The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Sutekh]

And hopefully they’ll be replaced by some better kids

[Royals and Racers]

Harrison Rhone has joined Brackley Town on loan until January.

[Royals and Racers]

AFC Bournemouth have won an appeal and have now been granted Cat 1 status. This makes 31 teams in total now with Cat 1 Academies.
How this will effect PL 2 we can only wait and see. If it’s still 20 games in the regular season it means we won’t play 10 of them !!

[MR. CYNICAL]

AFC Bournemouth have won an appeal and have now been granted Cat 1 status. This makes 31 teams in total now with Cat 1 Academies.
How this will effect PL 2 we can only wait and see. If it’s still 20 games in the regular season it means we won’t play 10 of them !!
[/quot
Sorry, you've lost me there.

[Royals and Racers]

AFC Bournemouth have won an appeal and have now been granted Cat 1 status. This makes 31 teams in total now with Cat 1 Academies.
How this will effect PL 2 we can only wait and see. If it’s still 20 games in the regular season it means we won’t play 10 of them !!
[/quot
Sorry, you've lost me there.

What don’t you understand ?
The PL 2 is the league for Cat 1 academies- in 2025/6 there were 29 clubs that played 20 regular season games- they played other teams once- 10 at home, 10 away. That meant that the Royals didn’t play 8 teams. Top 16 went to play-offs.
Brentford and now Bournemouth have increased the number of Cat 1’s to 31 teams and what isn’t known is what the PL will do as regards PL 2 fixtures for 2026/7 season.

[MR. CYNICAL]

AFC Bournemouth have won an appeal and have now been granted Cat 1 status. This makes 31 teams in total now with Cat 1 Academies.
How this will effect PL 2 we can only wait and see. If it’s still 20 games in the regular season it means we won’t play 10 of them !!
[/quot
Sorry, you've lost me there.

What don’t you understand ?
The PL 2 is the league for Cat 1 academies- in 2025/6 there were 29 clubs that played 20 regular season games- they played other teams once- 10 at home, 10 away. That meant that the Royals didn’t play 8 teams. Top 16 went to play-offs.
Brentford and now Bournemouth have increased the number of Cat 1’s to 31 teams and what isn’t known is what the PL will do as regards PL 2 fixtures for 2026/7 season.

What I don't understand is why we don't play 20 games like everyone else. Assume the league is a level playing field at the start of the regular season. Why did we only play 8 teams?
I respect your knowledge of the academy and women's team so was just politely asking. Apologies you need to explain to me like I'm only 5

[Royals and Racers]

What don’t you understand ?
The PL 2 is the league for Cat 1 academies- in 2025/6 there were 29 clubs that played 20 regular season games- they played other teams once- 10 at home, 10 away. That meant that the Royals didn’t play 8 teams. Top 16 went to play-offs.
Brentford and now Bournemouth have increased the number of Cat 1’s to 31 teams and what isn’t known is what the PL will do as regards PL 2 fixtures for 2026/7 season.

What I don't understand is why we don't play 20 games like everyone else. Assume the league is a level playing field at the start of the regular season. Why did we only play 8 teams?
I respect your knowledge of the academy and women's team so was just politely asking. Apologies you need to explain to me like I'm only 5

Sorry but i didn’t say we play only 8 teams ! We like the other 28 teams in PL 2 in 2025/6 played 20 matches. 10 home matches, 10 away. That equates to 20 teams we played( 10 home, 10 away) so 8 teams we didn’t play in the regular season. What the PL were thinking about when they devised it who knows !! They probably thought the crappy Champions League format was brilliant
Therefore that’s why as the league in 2026/7 has 31 teams and if it’s still 20 matches we won’t play 10 teams now.
These are the 8 teams we didn’t play last season.
Aston Villa
Birmingham
Ipswich
Tottenham
Crystal Palace
Liverpool
Southampton
Brighton

[MR. CYNICAL]

What I don't understand is why we don't play 20 games like everyone else. Assume the league is a level playing field at the start of the regular season. Why did we only play 8 teams?
I respect your knowledge of the academy and women's team so was just politely asking. Apologies you need to explain to me like I'm only 5

Sorry but i didn’t say we play only 8 teams ! We like the other 28 teams in PL 2 in 2025/6 played 20 matches. 10 home matches, 10 away. That equates to 20 teams we played( 10 home, 10 away) so 8 teams we didn’t play in the regular season. What the PL were thinking about when they devised it who knows !! They probably thought the crappy Champions League format was brilliant
Therefore that’s why as the league in 2026/7 has 31 teams and if it’s still 20 matches we won’t play 10 teams now.
These are the 8 teams we didn’t play last season.
Aston Villa
Birmingham
Ipswich
Tottenham
Crystal Palace
Liverpool
Southampton
Brighton

Badly misread that, sorry, thanks for your patience

[Sutekh]

Out of interest, when will the PL2 fixtures/teams/compositions etc. for 26/27 be officially announced?

[Royals and Racers]

Out of interest, when will the PL2 fixtures/teams/compositions etc. for 26/27 be officially announced?

Sometime in early August at the latest i would imagine.

[Royals and Racers]

Reports today that Wolves Academy might be about to lose CAT 1 status- decision could be made next week.

[tidus_mi2]

Reports today that Wolves Academy might be about to lose CAT 1 status- decision could be made next week.

I feel any Championship club that wants to maintain Cat 1 should more than have the resources to do so, would make it seem like a change in direction.