[Albion] Albion v Spurs u23s

[portslade seagull]

Oops 0-3

 

[AZ Gull]

Albion U-23s have now conceded 16 goals in their last 4 & 1/2 matches at home in #PL2.

 

[GT49er]

Albion U-23s have now conceded 16 goals in their last 4 & 1/2 matches at home in #PL2.

Seems like a shadow of last year's team. Is it usually quite a lot of youngsters/U18s?

 

[Hugo Rune]

Seems like a shadow of last year's team. Is it usually quite a lot of youngsters/U18s?

Looking like the good centre backs are on loan and the other U23 stars will be sitting on our bench tomorrow!

 

[albionfan37]

Seems like a shadow of last year's team. Is it usually quite a lot of youngsters/U18s?

The u23s team this year is incredibly young other than crofts I doubt there’s many over 20 and quite inexperienced too

 

[V_001]

Is he any good or an unknown??

Toby has done a lot better last two fixtures, but is lacking development at the club, very much a sideways and backwards cdm type of player, he's got a lot of potential but needs help to develop that potential.

Unfortunately the best development coach at the club is the under-16 coach who looked after Toby very well last season, hence the England recognition, Toby won't get the high level of development quality from the under-18 and 23 coaches that he got under Ben Smith, Ben is head and shoulders the best coach we have in the academy, by a longshot.

 

[V_001]

The u23s team this year is incredibly young other than crofts I doubt there’s many over 20 and quite inexperienced too

Yes but that I feel is a good thing, so many of the so called big boys are getting 16 to 19 year olds in the first team, that because they have the best development coaches.

We have some awesome young talent that just needs properly developing, tonight we have Toby Collyer and Zack Sturge starting, both are quality players, Zack Sturge I believe is the best left back we have in the club, the lad is so fit and string for a 16 year old, again with a bit of effort from the club he could easily play in the prem. We also have Evan Ferguson on the bench, who too is 16 years old but will play predominantly for the under-23s, his definitely good enough but again developement not being thought of by the academy, he should start in the under-18s learn in a new environment then if developing to plan spoon feed him into the 23s, the boy turned up two weeks ago, has trained 3-4 times and as been thrown into a 23s fixture against one of the current top teams in the division, poor man-management!

Another thing to note and its unfortunate for likes of these boys mentioned in this post, our Mr Potter and his first team staff never set foot in the academy, or for that matter watch any under-23 fixture or training, so how we are supposed to get players from the academy to the first team, god only knows?

 

[V_001]

The u23s team this year is incredibly young other than crofts I doubt there’s many over 20 and quite inexperienced too

Anyway's my thoughts here are that having a 37 year old playing academy football, is simply blocking a youngsters pathway!

 

[V_001]

4-1 to Spurs, Jack Spong with a cracker for us, this is another lad that has great potential, but being held back.

 

[albionfan37]

Yes but that I feel is a good thing, so many of the so called big boys are getting 16 to 19 year olds in the first team, that because they have the best development coaches.

We have some awesome young talent that just needs properly developing, tonight we have Toby Collyer and Zack Sturge starting, both are quality players, Zack Sturge I believe is the best left back we have in the club, the lad is so fit and string for a 16 year old, again with a bit of effort from the club he could easily play in the prem. We also have Evan Ferguson on the bench, who too is 16 years old but will play predominantly for the under-23s, his definitely good enough but again developement not being thought of by the academy, he should start in the under-18s learn in a new environment then if developing to plan spoon feed him into the 23s, the boy turned up two weeks ago, has trained 3-4 times and as been thrown into a 23s fixture against one of the current top teams in the division, poor man-management!

Another thing to note and its unfortunate for likes of these boys mentioned in this post, our Mr Potter and his first team staff never set foot in the academy, or for that matter watch any under-23 fixture or training, so how we are supposed to get players from the academy to the first team, god only knows?

