Development/Youth Squads 2021/2022 Thread

[Ric Flair]

1 minute ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...I would suspect this could be his last season in the U18s!!!

We have to keep pushing him to maintain his development. You can start to get too cosy and slow down your progress and become distracted. With the U23s now at a much younger age and a lot of the other academies are at the same age, it would be appropriate if he was to be played at that level.

He's only in the U18's for Youth FA Cup games now, firmly in thr U23's but I think he'll be in the 1st team fringes next season.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

He's only in the U18's for Youth FA Cup games now, firmly in thr U23's but I think he'll be in the 1st team fringes next season.

He'll make his prem debut this year.

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Chocolate Teapot said:

He'll make his prem debut this year.

Wouldn't surprise me. Think we've a superstar on our hands. 5 year deal signed at the end of the season. 

[GingerrrFox]

For me Alves will end up playing wide left in first team football. He’s very much in the mould of Jack Grealish, he’s so good hence the number 10 role in age group football but with the way he plays the game he will be an inside forward cutting in from the left hand side at the very elite level of the game. 

[BKLFox]

3 hours ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

Didn't Rodgers tell Alves he was taking too many touches in the Watford cup game? I reckon if Alves tried anything similar in a senior game BR would be volleying water bottles down the touchline in frustration.

Gr8 when the tricks n flicks come off but in a Premiership game how many do you actually see week on week, not many & there’s a reason for that.

How many of us cheered when Cags Cruyff turned in our box leaving the attacker for dead but now how many of us cringe and shout don’t piss about Cags when he constantly tries it now, players get found out 

[lcfcsnow]

3 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Gr8 when the tricks n flicks come off but in a Premiership game how many do you actually see week on week, not many & there’s a reason for that.

Depends how good you are, Riyad was given free roam to do what he wanted with Simpson covering. If its in the right areas and not in our own half I don't see the issue, quite often you need that bit of flair to make the difference.

[sacreblueits442]

3 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Gr8 when the tricks n flicks come off but in a Premiership game how many do you actually see week on week, not many & there’s a reason for that.

How many of us cheered when Cags Cruyff turned in our box leaving the attacker for dead but now how many of us cringe and shout don’t piss about Cags when he constantly tries it now, players get found out 

....Cags not doing it to showboat, it is a trait in his game!!!

Like a players first touch in a game, if he executes the move it builds his confidence. It is something he will always do. Players are pretty superstitious, like touching a sign or crossing themselves coming out on the pitch. If they forget to do it, they are dubious how their game will be.

[Ric Flair]

34 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

Gr8 when the tricks n flicks come off but in a Premiership game how many do you actually see week on week, not many & there’s a reason for that.

How many of us cheered when Cags Cruyff turned in our box leaving the attacker for dead but now how many of us cringe and shout don’t piss about Cags when he constantly tries it now, players get found out 

There was absolutely nothing in Alves performance last night that was unnecessary, I was actually quite surprised how direct he was as opposed to trying the showboating when the play was held up. He was more than happy to recycle the ball and then when he twisted and turned in to space he wasn't interested in embarrassing the opposition with some trick.

 

That chop on the inside he did for the goal was genius, it afforded him the shift in momentum. He looks a special talent.

 

Players of that skill with pace do tend to play wide and cut in, but I think he'll play all over the 3 support attack positions.

[CosbehFox]

7 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Not getting too carried away but where would the final be held if we got there? 

Normally the semis and final are two legs. 

[Lesta2014]

Those that have know/seen alves for a while, has he approved much since he’s been at the club full time (as in since starting his scholarship)? Or was he like this 12 month ago and not really improved? Last night first time I’ve seen a good portion of him and he looks a prospect.

[ALC Fox]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

There was absolutely nothing in Alves performance last night that was unnecessary, I was actually quite surprised how direct he was as opposed to trying the showboating when the play was held up. He was more than happy to recycle the ball and then when he twisted and turned in to space he wasn't interested in embarrassing the opposition with some trick.

 

That chop on the inside he did for the goal was genius, it afforded him the shift in momentum. He looks a special talent.

 

Players of that skill with pace do tend to play wide and cut in, but I think he'll play all over the 3 support attack positions.

Absolutely. The chop, the touch to set himself, the extra touch to get a better angle and take it away from a lunging defender, all necessary.

 

Videos from early this season he just looked like he was taking the mickey, but he's learning very, very quickly. Such a talent and it looks like he's harnessing it well.

[Aus Fox]

Anyone know anything about Iestyn Hughes? I was speaking to a Man Utd fan who thought we signed him as a full back and was surprised he wasn’t playing when we had all of our injuries against Watford. 
A Welsh right back who’s played youth internationals apparently highly rated at Man Utd before he came here.

I can’t say I’ve ever heard of him, and he may have gone somewhere else.

