Reserve & Youth Teams Thread

[RUL]

9 minutes ago, Granite95 said:

Lack of pathway to first team which drove the move? Understand if you’re not wanting to share much detail

That's what he said and also if you don't make it at forest you can fall down to a higher level...whereas at AFC pathway would be cove etc.

He said couldn't fault AFC at all. It's the overall system that's restrictive. I like Lewis a lot as a player. 

[huncunts]

9 minutes ago, Granite95 said:

Lack of pathway to first team which drove the move? Understand if you’re not wanting to share much detail

Remember when Cormack in his Football Manager phase claimed parents were saying they couldn't see a path to the first team for their kids? Meanwhile McKenna, Wright, McLennan, Campbell and Anderson were regularly playing never mind the many other cameos. Wonder what he makes of it now.

[Granite95]

4 minutes ago, RUL said:

That's what he said and also if you don't make it at forest you can fall down to a higher level...whereas at AFC pathway would be cove etc.

He said couldn't fault AFC at all. It's the overall system that's restrictive. I like Lewis a lot as a player. 

Yeah that’s fair enough, guess look at the likes of Terry Taylor making a decent career for himself in England 

Hopefully with this, Akindeli, Pirie will make AFC (and other Scottish clubs) try to see about what can be done to enable more promising players to get a pathway into the first team

[Helmet]

7 hours ago, Granite95 said:

Yeah that’s fair enough, guess look at the likes of Terry Taylor making a decent career for himself in England 

Hopefully with this, Akindeli, Pirie will make AFC (and other Scottish clubs) try to see about what can be done to enable more promising players to get a pathway into the first team

Fundamental changes are needed though I think.

Bigger division would give more teams confidence to bring young players in earlier.

And something need done to sort the reserve league situation- personally I’d make it compulsory for all the teams in the top divisions to enter a reserve/u21 league and get those games back to the best level we can.

[RDS]

8 hours ago, RUL said:

That's what he said and also if you don't make it at forest you can fall down to a higher level...whereas at AFC pathway would be cove etc.

He said couldn't fault AFC at all. It's the overall system that's restrictive. I like Lewis a lot as a player. 

Whilst that's true to an extent the lads own cousin failed at Dons but rebuilt at Falkirk and now in Championship with them and system hasn't changed in the few months since Lewis committed to a contract.

All the best to the lad and his Dad but I'm pretty sure the wages on offer as well as different pathway through to EPL2 at U21 level in England played at least a small part

[RUL]

4 minutes ago, RDS said:

Whilst that's true to an extent the lads own cousin failed at Dons but rebuilt at Falkirk and now in Championship with them and system hasn't changed in the few months since Lewis committed to a contract.

All the best to the lad and his Dad but I'm pretty sure the wages on offer as well as different pathway through to EPL2 at U21 level in England played at least a small part

Definitely will be. Especially as pro contracts you sign at Aberdeen are a few hundred. No idea what it is in England but assume more.

[The_Next_Legend]

Until the SPFL make changes to the game and make each team have "X" number of U21's or Academy Graduates in the first team / match day squads, the chances of making it are so restrictive for the young boys.

I get annoyed our young boys leave for peanuts, but i think it's even worse there's no drive from the SFA to encourage our best youngsters to make it up here. I think it's horrifically bad that the old firm regularly field non Scottish XI's.

I remember playing FM all the time growing up, and there was always like 8 players need to be registers from Scotland, and 4 of those needed to be with Aberdeen growing up. But now it seems like we just have a squad of 16/17 or so, made up from anywhere.

Hopefully Emslie is being brought back with the intention to give him minutes.

[RabidGiraffe]

The big issue seems to be how breach the gap between the development teams and the first team squad.  I understand the suggestion for a reserve or perhaps U21 team with a few overage players, but there seem to be a few barriers to this;

First is cost.  It means retaining enough players in the 18 - 21 age range to maintain a squad, including their salaries, coaching, and other costs, especially when we're trying to compete with the salaries English clubs can pay.  How many players would we need in that group, especially if there's some we'd rather send out on loan for their development? 

