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

[BKLFox]

& Seagrave not doing its job 😂 

 

[SemperEadem]

Do the youth team play this Friday, do hope we see a few more in the squad for Blackburn.

[AjcW]

23 minutes ago, SemperEadem said:

Do the youth team play this Friday, do hope we see a few more in the squad for Blackburn.

Done for the season now

[ramadaone]

1 hour ago, AjcW said:

Done for the season now

????

 

Under 18's still have 2 fixtures left - next two Saturdays 

[moore_94]

33 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

????

 

Under 18's still have 2 fixtures left - next two Saturdays 

He will have been asking about the under 21s

[AjcW]

34 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

????

 

Under 18's still have 2 fixtures left - next two Saturdays 

 

1 minute ago, moore_94 said:

He will have been asking about the under 21s

Yeah, thought that was pretty obvious  we've barely let the U21's have a chance we're not about to field a team from the 18s!

[ramadaone]

2 hours ago, AjcW said:

 

Yeah, thought that was pretty obvious  we've barely let the U21's have a chance we're not about to field a team from the 18s!

"Do the youth team play this Friday" was the original question so no your answer wasn't pretty obvious it was just plain wrong 

 

[AjcW]

11 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

"Do the youth team play this Friday" was the original question so no your answer wasn't pretty obvious it was just plain wrong 

 

@SemperEadem could you please ask your question again and be sure to use the correct phrasing of "Elite Development Squad" rather than "the youth team" many thanks.

[lcfcell]

15 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

"Do the youth team play this Friday" was the original question so no your answer wasn't pretty obvious it was just plain wrong 

 

bloody hell  

[AjcW]

Do the U12's play on Friday as i'm quite looking forward to seeing a few of them get a chance against Blackburn if not.

[davieG]

How about the U23s they seem to still have games according to some on here 

[Sly]

Jokes aside; 

 

What age groups do the club run now? 

[StanSP]

1 hour ago, Sly said:

Jokes aside; 

 

What age groups do the club run now? 

Well I know there's a crèche at the club. Regular attendees are Anthony, Jon, Aiyawatt... 

[AjcW]

21 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Well I know there's a crèche at the club. Regular attendees are Anthony, Jon, Aiyawatt... 

Don't forget the Canine XI!!

[Samilktray]

Man Utd interested in Monga, Page and Aluko apparently 

[Rubbersoul]

Interesting interview from Evans saying how he had a poor pre season last summer because he’d had a few appearances in the Prem so got a bit complacent thinking he’s spot in the squad was secure. 
 

Went on to say he knows what he’s got to do this pre season and how important his loan move has been 

[BKLFox]

1 hour ago, Rubbersoul said:

Interesting interview from Evans saying how he had a poor pre season last summer because he’d had a few appearances in the Prem so got a bit complacent thinking he’s spot in the squad was secure. 
 

Went on to say he knows what he’s got to do this pre season and how important his loan move has been 

From a post i made in the Motsi thread where posters are so keen to push kids into a 1st team & those kids thinking they have made it & then in such a hurry to get to a top 4 club before doing their apprenticeship so to speak.
 

"It’s a different world now & a lot of these kids believe they have made it after a mere suggestion of recognition & would prefer to carry the celebrity of being on the books of those clubs without kicking a 1st team ball.

Imagine what a night out would look like for 6 young lads on the books of Liverpool & 6 from Rochdale’s academy and which group would say “..do you know who I am…” the 1st.".......
"Maybe I’m old school and believe SAF was correct in his management of the class of 92, keeping your head down, putting in the graft not thinking about the money etc etc and telling them if after that they make it then they will reap the rewards, today a lot of kids want to get from A to B before they are ready but good luck to them. "

Evan's has just backed up my assumption with his interview, there is no denying we have some talented individuals but they need to think about the here & now, put the work in & as i've said, if at the end of that they are good enough then they will reap the rewards with big moves & wages.
I'll stick with SAF & his comment about the most naturely gifted youngster he ever worked (& there have been a few) Ravel Morrison, that kid would have had the world at his feet but he was sold on at 18yrs old & basically disappeared after he thought he'd already made it between those 15-18 years.

