Development/Youth Squads 2024/2025 Thread - U18/U21

[brookfox]

Alves, Popov, McAteer, Hamza and Thomas all on the pitch. They may not all be superstars but it's not dreadful.

[Shane]

Pleased for Popov.

 

Like Alves and Braybrooke he has struggled with injuries and done well to make a come back.. Hopefully he can progress in his career now

 

[kenny]

50 minutes ago, South Shire Fox said:

Hes no way near ready for Prem football. Hes still built like a 14 year old girl

Agreed. Totally different once he has the ball.

 

I suspect Cooper took 1 look at him and thought no, too small. I suspect he isn't keen on Ricardo for the same reason.

[UniFox21]

Popov looked with it, unlucky with a poor Mcateer pass and a bad first touch otherwise could've easily had a goal.

[Ric Flair]

Thought that Luke Thomas looked steady

[UniFox21]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

Thought that Luke Thomas looked steady

It's quite sad to see that he hasn't kicked on at all really. Shame for him

[moore_94]

6 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Thought that Luke Thomas looked steady

Needs a really good loan this season, especially compared to the ones he had last season

[Ric Flair]

4 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Needs a really good loan this season, especially compared to the ones he had last season

I still can't help but root for him. There's a solid player in there somewhere but think it was easier to carry him when we were a top 8 PL side than the struggles we'll now face. 

 

Tricky one. Both him and Kristiansen suit being a stay at home left back in Cooper's system and then push Ricardo or Justin up.

[Stormfox]

5 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Needs a really good loan this season, especially compared to the ones he had last season

Yeah, needs his confidence rebuilt 

[Holly B]

22 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Any ideas where Jake Evans is? Injured?

Correct

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-must-act-100m-9513694

 

Leicester City must act on £100m King Power academy investment or risk future transfer windfall
Leicester City news and opinions as Josh Holland highlights the Foxes' highly potential youth academy and its importance

ByJosh HollandFootball Writer
05:00, 29 AUG 2024

Leicester City have an unique opportunity to become something they never managed to do. In 2021, the club opened its brand new training ground in Seagrave in the latest move by King Power to elevate it to the pinnacle of world football.

The training complex, which if you have visited, is something special. Costing £100million in the north of the county, Leicester has one of the best training facilities in England.

21 playing surfaces - including 14 full-size pitches - a 499-seater floodlit pitch, customised gym and hydrotherapy facilities are all included in the transformational investment made by the club owners. But despite all of this, there is one growing concern.

 

Prior to the Foxes' Carabao Cup second round win over Tranmere Rovers, there were frustrations over the lack of opportunities for the exciting prospects in the academy. Steve Cooper, who is renowned for working and developing wonderkids through his time with England, named highly-rated Will Alves and striker Chris Popov on his bench and handed them over 20 minutes.

However, there were fears that there would be no sign of the exciting academy talent and that's a problem. If you didn't know, and you would not be blamed as the clubs official social media channels don't cover like others, City's Under-21s defeated Liverpool last weekend thanks to goals from Amani Richards.

Right now, there are a number of exciting profiles coming through the ranks. Alves, Sammy Braybrooke and Logan Briggs are all players well-known for their cameo appearances in the first-team. Away from them, the likes of Josh King, Jake Evans, Jayden Joseph and Jeremy Monga are full of potential.

Jake Evans
Jake Evans is one of many highly-rated youngsters at Leicester City (Image: Plumb Images)
On Tuesday, after Wilfred Ndidi made it 3-0, excitement built around the King Power Stadium and with fans at home when Alves and Popov came on. Despite the encouragement of Alves and the Under-18s stars, there is a feeling that the club are missing a trick with the academy. Clubs around the world are well-respected for their utilisation of youth development.

Benfica have raised over £300milllion through the sales of academy graduates such as Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Neves and Ederson. Ajax have made over £210m from Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Jurrien Timber and Donny van de Beek.

