The official EDS and academy thread 2012/13

[LoveCity]

Do these EDS guys ever win a game?

Not many... this was our record in the first stage when all the Category 1 academy clubs were spread across three groups.

This is our slightly improved record in the second stage but we're in a "best of the worst" group of the lower placed teams from phase 1, from which only 1 team can qualify for the knockouts. Look at all the teams currently above us in the two higher ranked groups.

Results are not the most important thing at this level as you'll hear over and over and over... but that is becoming a mantra to excuse our underperforming U21 team that has had a fair few million quid invested in talent. Even with underage players we should at least be mid-table in Group 1 you'd think.

IMO the role of U21 manager is one of the most important positions at our club... nurturing players who have come through the younger age groups or who have been signed into players for the first team. We've failed in doing this for several years now except with Guidetti, and let's be honest, we can thank Feyenoord more than our EDS for the progress in the latter stages of his youth development. We should look for someone highly qualified for this role, not Lombardo ("jobs for the mates" springs to mind).

 

[MSP]

IMO the role of U21 manager is one of the most important positions at our club... nurturing players who have come through the younger age groups or who have been signed into players for the first team. We've failed in doing this for several years now except with Guidetti, and let's be honest, we can thank Feyenoord more than our EDS for the progress in the latter stages of his youth development. We should look for someone highly qualified for this role, not Lombardo ("jobs for the mates" springs to mind).

Exactly..

 

[decmancity]

I think there will be a revamp of the staff at u21 level this summer. Txiki and Soriano will be expected to outlast Mancini so this would mean they will want their own staff in at this level.

There have been rumours about the Athletic Bilbao youth team coach I think so we are clearly looking, a lot bigger chance of signing someone in the summer than during the season.

Best to get them in now before we move to the new academy.

 

[mcfcnorthstand]

Boro on Saturday, just hope weather holds off.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The EDS team is dreadful. I understand those who say it's not all about results but I believe we have gone backwards at this level in the last five years. None of them are pushing for the first team squad. I have only watched them live a couple of times but I was seriously unimpressed. I believe we have a better crop coming through at under 16 level. We should be competing with Liverpool and United at EDS level. We always did in the past. Given the level of investment the performance of our youth teams is not good enough.

 

[Akira]

Lombardo shouldn't have been made to be the EDS coach in the first place, tbh. The first team squad would be off in a better position with him coaching them.

 

[WNRH]

The EDS team is dreadful. I understand those who say it's not all about results but I believe we have gone backwards at this level in the last five years. None of them are pushing for the first team squad. I have only watched them live a couple of times but I was seriously unimpressed. I believe we have a better crop coming through at under 16 level. We should be competing with Liverpool and United at EDS level. We always did in the past. Given the level of investment the performance of our youth teams is not good enough.

The talent is not dreadful. The set up is.

 

[decmancity]

The EDS team is dreadful. I understand those who say it's not all about results but I believe we have gone backwards at this level in the last five years. None of them are pushing for the first team squad. I have only watched them live a couple of times but I was seriously unimpressed. I believe we have a better crop coming through at under 16 level. We should be competing with Liverpool and United at EDS level. We always did in the past. Given the level of investment the performance of our youth teams is not good enough.

The investment has been made mainly in the lower age groups, the like of Lopes and Pozo are stepping up to the EDS.

Our u14 are wiping the floor with everyone I believe and our u18 are pretty good as well from what I have heard with the likes of Ntcham, Bossearts, Pozo and so on.

They have all been brought in at different times and need to be given a while to gel together at one age group.
Most of the u14 team have probably played together for years which helps massively. Our EDS is a mix and match every week.

As has been said we don't seem to have the best setup at that level and I think with the new academy etc we will see big changes soon. Lombardo back to first team coach and a new setup of staff at EDS and below to move into the new academy and be given time and the resources to build a crop of players to come through in the next 5+ years.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The EDS team is dreadful. I understand those who say it's not all about results but I believe we have gone backwards at this level in the last five years. None of them are pushing for the first team squad. I have only watched them live a couple of times but I was seriously unimpressed. I believe we have a better crop coming through at under 16 level. We should be competing with Liverpool and United at EDS level. We always did in the past. Given the level of investment the performance of our youth teams is not good enough.

The talent is not dreadful. The set up is.

You may have a point but the end result is the same. There is certainly something going wrong. I'm not expecting miracles but the last half-decent graduate who briefly made the first team was Weiss. I know it is much harder now to get into our first team but what worries me is that our youngsters do not seem to shine when they go out on loan. Micah, Nedum and Sturridge looked superb as teenagers but we have no one at that level now

 

[kunaguero10]

The EDS team is dreadful. I understand those who say it's not all about results but I believe we have gone backwards at this level in the last five years. None of them are pushing for the first team squad. I have only watched them live a couple of times but I was seriously unimpressed. I believe we have a better crop coming through at under 16 level. We should be competing with Liverpool and United at EDS level. We always did in the past. Given the level of investment the performance of our youth teams is not good enough.

The investment has been made mainly in the lower age groups, the like of Lopes and Pozo are stepping up to the EDS.

Our u14 are wiping the floor with everyone I believe and our u18 are pretty good as well from what I have heard with the likes of Ntcham, Bossearts, Pozo and so on.

They have all been brought in at different times and need to be given a while to gel together at one age group.
Most of the u14 team have probably played together for years which helps massively. Our EDS is a mix and match every week.

As has been said we don't seem to have the best setup at that level and I think with the new academy etc we will see big changes soon. Lombardo back to first team coach and a new setup of staff at EDS and below to move into the new academy and be given time and the resources to build a crop of players to come through in the next 5+ years.

the under 18s are as bad as the EDS and those 3 players don't play for them