Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[Ric Flair]

9 hours ago, Simon alex said:

Shane Flynn???

The only one

[WilmslowFox]

On 05/06/2021 at 12:18, Foxxed said:

Darnell looked decent in his pre-season cameo under, I think, Ranieri. But then had a disastrous loan north of the border, with a red card in his first match and subsequent injury, playing a grand total of one game, after which he had another lackluster loan at Wigan and then eventually went to Wimbledon, where he's had some decent stats but nothing that indicates he's ready to be poached by a bigger team. Ndukwu always had talent and, according to a few unsubstantiated angry posts on this forum had been demanding a loan, and then finally got one with bottom-of-the-league strugglers Southend where he failed to impress. It's been suggested before here but I'm not sure he's fitted to the physicality of the English game.

 

 

Yes, Darnell was excellent in 2018/19 pre-season, while first team regulars were resting after the World Cup.  His disastrous loan spell in Scotland was even worse than you suggest because that red card (actually a yellow that was somehow upgraded to a red after the match) was for a nasty looking tackle on a Celtic player in front of Brendan Rogers just a couple of weeks before he joined us.

 

I don't think Ndukwu is entirely to blame for his unimpressive Southend loan spell - we was brought in by one manager who presumably intended to use him, but that manager was then sacked and replaced with Sol Campbell.  I guess Campbell wanted a more physical profile of player, as Layton sat out the rest of his loan period rarely even making the bench.

[Grebfromgrebland]

Do you think we'll ever develop a foreign national through youth to first team?

 

We have a few but they seem to want to leave rather than fight for a place. Yes I know tavares played for the first team but he's hardly committing himself to the club. 

 

I think what I'm getting at is, will our new training ground prove to be worth it? Or will it just be used to develop top youngsters who then leave on frees before we get any benefit from them.

[davieG]

41 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Do you think we'll ever develop a foreign national through youth to first team?

 

We have a few but they seem to want to leave rather than fight for a place. Yes I know tavares played for the first team but he's hardly committing himself to the club. 

 

I think what I'm getting at is, will our new training ground prove to be worth it? Or will it just be used to develop top youngsters who then leave on frees before we get any benefit from them.

Isn't that now difficult to do with the new immigration laws related to football and young players. I'm sure @Ric Flair posted something about it.

[Ric Flair]

40 minutes ago, davieG said:

Isn't that now difficult to do with the new immigration laws related to football and young players. I'm sure @Ric Flair posted something about it.

The only way we do it is if the players family move to the country for non footballing purposes (I'm sure there will be ways around that)

[Kilworthfox]

2 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

The only way we do it is if the players family move to the country for non footballing purposes (I'm sure there will be ways around that)

I am sure that in the London & Manchester areas, Possibly even in the very west of the west midlands, parents of talented under 16s will somehow gain employment, and receive a home, therefore moving into a catchment area & an acceptable travel time for our F.A, and entering the "local" talent pool. Purely a coincidence! No rules broken  

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Kilworthfox said:

I am sure that in the London & Manchester areas, Possibly even in the very west of the west midlands, parents of talented under 16s will somehow gain employment, and receive a home, therefore moving into a catchment area & an acceptable travel time for our F.A, and entering the "local" talent pool. Purely a coincidence! No rules broken  

Exactly, so there will be the same sorts of things for folk coming over from abroad, especially if they have a trade which we seek people from overseas to come over and help plug the gap.

[Kilworthfox]

2 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Exactly, so there will be the same sorts of things for folk coming over from abroad, especially if they have a trade which we seek people from overseas to come over and help plug the gap.

Yes naturally in every area within reason, however I am purely suggesting as a coincidence, that there may be a higher proportion in certain areas where certain clubs can recruit from in their local areas, who wouldn't dream of breaking any rules, but may be helping some people for many unknown reasons, (just good company ethics I guess?) but their offspring may be exceptionally talented at football... like I said no rules broken, just coincidences, just people moving countries for work as is their right.

 

Leicester City do not actively help any foreign national gain employment, so that they can work in the U.K...(I have no evidence at all) however they do not! Other clubs... I couldn't possibly say or even suggest, as I don't know this for a fact , or have any evidence at all, I don't know how my posts could even be construed as so???

[sacreblueits442]

9 hours ago, WilmslowFox said:

Yes, Darnell was excellent in 2018/19 pre-season, while first team regulars were resting after the World Cup.  His disastrous loan spell in Scotland was even worse than you suggest because that red card (actually a yellow that was somehow upgraded to a red after the match) was for a nasty looking tackle on a Celtic player in front of Brendan Rogers just a couple of weeks before he joined us.

