A major difference between now and last season is that there's a tiny chance that any of yesterday's team will be needed for first team duties in the league. Indeed, hardly any will even be needed in the EFL Trophy this season, as the first team has such depth, and (so it seems now) more durability. A side effect of this is that our U21 team will be much stronger this season.
The likes of Rylah, Mbick and Casey all made brief appearances in the league last season, Rylah starting a game against Cambridge.
Ironically, Charlton being less of a basket case could cause youth recruitment issues down the line. If talented young players see there are fewer pathways to first team football the academy will lose an important (perhaps even it's most important) selling point.
A major difference between now and last season is that there's a tiny chance that any of yesterday's team will be needed for first team duties in the league. Indeed, hardly any will even be needed in the EFL Trophy this season, as the first team has such depth, and (so it seems now) more durability. A side effect of this is that our U21 team will be much stronger this season.
The likes of Rylah, Mbick and Casey all made brief appearances in the league last season, Rylah starting a game against Cambridge.
Ironically, Charlton being less of a basket case could cause youth recruitment issues down the line. If talented young players see there are fewer pathways to first team football the academy will lose an important (perhaps even it's most important) selling point.
That's true and it is a difficult balance to maintain but at the same time we currently have AMB, Anderson, Kanu, T Campbell and Leaburn in the first time squad and Asiimwe and Z Mitchell on its fringes.
Promotion to at least the championship and obtaining Cat 1, something the current owners didn't seem that bothered about last season, would have major impacts on recruitment at academy level.
It's worth remembering that the current U21s are 17, 18 and 19 and would have joined us aged 8 at the earliest so 12 years ago max. 12 years ago we had just been promoted from league One under Chris Powell so neither cat 1 or a premier league club.
Good luck to Reed. Sounds a really exciting prospect from comments on here and with McLorg that seems a very decent U21 pairing in our keeper department and a step up from last season after we lost Beadle and Kone.
Anyone know if either of the other trialists we had are still around? Timi Davies and Joshua Adepoju I think?
Well done Alan. To be honest any number of the current developing players could equally have been called up based on form, like Enslin, Kedwell and Huke especially. Now our brilliant academy have taught our players diplomacy and humility, perhaps they should add Hylton to the coaching staff to teach them a bit of ‘get into them, f*** ‘em up’. Mwamba was so nice, but imagine if he had added ‘look out Berry, I’m after your place in the team man, and look out opponents, cause you won’t beat me’. That kind of mindset was something I think I saw from a very young Wiredu when he was coming through
Shame there's no stream, there should be goals. 27 goals in both of ours and Watford's games so far this season, equal most with QPR. Although 10 of Watford's came in one game in an 8-2 loss to Sheffield United.
With the way our under 21's have been scoring and with Leaburn and Dixon up front with Casey and Mbick to come on we should have chances to score a few today.
2’ GOALLLLLLLL | WE’RE AHEAD!
Alan Mwamba slotted Henry Rylah through on goal and the winger homed in on the Watford box. His initial effort was saved, with the rebound falling back into his path as he slotted in with ease.
Comments
Ironically, Charlton being less of a basket case could cause youth recruitment issues down the line. If talented young players see there are fewer pathways to first team football the academy will lose an important (perhaps even it's most important) selling point.
Promotion to at least the championship and obtaining Cat 1, something the current owners didn't seem that bothered about last season, would have major impacts on recruitment at academy level.
It's worth remembering that the current U21s are 17, 18 and 19 and would have joined us aged 8 at the earliest so 12 years ago max. 12 years ago we had just been promoted from league One under Chris Powell so neither cat 1 or a premier league club.
Well done whoever first named him on this thread.
Real ITK
Anyone know if either of the other trialists we had are still around? Timi Davies and Joshua Adepoju I think?
To be honest any number of the current developing players could equally have been called up based on form, like Enslin, Kedwell and Huke especially.
Now our brilliant academy have taught our players diplomacy and humility, perhaps they should add Hylton to the coaching staff to teach them a bit of ‘get into them, f*** ‘em up’.
Mwamba was so nice, but imagine if he had added ‘look out Berry, I’m after your place in the team man, and look out opponents, cause you won’t beat me’.
That kind of mindset was something I think I saw from a very young Wiredu when he was coming through
With the way our under 21's have been scoring and with Leaburn and Dixon up front with Casey and Mbick to come on we should have chances to score a few today.
3’ Goal | Watford level the scoring.