Academy Development Thread - sponsored by BryanRoy!

We signed a Weasley!

GreeksBearingGifts said:

I was wondering if Rama had left, but he's still listed in the official roster of the U23, along with Pietris and Pikoulas (who played very little anyway). Not that this means much, but their names are still on the list, and I've read nothing over here about their return.

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There was a report about them in the Greek press, claiming that all three are very much at Forest, and, in fact, have been training with the first team during the international break.

Not quite sure about the credibility of the source, but that was the claim.

Some positive news v Leicester City recently.

15s, 14s and 13s all beat them at their place. 15s and 13s were thrashings too like tennis scores. So we can still keep them in their place for now.

Also 13s continue to meet their high regard beating Liverpool 7-3 on Friday.

Also on Friday.

https://twitter.com/Grantnffc1/status/1381230551131168768?s=20

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/Grantnffc1/status/1381230551131168768?s=20[/TWEET]

Randall reckons it is probably likely that we will get a pending? (can't remember the term used) acceptance for Cat 1 academy so we not expecting Cat 1 next season but they going to try their best. It shows what an after thought it is. Another year at Cat 2 isn't going to be good for us so I just hope they exceed expectations.

Looking at the ladder of current young professionals at the club.

On Loan

GK: George Shelvey
RB: Jordan Gabriel
RB: Jayden Richardson
CB: Riley Harbottle
CM: Tyrese Fornah
AMF: Marcus McGuane
AMF: Brennan Johnson
CF: Will Swan

Current preferred u23 team

GK: Michael Statham
RB: been a mix really from Rama to Jenkinson to G-Hammond dropping back
CB: Baba Fernandes
CB: Josh Barnes
LB: Danny Preston (out of contract and up in the air whether he will stay)
CM: Oliver Hammond (u18)
CM: Fin Back (u18)
AMF: Ateef Konate
ATT: Alex Gibson-Hammond (u18)
FWD: Julian Larsson
CF: Dale Taylor (u17)

1.) As you can see the defensive side looks limited that remains at the club & not on loan.
2.) Preston had a decent spell at Grimsby but he may feel he will want to get an opportunity away from the club. I would say left-back becomes an issue for the 23s next season.
3.) The other player in Danny Preston's category is Yassine En-neyah. I didn't included him in the side above as he seemed close to signing for Dundalk in February and most likely will leave for new opportunity unless we convince both him & Danny to stay and go on loan.
4.) Definitely introduction of younger talent like Hammond, Back, G-Hammond, Taylor etc from the u18s
5.) Konate and Larsson are under LT contract and look like solid acquisitions with potential.
6.) Northern Irish LCB Aaron Donnelly likely to join Hammond, Back, G-Hammond officially as full-time u23s for next season from u18 2nd years.
7.) That leaves Bello, Boland, Fankwe, Amekortu, Jackson-Davis uncertain if they will get pro contracts and stay next season from u18 2nd years.

The rest is probably up in the air. We will want to keep some but if they out of contract end of the season who knows especially with them not being key starters at the moment. Cat 1 may influence things too.
GK : Jordan Wright (on loan at Alloa Athletic but hasn't played a game)
DF: Rezart Rama, Sam Sanders, Malique Spooner
CM: Ethan Dekel
ATT: Keith Asare, Luca Doorbar
FWD: Elliot Andrew

BryanRoy said:

I would say left-back becomes an issue for the 23s next season.

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Yes, it seems strange to have something like four right backs (plus Jenkinson from the first team) and almost no left back. (Finally enough, our situation is the exact opposite, with the U19 currently having four left backs).

Incoming alert!

Maverick said:

Incoming alert!

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JW related I hope :happy:

GreeksBearingGifts said:

Yes, it seems strange to have something like four right backs (plus Jenkinson from the first team) and almost no left back. (Finally enough, our situation is the exact opposite, with the U19 currently having four left backs).

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I think a concern is that we've been operating as a Cat 2 academy where you can get through with 2/3/4 strong players per group which we've basically had in the u18s the last few seasons because the internal in-take hasn't been strong in numbers.

So when you can't plan with players you have it is a tough sell to sign players who are 18+ and have a big chance of being first team players at Forest when we a Cat 2 team.

