The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[CountryRoyal]

Youth player development for a football club is very complex. For it to be successful of any tangible degree it relies on a balance of resources, managerial tendencies and philosophies, and compromise... that's not even taking into consideration initial player ability. Every player's development is different and from a managerial point of view, embedding them into a squad is a difficult task. For the most part it's easier to loan them out to a lower-level, where his involvement doesn't influence our campaign, club to get the necessary competitive game time and then evaluate their progression from there, rather than take the risk of playing them in the first team consistently.
Because of the way the game has gone and is going financially the rewards and consequences for success and failure respectively, are so great that there leaves little room for experimenting. The whole process of embedding a youth product into the first team could be seen as continuous risk assessment. It's often why thin squads and injury induced call-ups aren't a bad thing. There isn't as much pressure on the player.

There's no scientific formula and loaning a player comes with it's risks as well. Say the club don't play him, hes' in and around a bad dressing room environment, gets injured...etc
There are so many complexities and obstacles involved in youth development which is why very few make it. Having the best possible resources and highest CAT status can only be a good thing.

[Pepe the Horseman]

The U18s are losing 2-0 at Spurs. Boooooooo.

[winchester_royal]

In their defence, it's a mostly second string U18 team as the main guys will be playing for the U21's in their cup game tomorrow.

[Royals and Racers]

Fa youth cup 5th round tie against Accrington at home will take place a week today-12th February at 7pm.

[andrew1957]

In their defence, it's a mostly second string U18 team as the main guys will be playing for the U21's in their cup game tomorrow.

Yes it looks like we are saving our best players for the FA Youth Trophy and Under 21 cup games. Mainly 17 year olds played at Spurs today. Good plan if you ask me as people remember who wins the FA Youth Cup but no one remembers the Under 18 league winners. I am hoping we play the best players in the Under 21 league games too from now on - as we have a chance to recover from a bad start and finish in the top half before next season's split into two divisions.

[maffff]

Talking of Southampton and youth development....

Southampton's teenage hotshot James Ward-Prowse says he toughened up at Havant & Waterlooville

The England under-21 international trained with the non-league club to add steel to his game and learn to stick the boot in

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has credited a training spell with Havant & Waterlooville for his recent success.

The English midfielder says he took the advice from his dad, at the age of 13, in a bid to add a steely mentality to his technical talent.

"I was a bit afraid of a tackle and wasn't really ready for the men's game so my dad suggested that I go to train with Havant & Waterlooville in the Blue Square South and get kicked and have that sort of feeling," Ward-Prowse told The Guardian.

"I started to toughen up and after that when I was 14 I was playing for the under-16s, when I was 16 I was playing for the under-18s and when I was 18 I was playing for England Under-21s and the [Southampton] first team. So it made me stand up and be counted against men."

The 19-year-old was also full of praise for the way Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has got the side playing.

"He's given us a belief that no matter who the team is in front of us, whether it's Manchester City or a lower-league team, we can go out and beat them as long as we concentrate on what we do."

I rescind my earlier comments about Bognor Regis....

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/southampton-midfielder-james-ward-prowse-toughened-3113564

[winchester_royal]

5th round of the Youth Cup tonight against Accrington Stanley at the Mad Stad. Winners to play either Watford or Liverpool at home.

[ZacNaloen]

What do you reckon to the chances of this being on youtube? I don't think i'm going to get out of work in time

[winchester_royal]

Hard to tell. They're unlikely to advertise it beforehand so as to not discourage people from going, but given that it seemed a success last time I'd imagine the chances are pretty good.

[winchester_royal]

What do I know eh?

Game will be live on Youtube: http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/cup-game-live-on-youtube-120214-1355438.aspx?

[ZacNaloen]

lol probably prompted by me asking on twitter

[Ian Royal]

Result. I can't do midweek games for the first team let alone youth. But I'm dead interested in seeing more of them.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Are Big Hec and JT doing commentary again?

[winchester_royal]

BIG news just in... Yes, they will be.

[Pepe the Horseman]

[NewCorkSeth]

I'm stealing this gif.

[Ian Royal]

Ooo I'm all a flutter.

[P!ssed Off]

[winchester_royal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s4r75Tmo5g

[floyd__streete]

Big fan of RFC's number 5.

Hyam Ed Winchester