The Next Generation: Loan or Train?

[ForrestGrump]

I’m sure this has been asked on here before but I’d like to get as many takes on this as possible. 

In regards to players aged 21 and below, what’s the best way to help them develop?

My approach is predominantly to let 16-17 year olds from the youth intake have a season in the u18’s (Division 1 North, u19’s Champions Cup), and loan out 18-21 year olds who aren’t going to feature in the first team for the coming season. My U23 squad (Premier Division 1) usually has a fair number of poor players because the decent prospects are loaned out. 

What I’m finding is that even after a good season out on loan, attributes aren’t increasing as much as I’d like. I know there are other factors in play, but this still happens to players with good personalities and high determination.

Would it be more effective to keep them at the club and train specific attributes, and play them in the U23 games? We have state of the art training and youth facilities, and any player who I think will be a decent prospect gets moved to the senior squad as we have over fifteen 4-5 star coaches.

Edited April 29, 2020 by ForrestGrump

[Justified]

I love youth development. It's an aspect of the game that I really enjoy.

I'm with you with the U17's, a year with the U18's will do them good and I always train them on broader roles (SK, CWB, BPD, RPM/DLP/AP, IF, CF). There are always exceptions to the rule though. RL example would be Harvey Elliott who is just simply too good for the age bracket (In my Liverpool save I've got since I bought the game he actually played and trained with the First Team). I try and skew my training towards Physics/Technical because at that age their development goes nuts with green arrows everywhere.

Once they enter the U21's they get a year there too. Again, exceptions to the rule where if you identify anyone that could jump up to the First Team, I'm not afraid to do it. When they're in the U21's I start identifying where is their best position. Maybe a left winger could be a decent left back? Train him as a left back etc etc. So training is very much about where do I see them playing in the First Team. After they've had a year they can a) stay, because I don't have cover for the position b) promotion to the First Team c) Loan because I have no use for them.

With both teams I never have more then 18 players in the team. I try to keep it around 16 as I find that's enough for everyone to get a match. In terms of promotion to the first team I promote about 1-3 players every year and 1 of them will get matches guaranteed. The reason I do that is because I view the game as how I would manage a club. If I told my U23's that one of them could be part of the first team next year (as in start with the likes of Salah, Mane, Firmino etc) I would hope they'd be all champing at the bit. If it doesn't work out for the promotee's then it's a win win really. Either they go on loan next year or I sell them and hopefully their value would of gone up because they been in my first team. RL examples again would be Woodburn/Ibe who were touted for great things, didn't really work out so they got sold or loaned out.

In regards to PPM's I start to train them when they hit around the 19 age mark as I feel the years before that I vital to focus on attributes.

I think the key thing is, you either believe in a prospect, or you don't. I would never loan out a player I think could one day play in the first team, I see no point.

EDIT: Elliott turned out to be a beast who eventually became a first teamer for me and I truly believe if I hadn't gambled on him as much as I did in the first season then he in no way would've been as good.

Edited April 29, 2020 by Justified

[yonko]

3 hours ago, ForrestGrump said:

I’m sure this has been asked on here before but I’d like to get as many takes on this as possible. 

In regards to players aged 21 and below, what’s the best way to help them develop?

My approach is predominantly to let 16-17 year olds from the youth intake have a season in the u18’s (Division 1 North, u19’s Champions Cup), and loan out 18-21 year olds who aren’t going to feature in the first team for the coming season. My U23 squad (Premier Division 1) usually has a fair number of poor players because the decent prospects are loaned out. 

What I’m finding is that even after a good season out on loan, attributes aren’t increasing as much as I’d like. I know there are other factors in play, but this still happens to players with good personalities and high determination.

Would it be more effective to keep them at the club and train specific attributes, and play them in the U23 games? We have state of the art training and youth facilities, and any player who I think will be a decent prospect gets moved to the senior squad as we have over fifteen 4-5 star coaches.

Until age of 18, train them hard at your club. Move them to first team and make them available for the youth team or reserves. This way you can also include them in mentoring groups and they can train along your best players. You can also set up your own training schedule and individual focus, intensity. 

Once they are 18-19 then if they are good enough to get decent amount of game time for your first team, then keep them. If not, loaning them is the right option. However, you have to be selective where you loan them. Make sure the club they are going to has as good as possible training facilities (look for great training facilities, it is displayed when the loan offer is made), the manager has high attribute in "working with youth players" and that they will be regular starters / important players (this will dictate how much playing time they get). 

Players develop with game time - this is what raises CA. Training then distributes the gains based on training selected. Which means the team they are loaned to has to play similar style to yours (this most likely will mean that they use training schedule that matches the playing style).

If loaned players are not developing or playing enough, then recall them (make this a mandatory option) and try to loan them elsewhere. 

Personally I try to keep no more than 3-4 young players to develop (under 21s)