MATCHWATCH : Lincoln City (h)

[Snowflake Royal]

I've watched a number of academy games this season (U21s/U18s) and I'd say there's basically no-one obvious who's got the potential to reach the first team who isn't ~16 or younger. Those players aren't going to be close to ready for first team football for at least another couple of seasons.

You look at the performances of our U21s and U18s in the past few seasons and you'll see us typically towards the bottom of Category One standings.

Most players who could've potentially reached our first team (or progressed beyond) were picked off by other clubs.

It will simply take a few seasons of stability for us to full recover from the damage of the past few seasons.

These mostly went out on loan I think, but how do you rate the first team chances/readiness of:
Kanu
Ahmed
Borgnis
Spencer
Osho
Patton
Evans
Boyd Beacroft
Duah


The first three at least seem to me to have potential for squad players next season. And I'd rather see Patton out there than Keane, right now.

It can be a little hard to judge the level of U21 football, it seems the typical players are National League standard or lower. Anyone above that level who would be in an U21 team is probably out on loan at an EFL team; or simply being kept for first team squad depth purposes. The loans are indicative of this, imo.

1. Kanu - one of our most likely candidates, although he'd be behind Derrick Williams; Benn Ward; and Jeriel Dorsett as a left-centre back and that's notwithstanding any additional signings. Haven't seen him play at Forest Green to know how he's developing specifically though. Perhaps a loan to League Two next season would help him.
2. Ahmed - seems too far off at the moment; not starting regularly at Forest Green now and is only getting twenty minutes tops from the bench. Probably needs another season in the National League before we seriously consider him again.
3. Borgnis - probably too old to improve now whilst staying here. He's twenty-two in September and currently on loan in the National League South.
4. Spencer - again, probably too old. He's twenty-two and playing in the National League.
5. Osho - seems decent enough, but needs a season out on loan. I reckon he'd be of lower National League level right now; not convinced he's got the technical ability for us (yet). He turned nineteen today (happy birthday in the very unlikely event you're reading this!).
6. Patton - will be interesting to see if he gets more game time for us before the end of the season. Absolutely agree he should be out there rather than Keane, but he's not (yet) at League One level. Obviously did exceptionally well at Aldershot in his short time there. Would expect us to sign at least two strikers in the summer though, but that would give us the potential to loan him out to a League Two club to test him there. He turns twenty in the summer.
7. Evans - just gone on loan to Torquay in the National League South, so will have to assess more. Was definitely behind Patton before going out and has only started regularly since his loan. He's got another year left, but is twenty-one in September. Would hope he gets a National League loan next season.
8. Boyd Beacroft - he's spent the second half of the season in the National League South at relegation-threatened Farnborough. Would be surprised if he makes it here given he's already twenty and has been behind players like Ahmed.
9. Duah - he's probably the oldest of those currently at the club who I think has the potential the reach first team level. Got mistakes to iron out though (so would need a loan somewhere), but absolutely stands out among our current U21 side. He's currently nineteen, so should keep improving.

Those in red are out of contract in the summer (to my knowledge), although a few many have one-year options. I think Kanu's in that boat. I would give a year to Kanu; Osho; and Duah.

Overall, I think only Kanu and Patton have a potential of being in the first team picture next season and I can't see either being anything else than squad options - they'd need to go out on loan to keep improving if they're not regularly involved in the first team.

Well that's depressing. Thought Borgnis was younger, and very much liked the cut of his jib in pre-season. Also thought Ahmed was closer.

[Hound]

Thanks Clyde

I believe Osho has another year, maybe wrong

Sackey any good? He’s prob the other one who has been around a while

[Clyde1998]

Well that's depressing. Thought Borgnis was younger, and very much liked the cut of his jib in pre-season. Also thought Ahmed was closer.

With a lot of these players, they can come in looking good initially but are effectively running on adrenaline and/or it simply takes a few games for the opposition to work them out.

Matty Carson is a good example of that. He looked like he could've been one of our breakout stars in our first season down, but he's now twenty-three playing for mid-table National League side Boston. Got found out defensively, despite appearing to have some decent potential going forward.

