The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[Loramski]

My review of yesterday's Development team game;-

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

Excellent write-up, thanks. How did Obi do? Do you see a future for him here or is it still too early to say?

I agree with the last paragraph completely. I'm not convinced it's a great idea to recruit released 20-21 year-olds but I think 'a bad plan is better than no plan' applies here. I'd much rather see the club try something different at that level than let things drift aimlessly on as they were.

[the other bob wilson]

Excellent write-up, thanks. How did Obi do? Do you see a future for him here or is it still too early to say?

I agree with the last paragraph completely. I'm not convinced it's a great idea to recruit released 20-21 year-olds but I think 'a bad plan is better than no plan' applies here. I'd much rather see the club try something different at that level than let things drift aimlessly on as they were.

Putting it brutally, I thought Obi was hopeless when he came on and he didn't improve much in the hour or so he was on the pitch - he was one of the players I had in mind when I talked about forwards being greedy in the second half. This was a disappointment, because I thought he did pretty well against Watford - my understanding is that while Brown and the McKay twins have been given two and a half year contracts, Obi's only goes to the end of this season. I mention Brown and Paul McKay look to be improvements on what we had in my piece and I've not seen enough of Jack McKay (who has been injured for much of his time here) to tell one way or another yet, but, based on what I've seen of Obi, I don't see him as being better than what we had.

[the other bob wilson]

City are in the Semi Finals of the Welsh Youth Cup along with Airbus, Connahs Quay Nomads and the jacks after beating Aberystwyth 7-0 at Leckwith yesterday. Sam Bowen got two of the goals and Pinchard (a name I've not come across before) also found the net, but it was Sion Spence with four who took the headlines - he's now got twenty goals in all competitions this season.

According to the club website, there's lunchtime matches at Leckwith tomorrow and on Thursday - the Under 18s take on Millwall tomorrow with a midday kick, while it's a one o clock start on Thursday when the Under 23s face Coventry.

[the other bob wilson]

If anyone was thinking of going along to today's Academy team game, there's been a change of venue and kick off time - it's now at the Vale, kick off 1 o clock according to Twitter.

[the other bob wilson]

A really hard fought 1-0 win for the Under 18s this afternoon over a strong Millwall team - Sion Spence scored his twenty first goal of the season in all competitions to settle the game early in the second half and so it's now five wins in five games for the Academy team.

The large majority of today's team will be in the side which travels to North Wales to face Airbus UK in the Semi Finals of the Welsh Youth Cup next month - Connahs Quay host Swansea in the other Semi with both of them to be played on 18 March.

[emjayblue]

5 wins in a row is impressive at any level. We could do with the first team going on a similar run. We're not exactly blessed with goal scoring midfielders do you think Spence is knocking on the door of our first team squad yet Bob?

[the other bob wilson]

5 wins in a row is impressive at any level. We could do with the first team going on a similar run. We're not exactly blessed with goal scoring midfielders do you think Spence is knocking on the door of our first team squad yet Bob?

I doubt it. There's definitely a deliberate policy to keep Under 18 team players at that level this season, whereas this time last season Spence, and a few others in the Academy side, were appearing for the Development team quite regularly. Maybe if our season tails off and we have a few meaningless games come April and May like we did last year we may see someone like Spence given a game, but I'd be very surprised if any of our youngsters made a first team debut if we're still challenging for a top six finish.

[emjayblue]

I doubt it. There's definitely a deliberate policy to keep Under 18 team players at that level this season, whereas this time last season Spence, and a few others in the Academy side, were appearing for the Development team quite regularly. Maybe if our season tails off and we have a few meaningless games come April and May like we did last year we may see someone like Spence given a game, but I'd be very surprised if any of our youngsters made a first team debut if we're still challenging for a top six finish.

Guess it makes sense, especially given the expected return of midfielders Gunners and Bryson soon. Not sure I agree with holding back prospects from the Academy Team into the Development squad though. To my mind it would do them good to see how they cope, especially with the increased physicality the opposition would provide.

[City123]

I'd rather see Spence on the bench than the likes of Halford

[the other bob wilson]

My report on today's match.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[the other bob wilson]

I mentioned earlier in the thread that today's Development team match at Leckwith was a one o clock kick off, but it's not - the Development team Twitter site is now saying it'll start at two.

