With the first team playing this Friday and Mayday Monday,maybe some of you are wondering where to go on the next two Saturday’s.Well,the academy are home both Saturday mornings.Why not pop along to see Livermore,Twamley and the other great prospects,Bright,Karadogan,Sonny Lewis,Ryan - Phillips and the rest and see our future first team players for yourself.

The academy has got to play a big part in the future of the club. Good luck to them all. Nothing is perfect of course but I just wish they could get a few things better organised.

The kids who play in the age 8 group went to Old Trafford recently and played against Utd and Fulham. They were well beaten, no issue there. For some unknown reason only some of the kids got certificates. Very odd. A distant family member (great grandson of a true County legend) was heartbroken. I just think they need to do more to keep the kids onside, not just play on their enthusiasm.

I hope the names you mentioned go on to good things. We could do with them in the future. Some say we could do with them now.

pembsexile wrote: April 18th, 2022, 8:07 am The academy has got to play a big part in the future of the club. Good luck to them all. Nothing is perfect of course but I just wish they could get a few things better organised.

The kids who play in the age 8 group went to Old Trafford recently and played against Utd and Fulham. They were well beaten, no issue there. For some unknown reason only some of the kids got certificates. Very odd. A distant family member (great grandson of a true County legend) was heartbroken. I just think they need to do more to keep the kids onside, not just play on their enthusiasm.

I hope the names you mentioned go on to good things. We could do with them in the future. Some say we could do with them now.

Was that the first team? There are different grades within the academy system, and based on my experience I would say that a lot more could be done in the "development" and "shadow" teams.

rncfc wrote: April 18th, 2022, 9:00 am

pembsexile wrote: April 18th, 2022, 8:07 am The academy has got to play a big part in the future of the club. Good luck to them all. Nothing is perfect of course but I just wish they could get a few things better organised.

The kids who play in the age 8 group went to Old Trafford recently and played against Utd and Fulham. They were well beaten, no issue there. For some unknown reason only some of the kids got certificates. Very odd. A distant family member (great grandson of a true County legend) was heartbroken. I just think they need to do more to keep the kids onside, not just play on their enthusiasm.

I hope the names you mentioned go on to good things. We could do with them in the future. Some say we could do with them now.

Was that the first team? There are different grades within the academy system, and based on my experience I would say that a lot more could be done in the "development" and "shadow" teams.

Don’t honestly know the answer to that one. I will try and find out. All I really know is that the lad is football and County mad and plays/trains with the academy. Not sure what level/grade.

They are home on the next two Saturday mornings,come along folks and see for yourselves how good some of them are.That is the U18’s with Livermore,Twamley and co.

Final reminder,come down in the morning to see Livermore,Twamley and explain to me why they aren’t in the first team.

With Rochdale being a dead rubber for both clubs I would bring them in wholesale.

George Street-Bridge wrote: April 23rd, 2022, 6:04 am With Rochdale being a dead rubber for both clubs I would bring them in wholesale.

Woodiwiss,Twamley and Livermore should have had game time this season.The first two have been on loan so they cannot play and ,Livermore has been released along with other promising lads like Ryan-Phillips.Better news is that Harrison Bright and Jack Karadogan have signed pro forms so should both start.Sonny Lewis still has a year to go in the academy but should be in squad as well imo.The others I wouldn’t risk although there are a couple who may come through in time.

Forgot to say,as I am still gutted to lose Livermore,we beat Bristol Rovers 3-1.Ryan-Phillips was good,as always,and scored the first even though he has been released he was professional in his performance as was Dixon and Charlie.Why they cannot be kept for the Development squad is a mystery.

2-2 draw with Swindon today.Callum Ryan-Phillips and Dixon Kabonga were the best players on the pitch but,both have been released.I don’t get it,is it that the club won’t be having a Development team next season ?,they would be perfect for that to step up to the next level.No Bright or Karadogan today so,possibly in the squad for Port Vale.

I suspect that if any of the above was ready / good enough they would be around the first team squad. If they are not good enough no point in playing them, if they are not ready it could do more damage play one, two three of them and get hammered and confidence ruined it is not Papa John’s kick about it is L2 with professionals playing for their future.

I understand what you are saying but,have you seen them play,probably not.I have seen the academy about eight times this year and,they have both been consistent every time.I agree that you don’t throw too many in at once but my point is,where is the Development squad,will we have one next year,if so,why aren’t these lads staying.The purpose of a Development squad is for lads to move up a level to see if they can progress further.Ryan-Phillips scored again today,he is a CB,he has scored from set plays on a regular basis,he defends well winning his headers and battles,why is he going.The reason must be that the club will not have a Development squad next season,my question is,why not,it cannot be that he hasn’t impressed because I think he has,he has been consistent for two years so ,why is he leaving.

Perhaps we cannot afford to have a Development team, with a trim needed on the number of players on the books. I agree we should have one, or an under 23s, so that young players continue with the County with a view of making the first team.

Percy plunkett wrote: April 30th, 2022, 11:49 pm I understand what you are saying but,have you seen them play,probably not.I have seen the academy about eight times this year and,they have both been consistent every time.I agree that you don’t throw too many in at once but my point is,where is the Development squad,will we have one next year,if so,why aren’t these lads staying.The purpose of a Development squad is for lads to move up a level to see if they can progress further.Ryan-Phillips scored again today,he is a CB,he has scored from set plays on a regular basis,he defends well winning his headers and battles,why is he going.The reason must be that the club will not have a Development squad next season,my question is,why not,it cannot be that he hasn’t impressed because I think he has,he has been consistent for two years so ,why is he leaving.

I have not seen them play and from reports / results they appear to compete well at their level. The key is can they step up, I guess finances and available games may be the issue with a Development Squad we started this season with that aim but how many games did they play and I question how competitive it is compared to league football and against experienced pro’s.
The other issue is that the academy has never produced a league player to date - we have had luck picking up cast offs from Cardiff / Bristol and adding a final bit of development but none home grown, does this suggest issues at the early ages in terms of selection, development and quality?
I have been watching County 50 years and these discussions were around in the 70’s we had a good run for a while Aizlewood, Lowndes and Vaughan I believe came through the youth set up but there was a reserve team in those days which clubs can no longer afford or have an appetite for.

Being able to use five subs next season should increase opportunities for younger players. I'm not sure five is a good idea but kids sitting on the bench when it's three from seven are likely to stay there while also missing out on game time at their own level.