 

I don't think Ndukwu is entirely to blame for his unimpressive Southend loan spell - we was brought in by one manager who presumably intended to use him, but that manager was then sacked and replaced with Sol Campbell.  I guess Campbell wanted a more physical profile of player, as Layton sat out the rest of his loan period rarely even making the bench.

...even before Sol Campbell turned up their supporters were looking to buy him a train ticket so he could come back to us. Southend were in complete disarray and just needed someone to come on the pitch and showed that they cared. It was simple all they were asking for because the administration of their club and the player they had wanted to manage the club was available but the club chose to continually look elsewhere. 

  There really was no easier secondment that he (Ndukwu) could have had, but if you watch him on the pitch he does not get involved and could not muster up an attempt to show any commitment. 

  With the news that he is suffering with his mental health, it might just explain the performances we have seen from him.

Edited 7 June 2021 by sacreblueits442

[jamesmilner]

23's Won't be relegated ! 

[Ryy]

8 minutes ago, jamesmilner said:

23's Won't be relegated ! 

??

[Foxy-Lady]

On 30/05/2021 at 14:05, Foxxed said:

I was waiting for FoxyLady to reply... Cheers though!

didnt need to reply as i raised the same point a few years ago.

 

Not quite sure what this story has to do with my personality.....just so happens we dont share the same view on certain matters but thats no need to get personal is it?.

 

(PS  his dad told me this personally a few years ago.....just in case you wanted to know how i knew) 

[Foxy-Lady]

On 05/06/2021 at 12:07, The_Rorab said:

Didn't this also happen with Conor Tee and I think it was Herve Pepe-Ngoma a while back where they won academy player of the year and then promptly got released like a year later?

I think it also happened to Pascanu as well although he stayed a little longer

 

Just a thought but with Connor Tee and Bosworth not being very tall or physical, i do wonder if this may have had anything to do with why they didn't get any opportunities in Beagleholes U23s....or is this just a coincidence that they were viewed as outstanding one year and then never played the following year...?!?

[Kilworthfox]

2 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

I think it also happened to Pascanu as well although he stayed a little longer

 

Just a thought but with Connor Tee and Bosworth not being very tall or physical, i do wonder if this may have had anything to do with why they didn't get any opportunities in Beagleholes U23s....or is this just a coincidence that they were viewed as outstanding one year and then never played the following year...?!?

I have made this point before in last seasons thread... but if nothing else I am nostalgic 

 

From the pre academy to u16s the emphasis is on technical training, movement skills & 1v1's. Most academies have a culture with this modern way of developing talent, then they are thrown into the world of Beaglehole after signing pro, and shock, it fails for the majority, unless they are fortunate enough to bypass the U23's with a loan, or the first team rescue him & use the skills they have been trained for, the best part of their footballing development.  Everyone at the Academy know this! SB Is protected, due to the loyalty of JR.

 

People on here write about relegation from Prem div 1 to div 2, its no big deal! This can be fixed in just 1 season, but player development isn't about match results, its about individual player development!

 

The big deal is... the % of players who have been in the system, offered as scholar, and then those who stagnate and are released! As fans, who the vast majority concentrate on the first team fortunes, they don't see this issue, but where are the local LCFC trained 60 to 80 professional players from those 20 past seasons?

 

SB isn't the only problem, there are more issues (IMO), but this obvious lack of interest / protection within the academy, shows that it is not an elite environment (utterly unforgiveable), as poor performance is tolerated, (where are the targets, then performance metrics?) within the staff, as long as you know the right people. JR overall, has done a commendable job when considering the first team achievements without any doubt, however not every employee is perfect, can you justify loyalty to a few staff individuals over some of the players released in the past 2 decades? If so, with what data can the club justify their coaching staffs competence?

 

IMO Questions would need to be asked from ownership, but like I've written previously, you don't get a dog and bark yourself. So here is to another season of LCFC academy mediocrity.

[Jimmy]

I suspect if parents of players that were unhappy with Beaglehole wrote to Top and it happened year after year at the very least he would look into it and ask why Academy players of the year keep disappearing in the U23s.

 

Rudkin shouldn't still be the head of the academy, DoF is a full time role so is the head of academy, he needs to be asked to give one of them up, I think we all know which he would keep

Edited 17 June 2021 by Jimmy

[Foxxed]

4 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

didnt need to reply as i raised the same point a few years ago.

 

Not quite sure what this story has to do with my personality.....just so happens we dont share the same view on certain matters but thats no need to get personal is it?.

 

(PS  his dad told me this personally a few years ago.....just in case you wanted to know how i knew) 

Haha. I was just on the wind up. Nothing personal.

[Bubby]

LCFC show interesting in Hartlepool goalkeeper Brad Young

[davieG]

18 minutes ago, Bubby said:

LCFC show interesting in Hartlepool goalkeeper Brad Young

Have we got a Goalkeeping Academy as well as the Turf Academy as we seem to be investing in a lot of them.

