The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Ian Royal]

Is it not possible it could keep good young players from going out on loan? I mean Zaha might not have been allowed out on loan if he was playing well in an u23s league? The more meaningful you make this b league, the more likely big clubs will keep their players so that they win it.

Surely that is the whole point - better that they play other top youngsters on main stadiums pitches than play in a League 2 mudfest where they get kicked up in the air by older stronger - but less technically able players. Perform well in the Under 23 games and they would go straight into the first team if there was for example injury.

Yeah granted its better than league 2 but say Liverpool has a quality under 23s team. Why would they loan a player out to the Championship instead of focusing on winning the league? It might make that league a bit more competitive but the Championship and below will suffer for it and soon enough the English league system will be another 2 league system with the Championships quality getting worse and worse each year.. Imagine someone like Lambert trying to get a game somewhere in that mess?

How many quality PL youth players are loaned to the championship at the moment? Is it really that big in number?

[NewCorkSeth]

Erm Jack Hunt? Then Obika, Thorne, Chalobah, Keane, Afobe, McEachran and Duffy.. Also 5 or 6 Man Utd players I dont know particularly well and another 2 or 3 from Man City. Then Butland was on loan earlier in the season. And add to that 30 or 40 other players I don't know loaned out of the Premier league per season..

[NewCorkSeth]

"I wonder what Gareth McCleary and Chris Gunter are doing for valentines day" - Jake Taylor 2014

Ok it wasnt Jake Taylor it was Big Hec..

[Royal Ginger]

Erm Jack Hunt? Then Obika, Thorne, Chalobah, Keane, Afobe, McEachran and Duffy.. Also 5 or 6 Man Utd players I dont know particularly well and another 2 or 3 from Man City. Then Butland was on loan earlier in the season. And add to that 30 or 40 other players I don't know loaned out of the Premier league per season..

Billy Sharp
Jimmy Kebe

[SCIAG]

Entry for the match at the Madejski Stadium against Arsenal U21s is free.

It's unlikely that anyone who played against West Ham for the U18s will play, but unfortunately the whole team isn't known. Judging by West Ham's report, we played a weakened side, presumably with one eye on this fixture. Furthermore, Hector and Obita will be unavailable due to first team commitments, but Jake Taylor should be available once more. It is possible Cummings, Federici or Drenthe (as if) could be selected to keep them playing, but so far this season that has been uncommon. Lawson D'Ath is out on loan, and Dominic Samuel is injured (as is Jake Cooper?).

Best guess at a team: Lincoln; Long, Keown, Sweeney, Griffin; Kuhl, Tshibola; Taylor, Tanner, Fosu/Stacey; Ugwu
Subs: Moore, Partridge, Kelly, Fosu/Stacey, Ofori/Crossdale-Taylor (Cardwell and Vastuk both played against West Ham)

[ZacNaloen]

Can't be there as I'm in oxf*rd Carlisle for work.

But Tanner just scored.

[ZacNaloen]

Now Tshibola has scored.

2-0

[andrew1957]

"I wonder what Gareth McCleary and Chris Gunter are doing for valentines day" - Jake Taylor 2014

Ok it wasnt Jake Taylor it was Big Hec..

Ah - they look so happy together. And they play well together too.

https://twitter.com/ReadingFC/status/43 ... to/1/large

[winchester_royal]

Over 3000 fans there tonight apparently. Good effort.

[P!ssed Off]

Finished 2-1.
Great result.
Crucial that the youngsters were able to hold a lead against a decent team, as I think they've dropped quite a few points from a winning position this season.

We've climbed up 2 spaces to 19th, out of 22.
In a good run of form in the league now: Last 5 = 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. (+2 cup wins to make up last 7 results)
We've got at least one game in hand on most other teams, and 2 or 3 games in hand over some teams.

Win a couple of games in hand and we could find ourselves in a respectable mid-table 10th-ish, with a very remote possibility of sneaking into the top 4 end of season playoff.
In to the last 8 of the U21 cup (against Wolves who we are now above in the league, so have a good chance of progressing to the semis, where we would play Arsenal who we've just beaten so have a good chance of reaching the final imo).

So looking like it may well be at the very least a decent season for the U21s, when tbh alarm bells may well have been ringing when we lost 5 on the bounce in September/October.

[andrew1957]

Finished 2-1.
Great result.
Crucial that the youngsters were able to hold a lead against a decent team, as I think they've dropped quite a few points from a winning position this season.

We've climbed up 2 spaces to 19th, out of 22.
In a good run of form in the league now: Last 5 = 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. (+2 cup wins to make up last 7 results)
We've got at least one game in hand on most other teams, and 2 or 3 games in hand over some teams.

Win a couple of games in hand and we could find ourselves in a respectable mid-table 10th-ish, with a very remote possibility of sneaking into the top 4 end of season playoff.
In to the last 8 of the U21 cup (against Wolves who we are now above in the league, so have a good chance of progressing to the semis, where we would play Arsenal who've just beaten so have a good chance of reaching the final imo).

So looking like it may well be at the very least a decent season for the U21s, when tbh alarm bells may well have been ringing when we lost 5 on the bounce in September/October.

