The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[SCIAG]

Full team:

Moore
Sheppard----McIntyre---Jules---Griffin
----------Rimonhota--Bennett------------
Barrett-------------Kelly------Novakovich
---------------------Samuel---------------------
Not entirely sure about Nova as I haven't seen a good shot but it definitely seems like him.

Wingers are offering no protection and the full backs are getting destroyed 2-on-1. Actually Barrett just chased back well as I wrote that, but they're carving out too many chances. Sheppard is not a full back.

OK Sammm also posted the same team so I'm confident we're right.

[Nameless]

Shepherd right back ?
Doubt we are playing 433. Looks more likely to be a 442 or Barrett playing behind Nova and Samuel with Keely and Rimonhota central.

[SCIAG]

We are playing 4-3-3. Could argue about how the middle three are set up (whether Kelly is in front or behind) but Nova is down the left and Barrett on the right.

Nothing's come off for us but Moore is keeping them out. Southampton look fitter and more alert.

[Simon's Church]

Kelly is comfortably our best player. Joules looks decent, Bennett too. Not sure I've seen him before

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

HT Thoughts: We've been rubbish, barely anything to report since we've barely had the ball, not sure any outfield player comes out of that well

Moore has pulled off 3 or 4 unbelievable saves, and I rarely get overly excited by a goalkeeper stopping shots. Worth watching the highlights later just for those. He was pretty highly rated from what I remember over the past few years, and I wonder what is preventing him being seen as a first team option other than experience? Basingstoke fans used to lose their minds over him a few seasons ago, was he injured last year? Anyway, he looks good.

Kelly as a No.10 is still the worst tactic ever. He seemed to play there all the time last season for the U21s and that's why he barely stood out, when he plays just in front of the back 4 controlling the game, that's where he's at his best. Kuhl insisted on playing his own boy there last year, seems this time that he was trying Bennett until about 35 mins when Kelly dropped back, we have looked better as a result.

Samuel will hope Stam hasn't been watching, the blonde RB who took the whole half for me to identify as Sheppard definitely does not look like a RB, Novakovich looks okay but still seems to slow and ponderous to give me any hope of him becoming an effective forward

Messy report for a messy first half


EDIT: Cardwell and Frost coming on for Bennett and Samuel

[SCIAG]

He was pretty highly rated from what I remember over the past few years, and I wonder what is preventing him being seen as a first team option other than experience? Basingstoke fans used to lose their minds over him a few seasons ago, was he injured last year? Anyway, he looks good.

Wasn't injured last year, played most of the U21 matches and didn't look like a better option than Bond. Went out on loan and got replaced by Ward who personally I prefer. Playing very well tonight.

Kelly as a No.10 is still the worst tactic ever. He seemed to play there all the time last season for the U21s and that's why he barely stood out, when he plays just in front of the back 4 controlling the game, that's where he's at his best. Kuhl insisted on playing his own boy there last year, seems this time that he was trying Bennett until about 35 mins when Kelly dropped back, we have looked better as a result.

It's worked pretty well for the past few years! FA Youth Cup semi-final, U21 cup win and semi-final, and U21 promotion all with Kelly behind the striker. It gets him in shooting range more often. Last year the U21s mostly played 4-4-2 and that didn't suit him so well. I like him as the deepest midfielder too but I think Kuhl's better at it. Bennett's a converted centre back and more of a conservative option, to be generous.

EDIT: Cardwell and Frost coming on for Bennett and Samuel

Looks like we've gone 4-4-2, Frost on the right and Barrett on the left. We're playing much better.

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

He was pretty highly rated from what I remember over the past few years, and I wonder what is preventing him being seen as a first team option other than experience? Basingstoke fans used to lose their minds over him a few seasons ago, was he injured last year? Anyway, he looks good.

Wasn't injured last year, played most of the U21 matches and didn't look like a better option than Bond. Went out on loan and got replaced by Ward who personally I prefer. Playing very well tonight.

Yeah most games I watched (the streamed ones against the big clubs) it seemed to be Ward playing so wasn't sure what happened to him other than the odd appearance on the first team bench when Bond was injured. I can never tell with GKs but didn't he win POTS at Basingstoke?

Kelly as a No.10 is still the worst tactic ever. He seemed to play there all the time last season for the U21s and that's why he barely stood out, when he plays just in front of the back 4 controlling the game, that's where he's at his best. Kuhl insisted on playing his own boy there last year, seems this time that he was trying Bennett until about 35 mins when Kelly dropped back, we have looked better as a result.

It's worked pretty well for the past few years! FA Youth Cup semi-final, U21 cup win and semi-final, and U21 promotion all with Kelly behind the striker. It gets him in shooting range more often. Last year the U21s mostly played 4-4-2 and that didn't suit him so well. I like him as the deepest midfielder too but I think Kuhl's better at it. Bennett's a converted centre back and more of a conservative option, to be generous.

