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

[davieG]

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

Loving Marti's attitude towards the academy.

 

Obviously it's early doors and I wouldn't want to get ahead of myself but this is a manager we should employ for the long term regardless of results (to a degree).

 

Rebuilding that trust between academy and first team is massively important. I think we might already be there but we need to capitalise on Seagrave and ensure we're the number one place to be for young footballers in the midlands.

Of course you need and Academy that is producing talent good enough.

[AKCJ]

Just now, davieG said:

Of course you need and Academy that is producing talent good enough.

Chicken and egg type scenario though isn't it?

 

IMO the likes of Monga, Evans, Page, Aluko etc are here because the likes of Chilwell, Barnes, KDH have shown that there's a path to the first team here and the facilities at Seagrave are here to help that.

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Chicken and egg type scenario though isn't it?

 

IMO the likes of Monga, Evans, Page, Aluko etc are here because the likes of Chilwell, Barnes, KDH have shown that there's a path to the first team here and the facilities at Seagrave are here to help that.

Sure and it's because of that he can go down that route. I'm sure Pearson would have liked a similar output of talent because he was of that mind too.

[davieG]

Independent Report from The Fosse Way

 

Leicester City Under 21s 1 Juventus Under 21s 2: Foxes slip to PLIC defeat
On a night where Marti Cifuentes – having already proven a desire to give youth a chance – was in attendance at a rainy Seagrave, the Leicester City Under 21s would’ve needed no extra motivation to prove their worth to the new manager.

wilbytoothill
11 September 2025

 

https://thefosseway.net/2025/09/11/leicester-city-under-21s-1-juventus-under-21s-2-foxes-slip-to-plic-defeat/

[davieG]

LCFC MEN U18S
A Really Positive Start, Says Barradell

 

Adam Barradell has been delighted with the recent application shown from our Under-18s, following back-to-back league victories.
Catching up with Adam Barradell on our start to the U18 Premier League South season
City recorded successive league victories ahead of the international break
The Under-18s Coach feels pleased with the players stepping up into the age group
Significant progress has been made ahead of facing Aston Villa this weekend, he says

 

https://www.lcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/adam-barradell-leicester-city-under-18s-lcfc-coach-reaction?fbclid=IwY2xjawMvoAZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHofKtFEikidfHQFNhRRslGrvBaCB8op6HZCnFmRXJ17d-ITLqr6jJUah35bB_aem_q0urD_nCmuNC-Q9Do7JPHw

[Foxy-Lady]

On 10/09/2025 at 15:19, Tiny earl said:

You clearly have more knowledge of the youth set up than I do but why does Barnes, in the same coaching set up,

with lnferior ability make it?

Surely the individual has to take a fair portion of the responsibility 

 

Barnes dad was a personal friend of Rudkin from their playing days and he also shared the same agent as vardy so there were "doors" open to Barnes that were not necessarily open to others in the form of "opportunities"

 

Nothing against Barnes as he is a fantastic lad with a great attitude and he did grasp those opportunities when they were given so fair play to him.....its just that others (based on ability!) were not necessarily given the same opportunities.

 

My comment was not intending to say that Barnes was "undeserving"...far from it!   Its just that some others were "equally" deserving (possibly more so in the case of Ndukwu??)  but didn't get given the same opportunities.

 

In the academy system, coaches are always very quick to place the blame on the player for their failure to develop....but you rarely (if ever?!?) hear the coaches accept any accountability for their own failure to develop players on account of their lack of coaching ability.   I think its called "closed-loop thinking" in the business world in that if something fails, it has to be someone else's fault as it cant possibly be ours...!

 

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Foxy-Lady said:

 I think its called "closed-loop thinking" in the business world in that if something fails, it has to be someone else's fault as it cant possibly be ours...!

Could be said about LCFC what with PSR etc.

[filbertway]

10 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

Barnes dad was a personal friend of Rudkin from their playing days and he also shared the same agent as vardy so there were "doors" open to Barnes that were not necessarily open to others in the form of "opportunities"

 

Nothing against Barnes as he is a fantastic lad with a great attitude and he did grasp those opportunities when they were given so fair play to him.....its just that others (based on ability!) were not necessarily given the same opportunities.

 

My comment was not intending to say that Barnes was "undeserving"...far from it!   Its just that some others were "equally" deserving (possibly more so in the case of Ndukwu??)  but didn't get given the same opportunities.

 

In the academy system, coaches are always very quick to place the blame on the player for their failure to develop....but you rarely (if ever?!?) hear the coaches accept any accountability for their own failure to develop players on account of their lack of coaching ability.   I think its called "closed-loop thinking" in the business world in that if something fails, it has to be someone else's fault as it cant possibly be ours...!

 

Having watched Layton Nduwku play for Coalville. Let me tell you, the club got that right 

[lcfc sheff]

Think we’ll find Barnes is physically more gifted than Ndukwu who if let’s be honest was half as talented as people make out would’ve had a decent pro career. 
 

