The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[ZacNaloen]

A comment on Tshibolas performance,


For pretty much all the game he had Sweeney and then Kelly in CM with him.

No suprise he struggled to impose himself on the Man City players, it was not that strong a CM for us... he was the only real midfielder...

[winchester_royal]

Good report Shaks, agree with pretty much all of it. Though I'd probably have both starting full backs at a 5 and maybe bump Tish up to a 7.

[genome]

Some good and promising news at least. How ready do you think they are for the first team?

[ZacNaloen]

Difficult to judge until one of them actually steps on the first team pitch.

Personally think Tanner and Kuhl are the closest though.

We wouldn't have been bossed in the middle of the park like if he was playing.

[RoyalBlue]

For those who know the U21s quite well, how ready are Ugwu and Tanner for the first team?

First time I have seen Ugwu play and maybe he had an off day but, on the basis of today's performance I would say a very long way. Didn't have great service but for a big strong guy, didn't really impose himself on defenders and was very weak in the air. Didn't seem particularly pacey and I also felt that, playing as a lone striker, his work rate wasn't high enough. I was slightly surprised that he wasn't subbed at any point.

That having been said, he nearly produced a spectacular goal in the second half when he spotted their keeper off his line and hit a powerful long range shot, which wasn't that far over the bar.

Just seen how my assessment of Ugwu differs from Shaka's Shorts'! Strange as I pretty much agree on the rest of what he says.

A comment on Tshibolas performance,


For pretty much all the game he had Sweeney and then Kelly in CM with him.

No suprise he struggled to impose himself on the Man City players, it was not that strong a CM for us... he was the only real midfielder...

I thought he looked classy. Really cool on the ball, some nice skilful touches, good vision and passing.

[72 bus]

One of my takeaways was that McCarthy needs to spend some time with Dan Lincoln learning how to distribute the ball to his teammates all over the pitch in a quick and highly accurate way, whether it be with a throw or a kick.

His distribution was superb today, looks to be a good young keeper.

[RoyalBlue]

One of my takeaways was that McCarthy needs to spend some time with Dan Lincoln learning how to distribute the ball to his teammates all over the pitch in a quick and highly accurate way, whether it be with a throw or a kick.

His distribution was superb today, looks to be a good young keeper.

And, in support of smaller sized keepers, not the giant that most clubs decree necessary nowadays!

The official website doesn't give his height (one of the few that isn't listed!). Does anyone know how tall he is?

[Ian Royal]

Could someone who's seen a bit of both run a comparison between the U21s who aren't also in the U18s and that team...

Mainly the defence I guess, I'd like to know how the likes of Griffin, Long, Keown, Cooper & Sweeney stack up to Watson, Owusu, Dickie and Hyam, who've all near blown me away with their potential.

[RoyalBlue]

I have to say I liked the way that some of our supporters were doing their best to help prepare the youngsters for first team football at the Mad Stad.

I couldn't believe how some were moaning at players the moment they made a mistake or misjudged a situation!

[ZacNaloen]

Dickie and Hyam do look better technically than keown and cooper.

Dickie is better than cooper and Sweeney were at the same age.

[Ian Royal]

Dickie and Hyam do look better technically than keown and cooper.

Dickie is better than cooper and Sweeney were at the same age.

Thanks.

A homegrown 11 really doesn't seem too far off right now. We've come a long way from the days of Neville Roach that's for damned sure.

[winchester_royal]

Slightly harsh on Cooper there Zac. For a first year pro I thought he looked very accomplished indeed against a pacey City attack. The key difference between the two teams imo is the full back areas, where the u18's have the edge, and up front where Tanner is definitely superior.

We definitely missed Kuhl today. Sweeney tried but had nowhere near the composure and awareness of Kuhl in the middle.

[ZacNaloen]

Yeh coopers never really impressed me.

Slight vendetta from some really dodgy performances I've seen from him

He was solid today.

[Ginger Ninjas]

From your photos Zac, you could have only been a few seats from me. Anyway...

