Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[jeffschlupp]

Wormleighton is an outstanding player, looks a class above going forwards and backwards. I was sat near his family last night, they have got a good one there. Just a shame we have three excellent right-footed full-backs, but he looks far better than Daley-Campbell ever did at PL2 level and he is only 19 in December.

 

If Popov puts in as much effort off the pitch in improving his game as he does in chasing down lost causes, he will also make it.

 

It's a really exciting bunch - last night we played 10/11 starters who had joined us at scholar age (16) or younger, with Brunt clearly a decent, level-headed, experienced player leading them. You have to credit the academy scouting team for that - Bill Wall and co have done an excellent job. And Petty has got them working just as hard as they did under Beaglehole but with more composure and technical quality all the same. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of those that started last night make the first team, but Popov/Wormleighton/Alves/Braybrooke are clearly the standouts at the moment. There was a point where I heard Petty shout for Alves to use his head - he is clearly raw but the kid is still 16 and needs to learn the tactical side, which on last night's performance I think he will do. Braybrooke pinging 40 yarders all night was also a joy, some of the first team could learn a thing or two from that.

 

And I also think the club have finally worked out how best to recruit at U23 level - just bring in a few bodies from other PL2 sides to plug gaps in the squad, and allow your best talents to flourish alongside them. Brunt, Hughes, Spencer-Adams etc. are exactly that. If you can pick off a few others like Suengchitthawon, Young and Richards on the cheap that might make it too, then that is also useful.

[sacreblueits442]

50 minutes ago, ALC Fox said:

I wonder if it's with the idea of developing him into a Foden type of player rather than a Grealish or Maddison type. It stands to reason that you would want a player with such a high level of raw ability to be effective in different areas of the park, playing in different positions.

.. the Ajax method in playing academy students in different positions, was to give them an understanding of the individual roles for that position and how it links with the needs of the team!!!

  The different positions that Alves finds himself on match days, could maybe be someone, attempting to replicate the aforementioned system, or just that someone has little idea how to utilise him.

  He seems to have added more physicality and appears to have added more weight. I hope he is enjoying his games at the moment, the fun does not have to go out of the game, in order for him to progress. 

[lcfcsnow]

10 hours ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...that could be  but just watching him lately  it seems his flair has been substituted for workrate!!!

 He deserves the  opportunity to play at the highest level that he is deemed capable of doing. The only problem that I see is that he has been brought forward too quickly. I  want his flair to be second nature,

Agreed with all of that, but look what's happened to Barnes it's like his natural instinct has been coached out of him by a manager that would rather win the possession stats.

[sacreblueits442]

33 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

When you say fringe, do you mean in the long or short-term?

...after watching Sunday's display, Popov  is more like Vardy than Daka will be!!!

 Although playing at different levels, Popov's traits are more aligned to what we need upfront, if we wish to have a Vardy like striker leading the line.

  The strange thing is, it is his gait that convinces me he is a top player already, he just needs to be thrown in the mixer, in our upcoming games.

[Ric Flair]

10 minutes ago, jeffschlupp said:

Wormleighton is an outstanding player, looks a class above going forwards and backwards. I was sat near his family last night, they have got a good one there. Just a shame we have three excellent right-footed full-backs, but he looks far better than Daley-Campbell ever did at PL2 level and he is only 19 in December.

 

If Popov puts in as much effort off the pitch in improving his game as he does in chasing down lost causes, he will also make it.

 

It's a really exciting bunch - last night we played 10/11 starters who had joined us at scholar age (16) or younger, with Brunt clearly a decent, level-headed, experienced player leading them. You have to credit the academy scouting team for that - Bill Wall and co have done an excellent job. And Petty has got them working just as hard as they did under Beaglehole but with more composure and technical quality all the same. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of those that started last night make the first team, but Popov/Wormleighton/Alves/Braybrooke are clearly the standouts at the moment. There was a point where I heard Petty shout for Alves to use his head - he is clearly raw but the kid is still 16 and needs to learn the tactical side, which on last night's performance I think he will do. Braybrooke pinging 40 yarders all night was also a joy, some of the first team could learn a thing or two from that.

 

And I also think the club have finally worked out how best to recruit at U23 level - just bring in a few bodies from other PL2 sides to plug gaps in the squad, and allow your best talents to flourish alongside them. Brunt, Hughes, Spencer-Adams etc. are exactly that. If you can pick off a few others like Suengchitthawon, Young and Richards on the cheap that might make it too, then that is also useful.

