The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Royalwaster]

Truth is results are pretty irrelevant in academy/development squads - it's the performance of individual players that counts.

[Royals and Racers]

Truth is results are pretty irrelevant in academy/development squads - it's the performance of individual players that counts.

Yes- let`s encourage a losing mentality throughout all the age groups !!!!

[CountryRoyal]

Truth is results are pretty irrelevant in academy/development squads - it's the performance of individual players that counts.

Yes- let`s encourage a losing mentality throughout all the age groups !!!!

At least there would be a seamless transition into the first team.

[Royals and Racers]

Next action for the U 23`s is another home game at Bearwood this Friday KO 1pm against Burnley.
4 matches played yesterday - current table
1 Leeds P 21 pts 49- PROMOTED
2 Stoke P 20 pts 37
3 Wolves P 20 pts 31
4 Burnley P 22 pts 31
5 Crystal Palace P 21 pts 30
6 Middlesbrough P 20 pts 28
7 Reading P 20 pts 28
8 Aston Villa P 20 pts 27
9 Sunderland P 20 pts 27
10 Fulham P 21 pts 26
11 Norwich P 20 pts 24
12 Newcastle P 20 pts 21
13 West Brom P 19 pts 20

[Royalwaster]

Truth is results are pretty irrelevant in academy/development squads - it's the performance of individual players that counts.

Yes- let`s encourage a losing mentality throughout all the age groups !!!!

No, that's not what I'm saying - the players think that the results matter. But ultimately it's not about the team, but about developing individual players that can make the grade. You could have a team that loses every match, but produces a £20million winger ... that's what the coaching staff of the academy are judged on. No-one in the club cares about the results as such - although of course having a winning team generally means having a strong squad so it's not completely irrelevant. This is based on a close friend of a friend of mine who coaches a Prem League U18 squad and is an ex-professional himself. He said the U18s is all about developing the next star - while the U23s is used to put generally failed players in the shop window for other clubs to buy (with some exceptions - e.g. it can also be used to toughen up young, promising players or give players that are still developing physically the chance to develop).

[Royals and Racers]

Truth is results are pretty irrelevant in academy/development squads - it's the performance of individual players that counts.

Yes- let`s encourage a losing mentality throughout all the age groups !!!!

No, that's not what I'm saying - the players think that the results matter. But ultimately it's not about the team, but about developing individual players that can make the grade. You could have a team that loses every match, but produces a £20million winger ... that's what the coaching staff of the academy are judged on. No-one in the club cares about the results as such - although of course having a winning team generally means having a strong squad so it's not completely irrelevant. This is based on a close friend of a friend of mine who coaches a Prem League U18 squad and is an ex-professional himself. He said the U18s is all about developing the next star - while the U23s is used to put generally failed players in the shop window for other clubs to buy (with some exceptions - e.g. it can also be used to toughen up young, promising players or give players that are still developing physically the chance to develop).

Agree with most of that, but do think that the U 23`s has moved away from what you are saying to give younger players(18 and over) a chance to test themselves and develop against better opposition.

[Royals and Racers]

Boyce-Clarke
Watson
Samuels
East
Stickland
Dorsett
Leavy
Camara
Azeez
Onen
Nevers
SUBS
Holden(G)
Holzman
Lawless
Osorio
McGiff
Ex Royal Elva-Fountaine plays for Burnley
0-1 41 mins - here we go again !!
HT 0-1
0-2 90 mins
FT 0-2

[Royals and Racers]

U 18`s shipping goals again today- lost 5-2 at Brighton. Bright point must be another goal from Harvey Maunder with Clarke scoring the other.

[Royals and Racers]

The U 23`s next game is the long trip to Sunderland for next Monday`s April 26th 1pm KO. Following yesterday`s matches we know that Stoke are the 1st team in the playoffs and Leeds promoted as champions- just the 3 other playoff spots to be decided. The Royals will surely have to win all the 3 remaining games to stand a chance.

