Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[Foxy-Lady]

Leyton Ndukwu was without question he most naturally and technically gifted academy footballer i ever saw....and i watched academy football for many years.

If you speak with those who coached him and watched him play, they will ALL tell you he was THE stand-out player in his age group....which included the likes of Barnes and Chaudhury.

 

he made football look so effortless even from a very early age to such a degree that even when he was trying....it still looked like he wasn't.  And that was always the issue with leyton....you could never figure out how much effort he was putting in because he always made it look effortless. He always seemed to have that rare quality you only ever see in exceptional players.....Time! 

 

Like many, i wonder what happened to him and i wonder whether he would have been more successful if he had played in the slower tempo leagues like Spain and Italy where technical ability is viewed more importantly than work-rate for their creative players. In the English professional game, intensity and work rate are NOT optional even for the very best players which is probably why he struggled to make it into the professional game.

 

I also question the responsibility and ability of the Youth coaches who "failed" to develop the areas of his game that needed to be developed. Somehow, they managed to turn gold into lead but its difficult to know whether the responsibility with this failure lies with him or them (or maybe a bit of both?)......but it certainly wasn't due to any lack of natural ability on his part.  

 

[Incognito]

Said it before, I work with the mother of one Ndukwu's team mates. The lad, apparently tly, suffers with poor mental health. This could be why he hasn't kicked in. Or at least a mitigating factor.

[davieG]

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/hes-gone-again-portsmouth-once-more-bid-farewell-to-former-leicester-and-england-youth-winger-after-surprise-six-day-comeback-3335211

 

This seems to be his last attempt at finding a club as there's no further additions to his Wiki profile after his loan to Southend finished.

 

He's gone again - Portsmouth once more bid farewell to former Leicester and England youth winger after surprise six-day comeback
Pompey have bid farewell to triallist Layton Ndukwu – for a second time.
By Neil Allen
Thursday, 5th August 2021, 10:59 am

The former Leicester winger was surprisingly offered another opportunity to train with the Blues last Friday.

However, Ndukwu’s comeback lasted six days and one friendly appearance, before being told on Wednesday he was not what Danny Cowley was looking for.

It was a familiar conversation for the 22-year-old, who previously had been let go after featuring in last month’s 5-2 friendly success over the Hawks.

Ndukwu was introduced at half-time at Westleigh Park and made a favourable impression in a fixture dominated by Gassan Ahadme’s 26-minute second-half hat-trick.

However, his Blues spell was subsequently ended and the 22-year-old was not among the 10 triallists who attended the following week’s training camp at St George’s Park.

Then, 19 days after his exit, he was invited back and selected on the bench for last weekend’s 2-0 friendly win over Peterborough.

Although Ndukwu was unused on that occasion, he was then named in a Pompey XI side which faced Bournemouth under-21s on Tuesday.

He featured for 68 minutes as a central midfielder in the 1-0 success at the Canford Arena, which represented the Blues’ final pre-season friendly.

Yet he was subsequently informed that Pompey would not be pursuing his signing and would be looking elsewhere for new recruits.

Ndukwu joins Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Sean Goss, Robbie Burton and Louis Thompson in departing Fratton Park during the last week following trials.

Cowley’s side face Fleetwood on Saturday for the start of the League One season.

So far Pompey’s head coach has brought in 10 players during the transfer window, including former triallists Kieron Freeman, Jayden Reid and Gassan Ahadme.

[Jabfox]

12 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/hes-gone-again-portsmouth-once-more-bid-farewell-to-former-leicester-and-england-youth-winger-after-surprise-six-day-comeback-3335211

 

This seems to be his last attempt at finding a club as there's no further additions to his Wiki profile after his loan to Southend finished.

 

He's gone again - Portsmouth once more bid farewell to former Leicester and England youth winger after surprise six-day comeback
Pompey have bid farewell to triallist Layton Ndukwu – for a second time.
By Neil Allen
Thursday, 5th August 2021, 10:59 am

The former Leicester winger was surprisingly offered another opportunity to train with the Blues last Friday.

However, Ndukwu’s comeback lasted six days and one friendly appearance, before being told on Wednesday he was not what Danny Cowley was looking for.

It was a familiar conversation for the 22-year-old, who previously had been let go after featuring in last month’s 5-2 friendly success over the Hawks.

Ndukwu was introduced at half-time at Westleigh Park and made a favourable impression in a fixture dominated by Gassan Ahadme’s 26-minute second-half hat-trick.

