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

[Ric Flair]

Just now, lanefox said:

Need Hutchinson in the 21's , goal scoring record is unreal

With Opoku out on loan now and very few striker options, he surely must be called up. Very odd that given our improvements in bringing through players up a level quicker, that he's not benefitted from that. I don't see what else he can get from U18s right now, his record is immense. As it was with the U16s.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Still no signature from Evans

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Still no signature from Evans

Concern, felt we should have given him more minutes at the end of last season and this season.

[Lambert09]

2 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Concern, felt we should have given him more minutes at the end of last season and this season.

Possibly got less minutes because of the way those contract conversations were going. Reality is we are going to lose a few of these prospects and it’s out of our hands 

[honeybradger]

10 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

Possibly got less minutes because of the way those contract conversations were going. Reality is we are going to lose a few of these prospects and it’s out of our hands 

Losing Evans is unacceptable. If Monga didnt exist he would be the best prospect we have produced in the last few decades.

[Lambert09]

15 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Losing Evans is unacceptable. If Monga didnt exist he would be the best prospect we have produced in the last few decades.

Don’t disagree but there’s only so much you can do when huge clubs are in their ear. We’ve got history of academy players excelling here, we’ve shown that opportunities are there if you’re good enough. Not an area I personally think the club are failing at. 
 

it’s unrealistic to throw in every youth prospect. But we’ve clearly been attempting something with these guys for the last year and they are kids, not like these are 20 year olds, you have to measure their involvement with what’s best for their development 

[Ric Flair]

Evans has just signed up to the same agency as Marti Cifuentes. Part of the delay in signing a pro deal could well be because of negotiations between player and agent on who's representing them long term.

 

You wouldn't sign a pro deal under an agency you're about to leave, so maybe that's what's held it up.......

 

 

[AS78UK]

36 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Evans has just signed up to the same agency as Marti Cifuentes. Part of the delay in signing a pro deal could well be because of negotiations between player and agent on who's representing them long term.

 

You wouldn't sign a pro deal under an agency you're about to leave, so maybe that's what's held it up.......

 

 

Let's hope that's all it is... 🙏 

[kenny]

4 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Wonder what the plan is for Cover. Mixed success on loan but he's clearly talented. I don't see him getting any minutes here as Aluko is ahead of him.

Needed a loan.

[Ric Flair]

37 minutes ago, kenny said:

Needed a loan.

Hopefully he goes to Leuven

[coolhandfox]

2 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Hopefully he goes to Leuven

We must be one of the worse for making multi club ownership work.

 

Neither club has really benefitted.

 

The only succes was Sowah who did well for OHL and generated a good fee for us.

[TamuffFox]

9 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

We must be one of the worse for making multi club ownership work.

 

Neither club has really benefitted.

 

The only succes was Sowah who did well for OHL and generated a good fee for us.

Off the top of my head we've had Sowah, Opoku, Raul Uche, Iverson on loan there. Is that it?

 

I know George Hirst was 'laundered' there too....

[Holly B]

2 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Losing Evans is unacceptable. If Monga didnt exist he would be the best prospect we have produced in the last few decades.

You think Evans is a better prospect than KDH and Page ? 

[Holly B]

4 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Still no signature from Evans

Heard Brighton are sniffing around 

[Holly B]

7 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

Still no Page on that list sadly 

Will be sorted on his return from Spain 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Holly B said:

Will be sorted on his return from Spain 

Another who might be changing agents before signing a pro deal?

[honeybradger]

1 hour ago, Holly B said:

You think Evans is a better prospect than KDH and Page ? 

Quite comfortably a bigger prospect than Dewsbury Hall. At Evans's age Dewsbury Hall wasnt on most people's radars, he only started performing well at youth level at 19/20. Evans already has minutes in the PL and was one of the top scorers at u21 level last year despite being 16.

 

I would argue that he's a bigger talent than Page despite Page being younger and having 2 starts for the senior team whilst Evans doesnt make the bench. That's just my opinion though and I think most people would disagree.

