Academy

[DonnyOsmond]

Shout out to the academy. Hopefully now producing decent players with Jones and Horton being in and around the first team lately, Greaves around there too.

Must be a while since we had 3 or more lads from Donny starting a league game too.

[selby]

  The u23s being disbanded is a big loss Donny although as a side issue our  small squad and injuries may have helped to give those players the chance to step up, and which they look to have grasped.
  They all however played at that level last season, so had already stepped up somewhat, the next crop though will be coming in from u18s without the next step, without playing men's football which is a massive step unless some way around it can be found, probably friendlies against some of the top local sides and loans out but not ideal.
  Having said that lots of the younger age group teams show lots of promise, have done well in their age groups against other professional teams, the coaching is top class, and a lot of effort is put in to be as good as the club can possibly be considering the financial restraints at this time
 which is understandable somewhat but could be a lot better and would help the clubs progress.

[DonnyOsmond]

The U23s are good to have but I feel as though a lot of the time players are just left it there expecting their quality to suddenly rise, the biggest thing to make these lads rise to the level probably is chucking them in the deep end.

[steve@dcfd]

Seeing the U18 finished bottom of their league this season what U18 will be asked to step up are there any.

[selby]

  Steve@dcfd, they are sixth actually and play Mansfield at home on Saturday in their last fixture, reached the third round of the youth cup playing all three fixtures away from home, beat Coventry Phoenix and Hull City a category 2  academy and losing out narrowly in the last few minutes to Peterborough United who have won the Southern Section so have not done that badly when considering they have also supplied and missed playing for them Ravenhill and Bottomley who have been on the bench with the first team and Bojang who was away in the African u20s competition for a good while.
  So in lots of games they played sides with mostly first year scholars taking up more places than in the opposition.
  They could well have a very good year next year,with some strong first year scholars coming through at the same time, one thing is for sure they will be given every help and opportunity by some very good coaches and staff to do so and deserve our support.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Interesting we're normally battling Hull in our U18 division near the top. Looking at Hull's promotion team they have quite a few academy players making serious contributions to the team at a good level. So you'd think a few more of ours might be at a similar standard if given a chance.   

[Alan Southstand]

As already explained above, Hull are a cat2 outfit,so don’t play cat 3 level teams.

As Selby has explained, this season’s u18’s are, by and large, made up of first year scholars, so very young. Next season, there should be some improvement.

We are missing that u23 level, as this allowed players, like Jones, Horton, Greaves, Amos, etc, the platform to further develop. Only really exceptional players go straight into the first team, from the u18’s and there have been very few of them.

[graingrover]

How do you guys who follow them closely rate Hasani.Has he recovered from his long term injury and how much game time has he had in the last twelve months ? Thanks !

[sedwardsdrfc]

As already explained above, Hull are a cat2 outfit,so don’t play cat 3 level teams.

As Selby has explained, this season’s u18’s are, by and large, made up of first year scholars, so very young. Next season, there should be some improvement.

We are missing that u23 level, as this allowed players, like Jones, Horton, Greaves, Amos, etc, the platform to further develop. Only really exceptional players go straight into the first team, from the u18’s and there have been very few of them.

Not sure who i'm thinking of then? Was sure we were playing them but maybe that was a long time ago!

[DonnyOsmond]

As already explained above, Hull are a cat2 outfit,so don’t play cat 3 level teams.

As Selby has explained, this season’s u18’s are, by and large, made up of first year scholars, so very young. Next season, there should be some improvement.

We are missing that u23 level, as this allowed players, like Jones, Horton, Greaves, Amos, etc, the platform to further develop. Only really exceptional players go straight into the first team, from the u18’s and there have been very few of them.

Not sure who i'm thinking of then? Was sure we were playing them but maybe that was a long time ago!

Hull moved up in 15/16.

[rich1471]

The under 18s when I watched them in the fa youth cup looked use full

[selby]

  Rich that team v Peterborough were roughly a first year scholar and second year scholar 50/ 50 mix, we have some good 16/ 17/18 year olds and hope for a good season at that level next season, stretching them against men either in house if training gets back to  normal and centred at Cantley, or games against good Standard local sides and older college sides would be ideal if possible without a u23s side as well as the academy league.
  The more experience and styles of play they play against the better I think, it is  to learn the game.
  One thing they do have is very very good coaches and staff to back them up and guide them, so if they have the ability they get every chance to progress.
  We have a good base, but compared with some other clubs investment in the youth set up is sparing to say the least but on the field of play we compete favourably.
 
 

[Alan Southstand]

Except against Notts County, Selby. They were clearly second best that day!

Sorry, Graing, but I can’t really comment on Hasani, as, due to the lockdown, I have seen very little live football this season. All I will say is, on the few occasions I have seen him, I think he’s gone backwards. Maybe that’s due to his injuries and not playing consistently but I’d be surprised if he is still with us next season.

