Thought it would be worth having a thread dedicated to discussing the U23s. Now we can stream some games (and should hopefully be able to go and watch some of the games live next season) and official coverage of the academy teams is improving it's getting easier to follow them. We had a decent first season in PL2 Division 2 last season and it'll be interesting to see if we can build on that as players from that side get promoted to the first team or loaned out.

Don't know if I'll be able to edit this to keep it updated due to the recent changes to the forum but here's a quick summary of the U23s as of today.

Squad for 21/22

Goalkeepers
Lukas Jensen (on loan to Carlisle United)
Lewis Thomas
Harry Allen

Defenders
Anthony Glennon
Bobby Thomas
Richard Nartey
Jake Rooney
Harry Williams
Jacob Bedeau
Owen Dodgson
Joel Connolly
Calen Gallagher-Allison
Finlay Armstrong

Midfielders
Adam Phillips (on loan to Morecambe)
Anthony Gomez-Mancini
Mark Helm
Ne-Jai Tucker
Dara Costelloe
Cory Brennan
Ben Woods
Tremaine Eastmond

Forwards
Joel Mumbongo (on loan to Accrington Stanley)
Lewis Richardson
Max Thompson
Rob Harker
Sam Unwin
Joe McGlynn



Signings 21/22

Harry Williams (WBA) - Free
Jacob Bedeau (Scunthorpe) - Free
Mark Helm (Man Utd) - Free

Known Trialists 21/22

Harry Williams (WBA) *SIGNED*
Ciaran Dickson (Rangers)
Harris O'Connor (Rangers)
Thomas Robert (Airdrie)

Ciaran Dickson has left the building and on trial at Gillingham according to Nixon.
Robert has left for Salford as well.

Great idea for a thread by the way.

From that extensive list I would like to think that at least one player could be a regular in the senior squad.

Squad can easily be found at

https://www.uptheclarets.com/players/squad-list

rufus lumley wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:08 am

From that extensive list I would like to think that at least one player could be a regular in the senior squad.

Owen Dodgson: decent left footed player.

I know we had Robert on trial but I am surprised that we haven't signed an U23 right winger in the last three windows seeing as it's a clear problem area in both the U23s and the first team. I could understand it if Max Thompson was being "groomed" to play there but it doesn't seem to be something he's particularly happy about.

Good thread. Looking forward to seeing how they get on this year.

Does anyone know the ambitions of the U23’s? I’ve not heard anything said. Are we bothered about getting promoted or is it all just about consolidating at this new level and developing the players for the first team?

Will the likes of Mancini and Richardson play this year or are they effectively promoted now? I ask because I’m a bit surprised when I see good U23’s sit on the bench in a PL game and then miss an U23 game in the week that would both give them game time and presumably help a promotion push.

I also see other clubs using it for players returning from injury which we don’t seem to do as much. Maybe it’s covid protocols but would be great to see us up to division one… I assume that would help improve the standard of player we can attract?

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:21 am

Owen Dodgson: decent left footed player.

Your the third or fourth person I have seen rate Dodgson. Do you think out of everyone do you think he is most likely? He’s still very young isn’t he

Good idea Mattster

dibraidio wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:30 am

I know we had Robert on trial but I am surprised that we haven't signed an U23 right winger in the last three windows seeing as it's a clear problem area in both the U23s and the first team. I could understand it if Max Thompson was being "groomed" to play there but it doesn't seem to be something he's particularly happy about.

I don't know but heard the same.
Max looks useful, and although it might be good for the team, playing someone still young out of his preferred position could cause problems.
I presume, and hope that Jackson and SD have a sit down and explain the reasoning to him.

We've got Costelloe and Tucker to play wide.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:48 am

Your the third or fourth person I have seen rate Dodgson. Do you think out of everyone do you think he is most likely? He’s still very young isn’t he

Left back or left midfield. Ex Man Utd. Still only about 18. Certainly has a chance to progress.

dibraidio wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:30 am

I know we had Robert on trial but I am surprised that we haven't signed an U23 right winger in the last three windows seeing as it's a clear problem area in both the U23s and the first team. I could understand it if Max Thompson was being "groomed" to play there but it doesn't seem to be something he's particularly happy about.

