The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Clyde1998]

Man Utd 2 Real Madrid 4
Disastrous year for English teams !!
All 4 semi finalists are European teams.

Going to Aldershot tonight, hopefully 2 good teams with plenty of goals.
2 semi’s with the 4 European teams will also be played on neutral grounds in England.

In this competition, why do the European clubs have to travel to England while the English clubs don’t have to travel to Europe to play these games? Are the PL paying the European club’s travel expenses just to get experience for the youngsters?

It's to get around some UEFA regulation, as they haven't approved the competition. I imagine the Premier League are paying the travel expenses as a participation fee.

[Royals and Racers]

Tonight’s results
Crystal Palace 0 Real Sociedad 3
Everton 0 Borussia Dortmund 2

Man Utd 2 Real Madrid 4
Disastrous year for English teams !!
All 4 semi finalists are European teams.

Going to Aldershot tonight, hopefully 2 good teams with plenty of goals.
2 semi’s with the 4 European teams will also be played on neutral grounds in England.

I’n told one of the semi’s is very likely to be at Aldershot.
Valencia 1 Zagreb 0 20 mins
1-1 32 mins
H-T 1-1 Zagreb the better team
2-1 62 Mins
3-1 70 mins
3-2 84 mins
3-3 90 + 3
F-T 3-3 into Extra time
Valencia missed pen 103 mins
E-T H-T 3-3
3-4 116 mins
E-T F-T 3-4 cracking game.
Decent football played by both teams.
2 Spanish, a German and Croatian team in the Semi’s- draw should be made this week.

[Royals and Racers]

4 Semi- finalists in PL cup are
West Brom- won 5-4 at Bournemouth tonight
Blackburn
Burnley
Sunderland

Semi’s played this week - final is
Burnley v Sunderland or Sunderland v Burnley

[Royals and Racers]

U 18’s home to Southampton at Bearwood on Saturday 18th KO 11 am
They have 5 matches left in the season, and play again at Bearwood next Wednesday 22nd against Arsenal KO 11.30am

[Royals and Racers]

Man Utd 2 Real Madrid 4
Disastrous year for English teams !!
All 4 semi finalists are European teams.

Going to Aldershot tonight, hopefully 2 good teams with plenty of goals.
2 semi’s with the 4 European teams will also be played on neutral grounds in England.

I’n told one of the semi’s is very likely to be at Aldershot.
Valencia 1 Zagreb 0 20 mins
1-1 32 mins
H-T 1-1 Zagreb the better team
2-1 62 Mins
3-1 70 mins
3-2 84 mins
3-3 90 + 3
F-T 3-3 into Extra time
Valencia missed pen 103 mins
E-T H-T 3-3
3-4 116 mins
E-T F-T 3-4 cracking game.
Decent football played by both teams.
2 Spanish, a German and Croatian team in the Semi’s- draw should be made this week.

Video of last night’s match on Valenciacf you tube channel.

[Royals and Racers]

Man Utd 2 Real Madrid 4
Disastrous year for English teams !!
All 4 semi finalists are European teams.

Going to Aldershot tonight, hopefully 2 good teams with plenty of goals.
2 semi’s with the 4 European teams will also be played on neutral grounds in England.

I’n told one of the semi’s is very likely to be at Aldershot.
Valencia 1 Zagreb 0 20 mins
1-1 32 mins
H-T 1-1 Zagreb the better team
2-1 62 Mins
3-1 70 mins
3-2 84 mins
3-3 90 + 3
F-T 3-3 into Extra time
Valencia missed pen 103 mins
E-T H-T 3-3
3-4 116 mins
E-T F-T 3-4 cracking game.
Decent football played by both teams.
2 Spanish, a German and Croatian team in the Semi’s- draw should be made this week.

Semi Wednesday 29th April at Aldershot KO 7pm Real Sociedad v Borussia Dortmund.
Therefore other semi is Real Madrid v Dinamo Zagreb venue and date TBC.

[Royals and Racers]

PL 2 regular season finished tonight and we ended up in 19th, just 2 points shy of the play-off positions.

[Clyde1998]

Not that this really affects us, but Everton beat Ipswich 8-4 tonight. Luca Fletcher scored twice for the Tractor Boys.

