Under 21s (Match updates and news)

Henry Irving

Burnham and Washington-Amoah on

Henry Irving

City goal chalked off for offside.

jose

1-1 good finish from their most powerful forward.

Henry Irving

1 - 1  good move and finish tbf

jose

Mason Hunter on for Findley

jose

1-2, another good goal.

sam3110

All gone tits up

jose

Tagoe on.

Henry Irving

1 - 2  Yeboah with his and City's 2nd 88 mins

Deserved TBH, we've not looked great and Yeboah has been the best player on the pitch

msomerton

Our subs did not work, left us open in midfield, before then it had been well contested there. Euboa, I hope that is the way it is spelt has been outstanding in the second half.

jose

Lost 1-2 unfortunately.

Henry Irving

FT 1 - 2

Scoham

Henry Irving said:

1 - 2  Yeboah with his and City's 2nd 88 mins

Deserved TBH, we've not looked great and Yeboah has been the best player on the pitch

msomerton said:

Our subs did not work, left us open in midfield, before then it had been well contested there. Euboa, I hope that is the way it is spelt has been outstanding in the second half.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_Yeboah

Interesting he’s played for Bristol’s first team and been on loan three times - that’s a lot more first team experience than most of our players.

fenaddick

Interview with Chris Lock. We did this after their last game too, hope it becomes a regular thing


https://x.com/CharltonAcademy/status/2028863000120041824?s=20

fenaddick

fenaddick said:

Interview with Chris Lock. We did this after their last game too, hope it becomes a regular thing


https://x.com/CharltonAcademy/status/2028863000120041824?s=20

Interesting that he specifically mentions Alan Mwamba when saying the nature of U21 football means you can't always play your strongest side. Suggests he's training with the first team, we know NJ is a fan

Athletico Charlton

As a part time follower of the youth teams (ie Instead these threads but don't go to games); I always recognized most of the U21s names as they had progressed through the club.  So many this season I have to say I don't know anything about (even basics like what position they play).  Is that because of loanees out (Casey,Rylan and others) or because of a new strategy which is as focussed on bringing in the best l, released talent from elsewhere as much as bringing through our own?

Scoham

Athletico Charlton said:

As a part time follower of the youth teams (ie Instead these threads but don't go to games); I always recognized most of the U21s names as they had progressed through the club.  So many this season I have to say I don't know anything about (even basics like what position they play).  Is that because of loanees out (Casey,Rylan and others) or because of a new strategy which is as focussed on bringing in the best l, released talent from elsewhere as much as bringing through our own?

I think it's probably a mixture of reasons. Being in the Championship is one of them, the higher standard and bigger budget means u21s who would have made appearances in L1 aren't able to. We seem to be giving players as long as possible to develop as well, e.g. Bower and Hobden going on loan to non-league, Rylah getting a new contract and going on loan in Ireland, in previous years they may have been released by now.

I've seen the new players a few times on the streams, I wouldn't expect to see any of them in the first team just yet. I think we have prospects from our own academy who are closer, but in time some have a chance.

Hardy - our only u21 GK, was with Wolves, and presumably signed partly to allow Reid and MacLorg to go on loan, as well as being seen as a prospect to develop. I find it hard to judge GKs at u21 level, they don't always have a lot to do and the lower standard of defending can leave them exposed.

Ewens-Findlay - right footed CB from Cambridge Utd. Looks like he could have the physicality to progress and is also decent on the ball, though Laqeretabua looks closer to the first team to me at the moment.

Kuczynski - left footed CB from Arsenal. Looks more limited on the ball, he tends to keep things simple rather than trying to bring the ball out of defence or trying difficult passes. I think Ewens-Findlay is probably the better prospect, but he's only 19, and being left footed can only help his chances.

