The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[City123]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

TOBW predicted this recently. It feels like I'm missing something though. He was captain of Everton age-groups but they released him at 19. He played for Scotland under-18s at 16 (alongside Jack Kingdon) but dropped off their radar after that. It's an odd CV.

I think he had an injury here early on but I was impressed when I first saw him and felt he was a possible first teamer with Eli King out. BBM put him on the bench for the Newport game but, despite all kinds of funky stuff going on with 15 and 16 year olds, players out of position and Wintle and Turnbull tiptoeing through the second half after yellow cards, he didn't get on.

He played against Arsenal u-21s but didn't get on against Wimbledon, BBM kept Colwill and Mafico on for the 90 even though the game was over after about 50. When I saw him for the u-21s around that time he wasn't as good as I was expecting, I never felt he was running the game and he even got subbed against QPR. He's been in and out of the side since Xmas.

TOBW rates him and he's seen more of him than me so I respect that. Maybe I've caught him on a couple of off days, maybe he's not quite at full fitness for some reason, but he hasn't pushed on here as I was expecting. Still time though and a loan spell could kick things off for him.

I always find these kinds of transfers of released PL players a bit odd, often it feels like these players are brought in, play for the u21s and leave with no impact on the first team beside possibly blocking our own youngsters

I think there are only 2 examples that had a long positive effect, Joel Bagan & Mark McGuinness, but these were a bit different to someone like Apter, Bagan signed at 16 which is younger than the likes of Apter whilst McGuinness already had a season at Ipswich under his belt

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

I always find these kinds of transfers of released PL players a bit odd, often it feels like these players are brought in, play for the u21s and leave with no impact on the first team beside possibly blocking our own youngsters

I think there are only 2 examples that had a long positive effect, Joel Bagan & Mark McGuinness, but these were a bit different to someone like Apter, Bagan signed at 16 which is younger than the likes of Apter whilst McGuinness already had a season at Ipswich under his belt

I've compared it before to those people you see on the beach at Barry with their metal detectors. It seems a bit sad and pointless but who knows what they might find one day.

QPR fans may have wondered why the club were signing a guy called Eze, who'd already been released by Arsenal, Fulham Reading and Millwall by the age of 18. Likewise West Ham fans when a kid called Declan Rice was brought in after Chelsea released him.

It does happen. It can't be that expensive for the club to pick up released players for a season or two and they probably feel it's a chance worth taking. They only need to get lucky now and again to make it worthwhile.

[Trigger]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

I always find these kinds of transfers of released PL players a bit odd, often it feels like these players are brought in, play for the u21s and leave with no impact on the first team beside possibly blocking our own youngsters

I think there are only 2 examples that had a long positive effect, Joel Bagan & Mark McGuinness, but these were a bit different to someone like Apter, Bagan signed at 16 which is younger than the likes of Apter whilst McGuinness already had a season at Ipswich under his belt

Wouldn't the McGuinness fee alone have made it worthwhile then? Let alone he did well for us for a spell and we also have Bagan in the team.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

As has been mentioned earlier, the Bagan and McGuinness signings were different. The former came here as someone who had been released by Southampton at sixteen I would guess it was and played his early football for us in the under 18 team, whereas McGuinness was signed as a first team ready footballer. Bagan is the only player I can think of who we picked up after their release by another club who has gone on to become a regular starter for City and even then he wesn't an under 21 team signing.

Thinking about it, Ciaran Brown has done well after he came here to play for the under 21s, but, even then, we paid a small fee for him I believe. We got a tidy fee for Matt Connolly who joined us after Blackburn let him go and I believe he's still playing in the EFL at Crewe while I also notice that Gillingham paid County a fee for Cameron Antwi this month and Chanka Zimba is still playing at a decent level.

Overall though, I'd say that the signing of other club's cast offs to play in our under 21 team is a policy which hasn't worked.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

The under 21s play their second home game of the week this evening - it's against Coventry and kick off is at 7 o'clock. I've not seen anything saying the game will be streamed, but I'm sure it will be.

[Trigger]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Would we class ralls as similar? He wasn't released but we still went out and signed him at 16 for the youth team.

Got his first team debut in the cup due to a lot of injuries and the rest is history. McKay at the time admitted he didn't know a whole lot about Ralls when he asked the youth coaches who could step up.

My point is even if one player makes it into our first team or gets sold on then it has to be worth it surely, however rare that may be. Most of the lads currently here unfortunately won't make it at league 1 level. You have to cast a net as large as the club finances and coaching team allow and hope for one or two to come good.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Tonight’s team

https://x.com/cf11academy/status/2017296761778258096?s=61

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

City 1-0 down already with goalkeeper Griffiths getting nowhere near a Hail Mary type high ball.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

City 1-0 down already with goalkeeper Griffiths getting nowhere near a Hail Mary type high ball.

How much do you have to pay the commentator for the compliments?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

How much do you have to pay the commentator for the compliments?

Never had a face to face conversation with John Donovan, but I like his commentaries and have had a few on line conversations with him - he seems like a good bloke even if he did call me the Old Bob Wilson!

After scoring in the first few minutes of the first half, Coventry have done the same at the start of the second period. 2-0Â’s a bit harsh on City whoÂ’ve had a shot cleared off the line, forced the Coventry keeper into two fine saves and were robbed of a one on one with the keeper by a shocking offside decision which should see the linesman responsible fast tracked into League One.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Finished 2-0 to Coventry, more comfortable in the second half for the visitors.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

The under 18s are 2-0 up just before half time against Colchester thanks to goals from Moreno and Sykes.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

The under 18s are 2-0 up just before half time against Colchester thanks to goals from Moreno and Sykes.

Finished 5-0 with goals from Leeyon Phelan, Thomas Prickett and Jacob Norris. Some dodgy cup results for them this season but going well in the league. One point off second place with a game in hand.

Early days but what have you made of Caden Voice so far?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Finished 5-0 with goals from Leeyon Phelan, Thomas Prickett and Jacob Norris. Some dodgy cup results for them this season but going well in the league. One point off second place with a game in hand.

Early days but what have you made of Caden Voice so far?

Put some good crosses in, but, in terms of technique, he seems at a lower level than many of his team mates. I say that on very limited evidence of course, but, for now, I find myself wondering why we signed him. I’ve not missed the news that Jac Thomas has been loaned somewhere have I? Otherwise, I can only assume he’s injured because, surely, he should be the regular left back for the under 21s now?

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Put some good crosses in, but, in terms of technique, he seems at a lower level than many of his team mates. I say that on very limited evidence of course, but, for now, I find myself wondering why we signed him. I’ve not missed the news that Jac Thomas has been loaned somewhere have I? Otherwise, I can only assume he’s injured because, surely, he should be the regular left back for the under 21s now?

Jac Thomas was watching from the stands the last couple of times I've been down there. I assume he's injured but I'm a bit confused by his, and Voice's, situation. Another game tomorrow, and the end of the transfer window, things may make more sense then.