I often wonder if we've got rose-tinted glasses on when it comes to young players and are ignoring any mistakes they make in a way we wouldn't do for established first team players. It could be the better players around them covering for them which masks their weaknesses.

Even those who did establish themselves were overestimated in their ability. I'm thinking Tom Holmes; and Tom McIntyre. Neither were ever beyond average League One level (tbh) when they were playing regularly for us in the Championship, yet many thought they'd be elite League One players when we got relegated.

Ahmed's young enough to get back into the first team picture, but needs regular first team football on loan somewhere. There's a reason he fell out of the first team picture when Yiadom returned from injury and he fell further back once Nyambe showed up (albeit he's only on loan).

[Hound]

Other examples of players we’ve sold recently ending up going nowhere much - Vickers on the bench at Wigan, Harris, Abbey, some of those 16 year olds we sold who I forget the name of

Bindons the only one who seems to have progressed beyond our level since Olise

[Clyde1998]

Thanks Clyde

I believe Osho has another year, maybe wrong

Sackey any good? He’s prob the other one who has been around a while

He could well do. It's difficult to find accurate contract lengths for a lot of our U21 players.

Sackey looks decent and has been a firm regular for the U21s this season. He's nineteen, so a loan move to the National League is the next logical step. Certainly seems to have been on a par with Spencer and Rushesha when I've seen him and a few years younger than both.

He's slotted in anywhere in the middle between centre-back and attacking midfield, but certainly isn't going to be a centre-back from what I've seen.

I think it was him linked with a move to Serie A in the summer (not a top club though), which suggests he's viewed as having potential beyond League One.

Another couple who may be worth mentioning are Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith (19) and Jerae Jones (18), who look like the ball carrying pacing wingers Leam Richardson talks about us needing. Both are still too raw for the first team though. I can see CMS going on loan next season, with Jones becoming an U21 regular.

[tidus_mi2]

I've seen a bit of talk about the identical twins Joseph and Jubilee Ntege being something special, do you know anything about them?

[Clyde1998]

Other examples of players we’ve sold recently ending up going nowhere much - Vickers on the bench at Wigan, Harris, Abbey, some of those 16 year olds we sold who I forget the name of

Bindons the only one who seems to have progressed beyond our level since Olise

Of those on TransferMarkt who didn't make the first team and are still at either a Category One or Premier League team (to my knowledge) - current age listed:

1. 2025-26: Harry Grimshaw (17; Burnley)
2. 2024-25: Camron Mpofu (16; Man Utd); Naeem Giscombe (<18; Brentford)
3. 2023-24: Luca Fletcher (18; Man City -> Ipswich); Thierry Rohart-Brown (18; Southampton); Eliah Semakula (15; Chelsea)
4. 2022-23: Tyrell Ashcroft (21; Tottenham)
5. 2021-22: Christian Dunbar-McDonald (18; Man City)

Most are far too young to say they've gone nowhere tbh.

[Clyde1998]

I've seen a bit of talk about the identical twins Joseph and Jubilee Ntege being something special, do you know anything about them?

They look like they could have something about them. They turned sixteen this season; AMs/wingers; very raw, but both quick.

They've both have played regularly this season for the U18s (Joseph has more minutes). Not sure their technical abilities are quite at the ideal level yet, but they're almost two age groups higher than their actual age.

Tyler Adjei (another AM/winger) similarly has played a fair amount for the U18s this season and turns sixteen in July. All three are very short fwiw.

These are the sort of players I'm thinking of when it comes to those ~16 who have potential to break into the first team, but they're still two or more years short of that happening. They probably need at least one U21 and/or regular senior level season before then.

[Mr Angry]

Lincoln did a great job on us in midfield, being very effective at breaking up opposition attempts to create. They are very organised at the back and are set up to counter attack, which they do very impressively.

At a higher level, against better players, they will be found out. 2 shots on target against our defence?? Hmmmmmmm.....

As for us, we have lacked a real goal threat since we lost Marriott (notwithstanding the efforts of wifi which can't be faulted) and I really think Wing needs to play further forward to influence our forward play more than he has done for the bulk of this season.

