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Under 18's updates - Professional Development League NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2025-6 (p90)
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It was said in the CAST Zoom presentation about the Academy on Thursday that out of any age group only 1 or 2 will become first team players.WoolwichAddick said:Impressed with Washington Amoah, Tahoe, Raymon and Enezewata in particular. All look to have first team potential. Burnham also no slouch and nearly scored a great goal0 -
The class of 92 (Man U) being the exception3
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No doubt true. But that is only an average. Some seasons it will be 0 or 1. In an exceptional season it could be 3 or 4. This could be an exceptional batch. I do not remember seeing u17s here that combined ball-skills, speed, and workrate like Tagoe and Richman.Crusty54 said:
It was said in the CAST Zoom presentation about the Academy on Thursday that out of any age group only 1 or 2 will become first team players.3 -
It depends how many are still with us when ready for first team and have not been spirited away to Chelsea or other Premier team5
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It was also said that many will go on to have careers in professional football, whether with us or lower level. And also opportunities in sports science etc. There’s more of a pathway than ever before.7
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The law that we can only sign a contracted player at 17 needs to change. How are kids poached? Can Prem sides offer a contract that we can't? This is a Bosman type issue.3
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Interested to know who you thought was the weak link? (But respect your right to not name). What impressed me was I could see a developmental talent with all but could easily hear NJ explaining why they weren't ready for 1st team just yetwolfgang said:Tremendous ball skills by several of our players, especially Tagoe and Richman, and overall quicker than Wigan too. Problems have been caused when simple short passes have been underhit, but always someone quick to cover.
I hope NJ is not watching. He will be furious about our players passing to each other rather than hoofing it upfield. We are far the better team, but Wigan carry a threat too.
I do think we have one weak link, but unfair to call him out on one viewing. I would expect him to be subbed, but hope he makes me eat my words second half.1 -
Congratulations to the lads and Pearce.2
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On Ezenwata, obviously having heard of him I was paying more attention to him than others. Have to say that in the first half I wasn't sure why the hype, second half he was outstanding. To be a year younger and play like he did that half, he will be having a great career in football undoubtedly.
I really liked Thomas, small and diminutive and with his frame/size he is at a disadvantage but he kept the ball ticking over so well and didn't miss place a pass all game. A really tidy footballer.7 -
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In the semi final I was particularly impressed with Washington Amoah, but not so much in the final.
Was subbed early in second half, not sure if he was injured.
It'll be more interesting for me following u18's next season now I've soaked up some knowledge.0 -
https://x.com/MatKendrick/status/2055757600646365548/video/1?s=46Wolves Technical Director on losing academy players to bigger clubs not being able to do anything about it.
They were one of the clubs who poached one of our schoolboy players in the last few years, so it does work both ways.4 -
I am glad I did not blurt out a name. He was not subbed, and was better in the second half, when the whole team were on fire.addickson said:
Interested to know who you thought was the weak link? (But respect your right to not name). What impressed me was I could see a developmental talent with all but could easily hear NJ explaining why they weren't ready for 1st team just yetwolfgang said:I do think we have one weak link, but unfair to call him out on one viewing. I would expect him to be subbed, but hope he makes me eat my words second half.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.0 -
That's a shame. My local team Folkestone Invicta are playing a Charlton XI this summer and I thought they might give some of our u18 starlets a run out in the fixture.wolfgang said:
I am glad I did not blurt out a name. He was not subbed, and was better in the second half, when the whole team were on fire.addickson said:
Interested to know who you thought was the weak link? (But respect your right to not name). What impressed me was I could see a developmental talent with all but could easily hear NJ explaining why they weren't ready for 1st team just yetwolfgang said:I do think we have one weak link, but unfair to call him out on one viewing. I would expect him to be subbed, but hope he makes me eat my words second half.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.0 -
Well, no offence to Folkestone Invicta, but that would qualify as a "token appearance", so it could happen. Personally, I think it would be more appropriate to play most of the u21s.SantaClaus said:
That's a shame. My local team Folkestone Invicta are playing a Charlton XI this summer and I thought they might give some of our u18 starlets a run out in the fixture.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.0 -
Most of Friday's u18 team will be u21s next season so they'll likely make up much of the team for that game.wolfgang said:
Well, no offence to Folkestone Invicta, but that would qualify as a "token appearance", so it could happen. Personally, I think it would be more appropriate to play most of the u21s.SantaClaus said:
