Reserves and Academy 2025-26

[Dante Lavelli]

Given we won the triple last year, we appear to be under-represented at England U21 and U17 levels.  Are these specific age groups missing our sweet spot(s) or is the bar higher for international recognition?

[paul_e]

Given we won the triple last year, we appear to be under-represented at England U21 and U17 levels.  Are these specific age groups missing our sweet spot(s) or is the bar higher for international recognition?

I think at least part of it is that certain teams get watched more and their players tend to get age group call ups easier. It changes at U21 but before that you often see big groups from a handful of clubs and then only truly exceptional players from elsewhere.

[Drummond]

The other thing is that a lot of our players are younger than their representative age group when playing for us so still have time.

[paul_e]

The other thing is that a lot of our players are younger than their representative age group when playing for us so still have time.

Absolutely, loads of the U21 squad are still young enough to play U18s.

[Percy McCarthy]

Put these here rather than in ‘other games.

Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:

https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA

[Percy McCarthy]

Only goal of the game for our boy Alfie Lynskey:

https://x.com/academyavfc/status/1989762024109207936?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA

[Somniloquism]

Put these here rather than in ‘other games.

Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:

https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA

Apart from "its a great delivery" and "it was great work as well from Burrowes, perfect weight on the cross"

[Percy McCarthy]

Put these here rather than in ‘other games.

Obviously, ITV don’t mention the great cross for the assist, but I will:

https://x.com/itvfootball/status/1989682217409187893?s=46&t=GdM6cpVxe5IloByNCRheWA

Apart from "its a great delivery" and "it was great work as well from Burrowes, perfect weight on the cross"

Oh yeah haha! He did say ‘great delivery’ and I didn’t watch the replay. Anchored in paranoia I am!

[Smithy]

There's 7-8 kids in the 16-18 range that seem to be really highly rated, hopefully we can get a couple of them through into the first team over the next few years and save ourselves a lot of money.

Where is the youngest Ramsey brother these days? Cole I think? He was very highly thought of a few years ago back when Arron was starring in the youth team and Jacob in the first team (but he was obviously VERY young back then, still at school I think).  I would have thought he'd be youth team age now?

[paul_e]

There's 7-8 kids in the 16-18 range that seem to be really highly rated, hopefully we can get a couple of them through into the first team over the next few years and save ourselves a lot of money.

Where is the youngest Ramsey brother these days? Cole I think? He was very highly thought of a few years ago back when Arron was starring in the youth team and Jacob in the first team (but he was obviously VERY young back then, still at school I think).  I would have thought he'd be youth team age now?

He's still with the U18s right now and seems to be getting a decent amount of games but not many starts. We have a lot of very good midfielders in that squad though so he's competing with Jack Mcgrath for game time and the latter is, from what I've been told, the most exciting kid we have right now. The other ones at that level my mate likes are Markie Meade, Leon Routh and Farid Addey.

From the next 'set' I've been told we have a young striker called Oscar Johnson who could be worth keeping an eye on, he's only just turned 15 in the summer so he's a way off yet.

[Mister E]

It seems to me that - looking short-term - we need to find out whether Wilson and Cotcher have got what it takes to score goals in the Premier League. Both have been feted for their potential but neither have been really tested yet.
It's wishful thinking on my part, of course: I'd love to see an 18-19 yr-old come through into the first team and score goals! Fulham, Geordies, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Wham - all have promoted youngsters in this season and seen the benefits.