The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Nameless]

Couple of players gone out on loan
Liam Kelly to Bath
And Shepperd somewhere I forget.

Is this Kelly's first loan ? He must be at a tipping point, he's a talented player but has never really got close to the first team. He needs to excel on the loan or I fear for his future.

[Ian Royal]

Couple of players gone out on loan
Liam Kelly to Bath
And Shepperd somewhere I forget.

Is this Kelly's first loan ? He must be at a tipping point, he's a talented player but has never really got close to the first team. He needs to excel on the loan or I fear for his future.

Bit of a 'show you're not too small and lightweight' loan I imagine.

[Royals and Racers]

It was a week ago, but I've just discovered that the FA have done a draw for the Youth cup semis and final ("number 2 will play number..... errrrr.... 1")

The Semi-Final draw

First leg – to be played by Saturday 19 March
1 Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End or Luton Town v AFC Wimbledon or Chelsea or Wolverhampton Wanderers or Reading
2 Manchester City or Norwich City v Coventry City or Arsenal or Liverpool

Second leg – to be played by Saturday 9 April
1 AFC Wimbledon or Chelsea or Wolverhampton Wanderers or Reading v Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End or Luton Town
2 Coventry City or Arsenal or Liverpool v Manchester City or Norwich City


The Final

First leg
1 Manchester City or Norwich City or Coventry City or Arsenal or Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End or Luton Town or AFC Wimbledon or Chelsea or Wolverhampton Wanderers or Reading

Second leg
2 Blackburn Rovers or Preston North End or Luton Town or AFC Wimbledon or Chelsea or Wolverhampton Wanderers or Reading v Manchester City or Norwich City or Coventry City or Arsenal or Liverpool

To be fair, some ties have taken place since then, so the final 1st leg is now:
Manchester City or Norwich City or Coventry City or Arsenal or Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers or Luton Town or Chelsea or Reading

We've managed to come out with an away tie every time since the 4th round (although when it's over two legs, that's an advantage). Apparently no dates yet for any of the future games, apart from Coventry-Arsenal in round 5 which is on 15 February.

Blackburn v Luton is on Tuesday February 23rd

[Royals and Racers]

U18`s lost 3-2 at Fulham this morning

[Royal Ginger]

Thought Kelly was a bit above that level, but then that was the general feeling towards Ugwu too...

[maffff]

Thought Kelly was a bit above that level, but then that was the general feeling towards Ugwu too...

Clearly has something about him but unlike many of our other youths I just can't see how he'd fit into the first team if he keeps progressing. Definitely be an interesting loan to keep an eye on.

[Hoop Blah]

Clearly has something about him but unlike many of our other youths I just can't see how he'd fit into the first team if he keeps progressing. Definitely be an interesting loan to keep an eye on.

In behind the front man surely?

I'm not sure he's ever going to make it at Championship level though, you've got to be very good to counter being his size at this level. He's clever and tricky, but good enough to do that at this level? I'd say it's not looking likely at the moment.

[CrowthorneRoyal]

Just watched the highlights of the Sutton v Bath game and Kelly looked like he had a good game.

[CountryRoyal]

U21s currently drawing 0-0 away at Manchester United.

Both sides have had a couple of good opportunities, we've hit the post.

It's fukking freezing.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Would you say there's a good chance of there being over 2.5 goals? Asking for a friend.

[KC Royal]

Watching game tonight on a stream - anyone else's picture gone?

I've still got commentary but it's annoying! Been like this for last 10 mins or so.

[KC Royal]

Seems as though didn't miss anything.
FT 1-0 Man United a Long og unfortunately. No complaints about the result against a side that will probably win the title again but had Novakovich's shot in the first half gone in instead of hitting the inside of the post I think we'd have got at least a draw tonight.

[CountryRoyal]

Would you say there's a good chance of there being over 2.5 goals? Asking for a friend.

Sorry Pepe! Didn't get my phone out at all second half as my hands were too numb

I thought we did OK against the best team in the league. They looked just a bit bigger, sharper, quicker and generally more advanced in every area, but for the first half at least I'd say chances were even. As the game progressed they had more and more opportunities and eventually scored from a low cross which Long unfortunately bundled in. At times we frustrated with some poor passing and lack of ball retention (Kuhl and Novakovic being the biggest culprits) but overall I'd say we have a good account of ourselves.

