U21’s qualify for last 16

Beverleyred

Beverleyred

Well-known member
U21’s qualified for the last 16 of the Premier League Cup with a resounding 4-0 win at Birmingham City. Sitting bottom of the group before kick off they needed a big scoring win and Ipswich had to lose or not score. Crystal Palace beat them at Portman Road, so Boro qualified. Two from Ajay Matthews and one apiece for AJ Bridge and Law McCabe.
 
Beverleyred said:
U21’s qualified for the last 16 of the Premier League Cup with a resounding 4-0 win at Birmingham City. Sitting bottom of the group before kick off they needed a big scoring win and Ipswich had to lose or not score. Crystal Palace beat them at Portman Road, so Boro qualified. Two from Ajay Matthews and one apiece for AJ Bridge and Law McCabe.
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No prizes for guessing the names of our academy lads that Kieren Scott didn’t want to mention..
 
I'm not sure. Most of the bigger academies blood their youngsters up an age group to try and help with their progression. Then the promising ones go out on loan instead of playing under 21 football.
 
Starting XI - Seems we're playing a few of them a year up.
Shea Connor (18)
Frankie Whelan (20)
Jack Hannah (20)
George McCormick (19)
Terrell Agyemang (21)
AJ Bridge (18)
Yacou Traore (19)
Luke Woolston (19)
Oliver Samuels (18)
Ajay Matthews (17)
Law McCabe (17)

Afonso Lindo (19)
George Gitau (20)
Charlie Lennon (17)
Fenton John (19)
 
VestasBoro said:
Starting XI - Seems we're playing a few of them a year up.
Shea Connor (18)
Frankie Whelan (20)
Jack Hannah (20)
George McCormick (19)
Terrell Agyemang (21)
AJ Bridge (18)
Yacou Traore (19)
Luke Woolston (19)
Oliver Samuels (18)
Ajay Matthews (17)
Law McCabe (17)

Afonso Lindo (19)
George Gitau (20)
Charlie Lennon (17)
Fenton John (19)
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I think we have had a bit of a lost generation with our 20+ year old players. We seem to have two good keepers out on loan and that's it. If you look at our u21s aged 20+, most seem to have disappeared. There seem to be a lot of Cal Kavanagh types who we don't think will be able to make the step up to the first team squad.
 
Hackney, Coburn and Brynn will probably be the best of the current generation coming through. I guess that isn't too bad.
 
Listening to Scotty Dog on the 12th man podcast, it sounds like they have high hopes for a few youngsters in the academy. Whether that is from a football progression point of view or a £ sign profit remains to be seen.
 
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Beverleyred said:
Listening to Scotty Dog on the 12th man podcast, it sounds like they have high hopes for a few youngsters in the academy. Whether that is from a football progression point of view or a £ sign profit remains to be seen.
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If they don't make the football progression there isn't going to be extra £. Listening to Scott he also said we're trying to go up and hoping to keep the best young players at the club. If they want to leave then that's another matter.

That's a very young U21 side, well done to them.
 
Bruce said:
I think we have had a bit of a lost generation with our 20+ year old players. We seem to have two good keepers out on loan and that's it. If you look at our u21s aged 20+, most seem to have disappeared. There seem to be a lot of Cal Kavanagh types who we don't think will be able to make the step up to the first team squad.
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I think the same. If they're not in and around the first team at the age of 20-21, you've got to think are they at the right level.

Hackney (21) is the same age as Terrell Agyemang
VDB (19) is the same age as George McCormick, and younger than Jack Hannah
Coburn (21) is a year younger than Gilbert (22)
Thomas, Greenwood, Gilbert and Hoppe are 22 now and should be looking to be playing first team football.

