Does anyone know if there is an under 18 or 16 fixture today ?.
Interesting. Thanks for the useful information as usual, let's see where this goes. It could be one of about 5-6 players, there's some really good talent in that team. I'm still convinced they'll all stay though despite interest, it's very rare we lose any players at schoolboy level (in comparison to other Cat 2 clubs) and that's testament to Richard Stevens and all the other academy staff who are very good at their jobs.
I know Man City are very aggressive in recruitment at schoolboy level and try to hoover up all the best talent. They recently took Liverpool's highly rated U16 goalkeeper without Premier League approval and according to a recent Guardian article them, Everton and United have considered to refuse to play City at youth level because of them swamping the game with scouts trying to take their players.
Rest of the article here for anyone interested, including how Man City how use £11,000 a year private schooling to persuade players and their families to make the move: Premier League investigating Manchester City's signing of young Liverpool goalkeeper | SportsJOE.ie
Manchester City at it again. This time paying a £175,000 up front fee for a 13 year old from Southend. Incredible amount of money when you consider that's about 1/4 of the money our board put in for our whole academy operation every year.
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I guess the financial package that Man City could offer him and his family would be too good to turn down. Makes you wonder though, if you were that talented a player would you want to move to Man City considering their quite awful track record of integrating home grown youngsters into their first team, really struggling to think of the last decent player they produced.
Alex Nimely
FC Viitorul Constanța wouldn't be without him!
Great to hear. Well done to the young uns.Great 1-0 win for 18's. absolutely dominated top of league charlton. Stedman with the goal who was fantastic.
Saw that earlier, must have gone far to celebrate ha
What's happened to Kyle Spence, is he injured.....or is he even still with the club?
Who scored for us?Finished 0-0.
Is Lawton injured again? Hasn't been in the last couple of U23 squads IIRC.
Maybe he was only on a 6-month contract and it runs out soon, so they're playing others because they know they're not going to retain him.Not sure, the club aren't good at communicating things like this. I'd like to see him break into the first team although I do think his career would be better served moving on to a new club
Jason Farndon praised his side’s work ethic and commitment after the Under-18s defeated Charlton Athletic in a top of the table clash
Billy Stedman scored the only goal of the game as the Under-18s made it four consecutive wins and extended their unbeaten run to six games.
“I thought we were the best team from start to finish. We worked to a gameplay of staying in the game, not trying to win it in the first minute and every single player was outstanding,” Jason said.
“There was no real individual that ‘won’ it, but a bit of brilliance from Billy Stedman scored the goal to win it for us.
“We had to change it around due to other commitments with the Under-23s, Jordan Ponticelli was on reduced minutes, but we were quite pleased with how strong we were going into the game.”
After a bitterly disappointing day in which the young Sky Blues lost the reverse fixture 4-1, Jason admitted it was a real positive to see his side react and claim a valuable victory.
“They’re probably the best ‘Cat 2’ club in the Academy system at maybe producing players and teams. They really punished us away from home and took advantage of some individual mistakes.
“We highlighted that in the week and they weren’t the most respectable team when they were in the lead, so I just reminded them how they felt on the day,”
He added: “It was pleasing because we stuck to the gameplan and continued to play in what we perceive to be the Coventry City way and dominated from start to finish.”
Looks like Lawton is done at CCFC.
Shame for him. Seemed really motivated to establish himself into the first team this season. Hopefully he can find a new club because there's a good player in there but is hampered by injuries.
On the contract front, these U23 players contracts expire at the end of the season:
George Thomas
Dion Kelly-Evans
Devon Kelly-Evans
Jack Finch
Kyle Spence
Jacob Whitmore (one year option)
Ryan Haynes
Meanwhile, these U18s will be aiming to become professional footballers:
Konrad Skuza
Jak Hickman
Jordon Thompson
Reece Ford
Chris Camwell
Kyle Finn
Tom Bayliss*
Ronee Hendricks
Dagry Mantsounga
Dan Smith
Jordan Ponticelli*
* indicates already on/offered pro terms
Which of that bunch of U18's do you think will be offered pro terms?
Can't see Finch getting another contract.Shame for him. Seemed really motivated to establish himself into the first team this season. Hopefully he can find a new club because there's a good player in there but is hampered by injuries.
On the contract front, these U23 players contracts expire at the end of the season:
George Thomas
Dion Kelly-Evans
Devon Kelly-Evans
Jack Finch
Kyle Spence
Jacob Whitmore (one year option)
Ryan Haynes
Meanwhile, these U18s will be aiming to become professional footballers:
Konrad Skuza
Jak Hickman
Jordon Thompson
Reece Ford
Chris Camwell
Kyle Finn
Tom Bayliss*
Ronee Hendricks
Dagry Mantsounga
Dan Smith
Jordan Ponticelli*
* indicates already on/offered pro terms
I'd say the majority of them have a good chance, especially as they're doing well in the league. There's a few definites in there in my opinion, the likes of Hickman and Finn who have been part of U23 (U21) squads since they became scholars.
Normally the Youth Cup teams are a good indicator but they got knocked out early this season. I knew Albini was most likely not being retained when the younger Finn was starting ahead of him last year in the FAYC in the early rounds. For me as a second year you have to be starting in the Youth Cup games as that's when the strongest side is put out, based on that it doesn't look good for Hendricks that Stedman was preferred this year and has been in the league too.
I'd say:
Definite:
Finn
Hickman
Likely:
Thompson
Smith
Skuza
Ford
Camwell
50/50:
Hendricks
Unlikely:
Mantsounga (not played much, possibly injured)
Excellent summery thanks. Not heard much said about the goalkeeper Skuza in this thread before, how is he rated?
Two of those were told they wouldn't be offered new contracts today apparentlyI'd say the majority of them have a good chance, especially as they're doing well in the league. There's a few definites in there in my opinion, the likes of Hickman and Finn who have been part of U23 (U21) squads since they became scholars.
Normally the Youth Cup teams are a good indicator but they got knocked out early this season. I knew Albini was most likely not being retained when the younger Finn was starting ahead of him last year in the FAYC in the early rounds. For me as a second year you have to be starting in the Youth Cup games as that's when the strongest side is put out, based on that it doesn't look good for Hendricks that Stedman was preferred this year and has been in the league too.
I'd say:
Definite:
Finn
Hickman
Likely:
Thompson
Smith
Skuza
Ford
Camwell
50/50:
Hendricks
Unlikely:
Mantsounga (not played much, possibly injured)
Which two?Two of those were told they wouldn't be offered new contracts today apparently
That's quite novel.He's excellent, a really good goalkeeper in the making. Decision making needs improving though.
Was on the bench for the first team in pre-season at Newport and has been tracked by Polish National Team scouts.
Here he is on Saturday stopping a Charlton counter attack with a diving header!
Two of those were told they wouldn't be offered new contracts today apparently
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