It is hard to judge either age group this season, and we must also accept there is a transition period going on at the moment.
The Under 21s have suffered a lot with injuries, and also lost a lot of players to the first team to cover their injuries. Add in the loans. This left a lot of under 18s players stepping up, and thus weakening that group as well.
There are a fair few promising kids in there.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (already featured for the first team at just 17)
Julio Pleguezuelo (injured all season)
Tafari Moore (injured all season)
Dan Crowley
Chris Willock (already representing the U21s having just turned 17)
Alex Iwobi (already been involved in 1st team)
Isaac Hayden (already involved in 1st team and long term injured)
Kaylen Hinds (another who has featured for the older group at just 16)
Not to mention Gedion Zelalem, Krystian Bielik and of course Serge Gnabry and Hector Bellerin.
Given the way that youth progresses early at our club I would assume that the U21s is full of U18s and the U18s is full of 16 year olds. That would mean that they would struggle playing against much more developed opponents.
Or I could be talking rubbish.
Results aren't very important at youth level. Chelsea are winning stacks and most of those kids will end up playing for West Brom, Schalke and Lille.
Why the jealousy in this thread?
I don't rate Tafari Moore, but maybe I'm wrong. Results are not important but ultimately you want your kids playing against the best kids. That they are not is an issue.
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Under 21 and U18 teams - serious issues
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posted on 24/4/15
It is hard to judge either age group this season, and we must also accept there is a transition period going on at the moment.
The Under 21s have suffered a lot with injuries, and also lost a lot of players to the first team to cover their injuries. Add in the loans. This left a lot of under 18s players stepping up, and thus weakening that group as well.
There are a fair few promising kids in there.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (already featured for the first team at just 17)
Julio Pleguezuelo (injured all season)
Tafari Moore (injured all season)
Dan Crowley
Chris Willock (already representing the U21s having just turned 17)
Alex Iwobi (already been involved in 1st team)
Isaac Hayden (already involved in 1st team and long term injured)
Kaylen Hinds (another who has featured for the older group at just 16)
Not to mention Gedion Zelalem, Krystian Bielik and of course Serge Gnabry and Hector Bellerin.
posted on 24/4/15
Given the way that youth progresses early at our club I would assume that the U21s is full of U18s and the U18s is full of 16 year olds. That would mean that they would struggle playing against much more developed opponents.
Or I could be talking rubbish.
Results aren't very important at youth level. Chelsea are winning stacks and most of those kids will end up playing for West Brom, Schalke and Lille.
posted on 25/4/15
Why the jealousy in this thread?
posted on 25/4/15
I don't rate Tafari Moore, but maybe I'm wrong. Results are not important but ultimately you want your kids playing against the best kids. That they are not is an issue.
Page 1 of 1