The final Premier League 2 table is:

1. Chelsea / 43 pts (+27 GD)
2. Man Utd / 43 pts (+17 GD)
3. Man City / 40 pts
4. Fulham / 38 pts (+16 GD)
5. Ipswich / 38 pts (±0 GD)
6. Southampton / 36 pts
7. Liverpool / 35 pts (+13 GD)
8. Tottenham / 35 pts (+10 GD)
9. Leicester / 31 pts (+6 GD)
10. Crystal Palace / 31 pts (+5 GD)
11. Aston Villa / 31 pts (-3 GD)
12. Brighton / 30 pts (+13 GD)
13. West Ham / 30 pts (+9 GD)
14. Arsenal / 29 pts
15. Sunderland / 28 pts
16. Middlesbrough / 27 pts
17. Nottm Forest / 26 pts
18. Everton / 25 pts (-3 GD)
19. Reading / 25 pts (-7 GD)
20. Stoke / 25 pts (-13 GD)
21. Newcastle / 24 pts (-5 GD)
22. Wolves / 23 pts
23. Norwich / 20 pts (-10 GD)
24. Derby / 20 pts (-18 GD)
25. Leeds / 18 pts (-12 GD)
26. West Brom / 18 pts (-15 GD)
27. Birmingham / 17 pts
28. Blackburn / 14 pts
29. Burnley / 13 pts

Top sixteen into the play-offs:

1. Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
2. Tottenham vs Leicester
3. Ipswich vs Brighton
4. Fulham vs West Ham
5. Southampton vs Aston Villa
6. Man City vs Arsenal
7. Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
8. Man Utd vs Sunderland

17th to 24th into the Category Two play-offs, which appear to be:

1. Nottm Forest vs 8th [currently Charlton]
2. Derby vs 1st [likely Brentford]
3. Newcastle vs 4th [currently Peterborough]
4. Stoke vs 5th [currently Swansea]
5. Wolves vs 3rd [currently Bournemouth]
6. Reading vs 6th [currently Huddersfield]
7. Norwich vs 2nd [likely Sheff Utd]
8. Everton vs 7th [currently Watford]

I think we could only play Huddersfield or Watford. The final game in Category Two is on 24 April.

[Royals and Racers]

Not that this really affects us, but Everton beat Ipswich 8-4 tonight. Luca Fletcher scored twice for the Tractor Boys.

The final Premier League 2 table is:

1. Chelsea / 43 pts (+27 GD)
2. Man Utd / 43 pts (+17 GD)
3. Man City / 40 pts
4. Fulham / 38 pts (+16 GD)
5. Ipswich / 38 pts (±0 GD)
6. Southampton / 36 pts
7. Liverpool / 35 pts (+13 GD)
8. Tottenham / 35 pts (+10 GD)
9. Leicester / 31 pts (+6 GD)
10. Crystal Palace / 31 pts (+5 GD)
11. Aston Villa / 31 pts (-3 GD)
12. Brighton / 30 pts (+13 GD)
13. West Ham / 30 pts (+9 GD)
14. Arsenal / 29 pts
15. Sunderland / 28 pts
16. Middlesbrough / 27 pts
17. Nottm Forest / 26 pts
18. Everton / 25 pts (-3 GD)
19. Reading / 25 pts (-7 GD)
20. Stoke / 25 pts (-13 GD)
21. Newcastle / 24 pts (-5 GD)
22. Wolves / 23 pts
23. Norwich / 20 pts (-10 GD)
24. Derby / 20 pts (-18 GD)
25. Leeds / 18 pts (-12 GD)
26. West Brom / 18 pts (-15 GD)
27. Birmingham / 17 pts
28. Blackburn / 14 pts
29. Burnley / 13 pts

Top sixteen into the play-offs:

1. Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
2. Tottenham vs Leicester
3. Ipswich vs Brighton
4. Fulham vs West Ham
5. Southampton vs Aston Villa
6. Man City vs Arsenal
7. Liverpool vs Crystal Palace
8. Man Utd vs Sunderland

17th to 24th into the Category Two play-offs, which appear to be:

1. Nottm Forest vs 8th [currently Charlton]
2. Derby vs 1st [likely Brentford]
3. Newcastle vs 4th [currently Peterborough]
4. Stoke vs 5th [currently Swansea]
5. Wolves vs 3rd [currently Bournemouth]
6. Reading vs 6th [currently Huddersfield]
7. Norwich vs 2nd [likely Sheff Utd]
8. Everton vs 7th [currently Watford]

I think we could only play Huddersfield or Watford. The final game in Category Two is on 24 April.

