Development/Youth Squads 2025/2026 Thread - U18/U21

[Lambert09]

The monga news is obviously unreal but I’m so happy we’ve not given up on braybrooke after one loan. 
 

he has some unreal talent and due to his his physical stature is almost certainly one that will improve simply with age.  Personally, I’m hoping he can replace winks. 

Edited 9 June 2025 by Lambert09

[Lesta Legend]

12 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

The monga news is obviously unreal but I’m so happy we’ve not given up on braybrooke after one loan. 
 

he has some unreal talent and due to his his physical stature is almost certainly one that will improve simply with age.  Personally, I’m hoping he can replace winks. 

Agreed. He’s captained England at a few levels I believe and I’ve watched him a lot and he does have something about him. He needs to strengthen up a little and if we can get his confidence going (had a big injury after all ) I believe there is a good asset there time will tell!

[honeybradger]

2 hours ago, Tommy Fresh said:

I'd argue Harry Kane failed on loan here?

If we're comparing like for like in terms of position Vitinha failed at Wolves at 20 years old and is now one of the best midfielders in the world at 25.

 

Midfielders who arent built well arent always managers' cups of tea but just because Baybrooke didn't start regularly in the Scottish league doesnt mean he cant flourish at a higher level with a manager that puts faith in him.

[AjcW]

24 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

The monga news is obviously unreal but I’m so happy we’ve not given up on braybrooke after one loan. 
 

he has some unreal talent and due to his his physical stature is almost certainly one that will improve simply with age.  Personally, I’m hoping he can replace winks. 

He needs to attempt to have the summer Alves had during his injury and come back looking like he's been on roids  

 

However as i've said before on here some people just aren't able to... he might just be one of those. 

[Holly B]

52 minutes ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

Credit for their development as players? Or credit for getting them signed to new contracts?

 

Because if you’re referencing the first he has nothing to do with it, & if you’re referencing the second then why does he deserve credit for the basic requirement of his job? Sign future talent and keep them at the club. 
 

The fact we even make statements like your post tells you how awful he is at his job. 

As head of the Academy you don’t think he has any involvement whatsoever in a players development ? That is just plain wrong.
The second bit remains to be seen. If Braybrookes 2 year deal on relatively low wages allows him to turn into the next Modric then Rudkin is a genius but if his development continues to stall then he will be deemed to be clueless ( again )

Rudkin is obviously not doing a very good job in certain aspects of his role but to not give him any credit for the bits he is doing ok at just sums up our fan base at times. You can’t have it both ways.

[Noahfence]

36 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

The monga news is obviously unreal but I’m so happy we’ve not given up on braybrooke after one loan. 
 

he has some unreal talent and due to his his physical stature is almost certainly one that will improve simply with age.  Personally, I’m hoping he can replace winks. 

Alves and Braybrooke both doing their ACL in the space days was absolutely mental looking back. 
 

Two talented youngsters robbed of important development 

[dmayne7]

1 hour ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if his wages on the pro deal are slightly higher also to make up for the first year as a scholar.

Oh yeah, it definitely will be. He'll still be on his youth contract so a few hundred a week maybe (though guess they could put him on a fair bit more), but would imagine when he hits 17 and the pro deal is fully in effect, he'll be earning a minimum of £5k a week but in his special case (and our love of big contracts), 5 figures plus 

.

[K789]

20 minutes ago, dmayne7 said:

Oh yeah, it definitely will be. He'll still be on his youth contract so a few hundred a week maybe (though guess they could put him on a fair bit more), but would imagine when he hits 17 and the pro deal is fully in effect, he'll be earning a minimum of £5k a week but in his special case (and our love of big contracts), 5 figures plus 

.

Utd and city and paying 20- 30kw for 17 year olds. Given how talented he is I'd imagine it'll be a decent number

[l444ry]

3 hours ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

Credit for their development as players? Or credit for getting them signed to new contracts?