[moore_94]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-city-complete-signing-young-5559054

 

Leicester City complete signing of Liverpool midfielder

 

Leicester City have signed 16-year-old midfielder Jack Lewis from Liverpool following a successful trial.

The teenager spent several weeks with Leicester's under-18 squad towards the end of last season and caught the eye of coaches and scouts during training sessions and several trial matches.

LeicestershireLive understands that Lewis has agreed a deal with the club, which will see him join Adam Barradell's under-18s on a two-year scholarship from the start of next season.

There is potential for him to sign a professional deal when he becomes eligible to do so on his 17th birthday.

The club are also understood to have offered a similar deal to Manchester United and Wales youth international Chris Popov, a talented left-winger who is said to have turned down an offer from the Red Devils. It is unclear whether Popov is yet to accept Leicester's offer.

He would join fellow ex-Manchester United teammate Jahmari Lindsay in joining the Foxes, with the left-back penning a deal towards the end of last season.

Meanwhile, the Foxes have been linked with a move for 19-year-old Hartlepool United goalkeeper Brad Young. According to Football Insider, Leicester have offered the England youth international a three-year deal.

Young has attracted interest from a number of clubs, most notably Chelsea, and would be a replacement for Oliver Bosworth, who was released at the end of last season.

[happy85]

Chris popov looks the real deal 

 

 

[Ric Flair]

Popov has apparently agreed to join us.

[AjcW]

The only thing I want to see Popov is the beagle!!!

[justfoxes]

Wanya Marcel This lad looks amazing going to be a great player if we keep hold of him his skills are sublime plus he can be quality in competitive Games too !!

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/57530144

 

 

Edited 24 June 2021 by justfoxes

[Foxy-Lady]

On 17/06/2021 at 16:27, Kilworthfox said:

I have made this point before in last seasons thread... but if nothing else I am nostalgic 

 

From the pre academy to u16s the emphasis is on technical training, movement skills & 1v1's. Most academies have a culture with this modern way of developing talent, then they are thrown into the world of Beaglehole after signing pro, and shock, it fails for the majority, unless they are fortunate enough to bypass the U23's with a loan, or the first team rescue him & use the skills they have been trained for, the best part of their footballing development.  Everyone at the Academy know this! SB Is protected, due to the loyalty of JR.

 

People on here write about relegation from Prem div 1 to div 2, its no big deal! This can be fixed in just 1 season, but player development isn't about match results, its about individual player development!

 

The big deal is... the % of players who have been in the system, offered as scholar, and then those who stagnate and are released! As fans, who the vast majority concentrate on the first team fortunes, they don't see this issue, but where are the local LCFC trained 60 to 80 professional players from those 20 past seasons?

 

SB isn't the only problem, there are more issues (IMO), but this obvious lack of interest / protection within the academy, shows that it is not an elite environment (utterly unforgiveable), as poor performance is tolerated, (where are the targets, then performance metrics?) within the staff, as long as you know the right people. JR overall, has done a commendable job when considering the first team achievements without any doubt, however not every employee is perfect, can you justify loyalty to a few staff individuals over some of the players released in the past 2 decades? If so, with what data can the club justify their coaching staffs competence?

 

IMO Questions would need to be asked from ownership, but like I've written previously, you don't get a dog and bark yourself. So here is to another season of LCFC academy mediocrity.

Yet again....you make some very good points.....especially interesting to read from an "insiders" perspective

 

Ive often wondered how many promising careers have been wasted at the hands of Beagleholes hoofball.....and why JR continues to protect him at the expense of talented youngsters who quickly become surplus to requirement based on their size and strength? 

its a metric that can never be measured but what does speak volumes to me is that those academy graduates who have successfully broken through to our first team have all largely by-passed Beagleholes U23s (ie Barnes, Chilwell, Thomas..) and very few of them speak highly of them when eulogising about their development years in the academy system.

 

Personally, i dont believe this is just a co-incidence having watched Beagleholes hoofball giants for several seasons.  

[Foxy-Lady]

On 18/06/2021 at 13:30, davieG said:

Have we got a Goalkeeping Academy as well as the Turf Academy as we seem to be investing in a lot of them.

Out of interest, when was the last time we produced a Goalkeeper through our Academy?

Iversen was brought in at age 19 as an established Danish youth international and Johansson signed at age 19 from Villa having worked previously with Ben Petty.

 

Bizzare that we have not produced any keepers through our own Academy system for 10 years and yet no-one seems to be accountable for this.

We sign keepers from Hartlepool yet we cant produce our own?

 

Cant be too many jobs where you can produce no tangible results for 10 years and yet still keep your position...?!?