The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Royals and Racers]

The U21`s could be promoted tonight without playing -as Derby need to win their final match at WBA (KO 7pm) to go above the Royals.

[UpThePrem]

Last U21 game next Friday 15th at Madejski vs West Brom. Hopefully a bit of a party. Fingers crossed.

Also U18's at Madejski this Friday.

[Hoop Blah]

I went along on Friday night and thought they were a little disappointing to be honest.

Keown looked by far the best of the back four and I was a little underwhelmed by both fullbacks to be honest. I think it's the first time I've seen them both in the flesh and they just didn't seem to offer too much at either end of the pitch. They did nothing wrong, just didn't standout like I think you want u21s to do in order to convince they'll be ones to make it.

Kuhl was his typical self. Tidy and effective and dictated pretty well. I think the Villa 8 came out on tops in the midfield alongside Henry Cowens who really was a chip off the old block, both in looks and playing style.

Kelly looked very busy and is a very clever little player and it was an excellent free kick. I really hope he continues to progress as he's the type of player I like to watch and I don't think size should really be an issue for him if he can dominate on the ball in the right places. The rest of the midfield did ok although Nana Owusu was easily controlled by the Villa left back who looked pretty tidy. Interesting to read that he got a ticking off and told to man up a bit. He was constantly going to ground and appealing for a foul at the slightest of touches.

Both the two forwards failed to get on the ball enough but the service to them wasn't great so benefit of the doubt there. I really like the look of Caldwell though. He's got a lovely touch at times and is physically a handful. It would be really interesting to see him get involved with the first team a bit over pre-season.

[Royals and Racers]

Last U21 game next Friday 15th at Madejski vs West Brom. Hopefully a bit of a party. Fingers crossed.

Also U18's at Madejski this Friday.

Website says Saturday AM for the U18`s not friday

[UpThePrem]

Last U21 game next Friday 15th at Madejski vs West Brom. Hopefully a bit of a party. Fingers crossed.

Also U18's at Madejski this Friday.

Website says Saturday AM for the U18`s not friday

I stand corrected. 11am.

[KC Royal]

Doesn't look like any of the usual sites are streaming it

Thought LFC TV was free

I recorded the game without realising that LFCTV is now blocked

But got a feeling I read somewhere in the first half of the season that it's no longer included in the Sky package, can't remember why though. Shame as their coverage of us last season was very good, first half of the season had highlights of the U18 game at the training ground, which was windy and had some spectators, second half of the season had the U21 win at Anfield in the league and the Youth Cup win on pens.

Edit - having found the discussion I read originally, I think it's purely because Liverpool wanted to make it subscription based. Guess we should be thankful for being able to see it last season for the youth games, it only became free in the first place because Setanta went bust.

[Nameless]

Keown looked by far the best of the back four and I was a little underwhelmed by both fullbacks to be honest. I think it's the first time I've seen them both in the flesh and they just didn't seem to offer too much at either end of the pitch. They did nothing wrong, just didn't standout like I think you want u21s to do in order to convince they'll be ones to make it.

They both scored on Monday, which illustrates the problem of judging players on one performance ! Not suggesting you are being unfair, you can only comment on what you see.
I like Long, he is always very tidy, always makes himself available, likes to get forward and has a great attitude.

[SCIAG]

Keown looked by far the best of the back four and I was a little underwhelmed by both fullbacks to be honest. I think it's the first time I've seen them both in the flesh and they just didn't seem to offer too much at either end of the pitch. They did nothing wrong, just didn't standout like I think you want u21s to do in order to convince they'll be ones to make it.

They both scored on Monday, which illustrates the problem of judging players on one performance ! Not suggesting you are being unfair, you can only comment on what you see.
I like Long, he is always very tidy, always makes himself available, likes to get forward and has a great attitude.

I broadly agree with Hoop. I'm pretty underwhelmed by the regular U21 back line. Long did score but I'm fairly sure he didn't mean it! Griffin's goal was better and from what I've seen he's beginning to be more influential, but neither of them look like future first teamers.

[andrew1957]

Congratulations to the Under 21's for winning promotion tonight with two matches to spare. They have been fantastic during the second half of the season and will now be playing the top teams home and away next season.

[P!ssed Off]

Agreed with above.
Long and Griffin are the weak links imo. (Assuming Shaughnessy is not playing!)
Also looked like Pierce Sweeney was carrying a few spare pounds. This hints at a lack of professionalism.


Can't be too harsh on Nova and Cardwell. Worth remembering they were the two youngsters on the pitch.

[Nameless]

Congratulations to the Under 21's for winning promotion tonight with two matches to spare. They have been fantastic during the second half of the season and will now be playing the top teams home and away next season.

Interesting to look at the teams in the top division. Far from being all the 'top' teams. Good to see us up there.

[andrew1957]

Apart from Arsenal all the top PL teams are in the Under 21 top division (Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Southampton and Everton).

[Nameless]

Indeed, quite amazed Arsenal are in Div 2 !

[Snowball]

I broadly agree with Hoop. I'm pretty underwhelmed by the regular U21 back line. Long did score but I'm fairly sure he didn't mean it! Griffin's goal was better and from what I've seen he's beginning to be more influential, but neither of them look like future first teamers.

The same back line that has had seven consecutive wins, seven consecutive clean sheets?

[ZacNaloen]

Having watched the highlights back, I'm less convinced Long didn't mean his goal against Stoke.

[Snowball]

Having watched the highlights back, I'm less convinced Long didn't mean his goal against Stoke.

Blimey, that takes a bit of parsing to get the meaning

[ZacNaloen]

He meant it imo

[tidus_mi2]

I wonder if Derby are sick of us yet this season? Knocked them out of the FA Cup on our way to the semi-final, killed their chances of making the play-offs, our U21s pipped them to promotion and now our U18 teams are both fighting it out near the top of group 2 in the final stage. Can the U18 do what the senior and U21 teams have already done?

[ZacNaloen]

Lets hope so, i'll be going down saturday morning I expect

[Snowball]

He meant it imo

At the time, at the match, that was what I thought