What age do youth players need the most first team games to improve?

[rimm!]

Im a title chasing club with great prospects in pretty much every position, although they are all around 15-17, I have them on first team training schedules, and a few get a run out in the cups, but I'm not sure whether they are better served staying in training and reserve games until they are 18/19+, or starting games against weaker opposition, or giving them the last 5 mins in quite a few games, anyone have any ideas?

[Ackter]

If they're good enough to perform well, they're old enough to improve well.

[Cycstorm]

My youngsters always stay in the U18's until they are too old to play there anymore. The next step is to loan them out to a GOOD feeder club (Championship or top tier foreign). As Arsenal I had Watford, Charlton, and FC Lorient as my feeders. Put some thought into it and send the right players to the right club (don't send a striker to a club that already has 5) to make sure they'll play. Do this for 1-2 seasons and then they'll either be ready or they'll be a bust. It can backfire though. I sent four hot prospects to Charlton and they formed the spine of a team that won the Championship by 18 points. Then Charlton couldn't be my feeder club anymore as we were in the same division.

[Coentrao]

What Ackter said, just as long as they have a good personality and quality to play for your first team, they'll develop at any age.

I would suggest to get a couple of youngsters on the bench on home games against weaker opposition and sub them in at half-time and at the hour mark if you are winning comfortably.

[Eugene Tyson]

I try to play youngsters for at least 15 games a season.

If I'm winning 3-0 I'll bring on some just for some match time.

If I'm playing a poor side, league cup or FA cup lower teams I'll play a few youngsters to get them out there.


Have a 16 year old right now that will be the best striker in the world when he's 21, I reckon. He'll be getting 15-20 games a season.

[Cleon]

If they're good enough to perform well, they're old enough to improve well.

What Ackter said.