The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[UpThePrem]

and another.... sign him up

[Doolittle]

Samuel just scored for Cov also.

.. fine goal, too - great first touch from a long clearance, powered through, keeper no chance.

[ZacNaloen]

U14s win the indoor championship at St Georges park

Means they go to Portugal to face the best of Europe!

[ZacNaloen]

Samuel just scored for Cov also.

.. fine goal, too - great first touch from a long clearance, powered through, keeper no chance.

Both goals of good quality, the first one reminiscent of many he's scored for the academy as he did pretty much all of it himself after receiving a long ball.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Always impressed.that Ian Royal gets to see so many youth games.

I don't see many obviously, but i do watch highlights and catch the streamed cup games. Seen a couple live.

Watching on tv or highlights is no way to assess a player, only by going live can.you see how good they really are. Well done on going to some games.

Used to like the league cup games to see some of the youngsters.

[SCIAG]

Tom McIntyre (best known for getting abuse on Twitter for defending Adkins' style of play) is getting some serious game time, first he makes his U21 debut in midweek and now 90 minutes of competitive football for the U18s. I've not seen much of him but he looks like a natural progression for our Academy centre backs (Castle->Pearce->Hector->Cooper->Dickie->...), really assured on the ball.

Samuel's first goal for Coventry is excellent, reminiscent of Shane Long. If Clarke wants to get us back to McDermott-style counter attacking then Samuel might still have a role to play.

[Nameless]

Thomas McIntyre has just got scholarship contract plus a 2 year pro deal, not sure we've given too many 16 year olds a deal like that.
He is a very good footballing centre back and I think he's just got a call up for the Scotland age groups, will be following his progress with interest

[Ian Royal]

Always impressed.that Ian Royal gets to see so many youth games.

I don't see many obviously, but i do watch highlights and catch the streamed cup games. Seen a couple live.

Watching on tv or highlights is no way to assess a player, only by going live can.you see how good they really are. Well done on going to some games.

Used to like the league cup games to see some of the youngsters.

That's mental. TV is better than live for some aspects and live is better for others. Both are plenty useful.

[sandman]

What would be the point of clubs having scouts if watching highlights on the telly was an effective way of judging a players ability?

[Ian Royal]

What would be the point of clubs having scouts if watching highlights on the telly was an effective way of judging a players ability?

No one at any point has said watching highlights is an effective way of judging a player's ability.

The point of clubs having scouts go to live matches is:
1) They can watch games that aren't on TV or recorded.
2) They can pay particular attention to an individual player.
3) They can assess things like positioning, movement and work rate off the ball far better.
4) They can network.

I'm sure there are others.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Point 3 can be built on at a new club. It's teachable and attitude.
Best way is to play against them, worked well for us so far.

[Colbster]

Tonights game for the U21s postponed to 27th April

http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... 90712.aspx

[ZacNaloen]

groundsmans gotta be pleased with that

[TBM]

ChelseaU18s 1-2 Reading U18s.

[KC Royal]

U21 PL cup semi-final away to Blackburn 1-1 after 90 mins and into extra-time. Seems like we're unlucky not to have won the tie in normal-time though.

Edit - now 2-1 down, penalty.

[KC Royal]

Lost 2-1. Very unfortunate defeat. Hit the woodwork twice in extra-time, and once in normal time.

[SCIAG]

U18s see out the season with a 4-0 defeat at West Ham (:()... and a 1-0 win against Brighton. Jake Sheppard scored the winner from his own half. We finish the season in 5th (out of 12), above traditional heavyweights like Chelsea, Southampton, West Ham, and Fulham.

I don't know what the plan is for the next two months?

In the U21s, both centre backs scored in a 2-1 win over Blackburn. I don't know about you, but I'd happily swap the league and cup results...

[Royals and Racers]

U18s see out the season with a 4-0 defeat at West Ham (:()... and a 1-0 win against Brighton. Jake Sheppard scored the winner from his own half. We finish the season in 5th (out of 12), above traditional heavyweights like Chelsea, Southampton, West Ham, and Fulham.

I don't know what the plan is for the next two months?

In the U21s, both centre backs scored in a 2-1 win over Blackburn. I don't know about you, but I'd happily swap the league and cup results...

They did well to finish above Chelsea, as they finished top of the south group-maybe you meant to write Arsenal.

[SCIAG]

D'oh! Yes, Arsenal.

[JC]

U18s see out the season with a 4-0 defeat at West Ham (:()... and a 1-0 win against Brighton. Jake Sheppard scored the winner from his own half. We finish the season in 5th (out of 12), above traditional heavyweights like Chelsea, Southampton, West Ham, and Fulham.

I don't know what the plan is for the next two months?

In the U21s, both centre backs scored in a 2-1 win over Blackburn. I don't know about you, but I'd happily swap the league and cup results...

Link to Sheppard goal here

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/go ... ton-video/