 

Because if you’re referencing the first he has nothing to do with it, & if you’re referencing the second then why does he deserve credit for the basic requirement of his job? Sign future talent and keep them at the club. 
 

The fact we even make statements like your post tells you how awful he is at his job. 

Was tongue in cheek comment. Mind you, it’s not logical to slag him off for hiring the manager yet not give him credit for overseeing the Academy?

[Spudulike]

Can we afford all these new contracts? Expect the EPL and EFL are trying to make some sort of PSR interpretation to bring another breach charge. They will be getting twitchy if they think we've unearthed a crop of talent unless they can force a way of getting them to their favourite clubs. Not getting paranoid or owt, but you know.

[Ryy]

We’ve also offered new contracts too Bless Akolbire (18) Ryan Donnelly (18) Jake Donohue (18) Alfie Fisken (19) Reiss Khela (18) Laolu Omobolaji (17) Kirsten Otchere (18)

[Ric Flair]

3 minutes ago, Ryy said:

We’ve also offered new contracts too Bless Akolbire (18) Ryan Donnelly (18) Jake Donohue (18) Alfie Fisken (19) Reiss Khela (18) Laolu Omobolaji (17) Kirsten Otchere (18)

Was rather hoping we'd have offered Louis Page a pro deal. Think he's 17 now too.

[Ryy]

2 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Was rather hoping we'd have offered Louis Page a pro deal. Think he's 17 now too.

Turns 17 July 10th

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Ryy said:

Turns 17 July 10th

Same birthday as me and Monga so it seems. I'm just 26-27 years older than them hahahahaaa

 

Page in the same boat as Evans really then. Not a lot been said about him though. I'll ask Guy Branston 😂

[Lesta2014]

 

4 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Same birthday as me and Monga so it seems. I'm just 26-27 years older than them hahahahaaa

 

Page in the same boat as Evans really then. Not a lot been said about him though. I'll ask Guy Branston 😂

I wonder if they’ve already signed what monga has, scholarship and then guaranteed pro when turn 17 meaning they are both tied up? Evan’s new contract may be us announcing a more lengthy deal? 

[Ryy]

29 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Same birthday as me and Monga so it seems. I'm just 26-27 years older than them hahahahaaa

 

Page in the same boat as Evans really then. Not a lot been said about him though. I'll ask Guy Branston 😂

I hope Otchere stays and has an injury free season will be big for the U21s 

[Ric Flair]

No news on Lorenz Hutchinson who we've been in discussions with on a pro deal. 

[coolhandfox]

23 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

No news on Lorenz Hutchinson who we've been in discussions with on a pro deal. 

Really hope we can keep him and Evans.

 

Worried we are going pay for the lack of minutes for Evans at the end of the season.

[Noahfence]

What’s the feeling on Cartwright? Whenever I’ve seen him he looks tidy on the ball and good turn of pace for a CM. Is he a box to box? 
 

It feels like this season he’ll either have to go on loan or be integrated into the squad. Another year of youth football won’t really benefit him.  

[DezFox]

13 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

No news on Lorenz Hutchinson who we've been in discussions with on a pro deal. 

Really hope the forest rumours aren’t true. 

[Staff]

9 minutes ago, DezFox said:

Really hope the forest rumours aren’t true. 

He appears on the retained list I think 

[davieG]

14 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

No news on Lorenz Hutchinson who we've been in discussions with on a pro deal. 

He's listed as a scholar in the retained list here

 

 

[LVFox]

As much as we should see a fair few make first team appearances next year, our U23 side should have a really strong season. Talent is definitely there

[Sol thewall Bamba]

13 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Really hope we can keep him and Evans.

 

Worried we are going pay for the lack of minutes for Evans at the end of the season.

I'm not sure he can be aggrieved with the minutes he got at 16 years old, even with his performances for the youth sides.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Popov breaking through this season? He'll be 21 in October so another that is approaching crunch time if it's going to happen for him here.