In England, despite their recent criticism, Chelsea have raised £217m from Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Lewis Hall. In years gone by, Leicester have reaped the rewards for their fine tuning in the academy, but that feeling has somewhat dwindled recently.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harvey Barnes left the club for a combined fee of £68m in the last two summers with Ben Chilwell bringing in £45m in 2020. Hamza Choudhury, Ben Nelson, Luke Thomas and Kasey McAteer are all part of the first-team. It's easy to imagine the financial situation the club would find themselves in without the handful of successes.

Only recently, Trey Nyoni and Tyrese Noubissie joined Liverpool and Manchester City respectively for small fees. The cases of those two players are ones that could occur more frequently if the idea of using the academy to the clubs advantage isn't used more often.

More simply has to be done. Among all of the criticism off-the-pitch, the academy at Leicester is a goldmine. Seeing a player progress through the ranks, become a first-team regular and then being sold to inherit millions is a difficult, but simple, method to help balance the books.

When you think of Ajax, Benfica, Chelsea, Southampton and Athletic Bilbao, promoting youth is a key principle in their strategy as a club. Leicester have to consider this and be a key blueprint of the club, while also keeping the priority on getting results at first-team level.

[James_lcfc]

5 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-must-act-100m-9513694

 

Leicester City must act on £100m King Power academy investment or risk future transfer windfall
Leicester City news and opinions as Josh Holland highlights the Foxes' highly potential youth academy and its importance

ByJosh HollandFootball Writer
05:00, 29 AUG 2024

Leicester City have an unique opportunity to become something they never managed to do. In 2021, the club opened its brand new training ground in Seagrave in the latest move by King Power to elevate it to the pinnacle of world football.

The training complex, which if you have visited, is something special. Costing £100million in the north of the county, Leicester has one of the best training facilities in England.

21 playing surfaces - including 14 full-size pitches - a 499-seater floodlit pitch, customised gym and hydrotherapy facilities are all included in the transformational investment made by the club owners. But despite all of this, there is one growing concern.

 

Prior to the Foxes' Carabao Cup second round win over Tranmere Rovers, there were frustrations over the lack of opportunities for the exciting prospects in the academy. Steve Cooper, who is renowned for working and developing wonderkids through his time with England, named highly-rated Will Alves and striker Chris Popov on his bench and handed them over 20 minutes.

However, there were fears that there would be no sign of the exciting academy talent and that's a problem. If you didn't know, and you would not be blamed as the clubs official social media channels don't cover like others, City's Under-21s defeated Liverpool last weekend thanks to goals from Amani Richards.

Right now, there are a number of exciting profiles coming through the ranks. Alves, Sammy Braybrooke and Logan Briggs are all players well-known for their cameo appearances in the first-team. Away from them, the likes of Josh King, Jake Evans, Jayden Joseph and Jeremy Monga are full of potential.

Jake Evans
Jake Evans is one of many highly-rated youngsters at Leicester City (Image: Plumb Images)
On Tuesday, after Wilfred Ndidi made it 3-0, excitement built around the King Power Stadium and with fans at home when Alves and Popov came on. Despite the encouragement of Alves and the Under-18s stars, there is a feeling that the club are missing a trick with the academy. Clubs around the world are well-respected for their utilisation of youth development.

Benfica have raised over £300milllion through the sales of academy graduates such as Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Neves and Ederson. Ajax have made over £210m from Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Jurrien Timber and Donny van de Beek.

In England, despite their recent criticism, Chelsea have raised £217m from Mason Mount, Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Lewis Hall. In years gone by, Leicester have reaped the rewards for their fine tuning in the academy, but that feeling has somewhat dwindled recently.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harvey Barnes left the club for a combined fee of £68m in the last two summers with Ben Chilwell bringing in £45m in 2020. Hamza Choudhury, Ben Nelson, Luke Thomas and Kasey McAteer are all part of the first-team. It's easy to imagine the financial situation the club would find themselves in without the handful of successes.

Only recently, Trey Nyoni and Tyrese Noubissie joined Liverpool and Manchester City respectively for small fees. The cases of those two players are ones that could occur more frequently if the idea of using the academy to the clubs advantage isn't used more often.