That's a shame. My local team Folkestone Invicta are playing a Charlton XI this summer and I thought they might give some of our u18 starlets a run out in the fixture.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.4 -
The few times I've been to a "Charlton Athletic XI" pre-season game they've been based on the under-21s with a fair proportion of under-18s playing. They also tend to be quite relaxed and good fun to watch, as long as you don't mind that the substitution policy will be based on ensuring players don't play more than a certain number of minutes rather than on any tactics.SantaClaus said:
That's a shame. My local team Folkestone Invicta are playing a Charlton XI this summer and I thought they might give some of our u18 starlets a run out in the fixture.wolfgang said:
I am glad I did not blurt out a name. He was not subbed, and was better in the second half, when the whole team were on fire.addickson said:
Interested to know who you thought was the weak link? (But respect your right to not name). What impressed me was I could see a developmental talent with all but could easily hear NJ explaining why they weren't ready for 1st team just yetwolfgang said:I do think we have one weak link, but unfair to call him out on one viewing. I would expect him to be subbed, but hope he makes me eat my words second half.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.2 -
Sounds great to me. I just want to see as many of the youngsters as possible both for entertainment and to get a sense of where they are compared to the KYL level standard I watch week in and work out. There's also a very young player on the fringes of the Charlton u18 squad who Santa Jr used to play with who I'm hoping gets some minutes but he's only 15 so it's probably a long shot.0
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We need Cat 1 status as soon as possible.7
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Thought that they were excellent, especially in the 2nd half, hard to believe at times that they're under 18. Champions, well done lads.0
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SantaClaus said:
That's a shame. My local team Folkestone Invicta are playing a Charlton XI this summer and I thought they might give some of our u18 starlets a run out in the fixture.wolfgang said:
I am glad I did not blurt out a name. He was not subbed, and was better in the second half, when the whole team were on fire.addickson said:
Interested to know who you thought was the weak link? (But respect your right to not name). What impressed me was I could see a developmental talent with all but could easily hear NJ explaining why they weren't ready for 1st team just yetwolfgang said:I do think we have one weak link, but unfair to call him out on one viewing. I would expect him to be subbed, but hope he makes me eat my words second half.
It will be at least a year, maybe two, before any of these will be playing more than token appearances in the first team. On grounds of physique, if nothing else.
As Folkstone Invicta have just been promoted to the National league South, the XI will probably be 18-21 plus any 17 years olds on the fast track root.
I saw Sevenoaks play a Charlton XI at the beginning of the 24/25 season under Jason Pearce and it was men against boys as most of the Charlton lads were 16 and 17 year olds.
The game finished 2-2 and it was interesting to see the difference style of play between the semi-Pros and an academy side. Jason* told me before the match that the young scholars now are treated with kid gloves compared to when he was at Pompey as an apprentice when you had to be tough to survive. An Academy analyst was giving the youngsters their sprint times which appeared to be a big deal.
The difference with academy sides, are it looks great when they pass and move and skill is there for all to see but you won't hear 17k groans if one of the lads loses the ball when trying a piece of skill in an advanced position.
Fullah for instance when he lost the ball on the edge of the Preston box and they broke away and scored down the Jimmy Seed end. The 1st time I had ever heard negatives things said about Fullah yet we shouldn't have conceded from that position in transition.
*My son does media work for Sevenoaks as well as the Kinetic academy who have had 2 of their ex coaches working for Chelsea this season(Calum McGregor being one)plus the owner of Kinetic, Harry Hudson, coaching the 18's after doing many 'one on ones' with the 1st team players over the last 2 seasons.
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We are best of the rest and consistently excellent, even in the dark days of ownership ! Up the Valley Gold2
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Meanwhile our under 12's finished as runners up in the Premier League National Cup Final. Lost 5-1 to Bristol City in the final: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/under-12s-win-premier-league-national-cup-final/
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Here is the write up of the CAST webinar with Greg Miller, Joe Francis and Ed Thomas:
https://www.castrust.org/2026/05/a-learning-culture-on-and-off-the-pitch/
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That's the culture it breeds! The big Prem Clubs poach off the rest including other Prem clubs, who Poach off the rest including Championship clubs, the Championship clubs poach off the rest etc,.Scoham said:https://x.com/MatKendrick/status/2055757600646365548/video/1?s=46Wolves Technical Director on losing academy players to bigger clubs not being able to do anything about it.
They were one of the clubs who poached one of our schoolboy players in the last few years, so it does work both ways.
As a club you may not like it but it is the way it is and if you stick to your principles you lose out.3
