Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[AjcW]

27 minutes ago, Jabfox said:

Went to the game tonight, impressed by what I saw, Brendan plus a few coaches, players and ex players watching on

I did think this one sold out particularly quickly  

[st albans fox]

What’s happened to Chelsea ?  Are all their ‘experienced’ U23 players out on loan ? 

[majaco]

We beat Man Utd?

 

Clearly no VAR.

[coolhandfox]

Nice to see such a young line up for the u23 

[Ric Flair]

Did the club stream the game last night, I was out so didn't go looking. If so, how did Popov get on? The report suggests he was heavily involved and good to see Wormleighton getting forward well in the highlights.

 

How did the main man Alves get on? Where was he playing as Wanya Marca seemed to take up the LW role.

 

 

[st albans fox]

21 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Did the club stream the game last night, I was out so didn't go looking. If so, how did Popov get on? The report suggests he was heavily involved and good to see Wormleighton getting forward well in the highlights.

 

How did the main man Alves get on? Where was he playing as Wanya Marca seemed to take up the LW role.

 

 

It would have made a lot of sense to have streamed the game last night ….. does that answer your first question ???

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

17 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

It would have made a lot of sense to have streamed the game last night ….. does that answer your first question ???

There was a Premier League game last night, and you supposedly can't stream PL2 games when a Premier League game is being played, at least some here have said.

 

It's the dumbest rule of all time.

[sacreblueits442]

11 minutes ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

There was a Premier League game last night, and you supposedly can't stream PL2 games when a Premier League game is being played, at least some here have said.

 

It's the dumbest rule of all time.

....too true!!!

If United were playing Chelsea in the Premier League, surely the only reason you would want to be watching it, would be you are a supporter of either team. There are neutrals who do tune in, but not everyone has a subscription service to watch the televised games, I would still have wanted to see our U23s play, than tune into a club I had no interest in.

  

[Shane]

Highlights:

 

https://www.lcfc.com/tv/2563503/leicester-city-u23s-3-manchester-united-u23s-2

 

Alves seemed to be playing quite deep,

almost alongside Braybrooke. Maybe tasked with helping control the game?

 

Reminds me of when Braybrooke played sweeper the other week . Playing in different positions probably helps their development. 

[Jabfox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Did the club stream the game last night, I was out so didn't go looking. If so, how did Popov get on? The report suggests he was heavily involved and good to see Worm Leighton getting forward well in the highlights.

 

How did the main man Alves get on? Where was he playing as Wanya Marca seemed to take up the LW role.

 

 

Popov impressed me with his work rate and pressing, Alves played vert well to say he is what 16? his ball retention is second to none, Wanya Marcal was my MOTM a real threat all game. Was also impressed with Wormleighton. 

 

Only UTD player who stood out was probably Hannibal, Gnarcho was very quiet. 

 

Will defo be attending more games where I can. 

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

12 minutes ago, Shane said:

Highlights:

 

https://www.lcfc.com/tv/2563503/leicester-city-u23s-3-manchester-united-u23s-2

 

Alves seemed to be playing quite deep,

almost alongside Braybrooke. Maybe tasked with helping control the game?

 

Reminds me of when Braybrooke played sweeper the other week . Playing in different positions probably helps their development. 

It was good to see some of the senior team watching the game.

 

But that buildup to the Wanya goal was very nice! (Braybooke's goal was good, too.)

[Shane]

I will be very surprised if only 1 or 2 players break through from this current crop (u23s/u18s). 

 

The biggest threat to their progression to the first team though, is poor transfers and our stock piling of duds in the senior squad like Vestergaard, Bertrand, etc. 
 

We could realistically be stuck with Soumare for example, when we have Sammy Braybrooke/WMM who are potentially a much better fit for us. 

Maybe we will sign two attackers this summer and one could be another Perez. What if we saved that money and gave the opportunity to Alves instead .

 

I am slightly disappointed our youth haven’t been more involved this season, given our hectic fixture schedule and injury crisis. Hopefully they will be given more opportunities in the future. 

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

6 minutes ago, Shane said:

 

I am slightly disappointed our youth haven’t been more involved this season, given our hectic fixture schedule and injury crisis. Hopefully they will be given more opportunities in the future. 

It has especially been frustrating that we have had space on the bench for our European games, which could have been filled by U23s.

 

Given the apparent problems with loaning out U20s, hopefully a few of them will be given some chances next season with the first team. Here's hoping for friendly cup draws, with some lower division teams, so Brendan feels more comfortable in playing youth.