Final games in PDL are on Tuesday 21st April. I would think it will be a straight draw with a PL 2 team playing a PDL either home or away in the last 16 round.

[Royals and Racers]

U 18’s home to Southampton at Bearwood on Saturday 18th KO 11 am
They have 5 matches left in the season, and play again at Bearwood next Wednesday 22nd against Arsenal KO 11.30am

Yensu
Zie
Cliff
Coffey
Neptune
Irish
Lonmeni
R Beacroft
L Omoregie
Adjei
Saint-Louis
SUBS
Rose
Agyekum
Doy
Lewis
S Omoregie

Reading 0 Southampton 1 17 mins
0-2 44 mins
H-T 0-2
0-3 57 mins
1-3 65 mins Agyekum
Southampton down to 10 90 + 3
F-T 1-3

[Clyde1998]

Final games in PDL are on Tuesday 21st April. I would think it will be a straight draw with a PL 2 team playing a PDL either home or away in the last 16 round.

Sheffield United have published the basic format: https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2026/april/09/u21s-playoff/

If I’ve read that right, the top four of the PL2 sides involved (including ourselves) and the top four of the PDL will play the first knockout game at home against a side from the other league.

The quarter-finals onwards is an open draw.

The dates appear to be (all single-legged ties):

1. R16 - Fri 24 to Mon 27th Apr
2. QF - Fri 1st to Mon 4th May(?)
3. SF - Fri 8th to Mon 11th May(?)
4. Final - Fri 15th to Mon 18th May

[Royals and Racers]

Going to Aldershot tonight, hopefully 2 good teams with plenty of goals.
2 semi’s with the 4 European teams will also be played on neutral grounds in England.

I’n told one of the semi’s is very likely to be at Aldershot.
Valencia 1 Zagreb 0 20 mins
1-1 32 mins
H-T 1-1 Zagreb the better team
2-1 62 Mins
3-1 70 mins
3-2 84 mins
3-3 90 + 3
F-T 3-3 into Extra time
Valencia missed pen 103 mins
E-T H-T 3-3
3-4 116 mins
E-T F-T 3-4 cracking game.
Decent football played by both teams.
2 Spanish, a German and Croatian team in the Semi’s- draw should be made this week.

Semi Wednesday 29th April at Aldershot KO 7pm Real Sociedad v Borussia Dortmund.
Therefore other semi is Real Madrid v Dinamo Zagreb venue and date TBC.

Real Madrid v Dinamo Zagreb semi is at Woking on Tuesday 28th April. KO 7pm

[Royals and Racers]

Final games in PDL are on Tuesday 21st April. I would think it will be a straight draw with a PL 2 team playing a PDL either home or away in the last 16 round.

Sheffield United have published the basic format: https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2026/april/09/u21s-playoff/

If I’ve read that right, the top four of the PL2 sides involved (including ourselves) and the top four of the PDL will play the first knockout game at home against a side from the other league.

The quarter-finals onwards is an open draw.

The dates appear to be (all single-legged ties):

1. R16 - Fri 24 to Mon 27th Apr
2. QF - Fri 1st to Mon 4th May(?)
3. SF - Fri 8th to Mon 11th May(?)
4. Final - Fri 15th to Mon 18th May

The 8 PDL teams now complete after the matches today.
Brentford
Sheff Utd
Bournemouth
Peterborough
Swansea
Watford
Huddersfield
Charlton

If we play 5 to 8th position in the PDL that is not settled until after tomorrow’s matches. Could be
Charlton , Watford , Huddersfield and 1 other.

[Royals and Racers]

Final games in PDL are on Tuesday 21st April. I would think it will be a straight draw with a PL 2 team playing a PDL either home or away in the last 16 round.

Sheffield United have published the basic format: https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2026/april/09/u21s-playoff/

If I’ve read that right, the top four of the PL2 sides involved (including ourselves) and the top four of the PDL will play the first knockout game at home against a side from the other league.

