Etchesketch

Barrett has only come back from injury last few weeks. Stretch got nod over Phillips for bench keeper at start of season and been there ever since. If fit I would have thought Barrett would have been second choice keeper. Plenty of experience last season on loan. Might have a fight now to get bench spot for rest of season.

Yes if I had a crystal ball. No without. I wouldn't do anything without more than 2/3 years which is basically what they do. I see no harm in giving Ernie Weaver a deal until 2028 for instance but not 5 years or anything like that. Wildsmith and Dawson were the last that got that long and that might have something to do with them being keepers. Ive given you examples of players where we have or might ha e give. Even longer deals and look what happened. When Penney made his debut people were raving about him. I bet not many would have said he would be non league in his mid 20s. We didn't give him a long contract but could easily have done. Look at others who broken through very early because they were highly promising. Lekaj, Modest way back. Stobbs I mentioned. Others like Spurr, Wood, Beevers nrooke through and stayed at that level.

Long contracts can go two ways. Thing is you get youngsters who show initial promise and then fade. Giving long term deals can also mean you end up with dead wood as such. Jack Stobbs springs to mind and Ciaran Brennan spent the last 3 years of his Wednesday career Nowhere near the first team and playing for U21s as an overage player in his last season. Matt Penney showed great promise initially. What if we had given him a 5 year contract? The same thing would have happened.

Talbot had a decent career. Lots of games for Chesterfield. Also played for Portsmouth and Luton.

Had a very good career though. Played a lot of games at a decent level. Was never going be a top Premier League player.

Last time Bayliss was named. Was he the triallist sub here or was it someone else? Be odd to be named and then next game be back to trialist!

It was a career ender back in the 70s and 80s.

That was a different injury. He played 29 league games last season. It was live on Sky in February. https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2025/february/12/di-shon-bernard-injury-blow-confirmed/

It's been bang on 8 months

Wigan published their line up but nothing from us.

Don't know Philpott. Has Bayliss signed? When stop using trialist its usually a good indication.

I would think their day to day training would now be with first team and use first team dressing room but I'm sure they will turn out for U21s still to get game time as still under age.

Last season got 7 or 8 goals in about 20 starts for U21s. First seaason in full time football

Do you know what injury Hatfield has done and is it likely to be season ending? Is Da Costa injured as well?

Barrett was on the bench for last U21 game. Stretch must have had a great summer because he appears to have overtaken Phillips and possibly Barrett. I think we will see Barrett on the bench soon.