U23s getting pumped

Getting beaten 4-1 by Burnley. Aidy White scoring a rebound after we missed our second penalty.

Will Smith sent off for us when it was 3-0.

Wonder how Disco will dress up another defeat. But we are not being very successful at u18 or U23s level. No idea about younger age groups.

Anyone on here watch any of the 23s/Academy matches? What’s up? Player quality? Quality of coaching?

 

I do not know if it is a factor but every time I see the team sheet there are always 2 or 3 trialists playing, & its not so much about the result but finding & developing players , although I watched them against Sheff utd & we played well that day .

 

Agree it should be mainly about developing players and getting the players ready to step up if needed. Although one of the trialists has been Aidy White every week & then it tends to be 1 or at most 2 others. Which is usually the same for the teams we’re playing against as well. So unless we are saying that all the other teams that are beating us comfortably are only interested in winning, not developing players, then I’m not sure we can use that as a reason for losing most games by some margin.

I have heard a few things about the quality, or otherwise, of the coaching set up. And players being blamed rather than encouraged, but just wondered if anyone much closer could confirm if things are looking good or worrying.

 

The aim of the U23s (and U18s) is to develop players for the first team. It doesn't matter if we lose every game, or win every game 10-0 - the result is inconsequential as long as we get some first team players out of it. Given the rise of Walton, Brown, Bird, Williams and Adeboyejo over the last year then the U23s in the last couple of season can be said to be a success (even with the crap results).

 

Yep this is the thing toubarent building a team at that level. Only one or 2 may go on to be first team players for us. If any.

 

Completely agree with that as I said above. Much more important to develop the players. But surely that’s what every team is also doing? And so they must be doing it while instilling a winning mentality in the players.

So really I was wondering whether anyone goes and has seen how players are developing. We sign a lot of players around the age of 18/19 from other teams academies when they are released. Bird (derby), Adeboyejo (Orient) and Williams (Blackburn) from the 5 mentioned above. But how do the majority of players do? Are they improving? Meeting their development goals?

I’m sure with their experience of youth football and academies Stendel and Winkler will be able to analyse it and support. I’ve heard a number of people say since Bunny left it is going backwards, so just wondered if that was true, and if so why.

I’ll say again. I understand that it’s primary aim is to develop players. We’re meant to have a good number of exciting players between 15 and 21. Be good to see how they develop. Always great to see home grown talent work it’s way through.

 

Surely the success of U23's is how many get into the first team. It's not about results surely.

On the basis of the former, things look fairly good I'd say.

 

Yes. I would agree on the surface it looks great, and our necessity to promote youth this year has helped them get game time and they have done well. Good signs.

Just wanted the opinions of those who know the system a lot better than I do as to whether there’s a lot more to be excited about, and what they think of the coaches. I loved Hassell and Devaney as players and be brilliant if they can bring through a great batch of players to the first team.

 

Yes, can't help you on that. I guess if we are playing a lot of U23's tomorrow, then side would be depleted? Most of my posts are pure speculation & cannot be relied on as fact in any way.

 

I imagine with Burnley now being a semi established Premier League side they can attract top young talent to their youth teams. So I wouldn’t read too much into them convincingly beating our U23’s.

As it’s been said a few times in this thread it’s all about development rather than results and with Disco now being the head coach of the U23’s I sincerely hope he can produce someone that can cross a ball half as good as he used to. How we’ve missed someone that could put in a cross like Devaney could. He was such an underrated player IMO.

 

Good point about tomorrow’s game. Although would have liked to see Will Smith in the squad if Jackson is out. But he played today so not going to happen. And now we have players back to full strength wonder if Victor, Williams etc will get more time with 23s.

 

Un-aware of Smith, but pleased to hear we may have a CB in the making. I could see us losing one in January, if the money is right. I hope not.
We'll sign another lad who has been doing well & can be signed cheaply, so would still be 4th choice..l.

 

I'd also like to see Will Smith make his first team debut.
I can just imagine him punching the big opposition centre half in the face and saying "welcome to Earth"

 

Not good off the back of going out of the cup to a non league club last week. We aren't seeing much return again this season from the million a year the academy takes to run.

 

No of course we aren’t.

Jack Walton
Ben Williams
Jacob Brown
Victor Adeboyejo

 

Brown has had a lot of game time, Viktor, Walton & Williams have had a Scabble triple word bonus. What more do you want? Bill Byford singing the back catalogue of Marvin Gaye?

 

Think he's talking about the next batch rather than those who came through at the end of last season. Don't watch the u23s but are there likely to be any knocking on the first team door for next season?

 

He said

We aren't seeing much return again this season from the million a year the academy takes to run.

quite clearly this season we are seeing a return. Next year maybe different but I’d rather wait until next year before I hang them out to dry

 

Do we count Adeboyejo? He'd played 15 times in the league for Leyton before signing for us.

 

So they’ve lost Walton, Williams, Bird, Brown & Adeboyejo to the first team & Wolfe’s been out injured? Not really a surprise we’ve took a hiding.

Now the next step is to find some players to join the first team in the next year or two like the ones above but it’ll take time