I still think we've missed a trick on taking the very best talent from Midlands clubs, Villa have been very aggressive in doing so whereas we almost actively go against stepping on anyone's toes. Derby and West Brom have been picked apart and we've not gone near any of them. There's still a couple at West Brom I'd be looking at who haven't signed pro deals yet - Reyes Cleary being one of them. 

 

[Ric Flair]

9 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said:

Agreed with all of that, but look what's happened to Barnes it's like his natural instinct has been coached out of him by a manager that would rather win the possession stats.

See I don't think is true at all. Barnes is having a poor season by his standards but propr to his injury his career here has been one continuous upward trajectory. The single biggest improvement has been his finishing and his ability to be equally as good, if not better at using his left foot and making the opposition have to think twice about shutting down the option to cut inside.

 

He's not noticeably improved the one thing he was good at when he first broke through which is running at players and taking them on. I don't believe this is because Rodgers is coaching that out of him, if that were the case then why does he constantly try and take players on but seemingly lose it? If Rodgers didn't want him to do that but instead recycle possession then the former wouldn't be happening. I hope there's a coming together of minds this summer with Barnes, like there has been between Rodgers and other players here and we see him get back to his best, there's been flasges of brilliance this season and let's not forget from late Feb to late March he had been very very good for us once again. His finishing is of a good standard, so is his creativity but he does need to get back to being confident at how to take players on, be ruthless at it. He looks too lean to me, I want to see him get that muscle and physicality back that he had last season.

[Foxdiamond]

38 minutes ago, jeffschlupp said:

Wormleighton is an outstanding player, looks a class above going forwards and backwards. I was sat near his family last night, they have got a good one there. Just a shame we have three excellent right-footed full-backs, but he looks far better than Daley-Campbell ever did at PL2 level and he is only 19 in December.

 

If Popov puts in as much effort off the pitch in improving his game as he does in chasing down lost causes, he will also make it.

 

It's a really exciting bunch - last night we played 10/11 starters who had joined us at scholar age (16) or younger, with Brunt clearly a decent, level-headed, experienced player leading them. You have to credit the academy scouting team for that - Bill Wall and co have done an excellent job. And Petty has got them working just as hard as they did under Beaglehole but with more composure and technical quality all the same. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of those that started last night make the first team, but Popov/Wormleighton/Alves/Braybrooke are clearly the standouts at the moment. There was a point where I heard Petty shout for Alves to use his head - he is clearly raw but the kid is still 16 and needs to learn the tactical side, which on last night's performance I think he will do. Braybrooke pinging 40 yarders all night was also a joy, some of the first team could learn a thing or two from that.

 

And I also think the club have finally worked out how best to recruit at U23 level - just bring in a few bodies from other PL2 sides to plug gaps in the squad, and allow your best talents to flourish alongside them. Brunt, Hughes, Spencer-Adams etc. are exactly that. If you can pick off a few others like Suengchitthawon, Young and Richards on the cheap that might make it too, then that is also useful.

Thanks.  Interesting to hear about young prospects that will hopefully make the grade with our club

[sacreblueits442]

1 hour ago, coolhandfox said:

Flair is always nature it's not something you can teach.

 

Watch you can teach is work rate, and decision making, which is what he learning now.

 

The best players have both elements.

 

The way he moves with the ball and goes by people reminds me of a young Grealish.

 

...you can also have the situation where he is not encouraged to draw on those natural parts of his game!!!

  This is a big step up for him, I am sure there are aspects being coached into him that are tedious but necessary, I just want him to have fun with the game and not for it to become a chore.

[Frank Large's Black Book]

14 hours ago, AjcW said:

When did McGuinness start Ric? I’d no idea we had him on board! He’s a bit of a football manager favourite staff member of mine 😂 

That's because they still haven't updated the website 4 months on. It still says:

 

Academy Manager: Ian Cawley 

Head of Academy Player Development: TBC

Head of Academy Coach Development: Paul Cheney 

 

But reported in the training ground guru on December 21st

 

McGuinness takes on new Head of Player Development role at Leicester

 

https://trainingground.guru/articles/mcguinness-takes-on-new-head-of-player-development-role-at-leicester

 

Searching the "Training Ground Guru" - what sad lives we lead 😆

 

[AjcW]

12 minutes ago, Frank Large's Black Book said:

That's because they still haven't updated the website 4 months on. It still says:

 

Academy Manager: Ian Cawley 

Head of Academy Player Development: TBC

Head of Academy Coach Development: Paul Cheney 

 

But reported in the training ground guru on December 21st

 

McGuinness takes on new Head of Player Development role at Leicester

 

https://trainingground.guru/articles/mcguinness-takes-on-new-head-of-player-development-role-at-leicester

 

Searching the "Training Ground Guru" - what sad lives we lead 😆

 

He's down as an U18's coach on Football Manager  

 

In all seriousness though it's a superb appointment and we should have shouted about it more. 

