[Albion] Calde and the U18s
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AZ Gull
@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
Let's face it - NOBODY on NSC (including you and me) has a clue how good Calderon is as a coach. However, that is why I was pretty bemused by this thread when it was rumoured (and then confirmed) that he was returning to Albion. In my mind, the person I want to be leading our U-18s is someone who is great at developing young talent, not just someone who used to play for us, has a nice face and whose farts smell of perfume. I thought that people may have learned a lesson from the Bruno shenanigans but I guess not.
The U-18s head coach position has been something of a revolving door recently; Calderon is the fifth person to hold the role in the last three-and-a-half seasons. Results are fairly meaningless at this level as, ultimately, the ONLY thing that matters is developing talent (ideally for the first team but, if not, for sale). However, losing 6-1 at home to a side who had previously lost all NINE league games is certainly not a good look.
The good news is, we might face Norwich again in the 4th round of the FA Youth Cup
(they play Leeds in their 3rd round tie on Friday).Anyway, if people want to discuss the U-18s (
), there is a dedicated thread already - The 2023-24 1st-year scholars and U-18s match thread
The Wookiee
Back From The Dead
Isn’t the focus on development rather than results?
100% this.
Skaville
Well-known member
Loads of the u21’s and u18’s are in the first team squad due to injuries
That means loads of the u18’s are in the the u21 squad
That weakens the 18’s
That means loads of the u18’s are in the the u21 squad
That weakens the 18’s
Yes it is and the people criticising on this thread haven’t got a clue what they are talking about.
Funnily I haven't seen one single post of the sort to which you allude.
Presumably those cheeky monkeys I have on ignore have done one of their legendary pile ins.
Nope. Only the OP asking the question. You haven’t missed anything.Funnily I haven't seen one single post of the sort to which you allude.
Presumably those cheeky monkeys I have on ignore have done one of their legendary pile ins.
Ah. So Dibdab is exaggerating? I have told people a million billion times to not exaggerate.
Christ. Before this threads evolves to another pile on, on the OP. (For asking a valid question)
The u18s are stretched atm, but at what point do results speak for themselves?
Love Calde, but should the crop of u18s be beating Norwich and getting better (despite the call ups) results tis the question?
The u18s are stretched atm, but at what point do results speak for themselves?
Love Calde, but should the crop of u18s be beating Norwich and getting better (despite the call ups) results tis the question?
Yes it is - but still a 6-1 defeat to a supposedly rubbish team doesn't look good on the face of it. Of course, our strongest U21 team is playing in the EFL or in the first team squad, so it's conceivable that the best U18s are playing for the U21s, thus weakening the U18s - but having said that, a team with 3(?) 16 year olds whupped our U21s last night, so age doesn't always count for that much.
However, as #AZGull points out, none of us know what's going on with the U18s - their matches aren't streamed, and as far as I know the public doesn't get in to watch the matches either (and this is not a criticism - I think that is the right policy with young players). The club - on the website at least - gives us precious little feedback on the U18s. Most of the information we do have comes from a well-known poster on NSC!
that man - but even so, we don't really have enough information to discuss the performances of the U18s and their coach(es).
No, because the academy doesn’t focus on results, but individual player development
albionalex
Well-known member
Of course this specific result looks bad but our first team also lost 5-1 to Everton last year.
And that’s great, but then at what point would you rather experience/development over results?No, because the academy doesn’t focus on results, but individual player development
Precisely. And when the first team draws at home to Bumley, turning one's attentions to the under 18s result, as if this the the product of some sort of insidious 'jobs for the boys' scheme, and hence symptomatic of the rotten core of our shit club, is as unhelpful as giving an African nation hundreds of millions of quid to solve the problem of 'the boats'.
That’s quite the leap.
Always. Results outside of the first team are pretty much irrelevant imo………or at least lessen massively as you drop through the age grades. Good job the u16s results don’t get posted, we’d have whole threads on what a waste of money the academy is
AZ Gull
@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
Actually, the U-18 squad isn't weakened. A couple of the second years were not involved today as they have started to be included in U-21 squads, but that is EXACTLY what should be happening (if it isn't, your development process isn't being effective). By mid-way through their second scholar year, there is not a whole lot of development that is going to come from continuing to play against (mostly) younger players. And I would expect by this stage, the club would have a pretty good idea whether that second-year is going to be offered a professional contract or be released.
No idea why it was such a poor result today but it can't be blamed on a lack of player availability.
Weststander
Well-known member
- Nov 11, 2009
- 12,276
Took the words out of mouth HWT.Funnily I haven't seen one single post of the sort to which you allude.
Presumably those cheeky monkeys I have on ignore have done one of their legendary pile ins.