1 Leeds P 22 pts 52 Promoted
2 Stoke P 22 pts 43 Playoffs
3 Middlesbrough P 22 pts 34
4 Burnley P 23 pts 34
5 Wolves P 21 pts 32
6 Crystal Palace P 21 pts 30
7 Sunderland P 21 pts 30
8 Reading P 21 pts 28
9 Aston Villa P 22 pts 27
10 Fulham P 22 pts 26
11 Norwich P 21 pts 24
12 West Brom P 21 pts 21
13 Newcastle P 21 pts 21

[Royals and Racers]

The U 18`s move off their normal Saturday schedule for the next 2 games.
Friday April 23rd Fulham away KO 1pm (Imber court)
Tuesday April 27th Southampton Home KO 12pm(Bearwood)

[Royals and Racers]

The U 18`s move off their normal Saturday schedule for the next 2 games.
Friday April 23rd Fulham away KO 1pm (Imber court)
Tuesday April 27th Southampton Home KO 12pm(Bearwood)

HT Fulham 3 Reading 1(Clarke 39 mins)
FT 5-1 another heavy defeat for the U 18`s.

[Royals and Racers]

Holden(G)
Watson
Samuels
Stickland
Dorsett
East
Tetek
Onen
Camara
Leavy
Azeez
SUBS
Collins(G)
Lawless
Luzon
Osorio
1-1 Azeez 6 mins
Sunderland 2 Reading 1 17 mins

[Pepe the Horseman]

Holden(G)
Watson
Samuels
Stickland
Dorsett
East
Tetek
Onen
Camara
Leavy
Azeez
SUBS
Collins(G)
Lawless
Luzon
Osorio
1-1 Azeez 6 mins
Sunderland 2 Reading 1 17 mins

Nevers injured again?

[Royals and Racers]

Holden(G)
Watson
Samuels
Stickland
Dorsett
East
Tetek
Onen
Camara
Leavy
Azeez
SUBS
Collins(G)
Lawless
Luzon
Osorio
1-1 Azeez 6 mins
Sunderland 2 Reading 1 17 mins

Nevers injured again?

could be. we are 1 sub short( not for the 1st time !)

[Pepe the Horseman]

Holden(G)
Watson
Samuels
Stickland
Dorsett
East
Tetek
Onen
Camara
Leavy
Azeez
SUBS
Collins(G)
Lawless
Luzon
Osorio
1-1 Azeez 6 mins
Sunderland 2 Reading 1 17 mins

Nevers injured again?

could be. we are 1 sub short( not for the 1st time !)

Shame if he is. Was hoping he'd get a run out in one of the dead rubbers.

[Royals and Racers]

HT 2-1

[Royals and Racers]

Nevers injured again?

could be. we are 1 sub short( not for the 1st time !)

Shame if he is. Was hoping he'd get a run out in one of the dead rubbers.

Another injured must be Pendlebury- seems to have been out for ages.

[Royals and Racers]

FT 2-1- season over with 2 games to go
1 Leeds P 23 pts 53 Promoted
2 Stoke P 22 pts 43 Play-offs
3 Wolves P 22 pts 35
4 Middlesbrough P 22 pts 34
5 Burnley P 23 pts 34
6 Sunderland P 22 pts 33
7 Crystal Palace P 22 pts 30
8 Reading P 22 pts 28
9 Aston Villa P 22 pts 27
10 Fulham P 23 pts 27
11 Norwich P 22 pts 24
12 Newcastle P 22 pts 24
13 West Brom P 21 pts 21

[Pepe the Horseman]

FT 2-1- season over with 2 games to go

Good to see the first team philosophy is filtering down.

[Royals and Racers]

The U 18`s move off their normal Saturday schedule for the next 2 games.
Friday April 23rd Fulham away KO 1pm (Imber court)
Tuesday April 27th Southampton Home KO 12pm(Bearwood)

1-0 2 mins Clarke- 7th of the season.
1-1 5 mins
1-2 23 mins