Ryan Shanley

[Brightside]

Didn’t notice this in the signings thread. He has joined Edin City on a perm deal.

[SHODAN]

Odd one, guess we didn't fancy him?

[Brightside]

Odd one, guess we didn't fancy him?

The boy wants to play. Not going to get a chance here so he has to move on. I do wonder when we will ever play these young guys on the fringes.

[Hibernian Verse]

The boy wants to play. Not going to get a chance here so he has to move on. I do wonder when we will ever play these young guys on the fringes.

When they are considered good enough e.g. Doig.

[Jones28]

When they are considered good enough e.g. Doig.

He showed potential, it’s another one we have barely given a sniff.

[SlickShoes]

He showed potential, it’s another one we have barely given a sniff.

Who do you want to drop to play him?

[calumhibee1]

He showed potential, it’s another one we have barely given a sniff.

To be fair he’s ended up at Edinburgh City.

I know nothing about him but if he was even good enough to be giving the odd run out by us, like Gullan for example, he’d be going to a better side than that.

If he’s not even at Gullans level then he shouldn’t be getting opportunities here imo.

[CMurdoch]

Only 20. Better to be playing at Edinburgh City than getting false hopes up and wasting time at Hibs.
It's incredibly difficult for young players to break through at Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen.
Only the really exceptional manage it. For Hibs, that only really means Porteous and Doig making a real mark at our level in many years with hundreds of young players getting absolutely nowhere whilst others have had to drop down a few notches to find their level. It's a brutal business.

[Brightside]

Who do you want to drop to play him?

That’s the problem. We don’t have easy league cup games now, and we don’t even play the fringe players when we play Livi etc. So we can safely say they won’t get game time. The CH Brydon is another. Will he ever get game time or will he just go the same route. Very difficult for the ones that aren’t out on loan to prove they are good enough for game time.

[jacomo]

Best wishes to him.

Shame he’s not made it at Hibs but I do think we need to be clear-headed about keeping players here who are miles from the first team.

[Is It On....]

The boy wants to play. Not going to get a chance here so he has to move on. I do wonder when we will ever play these young guys on the fringes.

Interestingly, to me at least, is how few players seem to "make it". Brentford famously closed their academy and invested the money in younger players that had either been let go by larger clubs or were playing at a lower level. It was, and is, a controversial strategy but not something that can be dismissed out of hand.

[Since452]

I never get the clamour by some to give young players who ultimately aren't good enough a run in our first team. Who do we drop? Sounds harsh but if they aren't good enough move them on. Sorry it hasn't worked out for the lad but that's how it goes.

[erin go bragh]

Was this the boy that played in our game against Arsenal

[theonlywayisup]

Was this the boy that played in our game against Arsenal

Don't think so - are you getting him mixed up with Steven Bradley, who hit the post?

[Jones28]

Don't think so - are you getting him mixed up with Steven Bradley, who hit the post?

Is he the boy that looks like Joe Newall?

[CMurdoch]

Is he the boy that looks like Joe Newall?

He did have his hair like Joe but now has a very bad haircut ala McKay

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

Chance to kick start his career.

[J-C]

If they're not pushing for a place by 20-21 then they're probably going to move on I'm afraid. Football us a cut throat business and if we want to progress as a club, these decisions have to happen. We did the same with, Handling, Harris, Stanton and many more.

[calumhibee1]

I never get the clamour by some to give young players who ultimately aren't good enough a run in our first team. Who do we drop? Sounds harsh but if they aren't good enough move them on. Sorry it hasn't worked out for the lad but that's how it goes.

Yup. If a player isn’t good enough in training and/or the limited appearances they get then they don’t deserve a run.

We don’t have a raft of meaningless games to give guys a run just to see how they go. That goes for youth players and senior players.

[wandering_hibee]

He was loaned to Finn Harps in Ireland earlier in the year and returned early as he couldn't get a first team start for them. As has been said its a tough business.

[ancient hibee]

Interestingly, to me at least, is how few players seem to "make it". Brentford famously closed their academy and invested the money in younger players that had either been let go by larger clubs or were playing at a lower level. It was, and is, a controversial strategy but not something that can be dismissed out of hand.

I'd be pretty surprised if we're not giving this some thought. Running an academy is very expensive and although it's good to rear your own I think we've shown that bringing in slightly older more experienced players pays off. Sometimes when you bring a youngster into the academy he's maybe already as good as he's going to be and doesn't develop.Perhaps the money should go into scouting the other leagues and bringing in guys well on in their physical stage so that all the emphasis can be on the coaching and readiness for the first team squad. Certainly worked for Brentford.