Moore 7 - Impressed me. Wasn't crazy busy but made a few decent saves.

Watson (?) 6- First I've heard of him I'm embarrassed to say but he looked good, pretty lightweight though, positionally a bit off from time to time and the goal came from his side.

Keown 6 - maybe he had an off day but I wasn't particularly impressed. Very vocal though.

Jules 7 - more impressive than his partner in defence. Big and strong and very confident as demonstrated by his shot from 45 yards which went about 45 yards high and wide

Long 5 - not impressed at all. Tried hard but isn't particularly attacking nor great at defending.

Evans 8 - grew into the game as it went on but as you'd probably expect the best player on the park for us. Occasionally wanted too much time on the ball, but broke up play well and his distribution was good.

Kuhl 6 - mixed bag for kuhl. Was at the heart of everything pinging balls left right and centre, unfortunately too many loose passes which gave away possession.

Fosu 4 - 4 is being kind. Absolutely anonymous. Expected much more from him.

Stacey 6 - Effort was there and better than Fosu on the other side but little end product and just not quite good enough to influence the game.

Liburd 7 - tough afternoon for the big man, had a few decent efforts
but at the same time could also have done better. Looks the real deal at that level though.

Novakovic 5 - really poor showing from the American youth international. Looked lumbered, sloppy, gave away the ball far too many times and although hit the post - probably should have scored.

Don't remember the other sub but thought Cardwell was rubbish.

[Nameless]

We did pretty well to match the might of Man Utdif held our team were rubbish !

[CountryRoyal]

Only one player was rated less than average. The scale is 1-10.

I'm sorry but I just say it how I saw it.

[Ian Royal]

Only one player was rated less than average. The scale is 1-10.

I'm sorry but I just say it how I saw it.

If it's 1-10 then 5.5 is average. So 5s are below average.

You could use 0-10 to have a round number as average, it'd be 6, not 5 though.

Assuming it's a modal average you mean. (Boom boom)

The report is much appreciated though. Presume it was Tennai Watson.. he was v good for u18s a couple of years ago.

I rate him and Owusu higher than Griffin or Long.

[Nameless]

Only one player was rated less than average. The scale is 1-10.

I'm sorry but I just say it how I saw it.

Of course, and the write up is appreciated.
You may only have given 1 player a below average mark but you give half of them (6/12) pretty negative comments, which kind of gave the impression that we were not very good.
It might have been that sort of game - no one playing well individually but the team grinding out a decent performance. I'd say the game at Stamford Bridge was quite like that. No real outstanding individual performances but reasonable organisation, hard work and a couple of bits of individual skill meant we matched a team that should be easily beating little clubs like us.....

[RoyalJames101]

Watson (?) 6- First I've heard of him I'm embarrassed to say but he looked good, pretty lightweight though, positionally a bit off from time to time and the goal came from his side.

Seem to remember him playing in the youth cup side against Fulham. Strange that not much has been said about him compared to others from that side (Kuhl, Stacey, Fosu, Dickie & Cardwell).

[CountryRoyal]

Fair points about the rating everage and I do probably critique harshly but I feel the youngsters and first team are good enough to deserve it. I don't see the point of rating people 9s and 10s if they weren't particularly good individually just because of the result of the game.

With regards to the game yesterday (I haven't read Kuhl's statement or that report, just saw the headline) but we matched them at times purely for chances created. Their overall play was better than ours, as expected, and eventually they had more opportunities which they should have scored from. Was a good showing from our lot though considering the opposition and apologies if my ratings/summaries don't necessarily reflect that!

[Nameless]

If the ratings generate comment take it as interest rather than criticism ! Just trying to get a better understanding of how they did, and I tend to take more notice of the comments than the numbers as from past experience no one uses the number ratings in the same way whereas words tend to give a clearer idea of what happened.
Were you in Manchester anyway ? You surely didn't go all that way just for the game ?