Brazil did highlight Konate is the type of signing we would like more of as a Cat 1 academy.

Re: right-back. I'm pretty sure we are signing a French youth international from Toulouse but not officially confirmed yet. Not a strong area in 18s/16s currently.

Left-back is interesting because we've now produced 2 very decent one's in Bondswell and Preston (and we likely won't see them at Forest) and it looks like the options coming through from the 18s/16s have a bit about them.

Been quite a few new contracts signed recently. Don't think George Shelvey has his own thread for now.

"I'm delighted to sign this new deal with the club. I have been here from such a young age and to get this contract done fills me and my family with a lot of joy.

"I'm excited to see what the future holds for me at the club that I love!"

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Massively talented and Andy Reid reckons so too.

"We are pleased to get George's deal over the line. He's a goalkeeper with a lot of ability and potential and with lots of hard work and dedication to come from George, we believe we have a goalkeeper who can play at the top level.

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I was watching a podcast yesterday on you tube, and it was mentioned that Leicester City have built a new cat 1 academy near the Notts/Leicester border with the express aim I believe to try to attract youngsters from the Nottingham area.
Is it time that Forest made urgent efforts to secure cat 1 status as with Derby, and now Leicester having cat 1 academy's on our doorstep.
I know that their are distance regulations for school boys at academy's but with Derby and now Leicester inside putting Nottingham inside their radius Forest could lose out on young talent for not having cat 1 status.

brian1783 said:

I was watching a podcast yesterday on you tube, and it was mentioned that Leicester City have built a new cat 1 academy near the Notts/Leicester border with the express aim I believe to try to attract youngsters from the Nottingham area.
Is it time that Forest made urgent efforts to secure cat 1 status as with Derby, and now Leicester having cat 1 academy's on our doorstep.
I know that their are distance regulations for school boys at academy's but with Derby and now Leicester inside putting Nottingham inside their radius Forest could lose out on young talent for not having cat 1 status.

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There is a recent post (last month or so) in the „Premier League...“ thread in „Football Banter“ about Leicester‘s new academy, it’s them putting their PL money to good use.

Forest are trying (very trying) but Cat 1 and it’s requirements cost a chunk of cash, and the club also has some constraints with the current Wilford location, and has apparently as yet unable to secure an alternative site (a larger, more practical one) to move to.

They are trying to push this though, it seems.

https://twitter.com/NFFC_UBPodcast/status/1386762410695008263?s=19

What a strike by Taylor (I think)

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https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/may/Under-18s-Millwall-2-5-Forest/

Osong - onsong

Dan_Bristol said:

https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/may/Under-18s-Millwall-2-5-Forest/

Osong - onsong

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The lad on the top of that report doesn't even look old enough to be playing under 18s...

„Detlef Esapa Osong“

It’s a good job replica shirts aren’t still 75p a letter.

Statto said:

The lad on the top of that report doesn't even look old enough to be playing under 18s...

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Thought you’d be here


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Forest u23s drew their last game of the season 1-1 with QPR. They needed a win and then hope that Birmingham lost on Monday to make the play-offs.

It was a good game and I reckon we would have won if Yassine En-Neyah wasn't sent off early in the first half for an off the ball incident which was very harsh. The trialist won a penalty that Dale Taylor put away.

Team

Michael Statham (u19) - He went off injured which will be his last game for Forest.
Fin Back (c) (u18)
Rezart Rama (u20)
Aaron Donnelly (u18)
Alex Gibson-Hammond (u18)
Jamie McDonnell (u17)
Oliver Hammond (u18)
Ateef Konate (u20)
Yassine En-Neyah (u21)
Trialist (believe it was Billy Fewster from Leeds)
Dale Taylor (u17)

Even the subs were young Alex Akers (u17 GK), schoolboy Esapa Osong & trialist B.

Going to try find out full list of released but I know of a few.

But obviously 2 wins in our last 13 games was massive and no Shelvey, Harbottle, Preston, Barnes, Larsson and a bit of Konate contributed to that.

Also guys not involved tonight Baba Fernandes (if he didn't get a 2-year deal then gut-feel released), Keith Asare (gut feel released), Malique Spooner (released I know of), Ethan Dekel (released I know of), Sam Sanders (got a new contract), Elliot Andrew (released I know of) and Luca Doorbar-Baptist (gut feel released).

