Blues announce capture of Branthwaite for U23s

I believe Brands is about 6'1" and this 17 year old has a good inch or two on him, so he should be a big lad. He's also meant to be decent on the ball and two footed. No mention of pace though. I hope he isn't slow.

Based on the photo alongside Brands, he looks a big unit and at just 17 hasn't stopped growing yet!

Just seen that Barcelone has sacked Valverde and replaced him with former Real Betis coach Quique Setien.

Wonder what Mike Gaynes thinks of that?

I read an article on the power struggle behind the scenes. Apparently they offered the job to Xavi and the Director of Football to Puyol, but both said no. The reason the author of the article believes they said no is that they are on the side of the rival of the incumbent president, and that he is set to be ousted and then the Rival will appoint Xavi and Puyol when he comes in.

So, this may be a desperate act of an outgoing President to cling onto power.

I don't know anything about that writer's theories concerning a power struggle at the top, but I do know that Barca is a defensive train wreck in pressure situations against quality opponents. Valverde was never the right choice to manage this club.

But I'd contest your belief that the egos are outweighing the talent. Look at what a spectacular year The Rat was having before he was injured. He played with that bad knee for months, putting it all in for the club. Messi, Vidal, Pique will brook no egotism or lack of effort.

Barca's problem isn't recruitment or ego, it's lack of organization on the pitch, and that's a managerial issue. Players aren't connecting properly, and the defensive coverage is a disaster. Pique has slipped this season -- no surprise after 400 games the way he plays -- and Umtiti and Lenglet just can't coordinate with him. If it weren't for Ter Stegen becoming one of the top three keepers in the world, they wouldn't even be top of the league.

Yes, Valverde is a decent manager. And that's all. In this case the word "decent" is derogatory. Barca requires a top manager, and Valverde has never been it. Maybe Setien will be. It's my understanding that he was hired because his clubs are always highly organized with the Barca quick-passing style, and as a result they play very attractive football with lesser talent. I hope it's true.

From the clips I have seen, against whatever opposition, he does look okay to be honest.

It is encouraging nevertheless, that we are actually signing these up and coming talents, I have a sneaky feeling that this guy MAY become a useful addition to the ranks.

As for Branthwaite - great. He can start this weekend, yuk yuk.

Garbutt, is the best example, he's saying that he will have to see what happens between Everton and Ipswich, with regards to him signing for the tractor boys. In other words, I'm not leaving that contact at Everton, because only a fool would depart easily from such a contract.

I wonder if his arrival will actually coincide with the full time promotion of either Feeney or Gibson, or whether if means Gibson will in fact be on his way?

Tony, Garbutt would indeed be stupid to give up his contract. He is what, 25, and currently earning 25k a week. He seems to have got back on track, and may actually make a career in the Championship, but he's unlikely to get near such a wage for the rest of his career, which has about 7/8 years left.

What he earns in the next six months will probably be what he earns over the rest of his career and more. I know if someone offered it to, I'd certainly not turn it down.

I've read a few analyses of him and it seems like he is a dominant centre back who has a decent turn of pace for someone who is so tall and is pretty two footed though his pasisng needs a bit of work. He has good positional sense and is apparently a very hard worker. So lots of good raw attributes.

He probably won't be ready to impact on first team for at least a year or more likely two or three. Ideally he returns to Carlisle then has a pre-season with us and plays first half of next season in the U23s. If he does well there then maybe he gets the second half of the year in a decent League one or lower Championship team.

It's good to have the production line stocked and if he works hard and gets close to achieving his potential then we either have someone who can contribute to the first team or we can sell for more than we bought him for.

17 is no age, especially for a CB, so he has a lot of development to do. If he proves himself in the u23's a loan move to a decent Championship club will bring him on to the next stage.

It is quite something that his contact expires when he is still 19!, but I am sure that will be extended if he shows real promise after year 1.

As Sam says he seems to have all the raw attributes and it will be interesting to follow his development. Hopefully all the way to the first team.

As for criticisms of Valverde, I would take umbrage with that. Now, the team I have always leant towards in Spain is Athletic. Howard Kendall managed them and so I've always been fascinated by the mysterious Basque side that has an English name (Athletic as opposed to Atletico), English origins, lots of English managers, but yet operates a Basque only system for players (the Cantera).

