Swindon Town U18 Academy

[Audrey]

2-1 up

[Posh Red]

Gills second red card

[Posh Red]

FT 2-1 to the Town

[Batch]

Great stuff

[Bob's Orange]

Its 'funny' that despite going through probably our most inept ownership, we've probably got the best lot of youths that I can remember. I'm assuming that the hard work of Alan Mac and Lee Peacock are to thank for that, rather than what we have in place currently?

[Nemo]

To be absolutely fair to a man who probably isn't a net positive, weren't quite a few of the stand out current players supposedly brought in from London clubs via our occasional fitness consultant?

The scholars are always a strange mix of those who have been at the club since kids (McGregor, Hunt, Foye) and those who came in from other sides higher up when they didn't get offered terms (Ameen, Brown, Obodo).

So probably a mix of things/reasons. Certainly very welcome though.

[Pericardinho]

Should it really come as a surprise that we have a decent crop?

our catchment area is huge. I'd be worried if we didn't.

the coaching is absolutely brilliant btw, no doubt.

[Peter Venkman]

Should it really come as a surprise that we have a decent crop?

our catchment area is huge. I'd be worried if we didn't.

the coaching is absolutely brilliant btw, no doubt.

In the past other clubs have come in and stolen all the local talent, Southampton, Chelsea and Reading are culprits of that in particular.

We seem to be able to hold on to local youth a little more recently, which can only work in our favour.

[Posh Red]

Should it really come as a surprise that we have a decent crop?

our catchment area is huge. I'd be worried if we didn't.

the coaching is absolutely brilliant btw, no doubt.

Agreed, but that hasn't really helped us in the past.

TBF it may just be a coincidence that it has happened under this ownership, however it's one way to potentially make decent money without a massive outlay

[Nemo]

Cynically, it may also be that our first team is much easier to break into than it used to be.

We've always had decent players we've sold out of the U18 though - Leigh Mills, Tozer, the keeper that went to Liverpool, Bogle and Mitchell-Lawson, Henshall, Markus Ifill, probably loads of others I can't remember.

Someone like DV who used to watch lots of U18 stuff can probably comment on whether the level is actually better!

[Posh Red]

Cynically, it may also be that our first team is much easier to break into than it used to be.

This is also true, although there results (particularly in the Youth Cup) have also been much improved.

I wonder how much is down to the coach who is going to Charlton, and whether the new group will be able to keep it up?

[DV]

Cynically, it may also be that our first team is much easier to break into than it used to be.

We've always had decent players we've sold out of the U18 though - Leigh Mills, Tozer, the keeper that went to Liverpool, Bogle and Mitchell-Lawson, Henshall, Markus Ifill, probably loads of others I can't remember.

Someone like DV who used to watch lots of U18 stuff can probably comment on whether the level is actually better!

I think with internet & streaming in general youth football is a lot more accessible. Perhaps we are under the impression our youth team is better purely because we can see them play & hear about them - where as 10-15 years ago if you didn’t go & watch then you’d know nothing about them apart from the odd name.

I’m far from an expert but watched a fair few games between maybe 07-10. Obvious stands out where Jutkiewicz, Macklin (who obviously never made it), Bodin who was decent but was always tiny (I guess he might have been playing a year up) & N.Thompson who when I first watched him play right wing looked like one of those mini football figure things from the 90s because his head looked too big for his body.

….again, far from me to make the judgement but the acid test is how they take to first team football. Some do it seamlessly like McGregor & some just don’t take to it (again Macklin)

Even the long list of ones that were poached. It’s only really Bogle whose forged out what I’d call as successful career. The rest just faded out to the point we can’t even remember all their names…

[Nomoreheroes]

The whole match

[Posh Red]

Even the long list of ones that were poached. It’s only really Bogle whose forged out what I’d call as successful career. The rest just faded out to the point we can’t even remember all their names…

Sean Morrison was one wasn't he, Byrne nicked him from the Plymuff setup, did he play in our youth team before getting in the first team?

[DV]

Sean Morrison was one wasn't he, Byrne nicked him from the Plymuff setup, did he play in our youth team before getting in the first team?

I didn’t mention Sean Morrison because I think he pretty much went straight into our first team.

I don’t recall watching him play many games for the youth team - that’s not to say he didn’t.