The Official EDS and Academy Thread 2013/14

[Noisy Blue]

Don't know if anyone has seen the training pictures. There were two youngsters (I think) training with the first team. I think one of them may have been Greg Leigh and I don't know who the other one was so could anyone please let me know?

No idea where you have seen training pictures.The only ones I have seen didn't have Leigh or any youngsters in it.

On the facebook page, the photo album: "BEHIND THE SCENES: Pre-Arsenal training".

 

[keemcfc]

What would you say our best youth XI is?

________________Gunn

Smith-Brown__Denayer__Bossaerts__Angelino

____________Fofana____Huws

______Lopes_______Pozo_______Bytyqi

__________________Cole

Could be close that team. I am a little unsure about the midfield.Huws I will agree as he has looked good and strong most of the time although I thought he had a shocker in his last game. I probably wouldn't go for Fofana though although there is a lot of potential there.I still think he doesn't get his head up enough for that position which needs creativity.If all we want from him is drive and attacking threat then maybe.

I would put Byrne in there instead.It does seem he has been playing a bit deep ( the Huws role) but I think he has bags of talent on the ball and should be the playmaker. Moving further up I am also unsure about Bytyqi.Another like Fofana who doesn't get his decisions quite right.Decent player no doubt ,works hard and getting better.

The challenge is to find someone better which isn't easy.Maybe Rusnak,maybe Barker for potential dipping into the 18's.On the striker front I am warming to Cole.Maybe I have seen it wrong but for a while I wasn't seeing enough from Devante in his overall play.In holding the ball up,pressuring defenders as well as his first touch but I think the improvements and quality are coming through.But had you put Hiwula in there I would not have argued and I wonder if we have a real challenger coming through in Ambrose.

PS would you put Rekik in the team?

I'd definitely put Rekik in there but I excluded him because of his loan. Of the players out on loan I'd have to consider Plummer for the defence as well.

Byrne slipped my mind for a second there he looks quite promising also, what do you think of Greg Leigh? seems a tight choice between him and Angelino for left back.

And yep abrose's record looks really promising so far, both in France and he seems to be keeping it up here as well.

 

[BlueDejong]

Don't know if anyone has seen the training pictures. There were two youngsters (I think) training with the first team. I think one of them may have been Greg Leigh and I don't know who the other one was so could anyone please let me know?

No idea where you have seen training pictures.The only ones I have seen didn't have Leigh or any youngsters in it.

On the facebook page, the photo album: "BEHIND THE SCENES: Pre-Arsenal training".

I know it. Jason Denayer, Adam Drury, Shay Facey, Marcos Lopes, Dedryck Boyata, John Guidetti. Not Greg Leigh on the photos.

 

[The Man With The Stick]

Don't know if anyone has seen the training pictures. There were two youngsters (I think) training with the first team. I think one of them may have been Greg Leigh and I don't know who the other one was so could anyone please let me know?

No idea where you have seen training pictures.The only ones I have seen didn't have Leigh or any youngsters in it.

On the facebook page, the photo album: "BEHIND THE SCENES: Pre-Arsenal training".

The ones at Carrington? Think I could see Shay Facey, Denayer and Marcos Lopes. There's another lad there too but it's too blurred.

 

[Centurions]

What would you say our best youth XI is?

________________Gunn

Smith-Brown__Denayer__Bossaerts__Angelino

____________Fofana____Huws

______Lopes_______Pozo_______Bytyqi

__________________Cole

Could be close that team. I am a little unsure about the midfield.Huws I will agree as he has looked good and strong most of the time although I thought he had a shocker in his last game. I probably wouldn't go for Fofana though although there is a lot of potential there.I still think he doesn't get his head up enough for that position which needs creativity.If all we want from him is drive and attacking threat then maybe.

I would put Byrne in there instead.It does seem he has been playing a bit deep ( the Huws role) but I think he has bags of talent on the ball and should be the playmaker. Moving further up I am also unsure about Bytyqi.Another like Fofana who doesn't get his decisions quite right.Decent player no doubt ,works hard and getting better.

The challenge is to find someone better which isn't easy.Maybe Rusnak,maybe Barker for potential dipping into the 18's.On the striker front I am warming to Cole.Maybe I have seen it wrong but for a while I wasn't seeing enough from Devante in his overall play.In holding the ball up,pressuring defenders as well as his first touch but I think the improvements and quality are coming through.But had you put Hiwula in there I would not have argued and I wonder if we have a real challenger coming through in Ambrose.

PS would you put Rekik in the team?

I'd definitely put Rekik in there but I excluded him because of his loan. Of the players out on loan I'd have to consider Plummer for the defence as well.

Byrne slipped my mind for a second there he looks quite promising also, what do you think of Greg Leigh? seems a tight choice between him and Angelino for left back.

And yep abrose's record looks really promising so far, both in France and he seems to be keeping it up here as well.

George Evans? Out on loan obviously but surely he'd have to be in there somewhere? Looks like you need a subs bench too :)

 

[Nelly's Left Foot]

Don't know if anyone has seen the training pictures. There were two youngsters (I think) training with the first team. I think one of them may have been Greg Leigh and I don't know who the other one was so could anyone please let me know?

No idea where you have seen training pictures.The only ones I have seen didn't have Leigh or any youngsters in it.

On the facebook page, the photo album: "BEHIND THE SCENES: Pre-Arsenal training".

Don't know where to look for those as I can't see them on the OS.

 

[Noisy Blue]

No idea where you have seen training pictures.The only ones I have seen didn't have Leigh or any youngsters in it.

On the facebook page, the photo album: "BEHIND THE SCENES: Pre-Arsenal training".

I know it. Jason Denayer, Adam Drury, Shay Facey, Marcos Lopes, Dedryck Boyata, John Guidetti. Not Greg Leigh on the photos.

Oh, it's Facey, cheers. And thought it was Drury but wasn't sure. As for Denayer and Lopes, I didn't see them but I'm glad they were included. Thanks again.


Does anyone know what's happened to Leigh? Not seen much of him and I'm just wondering if he is injured? Thought he was a great prospect is all.

 

[yankcitizen76]

Man, Is it just me or has the progress of the Academy just exploded this year. I've never heard so many positive
things about the EDS and other youth teams.

 

[spongebob123]

Man, Is it just me or has the progress of the Academy just exploded this year. I've never heard so many positive
things about the EDS and other youth teams.

It's OK, I think the younger the side the more they are progressing for whatever reason, our U18 side is top of the league with a high goal difference. Our U21s had a really poor start but is slowly gaining momentum in the table, that being said - not many games have been played.

It's true all teams are playing a 4-3-3... apart from our first team; I'm confused about the transitioning, and I fear our more promising of players will piss off to pastures new where youth tournaments are better.

What's the possibility of City setting up a 'second' team, as Barcelona and Real do and treat it as any other team but use our young players?

 

[yankcitizen76]

Man, Is it just me or has the progress of the Academy just exploded this year. I've never heard so many positive
things about the EDS and other youth teams.

It's OK, I think the younger the side the more they are progressing for whatever reason, our U18 side is top of the league with a high goal difference. Our U21s had a really poor start but is slowly gaining momentum in the table, that being said - not many games have been played.

It's true all teams are playing a 4-3-3... apart from our first team; I'm confused about the transitioning, and I fear our more promising of players will piss off to pastures new where youth tournaments are better.

What's the possibility of City setting up a 'second' team, as Barcelona and Real do and treat it as any other team but use our young players?

Who'd they play? Teams in lesser leagues? The MLS?