Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[An Sionnach]

22 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

It is, 23/24 is nothing. They could both have another 10 years at the top level. 

They could and if they look after themselves they should. My point is though that young players do not establish themselves quickly at Leicester. Thomas had to be because if the injury situation and Fofana was just too expensive not to. If Thomas is left out , KDH is our youngest starter bar Fofana. Saka and Smith-Rowe are 20 and 21 and are already International players. We have some talented young players coming through but are they going to make the first team squad soon? It doesn't look likely.

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

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.

 

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 

Let's face it, nearly all of the players Rodgers has given his debut from the academy is as a result of unavailability. Whether we are doing well or on a bad run of form, it's the availability that decides. Therefore any notion it's better to give them a chance in a winning team is futile because if we do improve our form again consistently, it'll likely be because we have managed to get the squad back largely fit and then why would he drop players from the match day squad to get some youngsters in? The answer is, he wouldn't.

[coolhandfox]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

Let's face it, nearly all of the players Rodgers has given his debut from the academy is as a result of unavailability. Whether we are doing well or on a bad run of form, it's the availability that decides. Therefore any notion it's better to give them a chance in a winning team is futile because if we do improve our form again consistently, it'll likely be because we have managed to get the squad back largely fit and then why would he drop players from the match day squad to get some youngsters in? The answer is, he wouldn't.

Doesn't that apply to the whole of football? 

 

 

[Ric Flair]

4 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Doesn't that apply to the whole of football? 

 

 

Well yes but you said they shouldn't wait to give them a chance until we're winning games, my argument is that's not often how it occurs.

[coolhandfox]

7 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Well yes but you said they shouldn't wait to give them a chance until we're winning games, my argument is that's not often how it occurs.

Never said shouldn't or should anything.

2 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

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.

I was saying that it is easier for a player to play in a team doing well than a team struggling. Not everyone can be a KDH and come into a team struggling and make a difference bearing in mind he's 23, not a real youngster. 

 

Players will generally have to wait for opportunities due to circumstance, injury or a weaker opponent. 

 

You rarely see a manager turn to youth in challenging situations. They generally look for know-how and experience.  

 

As I've said, I think the loan route is the best option as long as they get game time, rarely do you get a player like Luke Thomas come straight in and do as well with no previous senior experience, but he was playing in a side that was doing pretty well. 

 

People seem to think player development is just about chucking them into the first team. 

 

It is about playing them at a level that challenges them and allows them to learn and develop, whether that be u23, on loan or in the first team is really depends on the player in question. 

[Ross 'LCFC' Turner]

How did Charlie Savage & Charlie Wellens do for Man Utd? 

[Jabfox]

11 minutes ago, Ross 'LCFC' Turner said:

How did Charlie Savage & Charlie Wellens do for Man Utd? 

pretty meh tbh, savage probably impressed more than Wellens imo, but neither had a good game. 

 

Hannibal was there best player, shola shoretie was pretty quiet until the end of the second half as well.

 

To say grnacho was in Argentina's last squad with Messi and co he was extremely quiet.  

[Lesta2014]

We’ve had in last few years, hamza, Barnes, Thomas and kdh come through into first team squad. We will probably see one player step up next season and integrated going on previous years. No idea who this will be although I reckon Iversen will be in the squad there probably be one outfield player involved regularly too? 

[Ric Flair]

37 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Never said shouldn't or should anything.

I was saying that it is easier for a player to play in a team doing well than a team struggling. Not everyone can be a KDH and come into a team struggling and make a difference bearing in mind he's 23, not a real youngster. 

 

Players will generally have to wait for opportunities due to circumstance, injury or a weaker opponent. 

 

You rarely see a manager turn to youth in challenging situations. They generally look for know-how and experience.  

 

As I've said, I think the loan route is the best option as long as they get game time, rarely do you get a player like Luke Thomas come straight in and do as well with no previous senior experience, but he was playing in a side that was doing pretty well. 

 

People seem to think player development is just about chucking them into the first team. 

 

It is about playing them at a level that challenges them and allows them to learn and develop, whether that be u23, on loan or in the first team is really depends on the player in question. 