27 years old and hasn’t played a full season for a team as of yet. Clearly not just the coaches

[davieG]

Leicester City Football Club 

 

Outstanding academic results

During the EFL‘s Youth Development Week, our Academy is proudly celebrating some of their strongest academic results in recent history.

 

Our Academy is proud to celebrate another year of excellence off the pitch, with our young players achieving some of their strongest academic results in recent history.
Results among the best achieved by our Academy players
First year with two in-house teachers supporting BTEC students
Commitment to education recognised as young players excel in their studies
This summer has seen some of the best GCSE (U16), A-level and BTEC (U18) results ever recorded by the Academy, underlining our commitment to developing well-rounded individuals as well as footballers.
Each U18 scholar accomplished at or above their target grade, with GCSE attainment for our U16s the highest on record, surpassing the national average for 2024.
For the first time, the Academy has had two in-house teachers dedicated to supporting our BTEC students, providing guidance and learning support alongside a busy training schedule. With this in-house teacher investment, we are now running three separate timetables for players across U18, U21 and First Team schedules.
The work of our in-house teachers has been pivotal in helping players balance their football development with academic achievement, ensuring they are prepared for a variety of pathways in the future.
The results reflect the hard work of our players, staff and education team, who all contribute to the strong culture of learning that exists throughout our Academy, while our partnership with Ratcliffe College has produced the highest ever value-added data.
Our Head of Education, Jay Groocock, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the way our players have approached their studies this year. Balancing football and education is never easy, but the results show the dedication they have shown on and off the pitch.
“Our aim is to give every player the skills and qualifications they need for the future, and this year’s achievements are a fantastic step forward."
As the Academy continues to nurture the next generation of Foxes, these results stand as a testament to the Club’s belief that education is every bit as important as footballing ability in shaping successful, well-rounded young people.

[Foxy-Lady]

6 hours ago, lcfc sheff said:

Think we’ll find Barnes is physically more gifted than Ndukwu who if let’s be honest was half as talented as people make out would’ve had a decent pro career. 
 

27 years old and hasn’t played a full season for a team as of yet. Clearly not just the coaches

your basing that opinion on where he is today as against where he was when he was 16.  If you had ever seen him play when he was younger, you too would be questioning what went wrong as im pretty sure his ambitions and motivation today are nowhere near what they were when he was an aspiring 16 year old.

Ive not met anyone yet who saw Ndukwu play as a youngster that didnt think he was the most talented player of is generation at Leicester.

 

Barnes and Chilwells dads did everything they could to get their sons away from Beagleholes U23s set-up as quickly as they could....so what does that tell you about the coaches?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Beaglehole is an absolutely insane name isn't it

[Ric Flair]

2 hours ago, Foxy-Lady said:

your basing that opinion on where he is today as against where he was when he was 16.  If you had ever seen him play when he was younger, you too would be questioning what went wrong as im pretty sure his ambitions and motivation today are nowhere near what they were when he was an aspiring 16 year old.

Ive not met anyone yet who saw Ndukwu play as a youngster that didnt think he was the most talented player of is generation at Leicester.

 

Barnes and Chilwells dads did everything they could to get their sons away from Beagleholes U23s set-up as quickly as they could....so what does that tell you about the coaches?

Never forget speaking to Muzzy around 2012/13 era and he said he'd never ever seen a talent at Leicester like Ndukwu.

[Noahfence]

I often wonder about how many talents slip through the net (not just at Leicester) due to poor coaching set ups.

 

All it takes is one coach. 

[davieG]

[moore_94]

Under 18s are currently winning 1-0 away against Aston Villa

 

Will Daniels goal

Will Lawrence assist

 

Marson, Aideed, Daniels, Lawrence, Adedeji, Toko, Carr, de Lisle, Hutchinson, Motsi, Corden

 

Subs: Jacklin, Stretton, Simons, Manyumba, Fletcher

[Noahfence]

Another Lorenz Hutchinson goal. 

[Noahfence]

Two goals for Hutchinson now 

[Noahfence]

7 minutes ago, Noahfence said:

Two goals for Hutchinson now 

and that’s the hattrick 

[Ric Flair]

How is he still in the U18s??? Doing my head in now this is. Stupidity.

[Noahfence]

40 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

How is he still in the U18s??? Doing my head in now this is. Stupidity.

Especially as the u21s don’t have a striker now 

[Noahfence]

Hutchinson has posted one of his goals on his Instagram story. Great finish. 

[Jimmy]

23 hours ago, Noahfence said:

Especially as the u21s don’t have a striker now 

Kian Pennant literally played their last game and they still have Richards and Popov not forgetting Evans will need game time too

[Noahfence]

1 hour ago, Jimmy said:

Kian Pennant literally played their last game and they still have Richards and Popov not forgetting Evans will need game time too

Don’t think any of them are particularly natural strikers are they?

 

Evans certainly isn’t a striker

[coolhandfox]

On 13/09/2025 at 12:52, Ric Flair said:

How is he still in the U18s??? Doing my head in now this is. Stupidity.

They have handled Monga, Evans and Page pretty well so there could be a reason.

Edited 14 September 2025 by coolhandfox