 

It's also great to see how quick he's been able to have an impact, with the average age of our U23 line ups plumetting and some of these lads playing for both U18's and U23's.... and that brilliant Watford game which will have been a boost to so many.

 

It'll be interesting to see what his approach is with loans next season, whether he wants to keep these lads in house in our incredible facilities, or maybe balance it with a three month loan here and there. 

 

I'd be keen to see a mix of half a season on loan somewhere and second half back at base, pushing for first team minutes. 

[Frank Large's Black Book]

5 minutes ago, AjcW said:

He's down as an U18's coach on Football Manager  

 

In all seriousness though it's a superb appointment and we should have shouted about it more. 

 

 

 

Maybe Man U haven't realised yet and no-one dare tell them 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

2 hours ago, pmcla26 said:

When you say fringe, do you mean in the long or short-term?

Unsure if you got the joke or not.

[coolhandfox]

33 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...you can also have the situation where he is not encouraged to draw on those natural parts of his game!!!

  This is a big step up for him, I am sure there are aspects being coached into him that are tedious but necessary, I just want him to have fun with the game and not for it to become a chore.

Watching him in the u23 he looks more then happy.

 

 

[sacreblueits442]

...Wormleighton had a good game last night!!!

  Supplied Pennant a few times, one where he bust forward and had the nous to look up, saw Pennant just ahead of him and instead of playing the ball on the outside for Pennant to run on to, he played a delightful chip of no more than 5 yards which got Pennant in for an attempt at goal.

  He still has to do work on his defending in the last third, but going forward, we have an intelligent player on our hands, because  in that instance 9 out of 10 players  would have taken the easy  option.

  His supply into the box is reminiscent of Thomas when he first came on the scene, lots of whip, pace and accuracy.

[Ric Flair]

11 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...Wormleighton had a good game last night!!!

  Supplied Pennant a few times, one where he bust forward and had the nous to look up, saw Pennant just ahead of him and instead of playing the ball on the outside for Pennant to run on to, he played a delightful chip of no more than 5 yards which got Pennant in for an attempt at goal.

  He still has to do work on his defending in the last third, but going forward, we have an intelligent player on our hands, because  in that instance 9 out of 10 players  would have taken the easy  option.

  His supply into the box is reminiscent of Thomas when he first came on the scene, lots of whip, pace and accuracy.

He used to be a winger from what I can gather and has been converted to a wing back and now a full back, whatever's asked of him he's delivering game after game. 

[sacreblueits442]

37 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

He used to be a winger from what I can gather and has been converted to a wing back and now a full back, whatever's asked of him he's delivering game after game. 

...very much a throwback defender!!!

In the last televised game I saw him in, he virtually booted the opposition into the stand, the type of things that gets supporters off their seats. The debate regarding the atmosphere at the ground all stems from our lack of identity (them v us worked in our favour). We do need characters like him, and it is obvious that he has intelligence in the last third, where we are criminally lacking.

  As the Fullback is such a specialist role, if we had to bring him on before the end of the season, it would be in the Albrighton or Perez role out wide, where he has a Fullback behind him and allows him to go forward and overlap or better still put balls into the box by picking someone out.

[coolhandfox]

1 hour ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...very much a throwback defender!!!

In the last televised game I saw him in, he virtually booted the opposition into the stand, the type of things that gets supporters off their seats. The debate regarding the atmosphere at the ground all stems from our lack of identity (them v us worked in our favour). We do need characters like him, and it is obvious that he has intelligence in the last third, where we are criminally lacking.

  As the Fullback is such a specialist role, if we had to bring him on before the end of the season, it would be in the Albrighton or Perez role out wide, where he has a Fullback behind him and allows him to go forward and overlap or better still put balls into the box by picking someone out.

Would like to see him get some minutes 

[Jimmy]

given we will be rotating and prioritising Europe Braybrooke, Alves and Popov especially need to be featuring in match day squads in the league

[Ric Flair]

7 minutes ago, Jimmy said:

given we will be rotating and prioritising Europe Braybrooke, Alves and Popov especially need to be featuring in match day squads in the league

In reality though even when rotating we've still several players not even making the match day squad so the probability of him bringing the youngsters in is remote even though it would be good if he did.