Yes I agree, it's easier to go down the loan route for development but as we've also seen with some players there's no guarantee they'll be signed or played, especially in light of the financial aftermath of covid. 

 

I know the old saying that if they're good enough they'll eventually get through and KDH is an example of that but he also didn't manage to get a loan move until he was 21 and a half and things could easily have then scuppered that, they very nearly did. 

 

With a good chance of no European football next season and therefore even less chances for them to get a chance with us, it's essential Braybrooke, Young, Odunze, Nelson, Wanya Marca, Wormleighton, Brunt and possibly Alves get loans moves. It's not easy getting 17-19 year old players loans, clubs tend to want to take the 20+ academy players for some weird reason and prioritise experience over ability, maybe they think they won't cope and perhaps there's some truth in that but surely talent is the biggest consideration.

 

 

[coolhandfox]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

Yes I agree, it's easier to go down the loan route for development but as we've also seen with some players there's no guarantee they'll be signed or played, especially in light of the financial aftermath of covid. 

 

I know the old saying that if they're good enough they'll eventually get through and KDH is an example of that but he also didn't manage to get a loan move until he was 21 and a half and things could easily have then scuppered that, they very nearly did. 

 

With a good chance of no European football next season and therefore even less chances for them to get a chance with us, it's essential Braybrooke, Young, Odunze, Nelson, Wanya Marca, Wormleighton, Brunt and possibly Alves get loans moves. It's not easy getting 17-19 year old players loans, clubs tend to want to take the 20+ academy players for some weird reason and prioritise experience over ability, maybe they think they won't cope and perhaps there's some truth in that but surely talent is the biggest consideration.

 

 

Yes, its been a really shame seeing Mcateer, Wakeling get about 90 minutes in 3 months.

 

I can't see may of the younger ones going out, like Alves, Braybrooke or Nelson going out. But hopefully we will see some of the other older ones get out there. Be nice to see how the like of Maswanhise, Wanya Marca, Wormleighton, Brunt get on in men's football.

 

You like to think 2 of Stolarczyk, Young or Odunze will go on loan. 

 

Surely we will see the likes of DVC, Eppiah and Leshabela move on, not sure what will happen to Wright and Hirst. 

 

Need to hope we get some really easy draws in the L cup.

 

Be interesting to see the impact of McGuiness and a new loans manager has on that side of things, do we know who is coming in to replace Guy Branston. 

 

Was Guy pushed? 

 

 

[davieG]

3 hours ago, An Sionnach said:

you don't spend over £30 million for a player and not use him.

Perez 

[Ryy]

7 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Yes, its been a really shame seeing Mcateer, Wakeling get about 90 minutes in 3 months.

 

I can't see may of the younger ones going out, like Alves, Braybrooke or Nelson going out. But hopefully we will see some of the other older ones get out there. Be nice to see how the like of Maswanhise, Wanya Marca, Wormleighton, Brunt get on in men's football.

 

You like to think 2 of Stolarczyk, Young or Odunze will go on loan. 

 

Surely we will see the likes of DVC, Eppiah and Leshabela move on, not sure what will happen to Wright and Hirst. 

 

Need to hope we get some really easy draws in the L cup.

 

Be interesting to see the impact of McGuiness and a new loans manager has on that side of things, do we know who is coming in to replace Guy Branston. 

 

Was Guy pushed? 

 

 

I think VDC is quite highly rated here from his three first team games tho so far I’ve not seen much to be overly impressed. Hirst, Eppiah and Leshabela will most definitely move on 

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Nannypig7 said:

I think VDC is quite highly rated here from his three first team games tho so far I’ve not seen much to be overly impressed. Hirst, Eppiah and Leshabela will most definitely move on 

I'm like you I have seen anything from him so far.

 

[An Sionnach]

42 minutes ago, davieG said:

Perez 

Well we did try but  if there ever was a square peg and a round hole!

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

33 minutes ago, Nannypig7 said:

I think VDC is quite highly rated here from his three first team games tho so far I’ve not seen much to be overly impressed. Hirst, Eppiah and Leshabela will most definitely move on 

I have no idea how VDC has been shown so much love at the club. He has seemed 'meh' to me on every appearance, including in the U23s. I expect Hirst, Eppiah and Leshabela to be moved on. I think we might get some money for Hirst, though (and he might even earn himself a look during pre-season.) 

