Bold Tone wrote:
Is first team football, on loan, better than youth and reserve team football for the likes of Chambs, Ryo and Gnabry or is it too risky at this stage of their development?
First team football at whatever level when regular is always better than reserve football. Reserve football line-ups change so often it is difficult to get consistency in a position - Gnabry was played as a striker in his last game. Also, the pressure of trying to improve in an environment where costly mistakes actually have a meaningful impact on you and those around you.
Ox should be kept as he gets sufficient minutes and he will best be served integrating into the first team by staying.
I'm not a fan of the loan system, but IMO, Gnabry should be sent on a season-long loan if possible probably to League 1. His age and experience will unlikely garner him sufficient minutes in the higher divisions. If playing time is likely to be restricted even at that level, then it is best to keep him as a reserve/fringe option.
As for Ryo, I honestly don't see him having a career here and think it would be best to sell him rather than keep loaning him out till he is 22 like we have with so many others to their detriment.