True, but tbf they all looked good back then, worked well as Kuhl was able to run the game. Again I'm basing most of my opinions on the 4 or 5 U21 games I saw last season and can remember Kelly being a bit anonymous in that position, which was a lot different to how good he has looked since adopting the 'Norwood role' for the first team in pre-season.

EDIT: Cardwell and Frost coming on for Bennett and Samuel

Looks like we've gone 4-4-2, Frost on the right and Barrett on the left. We're playing much better.[/quote]

We were, unfortunately gone 0-2 which was against the run of play

[SCIAG]

The video has dropped out of my stream. Sounds like the goal has brought Southampton back into it. It's hard to say though because the commentators start talking about inanities whenever Southampton give the ball away!

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Novakovich pulls one back on 83 mins. I know I just slagged him off but he does have good feet (for a big man I suppose), just a shame he's got no real pace or strength. The goal was decent, dummied the centre half then slapped it past McCarthy

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Oops, 1-3 on 90 mins after Moore goes to punch a corner and... misses it completely

Seconds later McCarthy pulls of a good save to deny Nova who again showed nice feet to skip past the defender... Kelly then makes him tip one over the bar from about 40 yards

[CountryRoyal]

I swear Southampton are to our youth team what Arsenal are to the firsts.

They always beat us.

[Ian Royal]

Ends 3-1 to Saints.

Some pretty good play in there. A bit over intricate in the centre of the park and final third at times. We looked wide open to the counter too. Some blinding saves from Moore second half only to brush the ball instead of punch it clear for their third. Oh well.

Griffin failed to impress me again. Barrett didn't look like a left winger, always cut inside and ran across the box - not saying he looked bad, just out of position. Jules, Rinomhota, Kelly and Nova had tidy feet.

[SCIAG]

Nova is like a young Noel Hunt, no outstanding talent but looks pretty good in a 4-4-2, chips in with a few goals and supports his partner.

Rimonhota really reminds me of Leigertwood.

[tidus_mi2]

Isn't the Southampton academy basically the sort of thing we aspire to be? No real surprise that they beat us in that respect.

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

More Academy streaming fun tonight as the U23s take on Chelsea live on Chelsea TV, idk if the various dodgy websites will be showing it but if you feel like giving Chelsea £5.99 you can sign up for the channel here https://www.chelseafc.com/security/vind ... n_new.html

And I think it's on Sky for the same price

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

Okay well I'm watching if no one else is...

Team does probably tell us something about tomorrow, no Kelly, Watson, Wieser or.... Samuel

We line up like:
GK - Moore
RB - Sheppard
LB - Griffin
CB - McIntyre
CB - Jules

And then I'm not sure, but I think:
Midfield - Rinomhota, Bennett, Barrett & Frost
Up Top - Novakovich and Cardwell

Everyone's fave signing from Staines Terrence van Cooten is on the bench, along with England Under 20s' Luke Southwood, Icelander Axel Andresson, and then Ryan East and Sam Smith

Stam is watching

Chalobah's brother playing for Chelsea

[Platypuss]

http://cricfree.tv/watch/live/reading-u23-vs-chelsea-u23-live-streaming

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

1-0 Chelsea, well deserved, our defence appears to have no organisation whatsoever

Having said that, impressed by Jules, defended well, pretty physical and hasn't looked completely out of position like McIntyre, Sheppard (who tbf aren't defenders) and Griffin (who tbf I'm not sure is a footballer)

About to be HT, Cardwell missed a decent chance, Barrett on the wing our only attacking threat

[Hoop Blah]

1-0 Chelsea, well deserved, our defence appears to have no organisation whatsoever

Having said that, impressed by Jules, defended well, pretty physical and hasn't looked completely out of position like McIntyre, Sheppard (who tbf aren't defenders) and Griffin (who tbf I'm not sure is a footballer)

About to be HT, Cardwell missed a decent chance, Barrett on the wing our only attacking threat

Not to be picky, and I don't think I've ever seen him play so this is a genuine question, but if McIntyre isn't a defender what is he? I think he's played centre half for left back whenever I've seen his name mentioned.

[Saaaaaaaammmmmm]

1-0 Chelsea, well deserved, our defence appears to have no organisation whatsoever

Having said that, impressed by Jules, defended well, pretty physical and hasn't looked completely out of position like McIntyre, Sheppard (who tbf aren't defenders) and Griffin (who tbf I'm not sure is a footballer)

About to be HT, Cardwell missed a decent chance, Barrett on the wing our only attacking threat

Not to be picky, and I don't think I've ever seen him play so this is a genuine question, but if McIntyre isn't a defender what is he? I think he's played centre half for left back whenever I've seen his name mentioned.

Okay to be fair I just did a bit of research and appears he is a defender, for some reason I thought he was a midfielder. It's just every time I see him mentioned playing centre-half he gets referred to as playing 'out of position,' which I guess makes sense