Think you've answered your own question in your reply to Trout.

My guess and its pure guess is size, You can get away with being short as a prop but only if you have other facets to your game, maybe he doesn't, we don't see them day in day out. Like you though, I thought he did ok.

In his case, I suspect it was a tough call but considering our missing prop situation perhaps it is one that could be re-considered? Maybe a cheap as chips one year deal, see how it goes. Who knows but I wish him all the best, always enjoyed watching him at Academy level.

In all honesty I think he did ok but I think it was simply a case of Titus or Aydin and with reduced finance could we afford two young props with potential yet unlikely to be playing many first team games in 2021. From what I saw Aydin seemed to be more of an ‘athlete’ I suppose they say these days. Aydin was also already signed for 2021.

Titus maybe a victim of circumstance but hope he goes on to have a successful career.

I'm not sure that he's more of an athlete though he may be, more that Aydin is a better player IMHO. Titus could be a bit lose, Aydin seems more concentrated and less likely to error, vital for a prop.

Either way, early days for both.

That’s how I see it as well. Whilst Gwaze didn’t do anything wrong, I think we’ve seen more from Aydin in the few games he’s played to suggest there’s greater potential there. Just guess work on my part, but had finances not been as tight we might have signed Gwaze up for another year. Still plenty of time for both of them to prove the club right or wrong, but hopefully Aydin will get a few games under his belt this year.

I watched Yusef at Eastmoor only played a couple of games and was green as grass but something about his physique and attitude told me he would be a good prospect hope he proves me right.

I’m interested if you see him as a prop or a back rower? The way he plays reminds me of a past player and S/R whose name escapes me.

Having never been near him and it being a while since I saw him at a game in the flesh, is he one of those players whose bigger in real life than he appears on TV. Might sound a silly question but some do and vice versa. Doesn't look any bigger than Titus to me but as I say it can be deceiving.

I ask mainly because I was touting him over two years ago as a future first teamer but I didn’t think he was a prop. He was playing prop but I though that was because at the time he was one of the few bigger players in the side. I assumed he was more a S/R in the making.

He isn’t particularly big in relation to most props. I think what sets him apart is his attitude, work ethic and desire to be the best player he can be and make the most of what he has got.

In the modern game we are increasingly talking about “middles” rather than Props whereby the 13 and 2 on field props are concerned and whilst I think it is a shame the ball handing 13 seems to be a thing of the past, Westwood being one of the last, I think Yousef could fit into the category of a “middle” playing at 13.

He isn’t going to make huge meters but he will do the work of others in relation to taking the hard carries and putting up big numbers in defence in a similar way to what Bentley and Smithies do in a similar role and with a similar physical build to him.

I really like Bentley at St’s, reminds me of John Bateman who seems to have raw power and unbelievable work ethic.

Sorry, may have misled you there. When I said size I should have said physique, there are plenty of smaller props like Barry M and Gallan who've been world-class. He just looks very athletic to me, more compact more like a Phil Clarke type body. Obviously, he's not physically peaked yet so who knows his final shape.

He is certainly leaner that most props.

He also doesn’t carry the frame of someone like Gallen who are probably more barrel chested. He still has some growing to do but I’d expect at his peak he will be more in the Willie Isa type build, a more athletic big minutes type.

Out of interest I checked the genetic characteristics of people of Turkish decent, which is a legitimate science before the woke brigade start! Not that I know how Turkish he actually is anyway.

So for those who are interested, being the gateway to Europe the Turks are anything from swarthy Ottoman types to almost norther European, bit like the U.K. they are a very diverse nation, so that got me absolutely nowhere.

So I’m none the wiser as to how he will end up. Still if he has a decent brain and a good attitude and plenty of ticker, like all players the sky is the limit.

His dad is Turkish.

He has 2 younger brothers who play, one at Eastmoor and the other at Stanley.

Both decent prospects too.

Strong running forwards.

The new rules (6 again) which look set to stay after all this Covid is over will probably benefit the smaller middles so that could also assist him.

Am i right in saying he was quite late to game as in didnt start till 14s or 15s..

Yes.

Played football but his game was called off so turned out for Eastmoor.

Neither got scolaship although i know one was looked at but yes 2 good lads an scolaship not everything(not sure if you seen the play my eldest plaed with oe of them) ..yusef himself is a quality lad prpper down to earth helps out with scolaship lads too.his dad is turkish and he played for turkey in 2019.i really believe yusef will go well

Didnt know bout the footy but knew he was late coming his coach at time bash said straight away he had somthing hes a great guy too..

I coach one of them and I assure you both have the potential to play professionally.

COVID and lack of rugby will not have helped either...and a good few others I may add who are in the 16-14 age groups this year.

To help with the Covid situation, the academy has been changed back to U19’s so those that would have been in their final year last year are effectively getting an extension, but at the moment all academy and scholarship training has been stopped (apart from a couple who are in with the 1st team) fingers crossed these lads are going to get a real go this year as at the moment I don’t think there is an “official” reserves league, but I believe & hope there will be some club arranged reserve friendlies

Yusif Aydin is 6 ft 1 tall and 16 stones and only 20. When he's finished growing you'd think he'd be closer to 17 stones...

My 21 year 1month old lad is 6’4” and 17st centre, I hope he doesn’t get any bigger

He must have grown during lockdown.

He’s down as 6 foot 1 on Wiki but how accurate that is I don’t know but I’d say he looks about that. I’d say he’d be lucky to tip 15 stone though, doesn’t look 16 stone from what I could see. Not that I think it matters much at only 20.

I’d be surprised if he was much over 5’10”/11”.

He is a regular at training and matches supporting his brother, and he is a cracking lad I have to say too.

Very supportive family of all 3 boys and very grounded.

His dad isn’t very tall, I’d say shorter than me and I’m only 5’8”. I wouldn’t describe his mum as tall either.

Tbh 6 foot isn’t tall these days, I’ll take your word over Wiki.

Yes they have never said they didnt my lad played with both of them when they played in same team at eastmoor so seen plenty the team dispersed and they went diferent ways i know youngest stayed and played his own age while other lad qent to stanly where i know he gone ok.and 100% agree with covid not helping devlopment