U23s

https://safc.com/news/academy-news/2021/september/report-middlesbrough-u23-home

This season has been horrendous so far for the U23s. I know we are going through a restructure and the U23s have lost Neil and Hawkes but surely a winning mentality is needed throughout the whole club to breed success?

 

Doesn't help when our best players are being half inched by Premier League clubs even before they start growing down below hairs.

 

Yes i know. Very annoying and also a painful reminder how being in div 3 is effecting us still in every way.
The longer we're down here the more life we get sucked out of us.

 

I think it was Speakman who explained not long ago that this was going to be a tough season for our U23's. We sold a few off under SD obviously and there's been a few promoted to the senior squad. He might have also said it was a young squad for this level and they'd use this year to grow with the experience while we continue improving the academy and quality coming into it.

 

yep, very much a transition season for them, I expect them to possibly get walloped quite often up until the new year, then we should see some green shoots towards the end of the season. work in progress, no panic stations yet.

 

We still had Patterson, Younger, Dyce and Kimpioka in that team who are close to our first team and experienced at this level.
Maybes its just me but having a winning mentality within the club is important and for Speakman to give them a get out of jail card so early on is pretty shyte really.

 

We should use a couple of players not involved in the first team to stiffen the team up short term.

 

Yes i agree and im hoping the fact we play tomorrow means we'll see 11 changes to the lineup from Sat.

 

No way should Kimpioka be anywhere near our first team. I think he's ****e, tbh. I like Patterson and Dyce. Younger should be pushing first team, I think he's a cracking player.

I think he's just being realistic by saying that the academy has been ripped apart lately under SD's leadership and it's going to take a little time to get it back on the right tracks.

 

Might sound counter intuitive but a winning mentality may not be the be all and end all at u23. What they exist for is to send players to 1st team. Strangely that may mean a different emphasis to win at all costs. It is just as likely to be about a style of play so when needed they slot in. I would look at individual performances much more than results.

 

Hmm not sure if that works to be fair mate. Getting used of losing games doesn't fit well with me if we're expecting these lads to jump into the first team when needed.
I dont think patching up losing games is possible to be honest, losing is losing and nobody should think thats acceptable

 

Yeah Kimpioka has ran his course now. Younger had a stinker today apparently though

 

Boro have a very good youth setup, I watched us against their u23s at Hetton pre covid and they were much better than us (Neil, Benji and Diamond all played for us), men against boys almost, even at that level. Most out our lads are only 18/19 with 8 signings to bed in - same as the first team. Totally different style of play for them to get their heads around as LJ/KS wants it running through all age levels.
They will be ok this season, nowt spectacular but certainly not as bad as the season before last when they only won 1 game or something.

 

Fair enough mate, but for me the only results based business is 1st team. I have never seen a player improve as a result of a league table, but I have seen them improve by coaching and experience gained.

A lot of academy teams dont publish results or play league competition. Admitedly this is up to u16. Some level of competition is needed of course as you get older. My sense is sunderland would hope for 2 or 3 u23s making the first team, and that is a target. If that is true then I doubt they judge them on league results, but rather on performance of individuals.

Just my opinion of course...

 

Absolutely mate we all think different i just think any professional sportsman should be trained to have a winning mentality rather than be told dont worry your expected to lose anyway.
They are over 18, not exactly kids really

 

Another thing worth noting is the presence of SAFC RTC at the new football hubs. The bairn plays u10s at the new one at Downhill and the RTC have been there running trials for girls and boys teams for weeks. Definitely a pro active approach to getting the best local talent into SAFC at a young age.

https://twitter.com/SunderlandRTC?s=09

 

Guessing the Benji hype has moved quickly and he’s been found out? Couldn’t be,I’ve the clamour fir him to play last season personally

 

Absolutely ****e. League 2 at best imo.

 

I’ve always thought that! Every time I saw him he looked fast. Like giving an Olympic sprinter a football with zero understanding of the game.

 

A lad they got from us scored twice and also they had Kokolo in the team. **** right off Donald you ****er
Kimpioka looked ****e for Torquay in the National League and appears to be going backwards. Benji Button