I know he didn't really kick on as much as you'd like but that's him and McDonald who were very highly rated at youth level and showed real glimpses of quality in the top flight being binned for nothing, add Irving in next when he doesn't sign on again. There's something quite clearly fundamentally wrong with how these players are coached and integrated (or not) into the first team.

Can't really recall many stories of him shining when being out on loan

Interesting one. If he hasn't been promised first team football and he wants that then he's making the right choice. Good luck to him but I think a career kicking about League One in Scotland awaits.

He looked the business. Shame.

The club will be due a development fee, so that might limit options.

Such a waste. I'm not sure how much of that is down to the player and down to the club, but I can't see him doing better than the Championship now.

No one will convince me he isn't/wasn't a player. I saw it with my own eyes.

I can't believe we are letting another young player go before we have completely exhausted any potential he may have.

He's not done a lot of the things hearts asked from him in terms of physique. That's on him.

(04-16-2021, 10:43 AM)S.J. Wrote: No one will convince me he isn't/wasn't a player. I saw it with my own eyes.

I can't believe we are letting another young player go before we have completely exhausted any potential he may have.

Agree, very poorly managed. Disappointing to see him go as he could've been a very good player if handled well.

Beyond me why he wasn't about the team this season if this was his last chance to prove what he has but then tbh would any player look good in our team this season?

(04-16-2021, 11:13 AM)Zizou Wrote: He's not done a lot of the things hearts asked from him in terms of physique. That's on him.

Where is this coming from? Never really seen anyone from the club saying this was the case but fans have been saying this for a while now.

(04-16-2021, 11:13 AM)Zizou Wrote: He's not done a lot of the things hearts asked from him in terms of physique. That's on him.

It's on us if we've ruined a player who looked so good technically by telling him he's out the team until he puts on a couple stone though.

Looks to me if he had started filling out tbh. I hope he goes and proves a lot of people wrong like, so frustrating to see it turn out the way it has for him.

We would be as well just shutting down Riccarton/the academy as we don't ever seem to develop any players.

Where's the incentive for these boys though, particularly this season. Cochrane's probably seen us get relegated and thought he'll get a chance like a lot of boys did last time round to stake a claim and push on. What happened? Punted to Montrose : it's just shocking management. The whole club needs ripped out and started again. 

Saw the boy Leonard who went to Brighton said he didn't like the way he's be asked to play as a midfielder so fucked off. The warning signs are all there and folk are happy to blame the players. Not suggesting they're blameless but they're teenagers, they need good coaching and management and we have absolutely zero proof that we're capable of any of that. 

Other young players and their parents are going to see this as well and have second thoughts about coming to us in the future as well.

Antony Mcdonald basically said he left because he was fed up of waiting for his chance. I can't remember the wording, but he basically confirmed that Levein would drop the kids after a run to prevent burnout, but for long periods of time, not allowing anyone to get a run. Such backwards thinking.

Anthony MacDonald said him and cochrane were playing well that first season they were coming through then Levein just decided arbitrarily that they had played enough first team football for that season.

Cochrane showed loads of potential then just stopped getting chances, eventually punted on loan to Dunfermline then eventually Montrose. Cochrane outside of probably hickey was our most promising talents and that's how he was managed. For all the chat of his physique I can't quite remember him getting absolutely bullied every time he was on the ball when playing for us in the Prem because he had the technique and talent to make up for that.

He didn't have good games every single time he played obv but the makings of a very good player were there but it is what it is now I suppose. Interesting to see where he ends up and if he kicks on.

This is Levein's legacy: alienating and falling out with young players, inconsistent messaging, no clear path to the first team, and shite football. Robbie is the perfect type of egotist to keep that going as well 

It's been said before but the pure brass neck of Neilson ditching youngsters if they're not up to scratch by the time they're 19/20

Cunt had been around the first team for half a decade before he was good enough to give you a 6/10 every week.

It's always the players' fault eh

Funny how the only group of good young players we've produced in over a decade were all forced into the side through the necessity of administration. The argument that we never regret letting young players go doesn't wash with me either, because a) it's not even true (see Hibs' current left back for evidence) and b) we waste players' talent so badly at critical times of their development that of course they won't reach their potential when we bin them at 20 or whatever.

From what I heard of Cochrane at Dunfermline, the coaching staff were really happy with him and the effort he put in. I'd like a citation for any claims he refused to do the basic work. In isolation, you can credibly blame a player for not progressing, but this is so obviously a systemic issue in the club. Cochrane can play and it's really sad that a guy who bossed Scott Brown at 16 has never been given a real chance to show what he can do.

Do we ever have a plan with young players? It's always the same story: throw them in, they play one or two games and look like they have potential - then they're binned and not seen again/for months, only to reappear at bizarre times. Mind Connor Smith played out his skin in a derby and was dropped immediately, only to be recalled for one start at Parkhead?? It's insane.

Can't believe this, he was probably the player I've been most excited about since Patterson and we've just let him walk