Clearly potter knows enough of the academy kids to have started a couple and got 4 on the bench against man city no less! I’d say the club are doing ok in that regard seeing as we’re a relatively new youth system. We are beginning to see the fruits of it and giving 16 yr olds a taste of the u23s is probably no bad thing either

 

[V_001]

Whoop!

5-1

 

[V_001]

Whoop!

5-1

Remember a great night at the Amex in this fixture last season we stuffed them 4-1 and it could have been more too!

 

[ifightbears]

Yes but that I feel is a good thing, so many of the so called big boys are getting 16 to 19 year olds in the first team, that because they have the best development coaches.

We have some awesome young talent that just needs properly developing, tonight we have Toby Collyer and Zack Sturge starting, both are quality players, Zack Sturge I believe is the best left back we have in the club, the lad is so fit and string for a 16 year old, again with a bit of effort from the club he could easily play in the prem. We also have Evan Ferguson on the bench, who too is 16 years old but will play predominantly for the under-23s, his definitely good enough but again developement not being thought of by the academy, he should start in the under-18s learn in a new environment then if developing to plan spoon feed him into the 23s, the boy turned up two weeks ago, has trained 3-4 times and as been thrown into a 23s fixture against one of the current top teams in the division, poor man-management!

Another thing to note and its unfortunate for likes of these boys mentioned in this post, our Mr Potter and his first team staff never set foot in the academy, or for that matter watch any under-23 fixture or training, so how we are supposed to get players from the academy to the first team, god only knows?

Big statement with regards to Zack Sturge, exciting too. James Furlong (the only other u23 recognised LB) has been very in and out of the side, is this related to Sturge's potential or injuries do you know?

 

[timbha]

Anyway's my thoughts here are that having a 37 year old playing academy football, is simply blocking a youngsters pathway!

In a number of your posts you come across as a disappointed parent of a youth player who isn’t quite making it, or an insider that is doing the club no favours by spreading malicious gossip and naming names without much foundation (my mate said.....)

Last week you revealed a number of “definite” loans none of which materialised, and your banker, Molumby, being proved totally wrong within minutes of your claim.

Where do you fit in?

 

[V_001]

In a number of your posts you come across as a disappointed parent of a youth player who isn’t quite making it, or an insider that is doing the club no favours by spreading malicious gossip and naming names without much foundation (my mate said.....)

Last week you revealed a number of “definite” loans none of which materialised, and your banker, Molumby, being proved totally wrong within minutes of your claim.

Where do you fit in?

Hi timba

I think if you quantify my posts they have been heavily balanced on the side of the positives that come out of our academy, I will in the future though remember to highlight what is factual and what is my humble opinion, I like you want the best for the Albion and have given our club great service over many years in more than one spell.

I joined this forum because I have information as well as personal and professional thoughts that I want to share with Albion supporters just like me, I cant have these type of conversations in public for reasons I hope you understand, what I'm trying to say is I like everyone else on NSC simply want the best for the club, we as a category one academy have some great people, and even greater talent on the playing field, this years under-17s players are incredible and have made our under-18s team even better than last years, however I wont be as blind as to not see issues, and my way of dealing with those issues (albeit anonymously) is to use this platform to get it off my chest (good and bad) by saying it as I see it and letting the good people of NSC make of it what they will.

In reply to your "Loans" statement - if you read my posts you will note that I also stated that due to the latest government covid directives most if not all outgoing academy based loans have been paused until further notice, with the underlying issue being our foreign players that went back home (abroad) over the holidays, not being able to get back to the UK and leaving the academy a shortage of numbers.

Regarding Jay Molumby, he wanted to go to Forest but politics took over and the club (Albion) decided that PNE was a better option for him, that's a fact!

Hope this clears things up for now, and thank you for the complement in thinking I am young enough in order to have kids playing academy football, grandchildren mabe?

Thanks for the message, oh and as to "Where do I fit in?" I hope I'm welcome and there's no discrimination here? do feel free, as many others have at NSC, to PM me should you wish to have a chat in more detail or of course should you wish to ask any other questions or which I will do my best to answer, of course in confidence.

