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As someone who keeps an eye on the academy from a distance, does somebody more in the know than me please tell me how excited we should be about this crop of U-18’s?

Whenever I check in on their scores, they seem to be doing well.

I would think beating Man City, with all of their resources, is no mean feat.

2 hours ago, Birdyabroad said:

As someone who keeps an eye on the academy from a distance, does somebody more in the know than me please tell me how excited we should be about this crop of U-18’s?

Whenever I check in on their scores, they seem to be doing well.

I would think beating Man City, with all of their resources, is no mean feat.

Man City are obviously one of the best U18s sides in the country. Man Utd are the only U18 side better than them at the moment.

They're currently 2nd in the Northern Section and finished 2nd last season (15 points clear of 3rd). They also won the National title 4 years on the bounce before that - Derby winning it the year before them.

 

Overall, I think we have a very good crop of youngsters, but I don't think they're quite at the same level as the 18/19 crop which contained Cashin, Buchanan, Archie Brown, Ebosele, Thompson, Bird, Knight, Sibley and Whittaker

Jack Thompson (GK) and Tristan Gill (LB) are both still eligible for the U18s, but have cemented themselves in the U21s starting lineup. I think we'll be lining up loan moves for them next season. Thompson in particular stood out as our best performer in the U21s for several months last season.

Cruz Allen (AM/W) has also been a regular now for a couple of months. His set pieces are generally very good (so Warne should be happy), and he's improving physically whislt adapting to the higher level of football.

Niall McAndrew (AM/W/CF) is getting the occasional minutes, whilst Adisa Osayande (CB) and Johnson Osong (W) have featured a couple of times too. 

Owen Eames (AM) has been in fine form with 7 goals and 4 assists from 9 league games. He's stepped up since Allen's involvement in the U21s increased. If we drift away from an U18 title challenge, we'll see him breaking into the U21s in the 2nd half of the season. 

Charles Ebuka (CF) started the season on fire and is the top scorer in the country with 10 goals in just 342 minutes of action (6 games). Only a first year scholar but already had a taste of U21 football. I think he's currnelty out injured.

Justin Oguntolu (CF/W) has 5 goals and 3 assists in his 8 games. I imagine we'll see a bit of him in the U21s whispt Wheeldon is out on loan.

Khace Gordon (RB) was the Academy player of the season last season and is now a first year scholar. He's very good defensively and has good feet, but needs to improve his game in the final third.

11 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

Man City are obviously one of the best U18s sides in the country. Man Utd are the only U18 side better than them at the moment.

They're currently 2nd in the Northern Section and finished 2nd last season (15 points clear of 3rd). They also won the National title 4 years on the bounce before that - Derby winning it the year before them.

 

Overall, I think we have a very good crop of youngsters, but I don't think they're quite at the same level as the 18/19 crop which contained Cashin, Buchanan, Archie Brown, Ebosele, Thompson, Bird, Knight, Sibley and Whittaker

Jack Thompson (GK) and Tristan Gill (LB) are both still eligible for the U18s, but have cemented themselves in the U21s starting lineup. I think we'll be lining up loan moves for them next season. Thompson in particular stood out as our best performer in the U21s for several months last season.

Cruz Allen (AM/W) has also been a regular now for a couple of months. His set pieces are generally very good (so Warne should be happy), and he's improving physically whislt adapting to the higher level of football.

Niall McAndrew (AM/W/CF) is getting the occasional minutes, whilst Adisa Osayande (CB) and Johnson Osong (W) have featured a couple of times too. 

Owen Eames (AM) has been in fine form with 7 goals and 4 assists from 9 league games. He's stepped up since Allen's involvement in the U21s increased. If we drift away from an U18 title challenge, we'll see him breaking into the U21s in the 2nd half of the season. 

Charles Ebuka (CF) started the season on fire and is the top scorer in the country with 10 goals in just 342 minutes of action (6 games). Only a first year scholar but already had a taste of U21 football. I think he's currnelty out injured.

Justin Oguntolu (CF/W) has 5 goals and 3 assists in his 8 games. I imagine we'll see a bit of him in the U21s whispt Wheeldon is out on loan.

Khace Gordon (RB) was the Academy player of the season last season and is now a first year scholar. He's very good defensively and has good feet, but needs to improve his game in the final third.

This is great, thanks for taking the time. I shall keep my excitement level for this crop of U18’s at a steady 7.5 out of 10 😎

I had a read of the Blue Moon forum. Comments stink of entitlement, full of "we should be beating Derby", "dirty time wasters" etc. No acknowledgement of how well our boys played.

I bet they'd settle for their first team battling their way to a 3-2 win right now 😅

12 hours ago, Crewton said:

I had a read of the Blue Moon forum. Comments stink of entitlement, full of "we should be beating Derby", "dirty time wasters" etc. No acknowledgement of how well our boys played.

I bet they'd settle for their first team battling their way to a 3-2 win right now 😅

Man City actively procure the best young talent in the country, some of the fees they pay out is crazy - as young as 12/13 year olds. Almost every player in their squad is a youth international. They’re seeing that Derby team in the same fashion as our first team, which is definitely not the case. 

I know Derby are doing something similar and put a lot of emphasis on it hence why we recruited some of the most renowned academy staff in the county to head it up. In terms of investment to academy and first team, I’d guess that we are closest in the country in terms of ratio. 

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