Academy

[Celestial Empire]

Originally Posted by Latvian Eagle

Sutton and Wimbledon are football league teams, our Under 21s aren't. What are you going on about you nutter? Of course Sutton and AFCW are more likely to get a result than we are.

OK genius, I'm still waiting for your answer to - what is the point of entering our lads in a tournament like this ?
(The lads who went to Israel put in a decent effort)

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

Originally Posted by Joe.L

Not forgetting several of our top U21 prospects are away on international duty.

Loads of them are.

We are missing Whitworth, Adaramola, O'Brien, Robertson, Wells-Morrison, Rak-Sakyi, Banks. That's 7 regular starters off the top of my head.

[Ruskin Old Boy]

Whitworth, Banks, O'Brien, Adaramola, Wells-Morrison and Rak-Sakyi all would have played tonight if they hadn't been called up for international duty.

Several absences too many.

[Sp1Eagle]

Stream died.

[Stinger1]

Originally Posted by Celestial Empire

OK genius, I'm still waiting for your answer to - what is the point of entering our lads in a tournament like this ?
(The lads who went to Israel put in a decent effort)

They were entered because it's a good opportunity for our boys to play against higher level opposition.

I don't think the club quite anticipated so many international call ups either.

Also some of these boys are making their first starts of the season against League One opposition which is a really big ask.

Your expectations are ridiculously out of kilter with reality.

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

Originally Posted by Sp1Eagle

Stream died.

It did. Not a very good night all round.

[PemboExpress]

Looks like both the team and the stream might be done for tonight.

[PemboExpress]

Stream back.

[Stinger1]

Mooney and Imray on for Watson and Kirby.

[Sp1Eagle]

Nya Kirby & Noah Watson off Danny Imray & Fionn Mooney on.

[viking's no1]

Originally Posted by Latvian Eagle

Some of the comments on this thread are ridiculous.

These are young lads with no FL experience in the main, playing against regular league players, of course they aren't going to walk this game. We only beat AFC Wimbledon because they basically put out their own youth team in that game.

Doesn't disguise the fact that many of them can't do the basics.

[Celestial Empire]

Originally Posted by Stinger1

They were entered because it's a good opportunity for our boys to play against higher level opposition.

I don't think the club quite anticipated so many international call ups either.

Also some of these boys are making their first starts of the season against League One opposition which is a really big ask.

Your expectations are ridiculously out of kilter with reality.

My expectations are for a bit of intensity, a touch of bravery, some enthusiasm and maybe a hint of energy, together with a recognisable shape.
Against Sutton (I know - a different team), they showed a bit of fighting spirit.

[dannyboy1807]

Real shame the international break killed the lads a chance to progress to the next round.

[red&blue_moomin]

Kirby is the one I'd be worried about. Think he's in danger of needing to go play in L2 or below and see if he can make his way back. Real shame as he's had injury issues and not had enough of the loan development he needed.

[Latvian Eagle]

Originally Posted by Celestial Empire

OK genius, I'm still waiting for your answer to - what is the point of entering our lads in a tournament like this ?
(The lads who went to Israel put in a decent effort)

As said elsewhere... Regardless of performance it is still good to expose the lads to playing against tougher opposition, despite results. Some will sink, some will swim, but a lot of these lads still have a lot of development to go until being finished articles yet.

No harm in giving them a game or two against league players, 1. To see how they get on, 2. To toughen them up a bit, and 3. To show them as good as they are at their levels (U23, U18 etc) they aren't quite there yet.

It's a learning experience and hopefully motivation for them moving forwards.

[Sp1Eagle]

Originally Posted by red&blue_moomin

Kirby is the one I'd be worried about. Think he's in danger of needing to go play in L2 or below and see if he can make his way back. Real shame as he's had injury issues and not had enough of the loan development he needed.

Out of contract in the summer. Doubt he will get a new deal.

[Scrumpy]

Yes our academy lads are good but I think some on here have completely the wrong idea of how big the step up is to "men's football". Even if it is league 1 or league 2 opposition. This tournament would have been a great learning experience for them.

[PemboExpress]

Unlucky M Boateng.

[Levski]

Great effort comes back of the post... not our night

[Big Blue Eagle]

Originally Posted by Scrumpy

Yes our academy lads are good but I think some on here have completely the wrong idea of how big the step up is to "men's football". Even if it is league 1 or league 2 opposition. This tournament would have been a great learning experience for them.

I very much doubt that they all have a very clear understanding of how big the step up is given how many never get further than our Academy.