2018/19 U23s, Development, U19s etc

[Foxxed]

Muzzy was raving about Ndukwe too, if I recall correctly from some poster on here.

[rachhere]

1 hour ago, Foxxed said:

Muzzy was raving about Ndukwe too, if I recall correctly from some poster on here.

Rightly so. Hope he can quickly find his form when back from injury. So disappointing for him as he could/should have been pushing his way into the first team squad for at least cup matches this year. 

[Ric Flair]

8 hours ago, Foxxed said:

Muzzy was raving about Ndukwe too, if I recall correctly from some poster on here.

That was me, spoke to him several years ago on that programme Merson used to host on Sky. Said he was the best young player he'd ever seen at Leicester.

[davieG]

Young Foxes Come From Three Down To Seal Norwich Point
ACADEMY
Published 24 Nov 18

Three second half goals enabled Leicester City’s Under-18s to complete a stirring comeback and seal a 3-3 draw with Norwich City at Colney Training Centre on Saturday.
The young Foxes quickly fell 3-0 behind in Norwich as an Isak Thorvaldsson brace and a Tyrese Omotoye strike seemingly put the Canaries on course for victory.

However, a much-improved performance followed from City’s youngsters after the break, with Liam Loughlin, Terell Pennant and Ethan Fitzhugh all striking in a scintillating eight-minute passage of play.

While a decisive goal didn’t come their way, their second half performance outlined why they’ve been in such good form, winning their four previous games consecutively.

Leicester’s Under-18s now sit fourth in the U18 Premier League South standings, but they have a nine-point gap to close on leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs in fact visit Belvoir Drive this Saturday (11:30am GMT kick-off) before a home Premier League Cup encounter with West Ham United the following Saturday (12pm GMT kick-off).

City: Bosworth, Murch, L. Thomas, Tavares, Sams, Kranthove, Flynn, Loughlan, Russ (Arlott-John 81), Fitzhugh (Elewa-Ikpakwu 67), Pennant

Subs not used: P. James, Bollard, Myring

Goals: Loughlan 58, Pennant 61, Fitzhugh 66

[Aus Fox]

21 minutes ago, davieG said:

Young Foxes Come From Three Down To Seal Norwich Point
ACADEMY
Published 24 Nov 18

Three second half goals enabled Leicester City’s Under-18s to complete a stirring comeback and seal a 3-3 draw with Norwich City at Colney Training Centre on Saturday.
The young Foxes quickly fell 3-0 behind in Norwich as an Isak Thorvaldsson brace and a Tyrese Omotoye strike seemingly put the Canaries on course for victory.

However, a much-improved performance followed from City’s youngsters after the break, with Liam Loughlin, Terell Pennant and Ethan Fitzhugh all striking in a scintillating eight-minute passage of play.

While a decisive goal didn’t come their way, their second half performance outlined why they’ve been in such good form, winning their four previous games consecutively.

Leicester’s Under-18s now sit fourth in the U18 Premier League South standings, but they have a nine-point gap to close on leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs in fact visit Belvoir Drive this Saturday (11:30am GMT kick-off) before a home Premier League Cup encounter with West Ham United the following Saturday (12pm GMT kick-off).

City: Bosworth, Murch, L. Thomas, Tavares, Sams, Kranthove, Flynn, Loughlan, Russ (Arlott-John 81), Fitzhugh (Elewa-Ikpakwu 67), Pennant

Subs not used: P. James, Bollard, Myring

Goals: Loughlan 58, Pennant 61, Fitzhugh 66

Tottenham Hotspurs, we’re coming for you

[Lesta2014]

Leshabala was in the squad last night, any regular under 23 watchers no much about him? Seen him limited amount of times via streams but not noticed much other than he’s fairly pacey!

[Lambert09]

48 minutes ago, Lesta2014 said:

Leshabala was in the squad last night, any regular under 23 watchers no much about him? Seen him limited amount of times via streams but not noticed much other than he’s fairly pacey!

Hate to be pessimistic but the way Puel has a different under 23 on the bench each cup tie it feels more like a competition winner than them being there on ability. 

 

If he had expectations of them knocking on the first teams door why wouldnt we be seeing the same players on the bench again? 

[Ric Flair]

Its nigh on impossible to break through in to the first team and that's why as many of them as possible should be looking for loan moves, it just doesn't make any sense to stay and be faced with a poorer standard of football. Under Puel only Choudhury and Barnes have had any minutes who were part of our U23's in the last couple of years. It's a myth that hes a pioneer in giving our academy players chances.

[Lambert09]

45 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Its nigh on impossible to break through in to the first team and that's why as many of them as possible should be looking for loan moves, it just doesn't make any sense to stay and be faced with a poorer standard of football. Under Puel only Choudhury and Barnes have had any minutes who were part of our U23's in the last couple of years. It's a myth that hes a pioneer in giving our academy players chances.

I do agree with this but it also highlights the quality of the premier league. If he went around capping every player who showed promise we'd end up paying for it. If theyre good enough they will get an opportunity at some stage and have to take it. The reality, over 5 years only a handful of them will be good enough and thats still not enough in this game, you have to be better than good enough to force your way into a money league like ours.