[coolhandfox]

34 minutes ago, Shane said:

I will be very surprised if only 1 or 2 players break through from this current crop (u23s/u18s). 

 

The biggest threat to their progression to the first team though, is poor transfers and our stock piling of duds in the senior squad like Vestergaard, Bertrand, etc. 
 

We could realistically be stuck with Soumare for example, when we have Sammy Braybrooke/WMM who are potentially a much better fit for us. 

Maybe we will sign two attackers this summer and one could be another Perez. What if we saved that money and gave the opportunity to Alves instead .

 

I am slightly disappointed our youth haven’t been more involved this season, given our hectic fixture schedule and injury crisis. Hopefully they will be given more opportunities in the future. 

They are both 17, they have time on there side. Development isn't just a case of throw players into the first team, being physically and mentality ready is as important as being good enough, 

 

The club has done a pretty good job of developing youth players for the first team over the last 3 or 4 years Chilwell, Barnes, Thomas, KDH and Hamza. 

 

I don't think bloody youth in a team that struggling isn't always a good thing, much better for the to come into a team playing well, I'd also argue the loan route has worked better for us development wise with the likes of KDH and Barnes.

 

25 minutes ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

It has especially been frustrating that we have had space on the bench for our European games, which could have been filled by U23s.

 

Given the apparent problems with loaning out U20s, hopefully a few of them will be given some chances next season with the first team. Here's hoping for friendly cup draws, with some lower division teams, so Brendan feels more comfortable in playing youth.

I get your point but, if there is little or no chance of being used, not sure it that useful.

 

BR has been pretty good at blooding youth, his already given debuts Mcteer, Marçal-Madivadua, Blunt and Alves this season, plus integrated KDH into the first team. Last season he gave debuts to Leshabela, Daley- Campbell, Tavares and integrated Thomas into the first team.

 

Our League draw haven't been great the last two year, which is a good opportunity to blood young players 

Edited 5 April 2022 by coolhandfox

[An Sionnach]

As Barnes is 25 years this year and KDH is 24 ,they don't qualify as young anymore. Thomas was brought in through necessity but now Castagne is fit he is probably back on the bench. Fofana was always going to play , you don't spend over £30 million for a player and not use him. Evans is back in the team and Vardy will be straight back in when fit. Pereira gets a new contract so is he going to bench Justin? We are not really a youth orientated team.

[MrsJohnMurphy]

9 minutes ago, An Sionnach said:

As Barnes is 25 years this year and KDH is 24 ,they don't qualify as young anymore. Thomas was brought in through necessity but now Castagne is fit he is probably back on the bench. Fofana was always going to play , you don't spend over £30 million for a player and not use him. Evans is back in the team and Vardy will be straight back in when fit. Pereira gets a new contract so is he going to bench Justin? We are not really a youth orientated team.

So they're 24 and 23 then

[Attywolf]

10 minutes ago, An Sionnach said:

As Barnes is 25 years this year and KDH is 24 ,they don't qualify as young anymore. Thomas was brought in through necessity but now Castagne is fit he is probably back on the bench. Fofana was always going to play , you don't spend over £30 million for a player and not use him. Evans is back in the team and Vardy will be straight back in when fit. Pereira gets a new contract so is he going to bench Justin? We are not really a youth orientated team.

Hasn't it been said that the squad is going to get a large overall this summer selling alot of the older players and fringe players and that we are looking at getting alot of young players. It's the end a cycle of course the squad isn't as youth oriented this season but as a trend it is overall 

Edited 5 April 2022 by Attywolf

[mozartfox]

I think the narrative this summer is, do not waste money on squad fillers that are past their best and expensive.  Spend wisely on a couple of quality additions, shift some deadwood out and promote 2/3 youngsters into the fold and then loan some others out to Teams where they will get game time.  If Youri does go ,as seems likely, he will obviously need to be replaced - KDH?

 

All sounds very easy, but we know it is not.

[An Sionnach]

1 minute ago, MrsJohnMurphy said:

So they're 24 and 23 then

Yes and in football terms that is not young. 19 or 20 is young , when you are approaching your mid twenties you qualify as a seasoned player and before you know it you are pushing 30.

[MrsJohnMurphy]

5 minutes ago, An Sionnach said:

Yes and in football terms that is not young. 19 or 20 is young , when you are approaching your mid twenties you qualify as a seasoned player and before you know it you are pushing 30.

