The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Clyde1998]

so whats going on with Rushesha then. not in the first team, not in the u21's, not injured, not loaned out.

He's an overage player (23). We can only field three, so wouldn't've been able to play last night given Ehibhatiomhan; Rinomhota; and Abrefa are also over twenty-one. In the Stoke game, you had Camara and along with the latter two. You'd be prioritising those four ahead of him, imo.

Fairly certain he's had an injury at some point this season too. Can't imagine he'll be hear next season anyway.

[Clyde1998]

Certainly wasn’t a 4-1 game, but Arsenal’s finishing was impressive. Their entire squad were teenagers too. Shows the gulf between our academy and the top sides at the moment.

Was impressed by Duah (despite the own goal). Wingers were direct. Ehibhatiomhan was the best of our first teamers; unlucky not to score at least one.

Didn’t think Rinomhota or Abrefa stood out unfortunately.

A consequence of category 1 academies being able to take top prospects even from other category 1 academies with relative ease. Shouldn't be allowed imo.

Agreed. Really should be looking at bringing back the old maximum travel time/distance rules or bring in better protections for clubs to retain players. These current rules merely concentrates talent at the top clubs and prevents smaller clubs from being able to compete. Why would a side like Crewe even bother with youth development now, if bigger clubs can simply take their top talent for nominal fees?

[Greatwesternline]

Certainly wasn’t a 4-1 game, but Arsenal’s finishing was impressive. Their entire squad were teenagers too. Shows the gulf between our academy and the top sides at the moment.

Was impressed by Duah (despite the own goal). Wingers were direct. Ehibhatiomhan was the best of our first teamers; unlucky not to score at least one.

Didn’t think Rinomhota or Abrefa stood out unfortunately.

A consequence of category 1 academies being able to take top prospects even from other category 1 academies with relative ease. Shouldn't be allowed imo.

Agreed. Really should be looking at bringing back the old maximum travel time/distance rules or bring in better protections for clubs to retain players. These current rules merely concentrates talent at the top clubs and prevents smaller clubs from being able to compete. Why would a side like Crewe even bother with youth development now, if bigger clubs can simply take their top talent for nominal fees?

The philosophy of the Cat system was, how can we get England to win the world cup. And the conclusion was, get young talented players into the best academies as quickly as possible. So what we see is the system working as intended.

The petty is, the system as intended didnt care about the footballing or business consequences of that. It just wanted best players at top academies as young as possible

[Sutekh]

A consequence of category 1 academies being able to take top prospects even from other category 1 academies with relative ease. Shouldn't be allowed imo.

Agreed. Really should be looking at bringing back the old maximum travel time/distance rules or bring in better protections for clubs to retain players. These current rules merely concentrates talent at the top clubs and prevents smaller clubs from being able to compete. Why would a side like Crewe even bother with youth development now, if bigger clubs can simply take their top talent for nominal fees?

The philosophy of the Cat system was, how can we get England to win the world cup. And the conclusion was, get young talented players into the best academies as quickly as possible. So what we see is the system working as intended.

The petty is, the system as intended didnt care about the footballing or business consequences of that. It just wanted best players at top academies as young as possible

Can’t help thinking that the Academies seem to benefit other countries a lot too, not a problem but rather that the British had more obvious talent like an Olise (can’t think why he’d opt for France )

[Simon's Church]

Fairly certain he's had an injury at some point this season too. Can't imagine he'll be hear next season anyway.

Ear injury was it?

[Royals and Racers]

Next up for the Academy teams are.

U 21’s Monday 2nd March PL 2 away to Wolverhampton KO 2pm at the Wolves training ground.
Wolves 19th us 23rd

U 18’s v Fulham away on Saturday 28th February KO 11am at Motspur Park.
Fulham 11th us 12th

[Royals and Racers]

Keeper Matt Rowley has joined Tonbridge Angels on loan until the end of the season

[Royals and Racers]

Unfortunately the Royals are not in the competition this season but the PL International cup is reaching the end of the 64 matches group stage. Here are the qualifiers for the QF’s known so far.
Group A Everton, Real Madrid
Group B 2 out of Borussia M’gl, Valencia and Crystal Palace
Group C Real Sociedad, Dinamo Zagreb
Group D Dortmund, Man Utd
All matches in the comp are played in England.

Group B qualifiers Crystal Palace and Valencia

The PL media dept on Academy cup draws is pathetic. The draw has obviously been done because the Crystal Palace media dept - who are superb have posted that it’s Palace v Real Sociedad in the QF. I cannot find anywhere details of the other 3 ties.

Found it at last on Wikipedia !!!!
Man Utd v Real Madrid
Everton v Borussia Dortmund
Dinamo Zagreb v Valencia

[Royals and Racers]

Attendance on Monday 623

[Royals and Racers]

Assume the PL Cup QF draw happens after the last of the last-16 fixtures has been played (tomorrow, 17 Feb according to the above list)?

Qualified so far-

Reading
Bournemouth
Colchester
Burnley
Watford
West Brom
Sunderland

Do we already know if we are playing home or away or is this dictated by the draw?

Straight draw i would imagine.

Ipswich 2 Blackburn 3 AET

Wikipedia has again come up trumps( if you can believe them ) with 2 of the QF ties
Sunderland v Watford
Burnley v Colchester
That leaves us with Bournemouth, West Brom or Blackburn H or A