 

I do wonder about Thanawat. He needs to crack on, and I am not seeing it. I understand why the club might keep him a bit longer for the take of the Thai connection, but he's 22 and I can't see him staying in the U23s another year. I could see him get a purely "political" cameo in one of the last games, and then get sent on loan next year...

[Lambert09]

I’m really not sure how anyone can argue about our system for bringing players through. Send them out on loan, let them make their mistakes and learn what the mens game is all about, do well and you’ll have a shot. 
 

Throwining a player for 5 minutes when you are 3-0 up to burnley is not going to develop a player more than a season at blackpool. 
 

It’s obviously exciting for us to have youth on the bench and to get a shot but the loan system really does work. Unfortunately some players just aren’t up to it and they can be found out. Wakeling is a good example. There might be numerous reasons that he’s not being played but the likelyhood is that he’s simply not good enough. It’s not a conspiracy, they’ve signed him because they thought he could help them but he’s obviously not proving that. 
 

if they are going to be at our level they will simply be too good to drop (Barnes, kdh, chillwell, Schlupp). I wouldn’t necessarily rule a player out because a loan club doesn’t use them correctly but it is a big indicator. 
 

of the players on loan we have 2 that could possibly make it. Iverson is the main one, probably the next big thing for us and Wright (if he can prove he can thrive in the championship). The loan manager absolutely has to get the next move right. It’s a more important role than people realize. You don’t want him going to Blackburn because Dack has a niggle and might miss a few games at the start of the season… or Middlesborough because they want some cheap injury cover , you’d want him going to a club that sign him as they see him as the first choice. 
 

On the most part I think we get it right, I think they can’t always be blamed for the players not being as good as expected. 
 

forest green was the right loan, simply because it’s league 2 but they actually try to play football. Something that would be important for his development. They have hit a massive blip which probably hinders his chances off the bench which may have been what we were expecting for him 

Edited 5 April 2022 by Lambert09

[Ric Flair]

21 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

I’m really not sure how anyone can argue about our system for bringing players through. Send them out on loan, let them make their mistakes and learn what the mens game is all about, do well and you’ll have a shot. 
 

Throwining a player for 5 minutes when you are 3-0 up to burnley is not going to develop a player more than a season at blackpool. 
 

It’s obviously exciting for us to have youth on the bench and to get a shot but the loan system really does work. Unfortunately some players just aren’t up to it and they can be found out. Wakeling is a good example. There might be numerous reasons that he’s not being played but the likelyhood is that he’s simply not good enough. It’s not a conspiracy, they’ve signed him because they thought he could help them but he’s obviously not proving that. 
 

if they are going to be at our level they will simply be too good to drop (Barnes, kdh, chillwell, Schlupp). I wouldn’t necessarily rule a player out because a loan club doesn’t use them correctly but it is a big indicator. 
 

of the players on loan we have 2 that could possibly make it. Iverson is the main one, probably the next big thing for us and Wright (if he can prove he can thrive in the championship). The loan manager absolutely has to get the next move right. It’s a more important role than people realize. You don’t want him going to Blackburn because Dack has a niggle and might miss a few games at the start of the season… or Middlesborough because they want some cheap injury cover , you’d want him going to a club that sign him as they see him as the first choice. 
 

On the most part I think we get it right, I think they can’t always be blamed for the players not being as good as expected. 
 

forest green was the right loan, simply because it’s league 2 but they actually try to play football. Something that would be important for his development. They have hit a massive blip which probably hinders his chances off the bench which may have been what we were expecting for him 

My only argument with this is clubs are reluctant to take our players on loan under the age of 20. So then what? They stagnate in our U23's until clubs are willing to take them on loan? 

 

We've had scouts from European clubs at our U23 games this season, if there's a sniff of quicker 1st team football at a high level then some of these might take the plunge and that would be frustrating.