Athletic have a long and proud history and with 8 league titles, which puts them 4th on the list in Spain. Then there is the fact that they have never been relegated. Their last league success was in 1984. They come from a region very different from the rest of Spain, and have a historically significant port that is still functioning to this day. All of this has, for me at least, draws parallels to Everton and the City of Liverpool.

A few years back, it seemed like they could no longer compete, that the Cantera policy would have to be scrapped or they would go down. Yet, Valverde restored them back to the top half of the table. He then left and had some mixed results elsewhere (3 titles in Greece) and before he came back. Whilst he was gone Athletic slipped to midtable, in came Marcelo Bielsa who took over them after they had climbed to 6th (their highest position since Valverde) and saw them slip further down the table despite success in the King's Cup and Europe (twice beaten finalists). Bielsa saw them slip further down the table and he was let go as his contract expired and back came Valverde.

Bielsa had created an exciting side full of energy, as he always does. He used players already there, of course. But by the time Valverde came back, out had gone Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich). Valverde continued the development of Ander Herrera (Man Utd) and Aymeric Laporte (Man City). And in beating his own 5th place, registered Athletic's highest finish for 17 years - 4th. He then followed this up with successive finished between 5th and 7th over the next three years. He also again got them to the final of the King's Cup (Copa del Rey), which in turn qualified them for the Spanish Charity Shield. Of course it ain't anything more than a glorified friendly, but when it's the first trophy lifted since 1984 (not counting the Spanish Charity Shield in 1985) it becomes something, as it would if we lost the cup final and then hoisted the Charity Shield aloft the following August.

You simply do not give the guy enough credit Mike. And for anyone to do well at Bilbao with the Cantera policy, you need to be a very good coach, and capable of bringing the youth players through, as the only players you can buy are ones who are from the Basque region. Valverde has a lot more credentials than his successor at Barcelona and it'll be interesting to see what he does next. If Ancelotti had gone to Barcelona and we were looking for a new manager now, I would be thrilled to get Valverde. A pragmatist who gets results, works within a budget, and is not afraid to play and develop kids. Don't forget that he was the manager who made the big call to drop Athletic keeper and captain for the current Chelsea keeper, Arrizabalaga. Laporte and Herrera also came to prominence and earned their big money Premier League moves under his guidance.

I'm sure the academy coaches can keep an eye on him and even offer some pointers as to how he can improve individually but playing week in and week out is fantastic experience at his age. I suspect the likes of Feeney and Gibson have not kicked on more because they been stuck in development sides rather than getting real, first team experience.

My belief is that you need to follow the natural progression. Up the age range groups and complete at least one season with the u23s (at the age of 18) and then into the first team squad, whereby you will learn more training against Richarlison (as a defender) or Lucas Digne (as a winger) than you would against lads not good enough to make it higher up the pyramid. After this age, you've learnt enough and if you are still not in the first team reckoning, then now is the time to get out on loan and practice what you've learnt.

I played Rugby Union with his dad, who is a great lad, and was the County Stand Off in his heyday. Friends have told me he is a smashing grounded lad.

Would our U23's be expected to beat Carlisle in a competitive game?

Carlisle have a cup replay v Cardiff at Brunton Park tomorrow night after they were robbed in the first match after a cross went at least a yard out of play before floating back in, re-crossed and Cardiff equalised. Branthwaite hasn't played for them since before Xmas, and their defence was appalling against Plymouth at home on Saturday.

Think these lads should be encouraged and made to feel that they are a part of the future, otherwise they will be tempted to seek regular Football elsewhere.

Link

He is clearly totally made up at being at Everton. Couldn't stop smiling and comes across as a well-grounded and mature 17-year-old.

And I'll mention it for a third time. He towers above Marcel Brands and I don't disbelieve some sites that list him at 1.95 metres. That's 6ft 4ins in old money.

And presumably he's not done growing! He only turns 18 at the end of June.

Here's hoping he proves a good 'un.

I think we should look down the EFL much more for signings rather than always heading abroad.

Dropping down the divisions to toughen up and get games is ok. Also important to learn fast passing football - as per the likes of Mason Mount who learned at Vitesse before Derby. Would rather see some of our lot in Holland, Denmark etc top flight rather than lower leagues. We might have had a player with Dowell if he'd have gone to Holland instead of being judged on workrate alone in the Championship.