However, his Blues spell was subsequently ended and the 22-year-old was not among the 10 triallists who attended the following week’s training camp at St George’s Park.

Then, 19 days after his exit, he was invited back and selected on the bench for last weekend’s 2-0 friendly win over Peterborough.

Although Ndukwu was unused on that occasion, he was then named in a Pompey XI side which faced Bournemouth under-21s on Tuesday.

He featured for 68 minutes as a central midfielder in the 1-0 success at the Canford Arena, which represented the Blues’ final pre-season friendly.

Yet he was subsequently informed that Pompey would not be pursuing his signing and would be looking elsewhere for new recruits.

Ndukwu joins Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Sean Goss, Robbie Burton and Louis Thompson in departing Fratton Park during the last week following trials.

Cowley’s side face Fleetwood on Saturday for the start of the League One season.

So far Pompey’s head coach has brought in 10 players during the transfer window, including former triallists Kieron Freeman, Jayden Reid and Gassan Ahadme.

Thanks mate, shame for the lad maybe he'll find a team in league 2 who are keen on him. 

[sacreblueits442]

25 minutes ago, Jabfox said:

Thanks mate, shame for the lad maybe he'll find a team in league 2 who are keen on him. 

....until he sorts out what he really wants to do, there is no point locating him at a club if the end result is going to be the same!!!

He doesn't come across as someone who loves the game, probably too much going on off the pitch.

[Jabfox]

55 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

....until he sorts out what he really wants to do, there is no point locating him at a club if the end result is going to be the same!!!

He doesn't come across as someone who loves the game, probably too much going on off the pitch.

Yeah very true id agree! 

[Thefoxman]

I would be surprised if we have ever had a player as good as Mr Alves in the academy.

I've watched a lot of him online games ect but first time seeing him in the flesh and this kid is special!

Fulham won 2-0 but nobody was even close to his level.

Edited 17 March 2022 by Thefoxman

[Ross 'LCFC' Turner]

Will Alves called up for England Under 17s vs France & Luxembourg 

[st albans fox]

6 minutes ago, Ross 'LCFC' Turner said:

Will Alves called up for England Under 17s vs France & Luxembourg 

Should be worth watching him if he plays v france

[Jabfox]

12 minutes ago, Ross 'LCFC' Turner said:

Will Alves called up for England Under 17s vs France & Luxembourg 

love to see it 

[moore_94]

Nelson and Braybrooke in the England Under 18s for games against Sweden and Denmark in Marbella

[BKLFox]

Alves is obviously a talent & is bigged up a lot on our forum with calls for 1st team opportunities & slight anger (bit harsh maybe not the right word) aimed at Rodgers for not giving him a chance but is he really 1st team ready or talked about as much by other clubs development teams / forums.
I've not really heard any platform bigging him up other than the 1 BBC Iplayer reel awhile back where they look at all the up & coming prospects?

I've not seen much of him but what i have seen whilst promising doesn't feel me with at 1month past his 17th birthday he's anywhere near ready for 1st team regular action, to be that young & to take a league by storm you have to be something really special, i think of Rooney, Owen, Walcott, Wilshire, Lennon there has been more recent 16/17yr olds make their debuts but i quote those 5 as they burst on & made immediate impacts to their teams, were regulars & had longevity, where as recent 16/17yrs are no longer where they started but are lower down in leagues.
Ok Wilshire was brought down by injury but when he broke on the scene he was ENG's next Gazza & he lived up to the billing i know some will mock because they can't get injuries out their heads but he was class & from that 16yrs of age. He never actually got hampered with injuries until he was around 19 & it  was all geared around the ankle, once they had gone & who knows if that was due to him still growing & thrust into 1st team action so young + the fact you were allowed to tackle back then so ankles were hit alot, so maybe a victim of circumstance rather than having a weak body, but he still had longevity he's only 30 now & has just started out again in the Danish league & put in a class performance.

Look at those starlets at Man C, Liverpool, Chelsea most are now knocking 20yrs old with a few 18/19 exceptions there are certainly no 16/17yrs old that are breaking into a Premier league 1st team anytime soon, what makes Alves stick out more than these?

