The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[SCIAG]

5-2, Hyam misses his tackle after the midfield allowed the ball to run and Hesketh gets a second goal.

[Ian Royal]

We're not looking great. A bit lacking in passing and movement. And defence all over the shop. Saints look good.

[glass half full]

Just one of those nights. I do like Fosu.

[SCIAG]

We've been looking defensively fragile for a while, we finally came up against a side capable of exploiting that.

Missing important defensively players like Keown and Kuhl, but I'm sure Southampton were missing important players too.

I don't think it's anything to get worried about but it does lend some credence to the question marks over some of the defensive players.

[fred sharpes nose]

Watched the whole game on BT - first time I have seen the much lauded U21s. I suppose all the recent better players have been moved "up" or out on loan - apart from Liburd (who is not a kid) and maybe Semedo no one looked remotely near ready for a 1st team cameo IMO. We looked promising up front, absent in midfield and lacking leadership at the back. Interesting to see Fosu close up - he didn't really have an impact - prior to the new signings he was hailed as a HobNob saviour after 30 minutes at Derby - glad Steve Clarkes makes the decisions. Also Saints finished much stronger they look to have more energy and puff than our boys who seemed to run out of steam. I was actually surprised at the gulf between these guys and the first team counterparts only 3 or so years older. Seeing the Vanarama highlights before the match just shows these lads need to be mixing it with men sooner rather than later if they are to succeed

[Royal Ginger]

Any idea why there's no sponsor on their shirts?

Carabao agreed to not sponsor the youth team since it is an energy drink. Basically, to save them from a PR nightmare of "energy drink targets teens"

You stated this as if it was fact, yet they wore Carabao on their shirts tonight.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Any idea why there's no sponsor on their shirts?

Carabao agreed to not sponsor the youth team since it is an energy drink. Basically, to save them from a PR nightmare of "energy drink targets teens"

You stated this as if it was fact, yet they wore Carabao on their shirts tonight.

The u21's are not classed as a youth team hth

[Royal Ginger]

In which case, back to my original question to which the above was the response, why weren't there any logos on the shirts last week? GreaterTorontoRoyal made it seam like he was responding to my comment.

[Platypuss]

Just one of those nights. I do like Fosu.

Looked like he'd slipped back into his bad old ways IMO.

[Royalwaster]

Watched the whole game on BT - first time I have seen the much lauded U21s. I suppose all the recent better players have been moved "up" or out on loan - apart from Liburd (who is not a kid) and maybe Semedo no one looked remotely near ready for a 1st team cameo IMO. We looked promising up front, absent in midfield and lacking leadership at the back. Interesting to see Fosu close up - he didn't really have an impact - prior to the new signings he was hailed as a HobNob saviour after 30 minutes at Derby - glad Steve Clarkes makes the decisions. Also Saints finished much stronger they look to have more energy and puff than our boys who seemed to run out of steam. I was actually surprised at the gulf between these guys and the first team counterparts only 3 or so years older. Seeing the Vanarama highlights before the match just shows these lads need to be mixing it with men sooner rather than later if they are to succeed

Easy to have more energy when you're winning 5:2 ....

[72 bus]

Tactically inept from Martin Kuhl, failed to address any of the issues at half time
No obvious captain on the pitch
Semedo totally unaware of his defensive duties

Liburd could turn out to be a gem
The youngster from Porchester looked ok

[3points]

Rescued a 3-3 draw at Chelsea last night having been 3-1 down. Two more for Liburd.

[Royals and Racers]

Rescued a 3-3 draw at Chelsea last night having been 3-1 down. Two more for Liburd.

It would be nice if the RFC website kept upto date with the results- that`s the last 2 results they have not bothered with.

[ZacNaloen]

Tbf they put highlights up qukcily, they just don't do storys on the newsfeed

[UpThePrem]

Rescued a 3-3 draw at Chelsea last night having been 3-1 down. Two more for Liburd.

It would be nice if the RFC website kept upto date with the results- that`s the last 2 results they have not bothered with.

The match report was on the OS at 2:11pm on Saturday.
http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/match-report-chelsea-u21-reading-stamford-bridge-2711078.aspx

[Royals and Racers]

Tbf they put highlights up qukcily, they just don't do storys on the newsfeed

However they could at least put the results up here http://www.readingfc.co.uk/fixtures-res ... -fixtures/
I would suggest that`s the 1st place people look to find out how they got on.

[JC]

U18's drew 3-3 with leicester. Still top of league but on GD from Chelsea. U21's are 2nd on GD to Southampton

[JC]

U18'S lost 1-0 at West Ham

[ayjaydee]

Was given a damning report on Cardwell at Woking by a mate at work who watches them regularly and knows his non league stuff. His verdict after the few games there is crap, for a big lad can't jump/head a ball and he seriously believes that he has no chance of making the grade much above Conference level.
I've not seen him play so am in no position to argue with him.
Any thoughts from the regular Academy watchers?

[RustyRoyal]

Always thought he looked decent at academy level but a quick look at the Woking fans forum is pretty damming for him... :/

"Cardwell does not appear to be a footballer, or interested in becoming one. Useless."

"Taking Cardwell off and playing with ten would have made more sense."

"Cardwell is patently out-of-his-depth and contributes little"

"but Cardwell doesn't seem good enough."

"Agree regarding Cardwell, is there a pact with Reading that he must play x amount of minutes!"

"Can't be any worse that persisting with Cardwell"

"Harry Cardwell makes me wish we still had Brett Williams to call on! Son, this is man's football, this is your chosen career. You have got to try."

"Colin wrote:
Beckles is on loan at Kingstonian


where Cardwell should be by the sounds of it"




Disappointing, had high hopes but it sounds like mainly an attitude problem that should be able to be fixed.