[1875Sean]

It seems to be that the stickers coming over seem to break in the squad pretty late? When we had the likes of O’Connor and Riordan they were involved and around the squad around 17/18, it seemed the likes of Gullan and Shanley didn’t get an opportunity until 20/21, now I know they are not good enough and are nowhere near the likes of O’Conner etc, I just hope these highly rated forwards like Laidlaw and O’Conner Jnr get a chance to get invoked while they are still young, For me if you are 21 you should be an established player or be moved on, suppose it depends if they are good enough

[CloudSquall]

I remember under Butcher in the relegation season people were absolutely screaming to play the two young full backs in the U-18 / U-21 team, Hibs released them which wasn't a popular decision but in the end it turned out to be the correct one.

In recent years have we really regretted any of these type of releases?

[calumhibee1]

It seems to be that the stickers coming over seem to break in the squad pretty late? When we had the likes of O’Connor and Riordan they were involved and around the squad around 17/18, it seemed the likes of Gullan and Shanley didn’t get an opportunity until 20/21, now I know they are not good enough and are nowhere near the likes of O’Conner etc, I just hope these highly rated forwards like Laidlaw and O’Conner Jnr get a chance to get invoked while they are still young, For me if you are 21 you should be an established player or be moved on, suppose it depends if they are good enough

Porteous and Doig have been involved fairly young.

I reckon that if you’re not making regular appearances by the time you’re 18 or so then you’re not making it at the level you’re at. Very few players come through much later than that.

[Since452]

I remember under Butcher in the relegation season people were absolutely screaming to play the two young full backs in the U-18 / U-21 team, Hibs released them which wasn't a popular decision but in the end it turned out to be the correct one.

In recent years have we really regretted any of these type of releases?

Can't think of a single time we've been proved wrong letting younger players leave. Even Oli Shaw is playing lower league football now although he was a first team player. Makes you realise how good the likes of Porteous and Doig are. Different level.

[Oscar T Grouch]

You have to trust the club’s assessment of these young players. I can’t think of many youngsters that were released by Hibs that have gone on to play at the same or higher level so they seem to be getting it right most times. Part of Mathie’s job was to change the system to make that transition easier for young players to get into the first team and Porto and Doig have both come through and there’s lots of good noises coming out about Ethan Laidlaw and O’Connor Jr. it would be great to have a Doig, Brown or Fletcher come through to the first team every year but it’s been said you’re lucky to get one out a whole year of youngsters breaking through to first team football. I trust what the club are doing and I’m sure we will see more youth players moving up to the first team in time.

[neil7908]

I've been a bit worried in the last few years about the lack of youngsters we've brought through but Porto and Doig have shown the club will give players a chance if they are good enough.

I also can't think of many young players over the last few years that we've let go who have gone into bigger and better things.

[Hibby Kay-Yay]

I’d say from Hibs perspective that the ideal is that we grow our own talent and then can reap the rewards with a decent transfer and the player continues to develop.

Sometimes they are not good enough for the first team, but it’s not disastrous. Hibs have still got a player to become a professional footballer which is good for the game.

[aljo7-0]

It is tricky. I know that Ali McCann (ex St Johnstone) was a Hibs fan as a wee boy. He considered joining the Hibs set up as a youngster but his father suggested/told him that St Johnstone was the better bet (I think he had the choice of either at the time) as there more chance of him getting first team football, being noticed and going on to bigger things. there were other factors too but that was one of the main ones and it looks like his Dad was probably right as he's now at Preston NE and a Northern Ireland international

[erin go bragh]

Don't think so - are you getting him mixed up with Steven Bradley, who hit the post?

Yes I am , cheers 👍

[blackpoolhibs]

There are less and less chances for younger players these days, they never get to play against seasoned pro's now, it is much harder to break through as managers are never given time to bring them through, as especially at Hibs, we have so many BIG games these days. :devil:

[scotiaf]

I think the likes of Riordan & Gaz only got a chance as we had to hugely cut a wage bill and thankfully the manager decided to give them
a chance rather than a carthorse that was probably over paid. Now we have a decent 15 odd players that makes it hard to get in. Only chance is if a boy goes to an SPL, championship team and is fairly
robust and ready to play at this level. You look at England and all the players they buy and loan out in the hope 1 of them makes the team in a few years. As our scouting policy suggests go and join a St Mirren ans develop for a few years and you will make the “step up” before hopefully making a move to the lower prem or championship to help your lifestyle and life savings.

