Young star moves - Oakes stays - Emblen unsettled

Oakes - Carlise - No
By 4two
December 19 2003

Fryatt has gone to Carlisle, Oakes turned the same move down. Neil Emblen is unsettled. The price of having a quality squad?

Promising young striker Matty Fryatt has joined basement outfit Carlisle United. The Saddlers youngster has one first team start under his belt so far this season, and fans have consistently called for him to be included in the first team. 

Earlier on this term the likes of Man United, Bolton and Everton were rumored to be monitoring his progress, which is hardly surprising considering his excellent performances for the reserve team during the last 18 months.

Stefan Oakes also had the chance to move north with Fryatt, but turned the opportunity down. Oakes hasn't featured since September and must be getting frustrated. 

Colin Lee told the press...

"He (Oakes) has been unlucky since he has been here and I would have thought the opportunity to play regular competitive matches would appeal to him. As for young Fryatt, he needs to see what playing first-team football is all about. I think he would do well. He is a natural goal scorer and it would be interesting to see whether he could find the net in what is a struggling team. He is not quite ready for our first team just yet, so this move would be good experience for him. He is not quite ready for our first team just yet, so this move would be good experience for him."

With quality players like Oakes and Emblen not getting regular first team football it goes to show just what kind of squad Lee has put together this season, but it is going to be a problem keeping them all settled, as Neil Emblen had a little moan about his lack of first team opportunities following Saturdays clash with Wimbledon. (Emblen Pictured Left)