The U23s do seem to mirror the first team in that way. Thompson is a good player but not a natural winger. Haven't seen much from Tucker when he's played (usually as a right footed left winger) but I think I was being harsh on him as I had it in my head he was older whilst he's actually one of the younger players in the squad. Haven't enough of Costelloe to make any judgements as he signed midseason and only appeared in one streamed game where he came off the bench and scored a late equaliser but I'm pretty sure he's left sided too.

Dodgson and Glennon can both play on the wing too (though have only seen them on the left as well).

rufus lumley wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:08 am

From that extensive list I would like to think that at least one player could be a regular in the senior squad.

The ones that have looked best from what I've been able to watch are the ones already involved with the first team - Richardson, Mumbongo, Thompson, Gomez-Mancini, Glennon, Thomas and Nartey. Richardson, Gomez-Mancini and Thomas being the ones I think have the best chance from what I've seen.

Bobby Thomas must be first out of the building for a loan.

Barrow loved him last year so i would have thought a league 1 club spell would be ideal.

At Barrow he played in a three eventually becoming the middle one. Big throw in as well.

Another example of club progression in developing league players. We were unlikely to produce premier talent from our starting point so producing players good enough for other clubs shows we are moving in the right direction.

Mattster wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:19 pm

The U23s do seem to mirror the first team in that way. Thompson is a good player but not a natural winger. Haven't seen much from Tucker when he's played (usually as a right footed left winger) but I think I was being harsh on him as I had it in my head he was older whilst he's actually one of the younger players in the squad. Haven't enough of Costelloe to make any judgements as he signed midseason and only appeared in one streamed game where he came off the bench and scored a late equaliser but I'm pretty sure he's left sided too.

Dodgson and Glennon can both play on the wing too (though have only seen them on the left as well).



The ones that have looked best from what I've been able to watch are the ones already involved with the first team - Richardson, Mumbongo, Thompson, Gomez-Mancini, Glennon, Thomas and Nartey. Richardson, Gomez-Mancini and Thomas being the ones I think have the best chance from what I've seen.

Yes, the ones you mention are already ( or at least have been) part of the first team squad, so I left them out. I'd say Richardson and Thomas have the best chance.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:52 pm

Yes, the ones you mention are already ( or at least have been) part of the first team squad, so I left them out. I'd say Richardson and Thomas have the best chance.

Yeah, I can't say I've seen enough from any of the other players to say they have more of a chance than those.

I have liked what I've seen from Unwin and Rooney as they didn't look out of place even though they were U18s stepping up last season. Unwin looks strong and had really good movement when he came on as a sub a few times and Rooney was really good with his positioning and decision making, needs to bulk up though. Not enough minutes to be sure of those judgements though.

I like Harker, I think he leads the line well, and clearly has an eye for goal.
The U23 games are interesting. I tried to see as many as possible last season, and will again if they are streamed

Rumour is the U23s played Preston's first team (in their final preseason friendly) at the weekend, losing 5-0.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 11:58 am

We've got Costelloe and Tucker to play wide.

Is Tremaine Eastmond a wide player? His stature would seem to lean more towards that, unless he's had a growth spurt

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:34 pm

Is Tremaine Eastmond a wide player? His stature would seem to lean more towards that, unless he's had a growth spurt

Haven't seen him personally since he's only been promoted to the U23s for this season. Official website has him down as able to play all across the attack and midfield. Since we don't use attacking midfielders and have quite a lot of strikers I would imagine his opportunities will come out wide, if he gets any.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 02, 2021 8:34 pm

Is Tremaine Eastmond a wide player? His stature would seem to lean more towards that, unless he's had a growth spurt

He's really small and, from what I have seen, rarely plays.
However, they've kept him on through the U18s and longer so they must be seeing something.

We have walloped Blackburn 6-2 this morning.

Well played lads.

Don't know if it was a friendly or not. Who cares?

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 07, 2021 1:43 pm

We have walloped Blackburn 6-2 this morning.

Well played lads.

Don't know if it was a friendly or not. Who cares?

Must have been a friendly as Blackburn are in the division above. If they put out their best XI then that's a great result as they're usually one of the top teams in PL2.

good result.
And some very young players in for us today.