[the other bob wilson]

City won this afternoon's game 2-0 with first half goals by Ogo Obl and Kadeem Harris. Craig Bryson played about seventy minutes, Matt Connolly forty five and Kadeem went off with about ten minutes - Max Johnstone of Man United, brother of Villa keeper Sam, was in goals for City.

[emjayblue]

City won this afternoon's game 2-0 with first half goals by Ogo Obl and Kadeem Harris. Craig Bryson played about seventy minutes, Matt Connolly forty five and Kadeem went off with about ten minutes - Max Johnstone of Man United, brother of Villa keeper Sam, was in goals for City.

Hope Max shares his brothers attributes. The best goalkeeping performance I have seen all season was that of Sam Johstone. Although we scored 3 on the day, if it wasn't for his brilliance we'd have scored at least 6. So is Max on trial, not a name I have seen previously?

[Loramski]

Hope Max shares his brothers attributes. The best goalkeeping performance I have seen all season was that of Sam Johstone. Although we scored 3 on the day, if it wasn't for his brilliance we'd have scored at least 6. So is Max on trial, not a name I have seen previously?

Yes. He did ok too. Difficult day for keepers, they played the game on the pitch next to the big blue tenty thing and the wind was howling around there but both keepers coped well. Coventry were poor and we could've scored double figures but Johnstone was tested a few times and had to work for his clean sheet.

Kadeem Harris showed, yet again, that he's far too good for that level. Wasteful in front of goal but he looked sharp. Warnock and Blackwell were there today, I'm sure they'd have been happy with the performances of both Harris and Bryson. Mark Harris was busy up front for us and I thought Obi was decent too, made an effort to link up more today and looked better for it.

[emjayblue]

Yes. He did ok too. Difficult day for keepers, they played the game on the pitch next to the big blue tenty thing and the wind was howling around there but both keepers coped well. Coventry were poor and we could've scored double figures but Johnstone was tested a few times and had to work for his clean sheet.

Kadeem Harris showed, yet again, that he's far too good for that level. Wasteful in front of goal but he looked sharp. Warnock and Blackwell were there today, I'm sure they'd have been happy with the performances of both Harris and Bryson. Mark Harris was busy up front for us and I thought Obi was decent too, made an effort to link up more today and looked better for it.

Thanks for that report fella. Both the Development and Academy are stringing victories together now which is good to see. Encouraging news on the return from injury of both Kadeem and Bryson although with just 48 hours before the Boro game I doubt either will get a place on the bench yet especially as both are returning from long term injuries.

[Cyncoed Slumdog]

Yes. He did ok too. Difficult day for keepers, they played the game on the pitch next to the big blue tenty thing and the wind was howling around there but both keepers coped well. Coventry were poor and we could've scored double figures but Johnstone was tested a few times and had to work for his clean sheet.

Kadeem Harris showed, yet again, that he's far too good for that level. Wasteful in front of goal but he looked sharp. Warnock and Blackwell were there today, I'm sure they'd have been happy with the performances of both Harris and Bryson. Mark Harris was busy up front for us and I thought Obi was decent too, made an effort to link up more today and looked better for it.

If the finishing had been better, there could have been an avalanche of goals today but at least it was entertaining until the closing stages. If it had been rubbish I'd have gone home early because it was bloody freezing down there - experienced players like Connolly, Bryson and Stuart Beavon of Coventry must have found it difficult to work up any enthusiasm.

[Loramski]

If the finishing had been better, there could have been an avalanche of goals today but at least it was entertaining until the closing stages. If it had been rubbish I'd have gone home early because it was bloody freezing down there - experienced players like Connolly, Bryson and Stuart Beavon of Coventry must have found it difficult to work up any enthusiasm.

Surprised to find Coventry in third place in our league, they were very poor I thought. We're up to 5th now and starting to look like a strong, well organised squad after a shambolic early season that was testing all of our patience. The proof of the pudding, as always, will be whether some of these lads can push on to the first team but it feels like it's going in the right direction for now.

