Reserves and Academy 2020-21

[OCD]

First off, I assume he's a close relative to our Chukwuemeka and secondly, I wonder if we're the Premier League club that's in for him?

https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/12181501/caleb-chukwuemeka-club-brugge-interested-in-northampton-town-teenager

[cdbearsfan]

It's his brother.

[OCD]

I assumed it probably would be. Interesting to see if they add to the Ramsey brothers.

[paul_e]

If it is us I'd hope the plan is loan him straight back for a while, I don't like the idea of taking a player from a small club like that on the cheap not long after they've broken through, especially if it's to stick him in the reserves. See what happened to Bedeau for example.

[Risso]

Perhaps it is us after my in depth scouting report last year!

Spoiler for Hiden:

He's quick

[OCD]

If it is us I'd hope the plan is loan him straight back for a while, I don't like the idea of taking a player from a small club like that on the cheap not long after they've broken through, especially if it's to stick him in the reserves. See what happened to Bedeau for example.

Signing him and loaning him straight back would be a no-brainer for me and would in similar circumstances.

[Drummond]

Shame we haven't got Archer still for tonight.

[Exeter 77]

Shame we haven't got Archer still for tonight.

I think he would be cup-tied anyway.

[Legion]

He would have been.

[OCD]

Of the kids that I wasn't previously aware of, I thought Sylla, Rowe and Onodi looked good. Brad Young when he came off the bench too.

Of the kids that I was aware of, Barry, Bridge and Kaine-Kesler looked good.

Looked really well organised and there seems to be plenty of strength in depth, especially considering there were a number not involved (mostly ones with very good reputations like Aaron Ramsey, Clarke, Chukwuemba, Philogene-Bidace and Archer). Not including Jacob Ramsey either.

[Risso]

I'd be surprised if at least 2-3 of those lads didn't make the grade with us.

[eamonn]

Its just too early to tell. Our class of 2002 looked the dogs bollocks and beat an Everton side with Rooney yet apart from Steve Davis, the only others to have sustainable careers in the top two divisions were Ridgewell and Peter Whitts, God rest him.

[paul_e]

Its just too early to tell. Our class of 2002 looked the dogs bollocks and beat an Everton side with Rooney yet apart from Steve Davis, the only others to have sustainable careers in the top two divisions were Ridgewell and Peter Whitts, God rest him.

That's a bit unfair, Luke Moore played nearly 150 premier league games and Henderson was a full Ireland international before having to retire from injury at the age where goalkeepers are generally becoming first choice. That's 5 players who had good careers (or missed out through injury), I doubt there's many FA youth cup winning sides in the last 20 years that have done much better than that.

[eamonn]

I loved Luke and willed him on for a long time but he faded very quickly and was after leaving us was a bit part player at teams fighting relegation or in the Championship. The vast majority of his PL starts were with us and that was less than 40.

Henderson, being a fellow Irish man, was another I was hoping would make it for us but again he didn't carve out a PL career with us or anyone else.

[LukeJames]

Of the kids that I wasn't previously aware of, I thought Sylla, Rowe and Onodi looked good. Brad Young when he came off the bench too.

Probably going to sound harsh here as he made a few great saves, especially the double in the first half from Fabinho/Salah but Onodi look a bit dodgy too me. The 1st and 3rd goals, I think he dived about a week too late and there was a dissalowed goal that he fumbled.

Like I say, probably a bit to harsh as we have been spoiled with an excellent GK this year and he was playing against one of the best teams of this Century so far but thats the feelings I got from watching it.