The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

My report on today's match.

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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/football/england/professional-development-league/standings/

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

http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

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/football/england/professional-development-league/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/c/england/u18-professional-development-league-2/