Youth

[dirty leeds]

Well, that was a very decent first half for our kids against West Ham's older lads. Ron Weasley [McGurk] looked very neat and tidy, as did McCarron and McKinstry. Moore pretty good at the back, too.
Miller out wide on the left hasn't achieved very much so far.
Nil-nil at H-T is good going, though. WHU's lads are top of the U23s league right now - and may prove to be too strong by the last quarter.

[rss1969]

It has been thoroughly enjoyable watching the U23's over the last 3 seasons (it would be when we have been winning most weeks) as it has been the 1st team.

This season has been quite depressing by contrast. The injuries have just battered us throughout.

We have not had a comfortable win in 19 games at 1st team level and it has been a right old struggle.

The U23's has been an equally frustrating watch (obviously with a lot less at stake) having to accept that we are 2nd best to nearly every opponent whilst knowing that with anything like a full strength team we would put most of them to the sword.

It would be great to see all three age levels have more or less fit squads for the most part of the remaining season and see what comes of it.

These lads are putting a right shift in though and this experience must help the younger ones development.

[dirty leeds]

Yeah, we lost 3-0, but all the same, it was a good showing for the young lads. Our U23 first 11 would probably have beaten them, but they were too strong and quick in the second half. It's quite a step up, 18s against 22/23-year-olds. Our lads looked knackered again by the end. Good experience, though.

[Mustafaster]

Yeah, we lost 3-0, but all the same, it was a good showing for the young lads. Our U23 first 11 would probably have beaten them, but they were too strong and quick in the second half. It's quite a step up, 18s against 22/23-year-olds. Our lads looked knackered again by the end. Good experience, though.

Mebbe, mebbe not-.
Getting twatted by Big Boys can be dispiriting.
This injury apocalypse is bad for everybody.
The season is going to be conditioned at all levels by the ridiculous injury list.
Once is happenstance, twice coincidence, three times ...
Questions have to be asked.

[Bobbycollins]

Yeah, we lost 3-0, but all the same, it was a good showing for the young lads. Our U23 first 11 would probably have beaten them, but they were too strong and quick in the second half. It's quite a step up, 18s against 22/23-year-olds. Our lads looked knackered again by the end. Good experience, though.

Mebbe, mebbe not-.
Getting twatted by Big Boys can be dispiriting.
Questions have to be asked.

I dunno. Anyone who played from schoolboy onwards has always been beaten by older, stronger, more experienced teams. The good players just get on with improving. It's (in my experinece) only when twatted by teams of a similar stature that you realise it's just a hobby and the world cup final dreams recede.

[Phil LUFC]

I see we're very much at the bottom end of PL2 (not surprisingly). Obviously the first team has to be the priority but it'd be a massive shame for ongoing youth team development if we didn't retain our status at the top table for the U23s as well.

[metalsmurf]

Good result away at group leaders Wigan with a young team out. 2 screamers from Kennah and Dean according to the blog.

[eric olthwaite]

Just seen the video of Dean’s. Proper screamer.

[Oheddieeddie]

[rss1969]

https://twitter.com/lufchistory/status/1483054350465388544?s=21

Wonderful stuff

It would be brilliant if one or even two of the Grandkids could break through.

[rss1969]

We play Derby in the U23's tonight

McCarron is 20 and there are 2 19 yr olds.............apart from the keeper the rest are 18 or under.

[Andymac-47]

1-0 up, with this beauty.

[dirty leeds]

McCarron playing very well and young Archie Gray looks a real prospect.

[Andymac-47]

Belfasts very own, with a lovely finish.

[dirty leeds]

Well, they had to hang onto what they had for most of that half and even came up with a goal to clinch it. Battling performance from another load of youngsters. Ref was a bit useless.

[Phil LUFC]

Just looked at the table, big result that. Playing bottom of the table Blackburn next week so another important game. That would be a good game to go as string as possible in given there's no first team games for a while after Newcastle.

[rss1969]

Well, they had to hang onto what they had for most of that half and even came up with a goal to clinch it. Battling performance from another load of youngsters. Ref was a bit useless.

Yep, great battling win against a much bigger and older team.

Once we get players back we will climb the table.

[Tommy]

Can't help but wonder where Summerville is. Little bit worried that he's going to do a Drameh.

[easyone]

https://twitter.com/lufchistory/status/1483054350465388544?s=21

Apparently Harry is the most talented of the lot (with huge caveats that he is - you know - a child). My mate used to do physio for some of the youth teams and talked loads about how he was regularly scoring 6/7/8 goals in games (admittedly at U10 / U11 level, but also against the best academies in the country).

[rss1969]

Can't help but wonder where Summerville is. Little bit worried that he's going to do a Drameh.

The youths are playing Cambridge in the FA Y Cup on Wednesday, I can see him getting 45 minutes in that game along with a few others.