The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[SPARTA]

The best thing for Kuhl or any of the kids on the verge of the first-team is to stay put! This is the best opportunity yet for any academy players to get a chance to break through this summer. If you go to a City, all you are is a number to boost their home grown quota. Here you will get games, develop a lot quicker, and then you can earn your move like Gylfi did, and look at him now. You just need patience.

Hopefully the board aren't going to accept every offer than comes in this summer and do the best by us and sell some of the over-paid deadwood that is holding us back, and give the likes of Kuhl a chance. It might be a bumpy ride for a while, but they are Reading through and through, and they'll give everything for the cause; the Guthrie's and the Pogrebnyak's wont.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

The best thing for Kuhl or any of the kids on the verge of the first-team is to stay put! This is the best opportunity yet for any academy players to get a chance to break through this summer. If you go to a City, all you are is a number to boost their home grown quota. Here you will get games, develop a lot quicker, and then you can earn your move like Gylfi did, and look at him now. You just need patience.

Hopefully the board aren't going to accept every offer than comes in this summer and do the best by us and sell some of the over-paid deadwood that is holding us back, and give the likes of Kuhl a chance. It might be a bumpy ride for a while, but they are Reading through and through, and they'll give everything for the cause; the Guthrie's and the Pogrebnyak's wont.

^ This.

[SCIAG]

Reading FC ‏@ReadingFC 3m
More great Academy news, U14s off to Wembley in Nike Trophy final, they beat Man U, Arsenal etc at St George's Park!

Don't want to say too much given age, but these boys really do look good, particularly in midfield. Couple of them are playing above their age, and a couple have played with what is now our U16 team - which again, is very promising. They've already got a great team spirit too, which is important. If they keep their heads on the ground* then they should be useful in the U18s.

*I realise that this is a mixed metaphor but it sounds better than the unmixed versions

[maffff]

Be gutted to see him move on without making an appearance, if there were a bid, especially that high, you'd have to look at it seriously.

I think I'd be more disappointed for the likelihood of his career stalling when he's probably a season or two at most off being able to integrate here.

[Wycombe Royal]

Any bid for a youth player will not involve a huge amount of up front money. The majority will be based on add-ons, most of which we will probably never see, I think there has been a change in the thinking of young players in this country that is seeing them stay at their current clubs for longer as they realise that they can do better by getting games under their belt rather than making up a quota at a top club. The sensible ones know that if they work hard the big move and money will come once they get a season or two under their belt of first team football.

[andrew1957]

I am not sure if anyone has picked it up but if we win the last two Under 21 games against Man U and Spurs with a goal difference of at least +3 - then we are certain to be in the top half of the Under 21 League - which will be tremendous achievement considering the lads have been near the foot of the table virtually all season. That really would be the icing on the cake for the Academy this season IMO.

So I hope as many as possible get along to support the boys on Thursday evening as it is now an important game.

[ZacNaloen]

I am not sure if anyone has picked it up but if we win the last two Under 21 games against Man U and Spurs with a goal difference of at least +3 - then we are certain to be in the top half of the Under 21 League - which will be tremendous achievement considering the lads have been near the foot of the table virtually all season. That really would be the icing on the cake for the Academy this season IMO.

So I hope as many as possible get along to support the boys on Thursday evening as it is now an important game.

They had troubles with Injuries early on and went on a bad run, since everyone is back the performances have really picked up which is good to see.

Got Man U Thursday at home, should be going to that. We can beat them.

Then it's Tottenham Hotspur, a more difficult proposition.


We also seem to have prioritised the cups this year over league, playing weaker league teams.

Almost like they aren't that bothered which league they are in next year.

[maffff]

.

[ZacNaloen]

Eh?


The leagues are being split for next season?

You want to be playing the best don't you?

[maffff]

ignore me, having a mare....

[wally bassoon]

Reading FC ‏@ReadingFC 3m
More great Academy news, U14s off to Wembley in Nike Trophy final, they beat Man U, Arsenal etc at St George's Park!

Who is the big black player in the back row? He looks way over 14!

[ZacNaloen]

No idea on any of their names tbf

[Pepe the Horseman]

Reading FC ‏@ReadingFC 3m
More great Academy news, U14s off to Wembley in Nike Trophy final, they beat Man U, Arsenal etc at St George's Park!

Who is the big black player in the back row? He looks way over 14!

[SCIAG]

He is Jordan Greenidge, and he's the spitting image of Tyler The Creator.

I'm not good at putting names to faces, but I think the goalkeeper is McCallion, then to his left you have Bozier (?), Philby, Wallace and Holmes.

The blond on Greenidge's right I think is Ethan Coleman, and I think the other tall guy is Jordan Holsgrove.

[ZacNaloen]

Under 18's have beaten Leicester 0-2 this afternoon.

Currently 5th in that league. Depending on other results they could go up to 3rd off the back off that. Chelsea need to play their 30th game and Fulham have only played 27, so a finish in the top 2 seems unlikely this year so no finals.

[urz13]

What sort of a prospect is Stacey, out of interest? His goals recently have been great.

[Pepe the Horseman]

What sort of a prospect is Stacey, out of interest? His goals recently have been great.

Not sure about him, but his Mum's got it going on.

[Ian Royal]

What sort of a prospect is Stacey, out of interest? His goals recently have been great.

Think Little. Second only to Kuhl as most promising U18 from what I've seen. Drifts in and out a bit but when he turns it on a goal is coming.

[tidus_mi2]

Something I've wondered about the academy, did we get Cat 1 status based on the building plans at Bearwood? If so, and say due to our situation at the moment we aren't able to go ahead with these upgrades to the youth facilities, would we be downgraded to Cat 2?

[SCIAG]

What sort of a prospect is Stacey, out of interest? His goals recently have been great.

Think Little.

Best bits of Little, Seol and Kébé He's quicker and more of a goal threat than Little, and not as good with his delivery (well duh), but I definitely see the comparison, they have a similar build and gait.

Something I've wondered about the academy, did we get Cat 1 status based on the building plans at Bearwood? If so, and say due to our situation at the moment we aren't able to go ahead with these upgrades to the youth facilities, would we be downgraded to Cat 2?

I am sure Bearwood will have played a part in it. I think academies are reviewed every two years, so we have another year to sort it out.

I'm not actually sure how much of a difference it will make. Remember that these players pre-date EPPP, and Pearce etc. even predate the reforms after WC 2006. If we're capable of producing the best bunch of kids their age without the benefits of Category 1, why worry about being Category 2?