The Academy/Development squads watch thread 2024/25

[Stranded]

I’m hearing we will lose cat 1 academy status at the next evaluation.

Which whilst a shame, is appropriate for where we are now as a club. Clearly can't be facilities based, so assuming it will be down to staffing levels?

[tidus_mi2]

I’m hearing we will lose cat 1 academy status at the next evaluation.

While it certainly won't be popular amongst many in the fanbase, I think it makes sense while we linger in League One, as far as I'm aware, the only other clubs to maintain Cat 1 while in League One previously have been Sunderland and Derby and I suppose now Leicester, they're much bigger than us so it should be far easier for them to keep running.

[Orion1871]

Seem to remember someone said on here a while ago that if you lose Cat 1 twice then you can't apply for it a third time.

Anyone know if that is true? Tried googling it, and it says nothing, so assume it's bullshit.

[Stranded]

Seem to remember someone said on here a while ago that if you lose Cat 1 twice then you can't apply for it a third time.

Anyone know if that is true? Tried googling it, and it says nothing, so assume it's bullshit.

Would seem a very stupid rule given that a clubs situation can and will change i.e. being a PL club and then getting relegated a couple of times.

[tidus_mi2]

Only gripe I would have over this is I believe people are right in saying Couhig said they would be keeping Cat 1 status, so to lose it at the first hurdle would really constitute dishonesty.

[Clyde1998]

I’m hearing we will lose cat 1 academy status at the next evaluation.

Which whilst a shame, is appropriate for where we are now as a club. Clearly can't be facilities based, so assuming it will be down to staffing levels?

I'd imagine staffing levels are the reason.

Couhig has been complaining about the cost of running the academy and staffing is by far the biggest cost. Even the £200k per month figure he's talking about doesn't seem to line up with meeting the requirements for Cat 1.

Seem to remember someone said on here a while ago that if you lose Cat 1 twice then you can't apply for it a third time.

Anyone know if that is true? Tried googling it, and it says nothing, so assume it's bullshit.

It may be you can only have so many re-evaluations in a given time period. Can't imagine sides can be completely locked out though.

[morganb]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/j ... ct-update/

Major positive update here - Tyler Sackey given a 3 year deal, Emmanuel Osho and Tom Norcott a 2 year deal, and Boyd Beacroft and Matthew Rowley a 1 year deal.

Whilst eight had their 1 year extensions activated including Hicks, Howard, Duah, Spencer and Ryan.

https://x.com/i/status/2071958317102936407

[Clyde1998]

Tom Norcott off on loan to Derry City until the end of the League of Ireland season: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/j ... erry-city/

Good move for him, imo.

[Brogue]

One’s to watch; both are destined for a bright future and held in very high regard in the club;

16 year-old twins Jubilee and Joseph Ntege are both on over 30 G/A this season.

Jubilee has registered 12 goals and 14 assists for Reading U16s this season, while also recording 11 G/A for the U18s.

Meanwhile, his twin brother Joseph has scored the exact same number of goals for Reading U16s and also provided 10 assists. He’s also registered 9 G/A for the U18s.

What a season they’re both having.

Remember we talking about these two?

Well they are both off

[Orion1871]

These kids and their families never learn. Hope it works out differently for them that it did the others.

[Whore Jackie]

So that's fifteen U21 that have signed, albeit two only on six-month rehab contracts. And five U18s, all on one-year deals.

So how does that work in practice? Just enough to field one team. Presumably there's U16 players they can use?

[morganb]

Fulham prospect Callum Cliff who was on loan to Reading last season signs for club

[Sutekh]

One’s to watch; both are destined for a bright future and held in very high regard in the club;

16 year-old twins Jubilee and Joseph Ntege are both on over 30 G/A this season.

Jubilee has registered 12 goals and 14 assists for Reading U16s this season, while also recording 11 G/A for the U18s.

Meanwhile, his twin brother Joseph has scored the exact same number of goals for Reading U16s and also provided 10 assists. He’s also registered 9 G/A for the U18s.

What a season they’re both having.

Remember we talking about these two?

Well they are both off

Do we know why? Presuming family need to move for whatever reasons rather than them deciding Reading not putting them in the first team already is unreasonable.

[Clyde1998]

So that's fifteen U21 that have signed, albeit two only on six-month rehab contracts. And five U18s, all on one-year deals.

So how does that work in practice? Just enough to field one team. Presumably there's U16 players they can use?

The fifteen U21s and five U18s who've signed will be signing on to professional contracts. Essentially, the U21s are the reserves and will be comprised of all professional players who aren't involved in the first team.

The U18s is the highest category of youth contract players, so the squad is the best group of youth contract players at the club.

The club generally doesn't provide a lot of information about players who are on youth contracts. I'd guess that's due to them not being adults and the safeguarding that comes with that.

The U18s will be comprised of retained U18 players from last season who've not signed professional deals (probably those who are currently seventeen); the retained U16 players from last season; and anyone who's signed since.

[Sutekh]

So that's fifteen U21 that have signed, albeit two only on six-month rehab contracts. And five U18s, all on one-year deals.

So how does that work in practice? Just enough to field one team. Presumably there's U16 players they can use?