 

[V_001]

Big statement with regards to Zack Sturge, exciting too. James Furlong (the only other u23 recognised LB) has been very in and out of the side, is this related to Sturge's potential or injuries do you know?

Furlong is probably having best season at Albion to date, no real injuries this season, I just feel the Sturge is a great prospect, hopefully you will get to see him play soon.

 

[GT49er]

...................... if you read my posts you will note that I also stated that due to the latest government covid directives most if not all outgoing academy based loans have been paused until further notice, with the underlying issue being our foreign players that went back home (abroad) over the holidays, not being able to get back to the UK and leaving the academy a shortage of numbers.

Are the youngsters not covered by the elite sport concessions? Fly back from wherever and isolate for ten days (or the club pays for another test after five). Going out on loan could be deemed as travel for work, surely? - they travel to play matches, after all.

 

[timbha]

Hi timba

I think if you quantify my posts they have been heavily balanced on the side of the positives that come out of our academy, I will in the future though remember to highlight what is factual and what is my humble opinion, I like you want the best for the Albion and have given our club great service over many years in more than one spell.

I joined this forum because I have information as well as personal and professional thoughts that I want to share with Albion supporters just like me, I cant have these type of conversations in public for reasons I hope you understand, what I'm trying to say is I like everyone else on NSC simply want the best for the club, we as a category one academy have some great people, and even greater talent on the playing field, this years under-17s players are incredible and have made our under-18s team even better than last years, however I wont be as blind as to not see issues, and my way of dealing with those issues (albeit anonymously) is to use this platform to get it off my chest (good and bad) by saying it as I see it and letting the good people of NSC make of it what they will.

In reply to your "Loans" statement - if you read my posts you will note that I also stated that due to the latest government covid directives most if not all outgoing academy based loans have been paused until further notice, with the underlying issue being our foreign players that went back home (abroad) over the holidays, not being able to get back to the UK and leaving the academy a shortage of numbers.

Regarding Jay Molumby, he wanted to go to Forest but politics took over and the club (Albion) decided that PNE was a better option for him, that's a fact!

Hope this clears things up for now, and thank you for the complement in thinking I am young enough in order to have kids playing academy football, grandchildren mabe?

Thanks for the message, oh and as to "Where do I fit in?" I hope I'm welcome and there's no discrimination here? do feel free, as many others have at NSC, to PM me should you wish to have a chat in more detail or of course should you wish to ask any other questions or which I will do my best to answer, of course in confidence.

Thanks for your full and considered reply. I must say that my comments mainly related to your more recent posts on this thread. my perception was that you didn’t seem too disappointed as the goals were flowing in against us last night.

I suppose my concern with your posts relates to my general suspicions about social media where anonymity allows posters to make accusations without foundation or indeed accountability. When it’s against the club I love I get defensive and want evidence.

I rarely resort to PM because if for example an accusation is made on a public forum then the subsequent challenges, explanations, etc should also be there for all to see.

 

[BNthree]

Up until covid precautions kicked in the first team and academy shared facilities and the coaches for them all shared offices. To say Potter has never set foot in the academy is completely incorrect. Ashworth also is very involved with both the first team and the academy regularly would be involved with Academy operations. Only now that the club are trying to create a secure bubble for the first team has any division happened.

 

[The Fits]

Another thing to note and its unfortunate for likes of these boys mentioned in this post, our Mr Potter and his first team staff never set foot in the academy, or for that matter watch any under-23 fixture or training, so how we are supposed to get players from the academy to the first team, god only knows?

I'd imagine Potter has enough to do TBH. Surely the whole point of having youth coaches, a Head Of Youth Dev and whatever Ashworth is, is to manage youngsters development? Pretty sure when they believe a player is ready for the step up, Potter will be informed.
And we just saw the debut of Khadra, with Jenks and Weir on the bench. And they, and plenty others, have spent time training with the first team at various points over the last 2 seasons.