[hibee-boys]

If they’re good enough they’ll get the chance to break into the first XI, can’t recall any of these youngsters who’ve been released and they’ve gone onto play at the same or higher level than Hibs.

[theonlywayisup]

Makes me wonder how our boys would compare against the Danes on an age by age comparison. At what age do they become stronger and more technically developed.

[J-C]

There are less and less chances for younger players these days, they never get to play against seasoned pro's now, it is much harder to break through as managers are never given time to bring them through, as especially at Hibs, we have so many BIG games these days. :devil:

At smaller clubs like Hamilton, St Mirren etc there's less pressure to succeed so youngsters are given a chance, I also think many of them think they've made it when they get the 3-4yr deal at Hibs, like Handling and Harris and then never reach their undoubted potential. John McGinn had the potential and trained like a demon to get to the top of his game, we seen the development in him over ther 2-3 yrs he was here.

[Slim Shady]

I’d like to think this would serve as a warning to other youth players at the club. You need to work just as hard off the pitch as you do on it. Nothing is kept private on social media these days. Neither can you hide from the sports science guys who test and monitor players fitness.

[MWHIBBIES]

If they’re good enough they’ll get the chance to break into the first XI, can’t recall any of these youngsters who’ve been released and they’ve gone onto play at the same or higher level than Hibs.

Maybe thats because we failed them at the most important age?

[hibee-boys]

Maybe thats because we failed them at the most important age?

Failed them in what way? Covid has certainly impacted on reserve team/youth/lower league football over the past 18months which won’t have helped players around Ryan’s age but there’s little Hibs can do about that. It seems to me that Hibs strategy, like a lot of top flight clubs, has been to loan players out to the lower leagues for game time and aid their development given the limited 2nd team football played. If a player stands out at that level, like Doig did at QOS, or as other players have down prior, then they’ll be brought back to tue club to challenge for the first team. However, there’s very few who’ve been able to do that unfortunately.

Unless a stand out as a teenager I’d question why a player, or their parents/youth team coaches if advising them, would want to commit to a club at the top end of the premiership, perhaps it would support their development better singing for a club at the lower end of the premiership or championship level as that may provide them better opportunities of first team football during these important years. Maybe these players are more attracted to the fact they’ve got a contract at Hibs when they should be considering what is the best career move for them. If they’re good enough they will get their chance eventually.

[JimBHibees]

Failed them in what way? Covid has certainly impacted on reserve team/youth/lower league football over the past 18months which won’t have helped iplayers around Ryan’s age but there’s little Hibs can do about that. It seems to me that Hibs strategy, like a lot of top flight clubs, has been to loan players out to the lower leagues for game time and aid their development given the limited 2nd team football played. If a player stands out at that level, like Doig did at QOS, or as other players have down prior, then they’ll be brought back to tue club to challenge for the first team. However, there’s very few who’ve been able to do that unfortunately.

Unless a stand out as a teenager I’d question why a player, or their parents/youth team coaches if advising them, would want to commit to a club at the top end of the premiership, perhaps it would support their development better singing for a club at the lower end of the premiership or championship level as that may provide them better opportunities of first team football during these important years. Maybe these players are more attracted to the fact they’ve got a contract at Hibs when they should be considering what is the best career move for them. If they’re good enough they will get their chance eventually.

I think one of the reasons of staying with bigger clubs would be the expectation maybe not the reality in all cases that the coaching, facilities, strength and conditioning and general development pathway will be better there.

[Slim Shady]

Failed them in what way? Covid has certainly impacted on reserve team/youth/lower league football over the past 18months which won’t have helped players around Ryan’s age but there’s little Hibs can do about that. It seems to me that Hibs strategy, like a lot of top flight clubs, has been to loan players out to the lower leagues for game time and aid their development given the limited 2nd team football played. If a player stands out at that level, like Doig did at QOS, or as other players have down prior, then they’ll be brought back to tue club to challenge for the first team. However, there’s very few who’ve been able to do that unfortunately.

Unless a stand out as a teenager I’d question why a player, or their parents/youth team coaches if advising them, would want to commit to a club at the top end of the premiership, perhaps it would support their development better singing for a club at the lower end of the premiership or championship level as that may provide them better opportunities of first team football during these important years. Maybe these players are more attracted to the fact they’ve got a contract at Hibs when they should be considering what is the best career move for them. If they’re good enough they will get their chance eventually.

Failed them in what way? It’s not happened in this case.

Sometimes a player can fail the club too.

[Brightside]

We are prob best to close this now. Cheers.