Second is number and condition of overage players.  In these days of sports science, players who were on the bench on the Saturday or are returning from injury maintain their condition and return to fitness through training programmes.  Is there a place in these training schedules for a match? Perhaps they'd rather play a bounce game when the players need it/are ready rather than trying to meet a predefined schedule of matches that might set back a player's return or cause an injury.

The clubs would certainly seem unwilling to cover the costs when money is tight in the Scottish game.  I think the SFA need to take some responsibility here if they want a top level international team in the future, but they've got no money either and will be bullied by the ugly sisters into whatever they want to do.

Not saying I've got an answer or I'm against the reserve/U21 league, just their seems to be significant barriers to it.

 

[NEM]

54 minutes ago, RabidGiraffe said:

The big issue seems to be how breach the gap between the development teams and the first team squad.  I understand the suggestion for a reserve or perhaps U21 team with a few overage players, but there seem to be a few barriers to this;

First is cost.  It means retaining enough players in the 18 - 21 age range to maintain a squad, including their salaries, coaching, and other costs, especially when we're trying to compete with the salaries English clubs can pay.  How many players would we need in that group, especially if there's some we'd rather send out on loan for their development? 

Second is number and condition of overage players.  In these days of sports science, players who were on the bench on the Saturday or are returning from injury maintain their condition and return to fitness through training programmes.  Is there a place in these training schedules for a match? Perhaps they'd rather play a bounce game when the players need it/are ready rather than trying to meet a predefined schedule of matches that might set back a player's return or cause an injury.

The clubs would certainly seem unwilling to cover the costs when money is tight in the Scottish game.  I think the SFA need to take some responsibility here if they want a top level international team in the future, but they've got no money either and will be bullied by the ugly sisters into whatever they want to do.

Not saying I've got an answer or I'm against the reserve/U21 league, just their seems to be significant barriers to it.

 

We've probably got a squad worth of boys out on loan.  Supplement that with first team players either out of the picture or coming back from injury. 

[RDS]

1 hour ago, NEM said:

We've probably got a squad worth of boys out on loan.  Supplement that with first team players either out of the picture or coming back from injury. 

We don't have a squad out on loan.

Would have just under a starting XI and two or 3 of them are still u18s so an U21 or Reserve team would involve taking on more players 

[NEM]

1 minute ago, RDS said:

We don't have a squad out on loan.

Would have just under a starting XI and two or 3 of them are still u18s so an U21 or Reserve team would involve taking on more players 

Would it?  We've a first team squad of about 30 players, a good few of whom look rusty as fuck when they eventually get a game.

Nothing stopping us playing some of the under 18's either - folk are screaming for the likes of Boyd to play for the first team.  Surely getting them experience in the reserves against other clubs fringe players is better than jumping straight from playing against kids straight into the first team.

[Dons79]

Agree with this, it’s to big a jump to expect them to go from kids to mens football with nothing in between, got to have a reserve team to fit all the squad players that cannot make the match day playing alongside the kids giving them experience and pointers. Whole point of senior players. Now it’s disgruntled first teamers that don’t get games and rudderless kids. Doesn’t make much sense. 

[RDS]

16 minutes ago, NEM said:

Would it?  We've a first team squad of about 30 players, a good few of whom look rusty as fuck when they eventually get a game.

Nothing stopping us playing some of the under 18's either - folk are screaming for the likes of Boyd to play for the first team.  Surely getting them experience in the reserves against other clubs fringe players is better than jumping straight from playing against kids straight into the first team.

Haven't counted squad with all the January changes but of the mid 20s to high 20s signed in reality we've Sokler, Besujin and Molloy out long term and Milne and Polvara out too.

We wouldnt need a huge amount extra but with 20 in match day squads for first team and depending which day the Reserves played matches we would need to take in a handful of players or retain some U18s that would be getting released at end of season if it say were to start in August. Also costs of travel, pitch hire if not played at Cormack and other general running costs

[RDS]

SFA have finally got around to showing youth league tables on their website. Here's the U18 and assuming it's up to date

[RDS]

The U16 table

[RabidGiraffe]

Do St. Johnstone, Dundee, and Ross County not enter teams in the youth leagues?

