing in WC, Europe's, Champions league, premiership etc. I would just like to see him given the chance at a higher level to prove himself, not at the likes of Crewe and Rotherham. We go on about getting younger players with potential, maybe he fits into that category.

[Kirill]

Harry out!!!

I second that!

[Johnny Tightlips]

He's not one of our "youth products" - he came through the Blackburn Academy from when Kevin Hitchcock was up there with Hughes.

And he really isn't good enough - scored a well taken goal in his one sub appearance (and he was only ever on the bench that day as 'Arry was proving a point to Beard and Fernandes; "down to the bare bones" etc. in his push for more players). Seen him a few times in the U21's, nowhere near the standard we need.

Why people are so upset by this is beyond me.

[Yousef]

It looks like we cannot develop our young players to be ready for first team football. Hopefully once we have our new training center with good facilities we will be able to do so. when will we get the new traing ground?

This is a serious issue and I think Tony will address it. We should be able to produce and develop young players to reach the first team in order to make profit out of them for the club in the long term just like Southampton or even Crew.

[Johnny Tightlips]

It looks like we cannot develop our young players to be ready for first team football. Hopefully once we have our new training center with good facilities we will be able to do so. when will we get the new traing ground?

This is a serious issue and I think Tony will address it. We should be able to produce and develop young players to reach the first team in order to make profit out of them for the club in the long term just like Southampton or even Crew.

That just doesn't work. Look at Palace - loads of great youngsters, phenomenal Academy set up with limited (being nice) facilities, costs a fortune to run and then watch their best players get picked off for relative peanuts in the event that they are good enough. Football's changed. The cast offs from Arsenal, Spurs, United and Chelsea's Academies now litter League 1, League 2 and the Conference. Very very few make it through.

Clubs like us, Palace, Southampton etc are on a hiding to nothing with pursuing expensive Academies. Absolutely no reason to have a fully fledged Cat A academy. Utter waste of money.

[Olly]

Would rather have the academy up and running. Rules can change. TF was looking years ahead when he bought us, (OOC for example) anything can happen regarding young players.

[Busheyboy]

we probably should have given him a bit more action last season - if Harry didn't want to play him in the championship, he ain't going to play him in the PL

[stanistheman]

The guy struggled to get in Rotherham's starting 11 when they were in the first division and only made one sub appearance for us last season. Obviously there is something wrong somewhere. No point keeping him if there is things not right somewhere. Supporters don't see him day in day out in training.

I agree, I thought he should have been kept and played last season rather than loan in Keane, Dellatore & Maiga, but he does not look like a potential Premiership player.

[Wolfy]

I believe mostly used as a sub at Rotherham.

[Tarbie]

Nor Premiership standard, would have given him more of a run last season personally but Harry didn't rate him enough so he certainly isn't gonna use him in the Prem. I think you've got to question his attitude a bit too, on the lash after the play-off final when he was in the squad for Rotherham the next day!