Being from NI, I don't get to keep up much with the Academy goings-on. I just want to know if anyone has any knowledge of Academy youngsters who could be on the verge on the first team? Obviously last season we had AOC...and the players I've heard pop up a few times are Foot, Reed, Ward-Prowse and Shaw. Any info would be nice to hear about
Lloyd Foot has just been released but I;ve heard about James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw, Lloyd Isgrove, Sam Hoskins and Jake Sinclair are 1's to look out for mainly
sinclair is very good, scott sinclairs brother dont you know a mate of mine used to play with him when he was at his school, said he would be prem standard
Yep, he's no longer listed on the Academy Players on the OS (along with 4/5 others) and he's moving to Sweden in the summer
Must say im looking foward to Jack Stephens, shame he couldn't play last season, sounded really good. Fingers crossed him, Shaw and Ward-Prowse get a look in
At the Eastleigh friendly at the beginning of last season Lloyd Isgrove looked really good but doesn't appeared to have progressed.
He's just signed a professional deal, around 3-years (i think) and I've heard rave reviews about him all season
It's interesting this. I've just read this months 442 mag and they have an article detailing 20 players they named in 1996 as stars of the future. Only about 3 or 4 became stars, some played a bit in lower leagues, but most bombed out. The same will happen with our youngsters.
To be fair to 442, thats not a bad strike rate. Better than most clubs get. If one or two come through then we've done well.
I agree with that. I was amazed that some of the names I had never even heard of. It is actually good inspiration for those youngsters not yet knocking on the first team door as it shows that so mean of those who seem destined to make it, don't get there. AOC wasn't even in the youth team season before last and then look what happened this year.
Does anyone here go to youth games and have an unbiased report on the players (ie. you're not a parent/best mate/gf/bf of one of the players!)? I know Staplewood isn't the most accessible, so I'm not getting my hopes up.
I met Lloyd Isgrove a few months ago and I didn't realise how small he is. Made me wonder if he will ever make it, Chamberlain is short but reasonably well built. Isgrove is no where near as developed. I'd be surprised if he made it. Think he sign a 1-year deal recently.