 

We just have to accept that the majority of the youth players will probably end up in the lower leagues, if we get a few jems every few years then id be more than happy  

Edited 28 November 2018 by Lambert09

[Ric Flair]

18 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

I do agree with this but it also highlights the quality of the premier league. If he went around capping every player who showed promise we'd end up paying for it. If theyre good enough they will get an opportunity at some stage and have to take it. The reality, over 5 years only a handful of them will be good enough and thats still not enough in this game, you have to be better than good enough to force your way into a money league like ours.

 

We just have to accept that the majority of the youth players will probably end up in the lower leagues, if we get a few jems every few years then id be more than happy  

Yeah, it's not easy to do so. Seems easier for the clubs in Europe who are then competing in 4 competitions. 

[Shane]

1 hour ago, Lambert09 said:

I do agree with this but it also highlights the quality of the premier league. If he went around capping every player who showed promise we'd end up paying for it. If theyre good enough they will get an opportunity at some stage and have to take it. The reality, over 5 years only a handful of them will be good enough and thats still not enough in this game, you have to be better than good enough to force your way into a money league like ours.

 

We just have to accept that the majority of the youth players will probably end up in the lower leagues, if we get a few jems every few years then id be more than happy  

True but some of these lads need a chance to prove themselves. Look at Wan-Bissaka, Trent Alexander Arnold, Rashford, Pickford, Ward-Prowse, Loftus Cheek (albeit on loan), Sancho (albeit at Dortmund) Winks and many more... They were given an opportunity, performed well and were rewarded. 

 

I don’t think we give opportunities like other clubs do. For example, we sign 3 CB’s in the summer despite having Johnson, Knight and Hughes performing well. We demote Choudhury back to the u23s after putting in a great performance against Arsenal. We put 3 defenders on the bench every game, when it would have been more productive to put an attacker like Ndukwu on the bench before his injury. 

 

We will never know if these lads are good enough because they’re not given a chance. 

Edited 28 November 2018 by Shane

[fuchsntf]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Its nigh on impossible to break through in to the first team and that's why as many of them as possible should be looking for loan moves, it just doesn't make any sense to stay and be faced with a poorer standard of football. Under Puel only Choudhury and Barnes have had any minutes who were part of our U23's in the last couple of years. It's a myth that hes a pioneer in giving our academy players chances.

I believe,it was about encouraging,our Younger players,not necessary from only the development squad...

[Lambert09]

21 hours ago, Shane said:

True but some of these lads need a chance to prove themselves. Look at Wan-Bissaka, Trent Alexander Arnold, Rashford, Pickford, Ward-Prowse, Loftus Cheek (albeit on loan), Sancho (albeit at Dortmund) Winks and many more... They were given an opportunity, performed well and were rewarded. 

 

I don’t think we give opportunities like other clubs do. For example, we sign 3 CB’s in the summer despite having Johnson, Knight and Hughes performing well. We demote Choudhury back to the u23s after putting in a great performance against Arsenal. We put 3 defenders on the bench every game, when it would have been more productive to put an attacker like Ndukwu on the bench before his injury. 

 

We will never know if these lads are good enough because they’re not given a chance. 

But theres a reason they got those opportunities, because they were good enough, they are the cream of the crop.

 

Chillwell is a great example, capped at England at all youth ages, captain of the under 23's at 18. Anyone could see he was a class above in the under 23's but rather than throwing  him in to sink or swim, he had to earn his place. He had a solid loan spell where he proved that he could perform on the real stage. He was given the chance to train with the first team because of this, he showed that he could compete, then worked his way into the squad.  Even with his ability most of our fans wrote him off because he hadnt fully developed, but imagine if we had thrown him in before his loan at Hudds? He more than likely would have flopped, had his confidence destroyed and the next managers would probably not have given him another crack.  This would have set his career back years. 

 

Sometimes the club arent as foolish as it appears.  Im confident Barnes will be the next example of this, he's going to need our support but next year he will 100% be integrated to our first team.

 

Edited 29 November 2018 by Lambert09

[lgfualol]

Youthful midfield tonight

[LCFC1996]

 

[nwl fox]

What time is kick off folks?

[UPinCarolina]

Matty James!

[lcfcsnow]

Four central midfielders?

[Spicer]

HT 0-0. Very little to speak about during the half.

 

Matty James has been the standout player at the base of midfield.

[davieG]

10 minutes ago, Spicer said:

HT 0-0. Very little to speak about during the half.

 

Matty James has been the standout player at the base of midfield.

Must have missed that then.

[LCFC1996]

Shoved Josh Knight up top and he's scored, decent finish. 1-0

[nwl fox]

Knight > Loft

[Otis]

1-0 win

[weller54]

2 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

Matty James!

He's come back more times than Lazarus! 

[Foxxed]

Puel seemed to want to make Amartey a solid first teamer (and just about managed it before his injury) and make Ndidi into a better attacking and passing player in the first half of the season. But I hope he gives one of the u23s a bit of first team action before the end of the season.