Amissah - was at AFC Wimbledon where I believe he played as a winger. We use him as a DM/CM. He's decent on the ball, a good size and mobile, and has been taking set pieces recently. First few times I saw him he seemed to struggle to get into games. I imagine that's from learning a new position and developing his reading of the game, decision making, positioning etc. I expect the club think there's a player there who can develop as a CM if he can improve on the tactical side and add more bite to his game. He probably doesn't have the out and out pace and/or trickery to be a winger.

Lock - Paris is Chris's son, plays as a winger or a striker and has decent pace, will take players on and look to create chances for others and himself. He's 22 later this year, realistically I'd be surprised if he gets into the first team ahead of Reid, Enslin, Dixon or Rylah if we use wingers or convert them into other positions.

fenaddick

I would assume as well that some of those signings are to allow our prospects to train with the first team. Ewens-Findlay, Kuczynski and Amissah have allowed Gough, Mwamba and Laq to have spells training/playing with the first team without having to bump U18s into the u21s

jose

I suspect Fullah and Zach Mitchell were training with the first team yesterday.
’New’ names crop up in the U21’s a lot these days because so many others who are eligible are out on loan.
Player development and progression is not always a smooth even path (unless you’re as good as Joe Gomez), two steps forward and one back kind of malarkey, but in recent months Phoenix Valentine has caught my attention, not only because of his marvellous name.

Crusty54

A lot of academy players were released at the end of last season.

Crispywood

fenaddick said:

fenaddick said:

Interview with Chris Lock. We did this after their last game too, hope it becomes a regular thing


https://x.com/CharltonAcademy/status/2028863000120041824?s=20

Interesting that he specifically mentions Alan Mwamba when saying the nature of U21 football means you can't always play your strongest side. Suggests he's training with the first team, we know NJ is a fan

Ideally we’re mathematically safe early as possible and can start having a look at some of the Fullah’s, Mwamba’s etc in the last few games. If we can potentially promoted some of the U21’s as squad players leaves a much healthier budget to invest in the starting XI 

fenaddick

Crispywood said:

fenaddick said:

fenaddick said:

Interview with Chris Lock. We did this after their last game too, hope it becomes a regular thing


https://x.com/CharltonAcademy/status/2028863000120041824?s=20

Interesting that he specifically mentions Alan Mwamba when saying the nature of U21 football means you can't always play your strongest side. Suggests he's training with the first team, we know NJ is a fan

Ideally we’re mathematically safe early as possible and can start having a look at some of the Fullah’s, Mwamba’s etc in the last few games. If we can potentially promoted some of the U21’s as squad players leaves a much healthier budget to invest in the starting XI 

More than just that, it promotes them to L1/2 clubs for good loans next season. Just look at Mbick

fenaddick

Looks like quite a lot of academy players training with the first team in this video, U21 & U18 I think. I spotted:

Zach Mitchell
Ibby Fullah 
Logan Williams (?)
Dionte Davis (?)
Tate Elliott (well spotted by @sammy391 on the rumours thread)
Keenan Gough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVJBfqdbNbo

wolfgang

Too many tippy-tappy exercises. I would like to see a few full-bodied crunching tackles on the youngsters to prepare them for senior football.

killerandflash

wolfgang said:

Too many tippy-tappy exercises. I would like to see a few full-bodied crunching tackles on the youngsters to prepare them for senior football.

We only need that before playing Sheffield United.

wolfgang

killerandflash said:

wolfgang said:

Too many tippy-tappy exercises. I would like to see a few full-bodied crunching tackles on the youngsters to prepare them for senior football.

We only need that before playing Sheffield United.

Of course, I was only kidding, but are Sheffield United particularly physical?  I just do not remember.
I forget a lot these days, like where I put my car keys (answer: in the fridge!) and my second wife's first name.  I do still remember my first wife's second name, though.  

wolfgang

Scoham said:

I've seen the new players a few times on the streams, I wouldn't expect to see any of them in the first team just yet. I think we have prospects from our own academy who are closer, but in time some have a chance etc etc

Useful thumb-nail assessments, Scoham. Thanks.