Third Defeat For U18’s

[Elfideldo 4,403]

My report on last night's Under 18 game.

https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2021/09/18/third-defeat-for-u18s/

[plymouthranger 3,872]

37 minutes ago, Elfideldo said:

My report on last night's Under 18 game.

https://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2021/09/18/third-defeat-for-u18s/

Sounds like that age group is struggling, is it a lack of talent at that level or has the B team impacted the pool of players they have? 

[Elfideldo 4,403]

52 minutes ago, plymouthranger said:

Sounds like that age group is struggling, is it a lack of talent at that level or has the B team impacted the pool of players they have? 

In my opinion there are a couple of reasons, Lowland League has impacted Rangers and Celtic Under 18's to some extent. Probably Celtic more so as they have fielded a lot of U18's in the Lowland League, Rangers have played a few.

Last season's U16's group moving into this season's 18's group as U17's were culled with only four getting pro contracts. Two U17's were recruited externally, so only six full-time U17's. There are a further four from last season's 16's on amateur contracts, none of those four have started any 18's game. So the squad is quite thin on numbers. By contrast Celtic gave most, if not all of their 16's from last season pro contracts.

The three defeats have been close games. Both Celtic and Hibs probably deserved to edge wins. Dundee United was a strange one, Rangers had the bulk of possession but the two u17 centre backs struggled against a big powerful striker and we lost poor goals to lose 1-3.

Early games suggest Dundee United and Hibs are two of the stronger teams in the league, the coming week may tell us more with home games against Aberdeen and Motherwell.

[Laudrupsleftfoot 10,872]

How's Charlie Lindsay looking? Potential first team player?

[plymouthranger 3,872]

9 minutes ago, Elfideldo said:

In my opinion there are a couple of reasons, Lowland League has impacted Rangers and celtic Under 18's to some extent. Probably celtic more so as they have fielded a lot of U18's in the Lowland League, Rangers have played a few.

Last season's U16's group moving into this season's 18's group as U17's were culled with only four getting pro contracts. Two U17's were recruited externally, so only six full-time U17's. There are a further four from last season's 16's on amateur contracts, none of those four have started any 18's game. So the squad is quite thin on numbers. By contrast celtic gave most, if not all of their 16's from last season pro contracts.

The three defeats have been close games. Both celtic and Hibs probably deserved to edge wins. Dundee United was a strange one, Rangers had the bulk of possession but the two u17 centre backs struggled against a big powerful striker and we lost poor goals to lose 1-3.

Early games suggest Dundee United and Hibs are two of the stronger teams in the league, the coming week may tell us more with home games against Aberdeen and Motherwell.

Thought so, interesting to hear about the difference in approach between us and them. Seems we’re really trying to focus on quality and filter out the deadwood as early as possible, compared to our approach 10-15 years ago which was to have a massively inflated youth set up full of players who wouldn’t ever make it. 
 

In the North East of England where I’m based, Sunderland have tried to do the same and have had much more success bringing through youth recently, compared to Newcastle and Boro who have 100s in the youth set up. That might be influenced by the issues Sunderland have had with external signings, but it’s interesting how different their model is (I play cricket occasionally with one of their youth team GK coaches).