[albie]

I thought Hasani was under contract next year, having signed a 2 year deal.

I still do not understand why he cannot play for us.
He joined Gateshead just before the season was null and voided, and played part of 1 game alone.

It makes no sense to send a player out on loan in these circumstances.
It suggests DM and others at DRFC did not understand the regs.

[selby]

  Yes Alan admitted and Mansfield at home was  no better, but mainly they have been involved in tight games and have played some good football and as said because of circumstances have generally been younger than the opposition all round,
  Huddersfield were the best football side in the division, but use it purely as a stepping stone and field a young side but have players from all over released by premiership teams mainly and not all British.  Their budget for their academy will dwarf ours as do most teams some who are perceived even smaller clubs than us rather surprisingly.

[chrisd_123]

I thought Hasani was under contract next year, having signed a 2 year deal.

I still do not understand why he cannot play for us.
He joined Gateshead just before the season was null and voided, and played part of 1 game alone.

It makes no sense to send a player out on loan in these circumstances.
It suggests DM and others at DRFC did not understand the regs.

This is a one off situation though and nothing to do with understanding the regs in reality. They would have understood the regs but would probably have hoped the powers that be use some common sense in the event of this happening again

The only other option is not sending them out on loan. For me the EFL need to have had a better plan for this. I don't understand why a young player who can't physically play for the team he's on loan at due to their season being culled can't then play for his actual contracted club. If we'd recalled him or the season was to restart, that's a different story

[DonnyOsmond]

Yeah, Hasani has another year on his contract.

[albie]

I still don't get it, ChrisD.

Gateshead took Hasani on loan at the same time as they were calling for the season to be ended.
They were one of the main movers in the change, and were aware that it was coming to a head with a majority in the regional National League wanting to stop.

Seaman at Maidstone is different in that it was a season long loan with a recall clause we were told.
The idea was that he would come back in if needed.

Now I can't see what the difference is between Rovers deciding to recall (because of injury to right back), or CS becoming available because the club he was loaned to have finished their season.

At the end, DRFC are paying wages to 2 lads, both fit but unavailable for selection.
It is nonsense on stilts!

[sedwardsdrfc]

It was short sighted to loan Hasani out when the league was likely to finish. Can only think the club weren't aware of the rules should the league finish the way it did.

Personally i think the EFL could have eased the rules on this just as a one off in the circumstances

[chrisd_123]

I still don't get it, ChrisD.

Gateshead took Hasani on loan at the same time as they were calling for the season to be ended.
They were one of the main movers in the change, and were aware that it was coming to a head with a majority in the regional National League wanting to stop.

Seaman at Maidstone is different in that it was a season long loan with a recall clause we were told.
The idea was that he would come back in if needed.

Now I can't see what the difference is between Rovers deciding to recall (because of injury to right back), or CS becoming available because the club he was loaned to have finished their season.

At the end, DRFC are paying wages to 2 lads, both fit but unavailable for selection.
It is nonsense on stilts!

To be fair, It seems so long ago I didn’t realise the Hasani one was so close to the calling of the season.

The Seaman one is a joke though. He’s been there all season and we should surely be allowed to use him. There’s a number of reasons but the EFL preach about bringing young players through so why can’t they just let them play. Especially this season in a year where teams are playing 3 times a week every week!

How can they punish a player so he can’t play out of no fault of his own?

[sedwardsdrfc]

Thats the EFL for you. Rules is rules unless it's Bolton of course then the rules can be bent

[chrisd_123]

Maybe that's it - they're 'protecting' our young players for us!

[Alan Southstand]

To put this season’s u18’s in perspective, they never, ever reached the heights or consistency of last season’s u18’s (who finished top). None of that side, as far as I’m aware, we’re offered a contract!

[sedwardsdrfc]

To put this season’s u18’s in perspective, they never, ever reached the heights or consistency of last season’s u18’s (who finished top). None of that side, as far as I’m aware, we’re offered a contract!

Was that to do with the pandemic and having no u23 side or was that u18 worse than others? A shame if it's the pandemic that impacted it but I suppose it's hard to bring them on without any games

[DonnyOsmond]

To put this season’s u18’s in perspective, they never, ever reached the heights or consistency of last season’s u18’s (who finished top). None of that side, as far as I’m aware, we’re offered a contract!

Blythe and Hasani earlier on.

[Alan Southstand]

Yes, of course, Blythe. Hasani got his contract from McCan’t, so not applicable.

[DonnyOsmond]

Another quality display from Jones, looking good for that #1 shirt next season. Horton did well too.

[Bessie Red]

Yes, of course, Blythe. Hasani got his contract from McCan’t, so not applicable.

why is that not applicable?

[Alan Southstand]

NA in that he already had a contract!