Under 21s (Match updates and news)

ForeverAddickted said:

Henry Irving said:

ForeverAddickted said:

Feels like the sort of move, to help get him noticed at that level on a permanent basis

Given that we said we don't like loaning below the National League because the players dont keep up the fitness.

Agree that that move goes against what Chris Lock stated was our loan policy.

The length of the loan as well, unless Non-League loan terms have changed, we've usually sent these kids out for a month or two in the past, rather than from one Window to another - I won't be surprised if he gets moved on, just disappointed that he's one of the few who never really got an opportunity, even in the EFL Trophy from his age group.

clive said:

The game is scheduled to take place at Sparrows Lane 13.00 ko, i doubt the game will be on Charlton tv as was the case last season when the ist team had a game on the same day.
https://www.charltonafc.com/fixture/view/24515

barstool said:

I was just watching Wednesday on a Monday, bit of a cliffhanger 

Scoham said:

From the update on the OS today and refreshed first team and u21 squad lists that's confirmation that Seydil Toure and Ryan Huke were released, along with Harvey Kedwell who announced his news on Instagram. In the u18s, Sadler, Cann and Ogunnowo are the 2nd years who weren't offered pro deals.

Toure turned 21 earlier this year, so he was at the point he needed to be part of the first team squad if his time here was going to be extended.

Huke was a good attacking midfielder at u21 level and I liked his knack of getting the box to score goals, but at 20 years old and with Fullah ahead of him there probably wasn't a pathway to the first team for him.

I saw Cann in an u18 stream at the end of the 23/24 season, he looked like he was probably solid enough CB at that level, but I assume it was case of the CBs at u21 level being seen as better prospects.

I don't know much about Sadler (a GK) and Ogunnowo (a defender). Hopefully they can all have decent careers in football and maybe some will work their way back up to the EFL in time.

On those staying, great news on Reuben Reid signing up long term, I had been a bit concerned we weren't going to keep him. Tom Pell is right to say he'll excite the fans, he's one I can see knocking on the first team door in the next few years as long as he continues his progress at u21 level. We might even see the odd cup sub appearance from him or Sol-Loza this season.

Reid mainly appeared in cameos off the bench on the u21 streams I saw last season, but played the full 90 minutes in the u17 cup game vs Spurs, and 45 minutes in the last u21 game of the season. He's a winger who can also play up front, has pace and height, takes players on and likes a trick in the way Thierry Small did. With that combination I can see him becoming a real handful for defenders to deal with as he grows and develops. One to look out for on the u21 streams next season as I'm sure he'll score and create goals at that level, and be exciting to watch in general.

Wales is another who started getting more regular cameos at u21 level. I've said before he reminds me of typical small Spanish midfielders, comfortable on the ball and carries the ball forward in midfield with quick feet rather than pace and power. He also scored a couple of good goals in that u17 cup final. One to be patient with to see how he deals with more physical players, and how he develops physically himself.

Not seen much of Safa but from what I have he looks like he's probably most comfortable as a tidy holding midfielder, and one who's a passer rather than a dribbler or someone who bombs forward. Like Wales he's not the biggest, but young enough that he could still be growing and getting stronger.

Brown is a RB/RWB, another I saw mainly in u21 cameos so will be interesting how he progresses at that level. I get the impression he's a solid all rounder who gets up and down the pitch well, rather than being a pure defender or an out and out attacking wing back. Nothing wrong with that, Josh Edwards is exactly that for us.

Interesting that Bower and Hobden got new deals, it wouldn't have surprised me if they had been released. Good players at u21 level though, so maybe the club feel they can help them take their games up another level this season and push them closer to the first team. Bower as many have said before has a great left foot, and Jones will surely like Hobden's energy and aggression.