As I pointed out earlier in the season our squad are nearly all 18 and 19 whereas many of the other teams play over age players much more regularly than we do and so it was no surprise they struggled early on this season as they got used to the higher level - but they have improved hugely as the season has gone on. With the excellent current group of Under 18's joining them next season, we should have a very strong Under 21 squad next time.

As you say with a good end to the season we could win the cup and finish top half which means we will play against the best teams next season when the 22 teams are split into two leagues.

[P!ssed Off]

Finished 2-1.
Great result.
Crucial that the youngsters were able to hold a lead against a decent team, as I think they've dropped quite a few points from a winning position this season.

We've climbed up 2 spaces to 19th, out of 22.
In a good run of form in the league now: Last 5 = 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss. (+2 cup wins to make up last 7 results)
We've got at least one game in hand on most other teams, and 2 or 3 games in hand over some teams.

Win a couple of games in hand and we could find ourselves in a respectable mid-table 10th-ish, with a very remote possibility of sneaking into the top 4 end of season playoff.
In to the last 8 of the U21 cup (against Wolves who we are now above in the league, so have a good chance of progressing to the semis, where we would play Arsenal who've just beaten so have a good chance of reaching the final imo).

So looking like it may well be at the very least a decent season for the U21s, when tbh alarm bells may well have been ringing when we lost 5 on the bounce in September/October.

As I pointed out earlier in the season our squad are nearly all 18 and 19 whereas many of the other teams play over age players much more regularly than we do and so it was no surprise they struggled early on this season as they got used to the higher level - but they have improved hugely as the season has gone on. With the excellent current group of Under 18's joining them next season, we should have a very strong Under 21 squad next time.

As you say with a good end to the season we could win the cup and finish top half which means we will play against the best teams next season when the 22 teams are split into two leagues.

Yes, very true re our young players growing in to the U21 team.
Also Craig Tanner, our top goal scorer and possibly best player was out injured for 6 games, 5 of which we lost.
Since coming back from injury he has scored in 6 out of 7 games!

As you say there are clear explanations as to why we are performing much better now that at the start of the season. Therefore, unless a key player or two is injured or loaned out, we will most likely continue our good form.

[SCIAG]

Good win. We absolutely ran the midfield, Kuhl and particularly Tshibola were a step above and Tanner totally outshone Eisfield. Torn between Tshibola and Tanner for MOTM, both were very good. Disappointed not to see Taylor- when else is he going to get game time?

Imagine Keown will get the nod for the bench after that, unless Adkins has four wingers on the bench again.

As I pointed out earlier in the season our squad are nearly all 18 and 19 whereas many of the other teams play over age players much more regularly than we do and so it was no surprise they struggled early on this season as they got used to the higher level

Also, we often rest the likes of Kuhl, Stacey and Fosu-Henry for U18 matches, and play other U18 players in their places. Most teams would do the opposite.

[andrew1957]

No surprise but Liverpool beat Watford 2-0 tonght so it is Reading v Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup QF.

[Royals and Racers]

No surprise but Liverpool beat Watford 2-0 tonght so it is Reading v Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup QF.

With the other ties
Fulham v Huddersfield
Charlton/Arsenal v Everton
Newcastle v Chelsea
and the winners of the Royals match meets Fulham or Huddersfield in the 2 leg semi.

[maffff]

Lasha Dvali has gone back to Skonto (Latvia) on loan until the end of the season. We signed him from them in September, subject to work permit. He also had loan offers from Belgium.

He's an 18 year old Georgian International left back.

[Wimb]

Lasha Dvali has gone back to Skonto (Latvia) on loan until the end of the season. We signed him from them in September, subject to work permit. He also had loan offers from Belgium.

He's an 18 year old Georgian International left back.

ffs that's going to be a nightmare to keep track of in the loan report for TTE

[maffff]

ffs that's going to be a nightmare to keep track of in the loan report for TTE

http://www.skontofc.com/?zina=502



Skonto signed him in the winter of 2012 but couldn't play him for a while because of legal issues over the transfer from Metallurg B (Reserves). He wasn't heavily involved with Skonto's first team before we took him on [5 appearances in the league and a few cup appearances]. He didn't participate in their winter cup game on the 18th (it was only confirmed he joined that day, so that's hardly surprising.

Typically enough he got injured in August, shortly after we struck a deal to sign him (for about £50k), so he's going out on loan to get match fit.

He can also play CB as well as left back [naturally left footed], the club rate him highly so far, he has as much potential as the Fridge.

Their next game is on the 24th v FK Jelgava. Skonto are second in the league. - their website seems to be alright for updates. You can also get match reports from http://www.futbolavirsliga.lv/.

[winchester_royal]

1-0 up against Wolves in the QF's of the U21 cup. The Gozeraptor with the goal.

[P!ssed Off]

u21s 1-0 up against Wolves in the quarter final of the U21 Cup.

Ugwu scores rebound, after Tanner's shot saved.

Squad:
Lincoln, Long, Griffin, Sweeney, Keown; Kuhl (C), Tshibola, Stacey, Fosu; Tanner, Ugwu

Subs:
Ward, Hyam, Cooper, Fridjonsson, L.Kelly

KO was at 7pm