[Don_Corleone]

1 hour ago, RabidGiraffe said:

Do St. Johnstone, Dundee, and Ross County not enter teams in the youth leagues?

They're in a lower league, or some different kind of set up I think.

[RDS]

On 2/9/2025 at 7:54 AM, RabidGiraffe said:

Do St. Johnstone, Dundee, and Ross County not enter teams in the youth leagues?

It's based on how the SFA rank your Academy set up based on things like facilities, level and number of coaches etc. Below is full list of levels

[RAZOR]

https://xcancel.com/CoveRangersFC/status/1889608651662319705

Findlay Marshall with a nice hit

[RDS]

Don't think we'll be looking at our Atlanta link to pick up any of their U13s or maybe Messi's kid is decent 🤔 

[strachanmcgheegoal]

Can’t think of many sons who have followed successful fathers.

[RUL]

4 minutes ago, strachanmcgheegoal said:

Can’t think of many sons who have followed successful fathers.

Haaland but his dad wasn't really successful I guess. Maybe Schmeichel both had solid careers. Maybe more obscure but maldini at Milan, as in Paolo followed his dad cesaere. Paolo son was also at Milan but he was absolutely shite. I also watched kluivert son score a hat trick v Newcastle last week.

I guess there's a lack of motivation if your dad has been successful and made loads of money. 

[RUL]

On a dons note heard Jamie mercer actually hurt his other hamstring (after 2 really bad injuries ). Hopefully not as serious but he seems to have no luck.

[aberdeen1970]

39 minutes ago, RUL said:

On a dons note heard Jamie mercer actually hurt his other hamstring (after 2 really bad injuries ). Hopefully not as serious but he seems to have no luck.

At least he only has 2 legs so hasn't any more hamstrings to tear. 

Every cloud.... 

 

[RDS]

1 hour ago, strachanmcgheegoal said:

Can’t think of many sons who have followed successful fathers.

Not all necessarily successful fathers and sons re trophies but following  have had some success and a career in game for a time and quite a few came to mind and will be more but -

For Dons Andy Considine had more success based on longer career than Doug. Jamie Buchan had less success than Martin. Alfie Bavidge has potential to surpass his Dad Martin and Granda Mitch's success in Highland level. 

Also Lennon Miller following Lee doing OK so far and Lewis Ferguson following on from Derek. Nicky Clark probably had similar journeyman striker level career to Sandy. Josh Windass also similar level to Dean. Shaun Wright-Phillips following Ian

Jordi Cruyff fell short of Johann.

Can't think of any that have both hit top levels re trophy success and in World Class category but Schmeichel's as mentioned by RUL probably closest re international careers and both winning Premier League

 

[RDS]

1 hour ago, RUL said:

On a dons note heard Jamie mercer actually hurt his other hamstring (after 2 really bad injuries ). Hopefully not as serious but he seems to have no luck.

 

29 minutes ago, aberdeen1970 said:

At least he only has 2 legs so hasn't any more hamstrings to tear. 

Every cloud.... 

 

That's crap for the lad. There are 3 hamstring muscles in each leg so sadly he does have more that could go

[Granite95]

1 hour ago, strachanmcgheegoal said:

Can’t think of many sons who have followed successful fathers.

Fredirico Chiesa quite good as well as both the Thurman brothers

Seemignly Van Bommell and Van Persie’s sons are highly rated too 

[RDS]

4 minutes ago, Granite95 said:

Fredirico Chiesa quite good as well as both the Thurman brothers

Seemignly Van Bommell and Van Persie’s sons are highly rated too 

Kai Rooney is doing well at development age groups but long way to go following in Wayne's footsteps at Man United and older Fletcher twins following on from Darren

[Don_Corleone]

16 minutes ago, Granite95 said:

Fredirico Chiesa quite good as well as both the Thurman brothers

Seemignly Van Bommell and Van Persie’s sons are highly rated too 

I was thinking about Chiesa and Thuram as well. 

Kluivert is doing alright too.

Shaun Wright Philips had a decent career.

[Don_Corleone]

37 minutes ago, RDS said:

There are 3 hamstring muscles in each leg so sadly he does have more that could go

Every day's a school day...