U23s & Academy

[Unbelievable]

Almost equalised at the dead there

[Earp]

Should have scored 

[54]

19 minutes ago, 54 said:

I can see why Neave has a bit of hype around him, he looks a cut above everyone else of our lot, been several times he's carried the ball forward to beat a defender to get a shot off. He just danced round three Barca midfielders on the halfway line, before charging on goal and laying it off to someone to score, albeit that player was offside. 

 

This is what I was on about. The goal was disallowed. 

[Unbelievable]

4 minutes ago, 54 said:

 

This is what I was on about. The goal was disallowed. 

Nice. People in the comments saying it was the Korean Messi though

[54]

5 minutes ago, Unbelievable said:

Nice. People in the comments saying it was the Korean Messi though

It deffo Neave, number 62. 

[gbandit]

Neave looks a proper player, lovely technique 

[La Parka]

49 minutes ago, 54 said:

It deffo Neave, number 62. 

He's magical.

 

I beneave.

[Loki679]

Do better, LP, puns like that are beneave you.

[BeloEmre]

2-0 down to Norwich before half an hour played.

 

1 points from 3 games before today and 9 goals conceded. 
 

What the fuck are we doing at the U21 level? Are they all just shit?

[Keegans Export]

8 minutes ago, BeloEmre said:

2-0 down to Norwich before half an hour played.

 

1 points from 3 games before today and 9 goals conceded. 
 

What the fuck are we doing at the U21 level? Are they all just shit?

It's funny, I looked at the team and thought there are a few players there we supposedly have high hopes for - Heffernan, Finneran, Pivas, Neave. This was before kick off obviously...

[The Prophet]

Are results hugely important at that level?

[JT24]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

Are results hugely important at that level?

No

[Shearergol]

4 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Are results hugely important at that level?

 

Nope, but you'd like to think they'd learn Eddie Howe's system in case they ever make it to the first team. 

[SAK]

9 minutes ago, Shearergol said:

 

Nope, but you'd like to think they'd learn Eddie Howe's system in case they ever make it to the first team. 

Don’t follow academy football but don’t we have a blueprint for a style across all age groups that reflects how the first team plays? Kind of like how Barca have a style (tiki taka) players are coached in from youth football all the way to first team. 

[leffe186]

1 hour ago, Shearergol said:

 

Nope, but you'd like to think they'd learn Eddie Howe's system in case they ever make it to the first team. 

It ebbs and flows. We were incredible the year before last, then a bit rubbish last year. The team two years ago could largely still play for our U21s but most of them have been on loan in the lower leagues for a year plus now - for example Donley was the guy who scored that wonder goal for Orient v Man City. 
 

Teams tend to have a good year as some players grow, then they move on and you have a much younger U21 team that can struggle for a season or two. Ideally you want your U21s to actually be 17/18, and the older guys to either be in the first team squad or on developmental loans. That’s one reason why results don’t matter so much. 
 

I was worried about our U19 CL team until I realized it’s basically our U21 team. Our team is actually even younger, the best players are both 16. There’s just too many variables to be too hung up on results. 

[Ellis H]

Can’t imagine us doing the same style at all levels thing until we get a proper DOF in. We should get some big improvements in the youth teams if we ever appoint someone competent and reliable.

[Shearergol]

11 hours ago, SAK said:

Don’t follow academy football but don’t we have a blueprint for a style across all age groups that reflects how the first team plays? Kind of like how Barca have a style (tiki taka) players are coached in from youth football all the way to first team. 

We don’t appear to have, no 

[Kanj]

We think Park and Neave have a look in v Bradford?

[gbandit]

Park yes, Neave no, just based on the game played yesterday

[ponsaelius]

Does anybody know if it's possible to watch the U18s at Academy of Shite? We play them in a couple of weeks there at 11am.

[Nucasol]

11 goals conceded and 2 scored between the U18s and U21s this weekend vs Villa and Spurs. 
 

[stozo]

1 hour ago, Nucasol said:

11 goals conceded and 2 scored between the U18s and U21s this weekend vs Villa and Spurs. 
 

To be fair the USG U19 game in midweek led to Neave, Park etc. missing out from the U21s, which led to a few of the U18s playing for the U21s and in turn quite a young U18 team. 

[leffe186]

53 minutes ago, stozo said:

To be fair the USG U19 game in midweek led to Neave, Park etc. missing out from the U21s, which led to a few of the U18s playing for the U21s and in turn quite a young U18 team. 

 

Yeah I wondered about that, because your U21 team seemed so poor this weekend. I checked it out - you only had two starters less than 18yo - Finneran and Wooster. We had four, including one 16-year old and one who turned 17 last Wednesday. I then wondered if you had a few kids out on loan, but as far as I can tell it's only Cordero. Is that actually right? We have got at least 10.

 

I knew your youth programme was a way behind but that genuinely surprised me. I think that's a stark contrast, and we're behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

[Nucasol]

1 hour ago, leffe186 said:

 

Yeah I wondered about that, because your U21 team seemed so poor this weekend. I checked it out - you only had two starters less than 18yo - Finneran and Wooster. We had four, including one 16-year old and one who turned 17 last Wednesday. I then wondered if you had a few kids out on loan, but as far as I can tell it's only Cordero. Is that actually right? We have got at least 10.

 

I knew your youth programme was a way behind but that genuinely surprised me. I think that's a stark contrast, and we're behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

We had a real spate of signings of some quite in demand youngsters but none have paid off yet. Sanusi has made one sub appearance but is now packed off on loan in France and hasn’t made an appearance. Cordero hasn’t ripped up any trees and is struggling to get a game for Westerlo.

[stozo]

2 hours ago, leffe186 said:

 

Yeah I wondered about that, because your U21 team seemed so poor this weekend. I checked it out - you only had two starters less than 18yo - Finneran and Wooster. We had four, including one 16-year old and one who turned 17 last Wednesday. I then wondered if you had a few kids out on loan, but as far as I can tell it's only Cordero. Is that actually right? We have got at least 10.

 

I knew your youth programme was a way behind but that genuinely surprised me. I think that's a stark contrast, and we're behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

Oh yeah, we're definitely way behind you guys. I think the difference at U21 level at the weekend was mainly that beyond our better players there is a big drop off. Neave is probably our best prospect and didn't play. Park looked bright in pre-season but also didn't play. And the rest of the team is a bunch of players who are destined for release. Of those who played, probably only Shahar, Finneran and Wooster have any chance of making it.