The quarter-finals onwards is an open draw.

The dates appear to be (all single-legged ties):

1. R16 - Fri 24 to Mon 27th Apr
2. QF - Fri 1st to Mon 4th May(?)
3. SF - Fri 8th to Mon 11th May(?)
4. Final - Fri 15th to Mon 18th May

The 8 PDL teams now complete after the matches today.
Brentford
Sheff Utd
Bournemouth
Peterborough
Swansea
Watford
Huddersfield
Charlton

If we play 5 to 8th position in the PDL that is not settled until after tomorrow’s matches. Could be
Charlton , Watford , Huddersfield and 1 other.

5th Peterborough
6th Huddersfield
7th Watford
8th Charlton

[Clyde1998]

17th to 24th into the Category Two play-offs, which appear to be:

1. Nottm Forest vs 8th [currently Charlton]
2. Derby vs 1st [likely Brentford]
3. Newcastle vs 4th [currently Peterborough]
4. Stoke vs 5th [currently Swansea]
5. Wolves vs 3rd [currently Bournemouth]
6. Reading vs 6th [currently Huddersfield]
7. Norwich vs 2nd [likely Sheff Utd]
8. Everton vs 7th [currently Watford]

Sheff Utd are playing Norwich at home, so it could be this with the 1st to 4th placed sides from Category Two at home rather than away.

https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2026/april/21/u21s-playoff/

Edit: Charlton travel to Forest: https://www.charltonafc.com/news/addick ... play-clash

So looks like we’ll have Huddersfield at home.

[Royals and Racers]

17th to 24th into the Category Two play-offs, which appear to be:

1. Nottm Forest vs 8th [currently Charlton]
2. Derby vs 1st [likely Brentford]
3. Newcastle vs 4th [currently Peterborough]
4. Stoke vs 5th [currently Swansea]
5. Wolves vs 3rd [currently Bournemouth]
6. Reading vs 6th [currently Huddersfield]
7. Norwich vs 2nd [likely Sheff Utd]
8. Everton vs 7th [currently Watford]

Sheff Utd are playing Norwich at home, so it could be this with the 1st to 4th placed sides from Category Two at home rather than away.

https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2026/april/21/u21s-playoff/

Edit: Charlton travel to Forest: https://www.charltonafc.com/news/addick ... play-clash

So looks like we’ll have Huddersfield at home.

Thanks- i reckon therefore full draw is
Brentford v Derby 1st PDL v 24th PL 2
Sheff Utd v Norwich 2nd PDL v 23rd PL 2
Bournemouth v Wolves 3rd PDL v 22nd PL 2
Swansea v Newcastle 4th PDL v 21st PL 2
Notts Forest v Charlton 17th PL 2 v 8th PDL
Everton v Watford 18th PL 2 v 7th PDL
Reading v Huddersfield 19th PL 2 v 6th PDl
Stoke v Peterborough 20th PL 2 v 5th PDL

Everton v Watford and Bournemouth v Wolves are on Friday
Sheff Utd v Norwich and Notts Forest v Charlton and Stoke v Peterborough and Brentford v Derby and Swansea v Newcastle are on Monday
Typical Reading last to arrange !!!

[Royals and Racers]

U 18’s v Arsenal
T Borgnis
Saint-Louis
Cliff
Schutter- Triallist but named ( Fulham ?)
Neptune
Irish
Zie
Lewis
Owiti- triallist but named( Swindon ?)
Adjei
Lonmeni
SUBS
Yensu
Agyekum
Martin-Grant
R Beacroft
Coffey

Reading 0 Arsenal 1 39 mins
H-T 0-1
0-2 74 mins
0-3 86 Mins
F-T 0-3

[RG30]

Mikel Arteta's 16-year-old son Gabriel came off the bench for his Arsenal debut for a 20 minute cameo. Emerson Nwaneri, brother of Ethan was among the Arsenal scorers.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/38896726 ... n-nwaneri/

[Clyde1998]

Don't know if this has been posted on here, but Brentford will be Category One next season: https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/art ... er-league-

[Whore Jackie]

Don't know if this has been posted on here, but Brentford will be Category One next season: https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/art ... er-league-

What's that, 30 Category One Academies now? Leicester's relegation means there's two of us in League 1.