More simply has to be done. Among all of the criticism off-the-pitch, the academy at Leicester is a goldmine. Seeing a player progress through the ranks, become a first-team regular and then being sold to inherit millions is a difficult, but simple, method to help balance the books.

When you think of Ajax, Benfica, Chelsea, Southampton and Athletic Bilbao, promoting youth is a key principle in their strategy as a club. Leicester have to consider this and be a key blueprint of the club, while also keeping the priority on getting results at first-team level.

Exactly what @Ric Flair was talking about on the latest podcast.

 

Academy has always been important, but it's even more so nowadays.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

We simply have to become a youth focussed club. If Rudkin and King Power are staying it's the only way we remain financially viable.

[Ric Flair]

12 minutes ago, James_lcfc said:

Exactly what @Ric Flair was talking about on the latest podcast.

 

Academy has always been important, but it's even more so nowadays.

I may or may not have contributed to this article 😂😂😂😂

[ramadaone]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I may or may not have contributed to this article 😂😂😂😂

Hope you didn't contribute this part

"Only recently, Trey Nyoni and Tyrese Noubissie joined Liverpool and Manchester City respectively for small fees"

 

Trey's is not finalised for one thing and it won't be small a fee but guess it depends on what you call small

[Ric Flair]

12 minutes ago, ramadaone said:

Hope you didn't contribute this part

"Only recently, Trey Nyoni and Tyrese Noubissie joined Liverpool and Manchester City respectively for small fees"

 

Trey's is not finalised for one thing and it won't be small a fee but guess it depends on what you call small

Hahaha no I didn't. I reckon we're on for £5-10m for Nyoni surely? Noubissie I think it was reported that Man City paid us north of a million or so and was amicable.

[Will1981]

On 27/08/2024 at 22:11, Ric Flair said:

I still can't help but root for him. There's a solid player in there somewhere but think it was easier to carry him when we were a top 8 PL side than the struggles we'll now face. 

 

Tricky one. Both him and Kristiansen suit being a stay at home left back in Cooper's system and then push Ricardo or Justin up.

I agree with this but where does it leave Fatawa with Justin or Ricardo going into RW where Fatawa is most effective.

[Noahfence]

Amani Richards to Exeter on loan. Great move to League one for him. 

[Ryy]

Great to see he’s signed a new contract aswell

[moore_94]

Highlights from the Under 21s 2-1 win against Liverpool
 

Richards 1st goal at 1:17

 

Liverpool equaliser at 3:25

 

Braybrooke missed penalty at 5:20

 

Richards 2nd goal at 9:20

 

 

[lcfc sheff]

will be nice to have a little loan army this season, just need Nelson and Briggs to get their move and we can sight back and watch.

[lanefox]

5 hours ago, Noahfence said:

Amani Richards to Exeter on loan. Great move to League one for him. 

They'll be competing in the top of table , everyone loves a comparison this could be like when KDH went Blackpool 

[RobHawk]

In an ideal world I think there should be another 5 or 6 going out on loan tomorrow. Probably won't happen but the more we can get out playing first team football the better imo. 

[ALC Fox]

Another upside of these loans is that the gaps will be filled by players from younger age groups, initially on the bench, but they should get chances.

 

It can only bode well for young players to get exposure at a higher level. Should bring their development on as well, in theory.

[Noahfence]

Who do we think could potentially go on loan today then? Looks like Nelson is definitely off to the Championship which is great.
 

Brandon Cover is one I’d like to see get a loan. He’s 21 soon and has played loads of games for the U18s/21s the past few seasons I’d say he’s more than ready now.

 

Looking at the u21 squad Ewing is 21, Wormleighton 20, Godsmark-Ford 21 soon. These need to be experiencing first team football now. 
 

Hopefully we see some movement. 
 

Forgot about Wanya-Marcal who desperately needs to be playing. 

Edited 30 August by Noahfence