City bossed the first half and were pretty wasteful in front of goal, but didn't have many (any?) clear cut chances. Started the second half a bit brighter and the game gradually became more stretched. The introduction of Fosu added to this and he took the goal very well. This seemed to galvanise our lads whilst City looked deflated, a second duly followed with Stacey (who had been pretty anonymous, though must have been our youngest player?) finishing impressively after a beautiful flick chest pass from Tanner. Pretty composed from Reading after going two up, and whilst it would be hard to argue that the victory was deserved (in terms of chances at least), you couldn't fault their effort and commitment against a strong City side. Quick word on their No. 8 who I thought ran the show, played a bit like Vieira in hie early career, roaming forward from centre midfield with pace and power - he could be a top, top player (as a generic pundit would say).

Lincoln - quite a bit to deal with, looked good on crosses, some of his distribution was very good (particularly his throws), other parts poor - 7.5
Long - maybe a bit harsh, but didn't offer much going forwards and looked a bit shaky in defence - 5
Griffin - poor in the first half, much better after the break - 6.5
Keown - ok at centre back, looked a bit more comfortable when at right back - 6.5
Cooper - I thought he played really well against some tough opposition, obviously strong in the air (how tall is he?!) but also competent on the deck - 8
Tshibola - outnumbered at times, but composed on the ball, can't possibly be any worse than Akpan - 7
Sweeney - ok in midfield, but definitely looked more suited to centre back - 7
Stacey - as above, he came to life later on and took the goal superbly - 6.5
Kelly - good on the ball, but unsurprisingly outmuscled on occasions by the City midfielders - 6
Tanner - whenever he got on the ball in attacking positions he looked dangerous, great assist(s?) - 8
Ugwu - good work rate and held the ball up well, although very isolated in parts - 7

Fosu - very well taken goal and gave us the width we'd been missing earlier in the game - 8

[Libertine]

Just got in. This is outstanding news! Congratulations lads on a very deserved victory over very worthy opponents.

Looking forward to seeing many of you playing with the senior squad in the coming years!

[SCIAG]

Couldn't make it today due to illness, but I'm really pleased that we won.

Now that's out the way, I'd like to see several members of this side compete for places in the first team. Tanner and Kuhl are obvious candidates, but I think Stacey could be a useful impact player in the coming weeks.

Could someone who's seen a bit of both run a comparison between the U21s who aren't also in the U18s and that team...

Mainly the defence I guess, I'd like to know how the likes of Griffin, Long, Keown, Cooper & Sweeney stack up to Watson, Owusu, Dickie and Hyam, who've all near blown me away with their potential.

I've never been particularly impressed with Griffin. From what I've seen of him he's reasonable, but not outstanding. OK, sometimes that's what you want (Murty, Armstrong), but I've been much more impressed by Owusu, who isn't exactly defensively frail.

I'm not a fan of Long, to be honest. I prefer, in age order, Arnold, Keown, Stacey and Watson. Stacey has adapted really well to playing as a winger, but if we have a crisis at full back I'd not want Long to be the one stepping up. Keown is better suited to playing as a right back than a centre back.

I reluctantly agree somewhat with Zac's comments on Cooper. I think he's got a lot of potential, but he used to struggle with players running at him, which Dickie has no problem with. In fairness to Cooper, he was playing with Keown last season, whereas Dickie is with Hyam (a genuine centre back). And when you're 6'6 at 18, you can be an absolute monster in the air.

I haven't really seen enough of Sweeney, he didn't play much for our U18s (Partridge kept him out of the side).

I think Tish is much better than Sammi, and Tanner is currently a class above Kelly, though that's at least partially due to the difference in age.

[Norfolk Royal]

Agree that the Owusu lad looks very impressive at left back for the under 18s.

[Nameless]

Would like to see Tanner and Cardwell play together, Cardwell looks a better prospect than Ugwe now, is physically as strong despite being a first year scholar. An all home grown first team in the next 2 seasons is a real possibility as long as we manage to avoid promotion ....

[Old Biscuitman]

Terrific. I know little about these players or the teams, but how very refreshing to read the reports after all the grim and critical stuff about our Championship team.

Well done to the youngsters, a great example to some of the hacks above them.

[ZacNaloen]

On whether they make it.

I think most will be pro footballers. Maybe 2% for Readingfc.

When I talk about an all academy 11 that includes those that already feature for the first team.