It's a predicament, how often we see a number of talented youngsters fail to make their mark, take the step up! They do not reach their potential or that promise that they showed only some time ago..
These lads, some of them who played in U21's while they were just 15, 16 or 17! And by the time they are 20-22 after having been picked by a bigger club and never been given the same opportunity as earlier, they degrade, regress, and end up being the could have beens!
How the fans adore a young 16yo lad coming on to the pitch in a cup game or in the league, the warm applause and standing ovation... short lived when they are either constantly shifted out on loans, or when they just rot in the reserves.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek when on loan with Karlsruhe a year earlier showed absolutely that promise. He played a few games, but had that hunger to leave a mark and grab that opportunity!
A year later now, Chelsea don't see any promise in him and he seems to be on his way out to a League 1 club, or a Championship club at best.
Jordan Rossiter at Liverpool has suffered more or less the same fate. Highly touted, but not given a fair opportunity. Now the team doesn't seem likely to have a place for him with a high number of 1st team players brought in for that place Rossiter was supposed to fill in at!
Lewis Baker has seen a meteoric rise in his game at Karlsruhe. He has played against the biggest oppositions as well- Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, Leverkusen among others, Oliver Kahn always believed in his young teenage midfielder on loan from Chelsea.
Baker has not missed a single penalty do far at KSC, with him being the first choice spot kick taker.
Despite being on loan for the last two years, Kahn developed Baker like one of his own. The time and effort clearly shows in Baker's game who can now walk into the midfield of a number of top clubs!
And as a result of this maturity, Oliver Kahn has sanctioned KSC's most expensive signing- Lewis Baker makes his loan into a permanent transfer, costing KSC $14.5m plus another $5m in add ons which should materialize in the next couple of years.
Chelsea would be happy with a potential $20m coming to them, but it's definitely KSC and Kahn having the last laugh!
What can game time and faith from the manager do to the confidence and career of a young player?
Santi Mina is a prime example.
A product of Celta FC in Spain, Mina has been out on loan for the last two years at Karlsruhe. Being the main striker for the club in the 2.Bundesliga the first year, Mina retained his position at the club on loan for another year, this time in the 1.Bundesliga!
Such was Kahn's faith in the young lad that he refrained from buying another striker to replace Mina.
Providing competition for the place and support, was another young striker on loan, James Wilson.
Goran Pandev was signed on a free as a short term option when Mina was out injured for a short period, but when fit and available, Mina had started most of the games, scoring invaluable goals, assisting many more goals, and winning accolades for his overall play- his MOTM awards to show for it in spite not even scoring in some of those games!
This hasn't escaped the eyes of Real Madrid, who have spent $15m plus more in and one to prise Mina away from Celta in a long term contract.
Mina was also wanted by Kahn at KSC, but they simply couldn't compete financially with the Spanish giants!
Ylli Sallahi is now the first name on the team sheet at KSC. The young left back renowned for his attacking style of play and prowess has earned admirers from all over Europe.
Liverpool and Juventus are among the teams interested in his services, but Kahn has issued a hands off warning for his talented young player!
Another season in the top flight playing in the Bundesliga under Kahn should do wonders for the lad, who has stated his desire to play for a bigger club, but admits he would not go against Kahn's wishes and definitely stay on for another year.
Compared to Gareth Bale, Sallahi has had a similar impact at KSC thus far.
Mitchell Weiser, signed on a free from Bayern last year, is a wanted man. KSC appear to be making a $10m profit on the young winger. Weiser scored and assisted a dozen goals last season, and he created havoc with his pace for the oppositions.
Youth is the way forward at KSC now.