Players develop at different ages and stages and yes Vardy signed for Leicester when he was 25 but i think if you're looking at the law of averages then if you're 20/21yr old having come through the academy where multiple coaches have seen you, seen your progression and you're not anywhere near the first team then chances are it isn't going to happen for you here. Nothing to say they can't go on to have good careers as professional footballers elsewhere though. The club will know who in their mind can step up and who can't, so its their job to push them into the view of other clubs now who can come in and buy them from us.
 
VestasBoro said:
I think the same. If they're not in and around the first team at the age of 20-21, you've got to think are they at the right level.

Hackney (21) is the same age as Terrell Agyemang
VDB (19) is the same age as George McCormick, and younger than Jack Hannah
Coburn (21) is a year younger than Gilbert (22)
Thomas, Greenwood, Gilbert and Hoppe are 22 now and should be looking to be playing first team football.

Players develop at different ages and stages and yes Vardy signed for Leicester when he was 25 but i think if you're looking at the law of averages then if you're 20/21yr old having come through the academy where multiple coaches have seen you, seen your progression and you're not anywhere near the first team then chances are it isn't going to happen for you here. Nothing to say they can't go on to have good careers as professional footballers elsewhere though. The club will know who in their mind can step up and who can't, so its their job to push them into the view of other clubs now who can come in and buy them from us.
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Hackney (21) is the same age as Terrell Agyemang
- still hope Agyemang can make it

VDB (19)
is the same age as George McCormick, and younger than Jack Hannah
-top, top level defender

Coburn (21)
is a year younger than Gilbert (22)
Thomas, Greenwood, Gilbert and Hoppe are 22 now and should be looking to be playing first team football
- yet some question his ability! Greenwood is playing first team..As is Thomas now
Hoppe has been playing.. not for us tho
Gilbert has been injured.. but may well go out on loan.. possibly move on
 
Calum Kavanagh was 19 at the start of the season and now sold for fee

Bryant Bilongo was 21 at the start of the season now loaned out

Another 4 youngsters are loaned out that I imagine could play for the under 21s.

Average ages looks to be just 19 for our current under 21 side.
 
newyddion said:
VDB (19)
is the same age as George McCormick, and younger than Jack Hannah
-top, top level defender
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It incredible to think how talented this kid is, he plays like a seasoned pro, both in his ability and temperament.

Talent will only take you so far, you need to match that with attitude and VDB had both, he could develop into a world class defender.
 
I know it was a cup game so a draw had to be made but it was a pity there was so little notice of the game (I think it went up on the Boro site on Sunday) otherwise there would have been a few more there as you usually get quite a good crowd at Motspur Park - there was only about 100 there last night with one ore two notable Boro absentees who normally get to these games. Fulham probably deserved to win overall but you don't always know how strong teams at this level are - Boro had only one player who has been anywhere near the first team this season (I think). They looked much better after Willis and Finch came on in the second half (Gibson was substituted) and went close a couple of times after equalising with Finch's penalty. The winner was also a penalty late on for a hand ball.
 
Capybara said:
I know it was a cup game so a draw had to be made but it was a pity there was so little notice of the game (I think it went up on the Boro site on Sunday) otherwise there would have been a few more there as you usually get quite a good crowd at Motspur Park - there was only about 100 there last night with one ore two notable Boro absentees who normally get to these games. Fulham probably deserved to win overall but you don't always know how strong teams at this level are - Boro had only one player who has been anywhere near the first team this season (I think). They looked much better after Willis and Finch came on in the second half (Gibson was substituted) and went close a couple of times after equalising with Finch's penalty. The winner was also a penalty late on for a hand ball.
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Thanks for that Capy, great insight into the game.
 
Jonny Ingbar said:
It incredible to think how talented this kid is, he plays like a seasoned pro, both in his ability and temperament.

Talent will only take you so far, you need to match that with attitude and VDB had both, he could develop into a world class defender.
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You would hope VDB and Hackney will be a strong influence on the other young players at the club when they see how a real top prospect behaves off the pitch as well as on it. We saw that in the past with Downing being followed by a batch of reliable young players.
 
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