I thought Dekel was highly thought of?

Mist from the Trent said:

I thought Dekel was highly thought of?

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He was when he was younger but with his type of player a lot depends on a few things getting added to someone neat on the ball and can pass. You can get away with it in younger football when all smaller. Personally I don't think he was ever going to be physically big but he needed to either become sharper (get more speed over short distances) or be like Ben Osborn (someone with stamina and ability to keep moving with and without the ball).

I just don't think that progression has been there and we've seen he never got many games as an u18 for the 23s. This was a big season for him as a full-time u23 and as it went on Andy Reid would have known what is required of this type of midfielder and he probably didn't get enough of what he asked for. Konate pretty much nailed down the position and what is wanted from it. Being able to beat players and link and create enough threat in the box.

Writing on the wall with younger midfielders like O.Hammond and McDonnell becoming regulars although different types.

Just shows how a player who's highly rated at what 12/13 or so isn't always going to make it really. Sonic who's 6 months younger has been in or around the first team all season.

Seems a bit harsh to release Dekel thougb given that he's still a teen and actually some players do take a few years to mature. We kept Kieran Hayes much longer, for example, and he wasn't ever going to pull up trees.

Now imagine Yates with Dekels passing ability...

Thing is, smaller players (and he is still small, and probably at 19 1/2 not going to grow much more in height) do have to have that little extra. I've said this with Dowell before, and he's bigger than Ethan is... Look at any smaller player whos made it and they're much more than someone who can pass a ball well.

I don't think it is just size though. You need a certain mobility and ground coverage especially if you're average in duels because of your size.

There was a time I was advocating Dekel has to play deeper to allow for his lack mobility and we can use his passing but it didn't work.

He needed something more and he just wasn't able to beat players 1v1 when at times you need to, to allow you find a pass.

Looks like there is quite a few releases. Didn't even mention Jordan Wright and Virgil Gomis as older players. Club might be finding space for recruitment considering we targeting Cat 1 as well.

I’m pleased to see that the young Northern Ireland players, Donnelley, McDonnell and Taylor have settled well and are making a good contribution to their sides.

Some excellent scouting there.

Red bandit said:

I’m pleased to see that the young Northern Ireland players, Donnelley, McDonnell and Taylor have settled well and are making a good contribution to their sides.

Some excellent scouting there.

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Was impressed with all three yesterday. Haven't been able to follow their progress much this season but I thought they all looked at home stepping up to u23s and we know Taylor is getting plaudits.

But I really liked McDonnell. He is strong on the ball and reads danger like excellently. When the game was end to end he was snuffing out their attacks expertly.

And Donnelly really has come on leaps and bounds. Good size on him and if I compared to say Sanders he looks m0re a natural mover and also good physical attributes and has what is required with his passing range from the left-side of defence.

Dale has quick feet, a competitor and clearly a leader and a goalscorer.

All 3 know what they about and I believe they part of a really exciting generation for Northern Irish football.

New academy in-take 2021/22

GK: Aaron Bott (Mansfield)
RB/CB: Justin Hanks (Warks)
RB/CB: Jack Thompson (Mansfield)
RCB: Ben Hammond (Notts)
LB/LCB/LM: Kyle McAdam (Leics)
LB/LCM: Josh Powell (Notts)
CM: Ben Perry (Derbys)
AMF: Joe Gardner (Notts)
ATT: Jack Nadin (Chesterfield)
FWD: Esapa Osong (Leics)

That is 10. The most for local in-take in recent memory. If I was the club announcing this I would make a big thing about it being the most in recent memory.

Only the below age groups come close.


2000-01 born : Shelvey, Richardson, Harbottle, Ram, Greenwood, Barnes, Johnson, Appiah, Swan (8+ 1 with Ram joining after being released by Leicester)

2003-04 born : Akers , Solomon, Clarridge, Barker, Johnson, Perkins, Collins, Korpal (6 + 2 in Akers joining from Basford & Korpal from grassroots in Leics)


The schoolboy groups played at the City Ground on Sunday vs Sheff Utd. Good results & performances with the 16s spoken above & pictured below winning 4-0.