Academy & U21s

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Redcar and Marske, both on the North East coast if my memory serves me well.

[Exiled_Rover]

On 21/12/2025 at 10:21, KentExile said:

Litherland has a lot of plaudits in this section of the forum, a year older than Atcheson, but both have the potential to make it at Championship level (at least).  Both did ok in National League North loans last season also

Dlamini was a surprise selection, a winger (when we don't play with them) who has only played 6 times for the U21s this season, Joseph (an actual striker who has scored goals this season for the U21s) would have made more sense

I wonder why Powell doesn't get a look in as as LWB?

[KentExile]

Already looks an upgrade on De Neve, makes little sense to me why he wasn't at least on the bench in recent weeks with Hedges out

[KentExile]

14 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Redcar and Marske, both on the North East coast if my memory serves me well.

2 more, from a bit further afield, I think one of these was mentioned in another part of the forum a few weeks ago

 

[cesus]

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

[bluebruce]

19 minutes ago, cesus said:

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

Still on the books. 5 PL2 games for the U21s this season. Plus 2 PL Cup, 2 National League Cup.

[KentExile]

10 hours ago, cesus said:

Does Jake Batty play football at any level for us anymore? I remember him going to Stanley and playing quite a lot for them last season but haven't heard much this season.

 

10 hours ago, bluebruce said:

Still on the books. 5 PL2 games for the U21s this season. Plus 2 PL Cup, 2 National League Cup.

Although he had some injury issues, he did well when he played for Accrington in League 2 last season, mainly at left wing back, winning their young player of the season awards

You would have thought that would have meant that he should have either pushed on or be sold last summer, he was a given a 1 year deal with an option during last summer, but has looked disinterested in the few games he has featured for the U21s (9 games in all competitions) this year

Seems to have now been overtaken by Brandon Powell

Edited 6 hours ago by KentExile

[chaddyrovers]

28 minutes ago, KentExile said:

 

Although he had some injury issues, he did well when he played for Accrington in League 2 last season, mainly at left wing back, winning their young player of the season awards

You would have thought that would have meant that he should have either pushed on or be sold last summer, he was a given a 1 year deal with an option during last summer, but has looked disinterested in the few games he has featured for the U21s (9 games in all competitions) this year

Seems to have now been surpassed by Brandon Powell

Pointless re-sign him

[KentExile]

7 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Pointless re-sign him

should have been loaned out again, silly decision not to do so

[chaddyrovers]

20 minutes ago, KentExile said:

should have been loaned out again, silly decision not to do so

I think he think we shouldn't have re-sign him and allow him to find a club where he would be first team starter, that was never going to be the case here

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

I think he think we shouldn't have re-sign him and allow him to find a club where he would be first team starter, that was never going to be the case here

I think that's a big assumption. He is still only 20 and used to be seen as a major prospect. Pratt has only made his breakthrough at 22.

[chaddyrovers]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

I think that's a big assumption. He is still only 20 and used to be seen as a major prospect. Pratt has only made his breakthrough at 22.

Just my thoughts on Batty. Said the same point in the summer. Tho you make a a valid fair point

[philipl]

We can easily forget that so many of our youngsters have lost a year or more to serious injuries. I tend not to look at the ages of our Academy graduates. Scott Wharton is still a promising youngster in my mind yet he is 28.

[bluebruce]

1 hour ago, philipl said:

We can easily forget that so many of our youngsters have lost a year or more to serious injuries. I tend not to look at the ages of our Academy graduates. Scott Wharton is still a promising youngster in my mind yet he is 28.

Wow, 28, that surprised me. Thought he was about 26. Definitely not a promising youngster anymore though!

Amazing that he made his debut in 2016, and yet hasn't made 100 league appearances for us yet (98 according to Wiki). He has some 210 total career appearances, but injuries have definitely done a number on the poor lad. Hope his brother avoids that fate.