K.D.D.D.D.Soc
Ian Walker
That's interesting, should help playing against men in games that mean something.
Good to see Edwards (and others) getting experience with the first team (such as it will be for the overseas tour)
That's great news, keep dangling the carrot of first team football in front of Edwards and hopefully we can get that contract signed.
Good to see Edwards (and others) getting experience with the first team (such as it will be for the overseas tour)
Good to see Edwards (and others) getting experience with the first team (such as it will be for the overseas tour)
It is a difficult one to manage, I would imagine, as some young players may have their heads turned whilst others will be more settled/be open to listening to good advice. I can only hope it works out for him.
Hopefully the majority of youngsters would be able to look at the academy players who do go on to have successful careers, either with us, or eventually with other clubs and see that there is a progression path worth sticking around for. We already have a few good role models, and the likes of Edwards now getting a promotion can only help (although is there a risk that him being fast-tracked means someone else feels they are pushed down the pecking order?).
Does anyone know how Veljkovic has fared since moving to Werder Bremen?
On another note, I see that it has now been formally announced that our Academy is one of those invited to take in part in the expanded EFL Trophy (former Johnstons Paint), in which the starting 11 for each game must include at least 6 U21s.
Other PL teams participating : Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Liverpool, Emirates Marketing Project, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Saudi Sportswashing Machine, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.
http://www.efl.com/news/article/2016/efl-trophy-format-confirmed-for-201617-3170687.aspx
I assume the idea is to make U21s more competitive, raise the profile of the competition, and generate funds (eg. shared gate receipts) for clubs in Leagues One and Two but I am sure I have seen some dissenting articles previously from fans of teams in those divisions who take a somewhat different view.
I had assumed "invited" was just a way of saying those clubs had already been approached and agreed to participate. You would think that would be the sensible way to do things, rather than potentially devalue the whole exercise by having clubs publicly decline.We declined our EFL Trophy invite - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/tottenham-join-manchester-united-rejecting-8371543