| U21s match report 10:20 - Sep 9 with 1094 views | itfc_bucks |
Went to the match last night not really with any expectations of us and fortunately so.
First 20 minutes threatened an interesting contest to break out, with both teams creating chances in an exciting, end-to-end style.
We built consistently from the back, but never threatened to really asset control at any stage. We really lacked intensity, which was my biggest frustration.
Hornchurch dominated the middle of the park and once our only real avenue to attack had been closed down (a lively, if ultimately ineffective, right wing), we never looked at getting involved in the scoring.
Two goals were certainly due to goalkeeper error (heard that one before) - in making the save, he either needs to take the ball cleanly or get it away from danger. Spilling it into the 6 yard box is always going to end badly.
As my son rightly pointed out, there wasn't a player in blue who you felt has a promising future in the game ahead of them.
A word on Buabo, as I know he's been highlighted before - looked busy when he came on, but ultimately was well shackled by a pair of non-league defenders. Hard to tell if he wasn't 100%, didn't fancy it or if he isn't good enough.
I'd have been interested to know what the management thought of the performance, as they felt to be a bit passive as well. |  |
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| U21s match report on 06:38 - Sep 10 with 415 views | LA_Tractor_Boy |
I think a key point about the U21s is that most players with a promising future (Championship level or above) will already be out on loan to a L1/L2 club.
We finished 5th of 29 teams last season in PL2, above Brighton and many others. It doesn't mean our academy is better, just that we had fewer players out on loan.
This season Boniface and Mendel are playing at Orient and Luton. Hopefully more will follow as our Cat 1 academy gathers momentum. | | | |
| U21s match report on 10:18 - Sep 10 with 251 views | Hermann_eats_puffin |
Yes I think that's a very pertinent point relating to the performance of our U21s in the PL2 league last season in which they did very well.
But that team included some of our best U21 players such as Boniface and Mendel. Also whilst perhaps not regular appearances but at times I think that players including Humphreys (prior to his loan to Huddersfield in January), Baggott and Barbrook (before he joined Colchester during his spell with Lincoln when he wasn't playing for them ) also made the odd U21 appearance in PL2 last season which will have helped their results.
Also we had players last season such as Ryan Carr who whilst he hasn't made it at Town has been mentioned on the board today for holding his own against Rangers in the SPL this week and so again that level of player will have helped our U21s and PL2 performance last season.
Ryan Carr by Roburmsyenna 10 Sep 0:00released by Town in the summer without playing a first team game, has just controlled the midfield for St Mirren against Rangers at Ibrox, thats the standard up there
Arguably our good PL2 performance last season has put some of our U21s in the loans shop window as has happened with Boniface and Mendel.
Consequently if our best U21 players go out on loan that in turn weakens the U21 team that we can put out. But that is just an inevitable consequence of having our best U21 players out on loan and I'd far rather that they be out on loan getting first team experience rather than be just playing U21 games because that will be good for both their development and hopefully for the good of the club in the long term.
However that does mean that I think we have to be realistic about the chances of our U21s getting results in both the National League Cup and EFL Trophy. In particular I worry about the EFL Trophy when we'll be playing Luton, Peterborough and Colchester and unless we choose to play some over age players in that competition (if rules allow - EDIT - see below) when players are say returning from injury or just needing game time if they're out of the PL match day squad then I'm really concerned that there could be some very big defeats for our U21s but obviously I hope that isn't the case. [Post edited 10 Sep 10:35]
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| U21s match report on 10:39 - Sep 10 with 213 views | Hermann_eats_puffin |
Further to the above I did just look up whether we can play any over age players in the EFL Trophy and I read this:-
U21 Overage Selection Rules - The Core Requirement: Out of the starting 11 players, at least six players must be under the age of 21 (aged under 21 as of June 30, 2026).
The Senior Cap: Ipswich can name a maximum of two players on the entire matchday team sheet who are over 21 and have recorded 40 or more senior first-team appearances.
Flexible Overage Options: Players over 21 who do not yet have 40 senior first-team appearances do not count toward that strict two-player senior cap, giving the academy flexibility to hand minutes to late-developing squad players. | | | |
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