So you were embellishing their ages to suit your argument

 

You should be a politician

 

For the record, I think Rodgers is doing a fine job with our youth players

[sacreblueits442]

20 minutes ago, An Sionnach said:

Yes and in football terms that is not young. 19 or 20 is young , when you are approaching your mid twenties you qualify as a seasoned player and before you know it you are pushing 30.

...the comment was rhetorical!!!

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

37 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

I get your point but, if there is little or no chance of being used, not sure it that useful.

 

BR has been pretty good at blooding youth, his already given debuts Mcteer, Marçal-Madivadua, Blunt and Alves this season, plus integrated KDH into the first team. Last season he gave debuts to Leshabela, Daley- Campbell, Tavares and integrated Thomas into the first team.

 

Our League draw haven't been great the last two year, which is a good opportunity to blood young players 

Yes, but in at least one case, a youngster travelled with the team and wasn't on the bench!

 

I think that it's good to have them on the bench so if there's a blow-out, they might get some time.

 

Frankly, it seems Brendan would rather play a man down than put Ayose on the pitch (maybe those rumours of a Newcastle appearances payout are true), and I would rather that spot on the bench be filled by a U23 than someone who seems will never be played.

 

As an aside, other leagues and international football have 12 substitutes to be named to the bench. Perhaps the PL should allow a other 3, but limited to U21 development players (the Football League Trophy has a formula for U21 "development" players based on first team appearances, so for example Thomas and Fofana wouldn't count, but Blunt would.)

 

You mention the debuts given to the folks at the FA Cup -- their performance and confidence seemed to increase exponentially after that game. I think even a 5 minute cameo when the game is already decided is excellent for the players' development. (Not that any game this season has been decided with 5 minutes left to play.)

[coolhandfox]

Just now, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

Yes, but in at least one case, a youngster travelled with the team and wasn't on the bench!

Yes, that's a bit of a strange one.

 

Just now, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

I think that it's good to have them on the bench so if there's a blow-out, they might get some time.

 

Frankly, it seems Brendan would rather play a man down than put Ayose on the pitch (maybe those rumours of a Newcastle appearances payout are true), and I would rather that spot on the bench be filled by a U23 than someone who seems will never be played.

Another strange one, his definitely been frozen out.

 

Just now, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

As an aside, other leagues and international football have 12 substitutes to be named to the bench. Perhaps the PL should allow a other 3, but limited to U21 development players (the Football League Trophy has a formula for U21 "development" players based on first team appearances, so for example Thomas and Fofana wouldn't count, but Blunt would.)

I do think that a good idea. I do wonder if some club were put off blooding youngster due to the rules about calling off first team games during in COVID.

 

Just now, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

You mention the debuts given to the folks at the FA Cup -- their performance and confidence seemed to increase exponentially after that game. I think even a 5 minute cameo when the game is already decided is excellent for the players' development. (Not that any game this season has been decided with 5 minutes left to play.)

Yes definitely but I think player gain more going on loan and playing 30 odd games at a lower level, then camo's off the bench. Look at KDH and Barnes.

 

The only players we have had break though without long loan experience recently have been Chilwell and Thomas.  

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

5 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

 

 

Yes definitely but I think player gain more going on loan and playing 30 odd games at a lower level, then camo's off the bench. Look at KDH and Barnes.

 

The only players we have had break though without long loan experience recently have been Chilwell and Thomas.  

I completely agree on a loan being preferred (if they play, of course.) But there seems to be a reluctance on U20 loans -- 19-year-olds aren't going out (perhaps this is also something coming from the club taking the loans.)

 

Some of our brightest prospects are in this age group (and tbf many have been training with the first team). If given opportunities, some of them might rise to the challenge and earn a first team spot, or at least earn a better loan move when they turn 20.

[coolhandfox]

14 minutes ago, MarriedaLeicesterGirl said:

I completely agree on a loan being preferred (if they play, of course.) But there seems to be a reluctance on U20 loans -- 19-year-olds aren't going out (perhaps this is also something coming from the club taking the loans.)

 

Some of our brightest prospects are in this age group (and tbf many have been training with the first team). If given opportunities, some of them might rise to the challenge and earn a first team spot, or at least earn a better loan move when they turn 20.

I think the issue is finding a club that give them game time, the likes of McAteer (90 mins) and Wakeling (173 mins) since their January loan moves for example. 

 

I think there recruitment of Paul McGuinness as Head of Academy Player Development is going to make a big difference moving forward.