[sacreblueits442]

3 hours ago, GingerrrFox said:

For me Alves will end up playing wide left in first team football. He’s very much in the mould of Jack Grealish, he’s so good hence the number 10 role in age group football but with the way he plays the game he will be an inside forward cutting in from the left hand side at the very elite level of the game. 

....I  think he will be playing in the half spaces, as opposed to wide left or right!!!

[GingerrrFox]

7 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

....I  think he will be playing in the half spaces, as opposed to wide left or right!!!

That’s why he will be cutting in from the wide spaces, as an inside forward. In a 3-4-2-1 or a 4-3-3, not many top teams play with a number 10 anymore. Phil Foden often plays wide left or right for Man City even though he’s really an attacking central midfielder. As Alves gets older he will probably play a more central role but initially because of his age he’s gonna get first team games by playing in either a wide left or wide role where he can be a little more expressive and dribble with the ball. You don’t really get the opportunity to do that in Premier League football in the middle with how defences are set up now. 

[Incognito]

3 hours ago, Aus Fox said:

Anyone know anything about Iestyn Hughes? I was speaking to a Man Utd fan who thought we signed him as a full back and was surprised he wasn’t playing when we had all of our injuries against Watford. 
A Welsh right back who’s played youth internationals apparently highly rated at Man Utd before he came here.

I can’t say I’ve ever heard of him, and he may have gone somewhere else.

Played twice for us in this season's Papa John's Trophy.

 

That said, I haven't noticed his name in recent U23 or U18 reports so maybe injured?

[Ric Flair]

8 hours ago, Lesta2014 said:

Those that have know/seen alves for a while, has he approved much since he’s been at the club full time (as in since starting his scholarship)? Or was he like this 12 month ago and not really improved? Last night first time I’ve seen a good portion of him and he looks a prospect.

Prior to his debut vs Watford he'd shown flashes of brilliance for the U18's and U23's but since then he seems to have grown in confidence. He's using his mesmerising skill more and more effectively.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

11 hours ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Normally the semis and final are two legs. 

Yeah, pressumably last year was a one off.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Times reporting that Dortmund scouts have regularly been at our 23 games this year.

[majaco]

3 minutes ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Times reporting that Dortmund scouts have regularly been at our 23 games this year.

Vestegaard must be rated more highly by them than by many.

[Ric Flair]

15 minutes ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Times reporting that Dortmund scouts have regularly been at our 23 games this year.

Weren't there a lot of Bundesliga interest in Sammy Braybrooke?

[sacreblueits442]

6 minutes ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Times reporting that Dortmund scouts have regularly been at our 23 games this year.

...possible Braybrooke may be a target for them!!!

  He does play in a way that suits the European style seeking to influence from the middle of the park.

  It would be a great opportunity for him to be coached over there but for some players the upheaval may be counter productive. 

  Going on loan for a year, would have him competing at a high level and allow him to mature.

  He is a terrific player, good to watch him floating across the pitch, Dortmund would be like a finishing school.

[ALC Fox]

It might be an exaggeration, I don't know, but it feels like we haven't had such a talented crop of youngsters coming through at the same/similar time in many, many years.

 

I'd be selling all of them the prospect of coming through the ranks and playing in the first team together, playing Premier League football, challenging for trophies.

 

Without getting too OTT, it feels a little like our own little Class of 92. I'd hate to see Braybrooke, Alves and the like tempted off somewhere else because they think they'd get a better education and route into first-team football.

 

Hopefully the new facilities and the setup we're creating there will help us keep them, as well as a clear pathway into the first team.

[st albans fox]

5 hours ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...possible Braybrooke may be a target for them!!!

  He does play in a way that suits the European style seeking to influence from the middle of the park.

  It would be a great opportunity for him to be coached over there but for some players the upheaval may be counter productive. 

  Going on loan for a year, would have him competing at a high level and allow him to mature.

  He is a terrific player, good to watch him floating across the pitch, Dortmund would be like a finishing school.

Do dortmund have any history of loaning young players in ?  They usually buy them and sell on for a tidy profit …..

 

 

[Ric Flair]

5 hours ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Times reporting that Dortmund scouts have regularly been at our 23 games this year.

Am I right in thinking now we're out of the EU, overseas clubs can't sign British players until they're 18? Braybrooke is supposedly set to sign his 1st professional contract with us but even if he opted not to Dortmund would have had to wait several months until he's 18. Alves might be the worry, he's got Portuguese heritage and not 17 until May. Both lads entire families are Leicester fans though I'd read somewhere? Hopefully that and that they'll definitely get chances in the first team here will hopefully mean they'd not be tempted to go abroad.

[Jimmy]

19 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Wouldn't surprise me. Think we've a superstar on our hands. 5 year deal signed at the end of the season. 

can't sign a 5 year deal at 17 its a 3 year maximum