We all know we aren't quite good enough to get into the play-offs (and haven't been for a couple of Months) and are certainly not ready for promotion; the fact we have been threatening the play-offs since Christmas is a real testament to the squad and the management team, but we need to buy well in the Summer to have a chance of pushing on next season.

[Orion1871]

Other examples of players we’ve sold recently ending up going nowhere much - Vickers on the bench at Wigan, Harris, Abbey, some of those 16 year olds we sold who I forget the name of

Bindons the only one who seems to have progressed beyond our level since Olise

Azeez might have something to say about that.

[The Cube]

Spencer - again, probably too old. He's twenty-two and playing in the National League.

He's 20.

[Hound]

Other examples of players we’ve sold recently ending up going nowhere much - Vickers on the bench at Wigan, Harris, Abbey, some of those 16 year olds we sold who I forget the name of

Bindons the only one who seems to have progressed beyond our level since Olise

Azeez might have something to say about that.

Yes true!

[Clyde1998]

Spencer - again, probably too old. He's twenty-two and playing in the National League.

He's 20.

The club's website lists him as being born on 9 November 2003, which would make him twenty-two: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/academy/gra ... hayspencer

If that's wrong (which wouldn't surprise me tbh) and he is twenty, then I could see him getting another year and another opportunity out on loan.

[The Cube]

Spencer - again, probably too old. He's twenty-two and playing in the National League.

He's 20.

The club's website lists him as being born on 9 November 2003, which would make him twenty-two: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/academy/gra ... hayspencer

If that's wrong (which wouldn't surprise me tbh) and he is twenty, then I could see him getting another year and another opportunity out on loan.

Played for the U18s two years ago, so as always it's the club website that's wrong. As I recall, the club has different dates of birth published in different places, and one of them was right.

Incidentally, this is why so-called AI will always be rubbish, because it removes the use of sense-checks.

[Snowflake Royal]

Well that's depressing. Thought Borgnis was younger, and very much liked the cut of his jib in pre-season. Also thought Ahmed was closer.

With a lot of these players, they can come in looking good initially but are effectively running on adrenaline and/or it simply takes a few games for the opposition to work them out.

Matty Carson is a good example of that. He looked like he could've been one of our breakout stars in our first season down, but he's now twenty-three playing for mid-table National League side Boston. Got found out defensively, despite appearing to have some decent potential going forward.

I often wonder if we've got rose-tinted glasses on when it comes to young players and are ignoring any mistakes they make in a way we wouldn't do for established first team players. It could be the better players around them covering for them which masks their weaknesses.

Even those who did establish themselves were overestimated in their ability. I'm thinking Tom Holmes; and Tom McIntyre. Neither were ever beyond average League One level (tbh) when they were playing regularly for us in the Championship, yet many thought they'd be elite League One players when we got relegated.

Ahmed's young enough to get back into the first team picture, but needs regular first team football on loan somewhere. There's a reason he fell out of the first team picture when Yiadom returned from injury and he fell further back once Nyambe showed up (albeit he's only on loan).

I think Carson is an exception, in that he obviously had talent, but simply couldn’t play in front of crowds without falling apart.

[Snowflake Royal]

Thanks Clyde

I believe Osho has another year, maybe wrong

Sackey any good? He’s prob the other one who has been around a while

He could well do. It's difficult to find accurate contract lengths for a lot of our U21 players.

Sackey looks decent and has been a firm regular for the U21s this season. He's nineteen, so a loan move to the National League is the next logical step. Certainly seems to have been on a par with Spencer and Rushesha when I've seen him and a few years younger than both.

He's slotted in anywhere in the middle between centre-back and attacking midfield, but certainly isn't going to be a centre-back from what I've seen.

I think it was him linked with a move to Serie A in the summer (not a top club though), which suggests he's viewed as having potential beyond League One.

Another couple who may be worth mentioning are Kiyan Coke-Miles-Smith (19) and Jerae Jones (18), who look like the ball carrying pacing wingers Leam Richardson talks about us needing. Both are still too raw for the first team though. I can see CMS going on loan next season, with Jones becoming an U21 regular.

Crickey, Sackey seems to have been around for ages... I thought he was about 22.