Good to see Warnock and Blackwell there. I heard Warnock talking about you and TOBW at one point. He said you're the brains of the outfit but TOBW takes all the glory. Sounded about right.

Here's the table.

https://www.flashscores.co.uk/footba...gue/standings/

If anyone wants to read TOBW's report, it's under the quiz here.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[the other bob wilson]

Surprised to find Coventry in third place in our league, they were very poor I thought. We're up to 5th now and starting to look like a strong, well organised squad after a shambolic early season that was testing all of our patience. The proof of the pudding, as always, will be whether some of these lads can push on to the first team but it feels like it's going in the right direction for now.

Good to see Warnock and Blackwell there. I heard Warnock talking about you and TOBW at one point. He said you're the brains of the outfit but TOBW takes all the glory. Sounded about right.

Here's the table.

https://www.flashscores.co.uk/footba...gue/standings/

If anyone wants to read TOBW's report, it's under the quiz here.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

Funny, the Slumdog says much the same as well - I did use one of his lines once.

Thanks for putting that table on here - all of a sudden we're in the run in for a Play Off place.

The Under 18s have a chance as well - they've a few matches in hand;-

http://www.betstudy.com/soccer-stats...ment-league-2/

[the other bob wilson]

A very good weekend for the first team, but the Development and Academy sides have both lost their recent unbeaten records in the past couple of days - the Under 18s were well beaten at Watford 3-0 on Saturday and the Development team lost by a late goal to nil at bottom of the table Bristol City this afternoon just when they were getting into Play Off contention.

[Loramski]

A very good weekend for the first team, but the Development and Academy sides have both lost their recent unbeaten records in the past couple of days - the Under 18s were well beaten at Watford 3-0 on Saturday and the Development team lost by a late goal to nil at bottom of the table Bristol City this afternoon just when they were getting into Play Off contention.

Jahvan Davison-Miller played for us again today, he's popped up a couple of times this season. Danny Rowe was the other trialist. Disappointing result today, strong enough team out. No Kadeem Harris or Bryson, I assume they're joining up with the first team squad now. Rhys Healey played for us and Gary O'Neil for them.

[Cyncoed Slumdog]

Surprised to find Coventry in third place in our league, they were very poor I thought. We're up to 5th now and starting to look like a strong, well organised squad after a shambolic early season that was testing all of our patience. The proof of the pudding, as always, will be whether some of these lads can push on to the first team but it feels like it's going in the right direction for now.

Good to see Warnock and Blackwell there. I heard Warnock talking about you and TOBW at one point. He said you're the brains of the outfit but TOBW takes all the glory. Sounded about right.

Here's the table.

https://www.flashscores.co.uk/footba...gue/standings/

If anyone wants to read TOBW's report, it's under the quiz here.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

Thanks Loramski. I actually don't mind him regurgitating everything I say and using it as the basis of his reports but if I find out how much his blog is making as a result, I'll be looking for a cut.

[Loramski]

Thanks Loramski. I actually don't mind him regurgitating everything I say and using it as the basis of his reports but if I find out how much his blog is making as a result, I'll be looking for a cut.

I saw him drive past me in a Ferrari the other day, I'd start asking questions if I were you.

[the other bob wilson]

I saw him drive past me in a Ferrari the other day, I'd start asking questions if I were you.

Ferrari? I'm taking my Renault Clio to a garage today to have a couple of jobs done on it, if the bill comes to £100 (which it will), that'll be more than the car is worth .

[thehumblegringo]

I saw him drive past me in a Ferrari the other day, I'd start asking questions if I were you.

I've also heard that Bob is on the verge of buying a whole village in the Rhondda too! #crazytimes

[thehumblegringo]

I know these kids are far too young to affect our first team but having read how the academy has "been badly run for years" blah blah blah I just want to comment how well some of the younger kids have been doing of late.

On Sunday the younger groups played Swansea in year of birth games (the European system)

2008 won 14-13
2007 won 11-1
2006 won 6-2
2005 won 8-0

The week before the under 14s went to arsenal and won 4-1 against a team featuring the next wonder kid Omari Hutchinson.
The same day the u11s beat Arsenal 9-1 a result that is unheard of by any team against Arsenal.