We need to allow them to grow & mature & they need to listen to coaches not agents 

 

 

 

Edited 29 April by BKLFox

[st albans fox]

55 minutes ago, BKLFox said:

"We need to allow them to grow & mature & they need to listen to coaches not agents 

 

Im afraid that the money involved now with the rich six clubs means that the best players (and likely their parents/close friends) are going to be listening to the latter more than the former 

[CloudFox]

2 hours ago, Rubbersoul said:

Interesting interview from Evans saying how he had a poor pre season last summer because he’d had a few appearances in the Prem so got a bit complacent thinking he’s spot in the squad was secure. 
 

Went on to say he knows what he’s got to do this pre season and how important his loan move has been 

For those looking for the interview:

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jake-evans-admits-mistake-leicester-10941291.amp

 

You could see it as damning of youth players having a sense of entitlement, as @BKLFox suggests. However, I think Evans' framing here is more a self-reflection and criticism of himself. Sounds grounded and realistic, with a determination to do what's needed to play for us.

 

Here's to Evans doing a KDH, working hard in the "off-season", killing it in in pre-season, and making a genuine impact in our League One campaign. We need more players with that hunger to do well, and learn from their mistakes.

[Rubbersoul]

6 minutes ago, CloudFox said:

For those looking for the interview:

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jake-evans-admits-mistake-leicester-10941291.amp

 

You could see it as damning of youth players having a sense of entitlement, as @BKLFox suggests. However, I think Evans' framing here is more a self-reflection and criticism of himself. Sounds grounded and realistic, with a determination to do what's needed to play for us.

 

Here's to Evans doing a KDH, working hard in the "off-season", killing it in in pre-season, and making a genuine impact in our League One campaign. We need more players with that hunger to do well, and learn from their mistakes.

Comes across like a good lad 

[BKLFox]

22 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Im afraid that the money involved now with the rich six clubs means that the best players (and likely their parents/close friends) are going to be listening to the latter more than the former 

Yeah sadly i agree, they don't see they are going in to a pond where they already have 5 or 6+ kids like them in every position & they could end up being cast aside & it be down to luck they get a decent move on.
We all know the names that have been moved on & made it from these academies but we don't really hear about those many more that don't, for instance;
Will Dickson was in the Man C academy at 15yrs old & now 21 has just moved this past january on a permanent contract from Man C straight to Lge 2 Chesterfield.
Darko Gyabi was picked up from Millwall academy by Man C around the 13-14yr old mark, he spent 5yrs in their academy & was then sold to Leeds who just loaned him to Plymouth before leaving on a free & now with Hull, he spent 8/9 years to get from Millwall to Hull.

There are plenty more just from Man C but throw in Liverpool, Chelsea, Man U & Arsenal there will be hundreds that have been sucked up & spat out & not directly to a big club but clubs that they probably could have got to anyway.

You could look at the likes of full England Internationals Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton & to a degree James Garner (i know he was at Man U) but it was Watford & Forest that got his move to Everton - but using them as examples of reaching the top through hardwork at non-fancy clubs.


 

[BKLFox]

20 minutes ago, CloudFox said:

For those looking for the interview:

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jake-evans-admits-mistake-leicester-10941291.amp

 

You could see it as damning of youth players having a sense of entitlement, as @BKLFox suggests. However, I think Evans' framing here is more a self-reflection and criticism of himself. Sounds grounded and realistic, with a determination to do what's needed to play for us.

 

Here's to Evans doing a KDH, working hard in the "off-season", killing it in in pre-season, and making a genuine impact in our League One campaign. We need more players with that hunger to do well, and learn from their mistakes.

I agree he does sound like a switched on lad & brave of him to admit & mature of him to identify the mistake he made. He is in a very good position to rectify that now & get his head down & kick on his career, those that miss a mistake & jump to early might not get that chance, whilst i also understand when opportunity knocks its hard / brave to turn it down.
There are more influences now all wanting to take their slice & will provide bad advice to get it, the kids also need to be mature above their years & not bow to silly school, girlfriend, friend influences all for those peers just to b able to say my good friends plays for Liverpool etc

[lcfc sheff]

Evans and Page both come across very well in their interviews in the last month, both need to be at the centre of what we build next season 

[davieG]

Leicester City Football Club 

 

Darren Motsi netted England U16s’ first goal of a 5-1 victory over Mexico to secure the Vertex Cup in the USA last week.

 

[Ric Flair]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester City Football Club 

 

Darren Motsi netted England U16s’ first goal of a 5-1 victory over Mexico to secure the Vertex Cup in the USA last week.

 

Need to pick this lad vs Blackburn and strengthen the compensation we will be awarded for his alleged move to Liverpool.