 

 

Edited 5 September 2025 by honeybradger

[Ric Flair]

19 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Quite comfortably a bigger prospect than Dewsbury Hall. At Evans's age Dewsbury Hall wasnt on most people's radars, he only started performing well at youth level at 19/20. Evans already has minutes in the PL and was one of the top scorers at u21 level last year despite being 16.

 

I would argue that he's a bigger talent than Page despite Page being younger and having 2 starts for the senior team whilst Evans doesnt make the bench. That's just my opinion though and I think most people would disagree.

 

 

Far too early to claim he's a bigger talent than Barnes IMO. 

[honeybradger]

22 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Far too early to claim he's a bigger talent than Barnes IMO. 

I wouldnt say it's too early, he is more talented than Barnes, more technically gifted and more of a natural finisher (remember all those misses that Barnes made early on).

 

Whether Evans realises that talent and becomes a better player than Barnes is up in the air but he's definitely got more talent and a higher ceiling.

[coolhandfox]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

Quite comfortably a bigger prospect than Dewsbury Hall. At Evans's age Dewsbury Hall wasnt on most people's radars, he only started performing well at youth level at 19/20. Evans already has minutes in the PL and was one of the top scorers at u21 level last year despite being 16.

 

I would argue that he's a bigger talent than Page despite Page being younger and having 2 starts for the senior team whilst Evans doesnt make the bench. That's just my opinion though and I think most people would disagree.

How many time have you watched him live in person? 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

3 hours ago, Holly B said:

You think Evans is a better prospect than KDH and Page ? 

 

What do you think @ramadaone, who's your pick?

[honeybradger]

9 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

How many time have you watched him live in person? 

Evans? None but I dont think you have to watch a player in person to tell if theyre good or not.

[Ric Flair]

53 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

I wouldnt say it's too early, he is more talented than Barnes, more technically gifted and more of a natural finisher (remember all those misses that Barnes made early on).

 

Whether Evans realises that talent and becomes a better player than Barnes is up in the air but he's definitely got more talent and a higher ceiling.

I'm a huge fan of Evans but Barnes mix of pace and intelligence has made him go far in the game. He was a very strong finisher in youth football as well as up to Championship level. It's true he found it harder to keep composure in the PL for the first 12-18 months but then massively improved.

 

I'm keen to see what happens with Evans, he seems to have everything bar flamboyance to take players on, better at beating them in a foot race than skill. He is one of the best finishers i've seen come through our academy but i'm still not sure he's best served as a 9. Wonder if he'd be better as a 10.

[honeybradger]

12 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I'm a huge fan of Evans but Barnes mix of pace and intelligence has made him go far in the game. He was a very strong finisher in youth football as well as up to Championship level. It's true he found it harder to keep composure in the PL for the first 12-18 months but then massively improved.

 

I'm keen to see what happens with Evans, he seems to have everything bar flamboyance to take players on, better at beating them in a foot race than skill. He is one of the best finishers i've seen come through our academy but i'm still not sure he's best served as a 9. Wonder if he'd be better as a 10.

I think he's very much a modern 9, has the technical ability and awareness of his surroundings to drop deep and link up play, can take on players if he wants but also has the goal scoring instincts to play around the box.

[lcfc sheff]

12 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I'm a huge fan of Evans but Barnes mix of pace and intelligence has made him go far in the game. He was a very strong finisher in youth football as well as up to Championship level. It's true he found it harder to keep composure in the PL for the first 12-18 months but then massively improved.

 

I'm keen to see what happens with Evans, he seems to have everything bar flamboyance to take players on, better at beating them in a foot race than skill. He is one of the best finishers i've seen come through our academy but i'm still not sure he's best served as a 9. Wonder if he'd be better as a 10.

Best to start his career in men’s football as a right winger and see from there. Not sure he’s got the skills or strength to play either a 10 or a 9 but could be better utilised as a RWer coming in at the back post