[Chelmofox]

8 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

In reality though even when rotating we've still several players not even making the match day squad so the probability of him bringing the youngsters in is remote even though it would be good if he did.

My feeling is that if Hamza isn't getting game time right now, when we desperately need midfield rotation, then he's a complete lost cause and we should go to at least one of the youngsters at some point. 

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-popov-petty-alves-6972147

 

Leicester City coach reveals hope for next season that will excite supporters
A very young Leicester City Under-23s team can still finish as high as second in the Premier League 2 table after back-to-back victories over the Easter weekend

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ByJordan Blackwell
16:50, 19 APR 2022
SPORT
Will Alves, aged 16, during his Leicester City debut against Watford
Will Alves, aged 16, during his Leicester City debut against Watford (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Leicester City development squad coach Ben Petty is hoping he can get one or two of the club’s talented youngsters into the first team set-up next season after their promising Premier League 2 campaign continued over the Easter weekend.

A change of tack from City this season saw them field a very young group at Under-23 level, but it has not harmed results, with Monday’s 4-1 win over Blackburn, combined with Good Friday’s 2-1 success against Derby County, taking them up to fifth in the table. With two games to go, they could finish anywhere between second and ninth.

Some of the players from the side have already made their senior debuts this season, like Wanya Madivadua and Will Alves, while Sammy Braybrooke was on the bench for the two legs against PSV Eindhoven. But after showing their talent this season, Petty is hoping next season can see a couple of his starlets prove they can make the step up to become permanent fixtures in Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

 

“I’m very proud,” Petty told LCFC TV. “It’s been a long season and we’ve had to work really hard at trying to establish a style of play.

“It’s a very young team and they’ve needed to be nurtured at times. They’ve had one or two rocky games, but overall we’ve had a lot of faith in them and we’re seeing the rewards of having some really good young players in the team.

“We’ve got to work really hard next season. It’s going to be tougher. We’ve set an expectation and people think we’re going to be better because we’re a little bit older and a bit more mature.

“That’s my role, to keep the lads’ feet on the ground and keep them working. Then let’s see if we can get one or two of them into the first team for the manager.”

One of those who might be pushing is striker Chris Popov. The Wales youth international netted a superb free-kick for his first Under-23s goal against Blackburn, having scored 20 goals in 28 appearances for the Under-18s this term.

Rodgers will no doubt like his work-rate up front, the 17-year-old reminiscent of Jamie Vardy in the way he charges down goalkeepers. He says that will always be a part of his game.

Popov told LCFC TV on his start to life at Under-23 level: “It’s not been bad, but it can always be better. It’s the same with all the boys, we’re doing well but we can always do better. We’re trying to push and get better every day.

“(It’s been) difficult, in terms of physically, it’s a lot more challenging. But I’d like to say I’ve coped well.

“You mentioned about 100 per cent, for me that’s a given. I’ll do that every game no matter what. Everyone almost thrives off that, me as a striker starting off the press or closing someone down, everyone does the same. All the staff have been really good with me, helping me and telling me what to do.”

[Merchant_Banker]

23 hours ago, moore_94 said:

 

Didn't realise Popov was left footed, can he play right wing?

[GingerrrFox]

Just my feeling on it, in regards to Popov, if he can grow physically and has a decent pre-season, he might not be that far away from a crack at some games for the First team next season. Iheanacho is likely to move on and with Vardy/Daka and potentially CDK who can play anywhere in the front half of the pitch, Popov could be picking up games in the League Cup. 

[sacreblueits442]

28 minutes ago, GingerrrFox said:

Just my feeling on it, in regards to Popov, if he can grow physically and has a decent pre-season, he might not be that far away from a crack at some games for the First team next season. Iheanacho is likely to move on and with Vardy/Daka and potentially CDK who can play anywhere in the front half of the pitch, Popov could be picking up games in the League Cup. 

....at this very moment I believe he is better upfront on his own than Daka!!!

He can threaten the backline and can link and communicate with other players around him. If you watch him closing down the oppositions backline, you can see him telling players where and when to press. Give him 10-15 minutes at the end of games to see what he can do.

[Lesta2014]

1 hour ago, sacreblueits442 said:

....at this very moment I believe he is better upfront on his own than Daka!!!

He can threaten the backline and can link and communicate with other players around him. If you watch him closing down the oppositions backline, you can see him telling players where and when to press. Give him 10-15 minutes at the end of games to see what he can do.

He’s pressing was good when I’ve scene. Haven’t been convinced by his touch and all round play as of yet, will develop physically quite abit in next 12/18 months so could see him get stronger and his touch improve.