 

I don't know what we can do better to get these loan moves for our best 17-19 year old players, maybe it will be different this summer as this current crop really are talented and highly regarded. However if we still struggle to get them a move and we don't have European football then we're not going to have many opportunities to play them unless Rodgers maintains this horrendous injury problem and even then he'll play the system and get games called off instead.

[Shane]

5 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Let's face it, nearly all of the players Rodgers has given his debut from the academy is as a result of unavailability. Whether we are doing well or on a bad run of form, it's the availability that decides. Therefore any notion it's better to give them a chance in a winning team is futile because if we do improve our form again consistently, it'll likely be because we have managed to get the squad back largely fit and then why would he drop players from the match day squad to get some youngsters in? The answer is, he wouldn't.

So if the unavailability issue never arises again, when will Brendan give these lads a chance.. Not everyone has to go out on loan to prove themselves.. TAA, Thomas, Rashford & Saka never went on loan and seem to be doing fine. 

 

A bit concerned we could waste this current crop of potential . We will sign another Perez & wait a couple years hoping he turns good, when we could have given that opportunity to one of our youth players and saved a lot of money in the process!

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Shane said:

So if the unavailability issue never arises again, when will Brendan give these lads a chance.. Not everyone has to go out on loan to prove themselves.. TAA, Thomas, Rashford & Saka never went on loan and seem to be doing fine. 

 

A bit concerned we could waste this current crop of potential . We will sign another Perez & wait a couple years hoping he turns good, when we could have given that opportunity to one of our youth players and saved a lot of money in the process!

The truth is they won't mate, how many managers in the PL bloods 3-4 academy players at once, certainly not a team pushing top 7 each year. 

[Burbagefox89]

Happened to go to this last night and was really impressed with the quality. My son has an unhealthy obsession with Will Alves since his cup appearance so I watched him like a hawk all game, he played slightly deeper against United but the lad clearly has tons of ability his quality was there for all to see. My boy had been holding his Alves shirt up at the start of the game and we didn’t think it had even caught his eye but come the end of the game low and behold he ran straight over with purpose to where we were sitting and had a little chat with him, a photo and signed his shirt! Was really impressed with him he’s clearly got a good head on his shoulders and hopefully we will see him in the first team over the coming years to come. I don’t know who was more in shock though my son or Will Alves with the fact someone had his shirt and was hoping to get it signed! 😂

[casablancas]

8 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

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.

Is this for real? It’s like my football manager save … apart from; league position, for and signings   

[KFS]

8 minutes ago, Burbagefox89 said:

Happened to go to this last night and was really impressed with the quality. My son has an unhealthy obsession with Will Alves since his cup appearance so I watched him like a hawk all game, he played slightly deeper against United but the lad clearly has tons of ability his quality was there for all to see. My boy had been holding his Alves shirt up at the start of the game and we didn’t think it had even caught his eye but come the end of the game low and behold he ran straight over with purpose to where we were sitting and had a little chat with him, a photo and signed his shirt! Was really impressed with him he’s clearly got a good head on his shoulders and hopefully we will see him in the first team over the coming years to come. I don’t know who was more in shock though my son or Will Alves with the fact someone had his shirt and was hoping to get it signed! 😂

That’s going to be worth a lot of money one day 

[UniFox21]

20 minutes ago, KFS said:

That’s going to be worth a lot of money one day 

And that's just when @Ric Flair see's this post 

[KFS]

3 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

And that's just when @Ric Flair see's this post 

The little boy is actually Ric 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Burbagefox89 said:

Happened to go to this last night and was really impressed with the quality. My son has an unhealthy obsession with Will Alves since his cup appearance so I watched him like a hawk all game, he played slightly deeper against United but the lad clearly has tons of ability his quality was there for all to see. My boy had been holding his Alves shirt up at the start of the game and we didn’t think it had even caught his eye but come the end of the game low and behold he ran straight over with purpose to where we were sitting and had a little chat with him, a photo and signed his shirt! Was really impressed with him he’s clearly got a good head on his shoulders and hopefully we will see him in the first team over the coming years to come. I don’t know who was more in shock though my son or Will Alves with the fact someone had his shirt and was hoping to get it signed! 😂

Your son has got a keen eye for Flair, good lad.