The fifteen U21s and five U18s who've signed will be signing on to professional contracts. Essentially, the U21s are the reserves and will be comprised of all professional players who aren't involved in the first team.

The U18s is the highest category of youth contract players, so the squad is the best group of youth contract players at the club.

The club generally doesn't provide a lot of information about players who are on youth contracts. I'd guess that's due to them not being adults and the safeguarding that comes with that.

The U18s will be comprised of retained U18 players from last season who've not signed professional deals (probably those who are currently seventeen); the retained U16 players from last season; and anyone who's signed since.

So that’s why the match reporting is so ******* awful!

[Clyde1998]

One’s to watch; both are destined for a bright future and held in very high regard in the club;

16 year-old twins Jubilee and Joseph Ntege are both on over 30 G/A this season.

Jubilee has registered 12 goals and 14 assists for Reading U16s this season, while also recording 11 G/A for the U18s.

Meanwhile, his twin brother Joseph has scored the exact same number of goals for Reading U16s and also provided 10 assists. He’s also registered 9 G/A for the U18s.

What a season they’re both having.

Remember we talking about these two?

Well they are both off

Do we know why? Presuming family need to move for whatever reasons rather than them deciding Reading not putting them in the first team already is unreasonable.

I don't know how reliable the source is, but apparently they're attracting interest from Norwich; Nottm Forest; Augsburg (Germany); and Genk (Belgium).

If that list is even vaguely accurate, it suggests they've left Reading primarily for footballing reasons rather than anything else. They're both Swedish nationals, so are free to move to anywhere in the EU at their age.

[Sutekh]

Remember we talking about these two?

Well they are both off

Do we know why? Presuming family need to move for whatever reasons rather than them deciding Reading not putting them in the first team already is unreasonable.

I don't know how reliable the source is, but apparently they're attracting interest from Norwich; Nottm Forest; Augsburg (Germany); and Genk (Belgium).

If that list is even vaguely accurate, it suggests they've left Reading primarily for footballing reasons rather than anything else. They're both Swedish nationals, so are free to move to anywhere in the EU at their age.

It’s great being stuck at this god awful level isn’t it? But at least if they do make it anywhere we’ll get a solidarity payment or two.

[Clyde1998]

Do we know why? Presuming family need to move for whatever reasons rather than them deciding Reading not putting them in the first team already is unreasonable.

I don't know how reliable the source is, but apparently they're attracting interest from Norwich; Nottm Forest; Augsburg (Germany); and Genk (Belgium).

If that list is even vaguely accurate, it suggests they've left Reading primarily for footballing reasons rather than anything else. They're both Swedish nationals, so are free to move to anywhere in the EU at their age.

It’s great being stuck at this god awful level isn’t it? But at least if they do make it anywhere we’ll get a solidarity payment or two.

You would think their development would be better staying at Reading than going to Norwich or Nottm Forest though. Simply because they'd have a clear pathway into the first team squad.

I think they're both sixteen and have been among the best performers for our U18s. It's not out of the question they'd be given opportunities for the U21s next season and might have been a season away from starting to get chances with the first team squad (especially in the EFL Trophy).

Augsburg and Genk would provide pathways into senior football too: Augsburg's reserves play in the German fourth tier; and Genk's reserves are in the Belgian second tier.

When you reach eighteen, you really need to start playing senior first team football or you'll just stagnate as a player. I don't see how they'd get opportunities at Norwich or (especially) Nottm Forest with them in their current divisions.

[South Coast Royal]

I don't know how reliable the source is, but apparently they're attracting interest from Norwich; Nottm Forest; Augsburg (Germany); and Genk (Belgium).

If that list is even vaguely accurate, it suggests they've left Reading primarily for footballing reasons rather than anything else. They're both Swedish nationals, so are free to move to anywhere in the EU at their age.

It’s great being stuck at this god awful level isn’t it? But at least if they do make it anywhere we’ll get a solidarity payment or two.

You would think their development would be better staying at Reading than going to Norwich or Nottm Forest though. Simply because they'd have a clear pathway into the first team squad.

I think they're both sixteen and have been among the best performers for our U18s. It's not out of the question they'd be given opportunities for the U21s next season and might have been a season away from starting to get chances with the first team squad (especially in the EFL Trophy).

Augsburg and Genk would provide pathways into senior football too: Augsburg's reserves play in the German fourth tier; and Genk's reserves are in the Belgian second tier.

When you reach eighteen, you really need to start playing senior first team football or you'll just stagnate as a player. I don't see how they'd get opportunities at Norwich or (especially) Nottm Forest with them in their current divisions.

That's all very well and sensible but if a Premier League or Championship club is showing an interest in you then you are likely to want to go there for a number of reasons, not least probably better coaching and the good money that can be earned from a first contract, way above what we would be able to offer.

[tidus_mi2]

I'm disappointed with the Ntege brothers leaving but it really is the way with football, we've got very high tier facilities and set up but clubs higher up the ladder will just have better resources and it's been clear that the club appear to be trying to operate at the minimum level to maintain Cat 1 while other clubs will be going all in.

Hopefully they have fruitful developments and we ultimately benefit from future sell ons.