 

Anyway i hope the clamer is just to get him tied to a professional contract with the club & out on loan & not because they think he is 1st team ready because he's not & I hope he's being advised correctly unlike the Prince of Portugal that recently left & finds himself in no mans land
 

Edited 18 March 2022 by BKLFox

[Jimmy]

Is Brad Young injured or with the first team? Odunze seems to have played the last few U23 games

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, BKLFox said:

Alves is obviously a talent & is bigged up a lot on our forum with calls for 1st team opportunities & slight anger (bit harsh maybe not the right word) aimed at Rodgers for not giving him a chance but is he really 1st team ready or talked about as much by other clubs development teams / forums.
I've not really heard any platform bigging him up other than the 1 BBC Iplayer reel awhile back where they look at all the up & coming prospects?

I've not seen much of him but what i have seen whilst promising doesn't feel me with at 1month past his 17th birthday he's anywhere near ready for 1st team regular action, to be that young & to take a league by storm you have to be something really special, i think of Rooney, Owen, Walcott, Wilshire, Lennon there has been more recent 16/17yr olds make their debuts but i quote those 5 as they burst on & made immediate impacts to their teams, were regulars & had longevity, where as recent 16/17yrs are no longer where they started but are lower down in leagues.
Ok Wilshire was brought down by injury but when he broke on the scene he was ENG's next Gazza & he lived up to the billing i know some will mock because they can't get injuries out their heads but he was class & from that 16yrs of age. He never actually got hampered with injuries until he was around 19 & it  was all geared around the ankle, once they had gone & who knows if that was due to him still growing & thrust into 1st team action so young + the fact you were allowed to tackle back then so ankles were hit alot, so maybe a victim of circumstance rather than having a weak body, but he still had longevity he's only 30 now & has just started out again in the Danish league & put in a class performance.

Look at those starlets at Man C, Liverpool, Chelsea most are now knocking 20yrs old with a few 18/19 exceptions there are certainly no 16/17yrs old that are breaking into a Premier league 1st team anytime soon, what makes Alves stick out more than these?

 

Anyway i hope the clamer is just to get him tied to a professional contract with the club & out on loan & not because they think he is 1st team ready because he's not & I hope he's being advised correctly unlike the Prince of Portugal that recently left & finds himself in no mans land
 

There's a reason our U23 games have about 10% of the ground taken up by scouts from all over Europe.

[Lesta2014]

1 hour ago, Jimmy said:

Is Brad Young injured or with the first team? Odunze seems to have played the last few U23 games

Was at the emirates doing the warm up on Sunday 

[BKLFox]

39 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

There's a reason our U23 games have about 10% of the ground taken up by scouts from all over Europe.

Not disputing he's a talent but he's not someone who's going to break into a 1st team having just turned 17yrs old or be playing regularly for us this coming season, those players are few & far between, if at all now, & even thou not in mainstream they are talked about, you hear their names on the grapevine etc, just a quick google of Alves now only brings up Leicester linked pages about him.
Not trying to poo poo him, you or anyone else but just think the calls for Rodgers to be playing him are a little premature.
 

[Ryy]

 

[Lesta2014]

4 minutes ago, Nannypig7 said:

 

We able to watch this anywhere? 
 

guessing the team selection will give us an idea of who maybe in the squad on Sunday ? 

Edited 18 March 2022 by Lesta2014

[Ric Flair]

32 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Not disputing he's a talent but he's not someone who's going to break into a 1st team having just turned 17yrs old or be playing regularly for us this coming season, those players are few & far between, if at all now, & even thou not in mainstream they are talked about, you hear their names on the grapevine etc, just a quick google of Alves now only brings up Leicester linked pages about him.
Not trying to poo poo him, you or anyone else but just think the calls for Rodgers to be playing him are a little premature.
 

He's not 17 until May and physically he's not ready to be playing regularly but ability he wise he may well be and Rodgers alluded to that when talking about him after the Watford game. I still think he's a year or so off being properly ready though. Probably a few sub appearances in cups or if we aren't that arsed about the league etc.

[Ryy]

5 minutes ago, Lesta2014 said:

We able to watch this anywhere? 
 

guessing the team selection will give us an idea of who maybe in the squad on Sunday ? 

Not live unfortunately 

[Ryy]

 

[moore_94]

Ewing, Braybrooke, Alves not in the squad at all is interesting

 

Wormleighton back into the under 18s for their game tomorrow? (would be disappointing as I have been impressed by him)

Edited 18 March 2022 by moore_94

[Ryy]

Amani Richards 👀

[st albans fox]

2 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Ewing, Braybrooke, Alves not in the squad at all is interesting

Sold them ……….

[Lesta2014]

Ewing interview beforehand and now not in squad? With first team Sunday?