u18s season preview

[twosips]

Put a lot into this so I thought i'd start a thread... hope you all enjoy it.

It's a long read. Grab a brew. Ha.

http://inesteemedkompany.blogspot.co.uk ... -u18s.html

[nottsblue]

Great stuff as usual. I may be a little dim, but I sometimes get confused with which teams are which and who plays for who. For example what age level is youth cup and the champions league youth cup? Are there separate leagues for under 17 18 19 20 and 21?

I gather players move up levels to gain experience and I also infer from your reports they also swap positions now and then, just to confuse matters further.

[twosips]

EDS and the Premier League International Cup are u21s.

UEFA Youth League is specifically an u19s competition, one that mirrors the champions league.

FA Youth cup is u18s, and there's an u18s league too.

U17s or u20s isn't a thing at club level. Only leagues are u18s and u21s.

Regarding who plays for who, its complicated. Lines are usually blurred. The 'new', or more raw, u18s play in the league usually, whereas the 'best' or more experienced u18s tend to sod off the u18s league as theyre required for the more prestigious FA Youth Cup, the UEFA Youth champions league thingy, or the EDS. Hence why Barker was playing in the u21s league, and not the u18s league, but still the FA Youth Cup, cos thats seen as a bit more special.

[nottsblue]

EDS and the Premier League International Cup are u21s.

UEFA Youth League is specifically an u19s competition, one that mirrors the champions league.

FA Youth cup is u18s, and there's an u18s league too.

U17s or u20s isn't a thing at club level. Only leagues are u18s and u21s.

Regarding who plays for who, its complicated. Lines are usually blurred. The 'new', or more raw, u18s play in the league usually, whereas the 'best' or more experienced u18s tend to sod off the u18s league as theyre required for the more prestigious FA Youth Cup, the UEFA Youth champions league thingy, or the EDS. Hence why Barker was playing in the u21s league, and not the u18s league, but still the FA Youth Cup, cos thats seen as a bit more special.

OK. Thanks for the clarification. Bit more to it the the old Central League and Lancashire League A and B!

Do you have a preference of which side you like to see, or is it difficult because the players swap around? Do they all play at the academy stadium, or is that for the EDS and youth cups (domestic and Euro)?

[craigmcfc]

Heading over tomorrow with my 2 lads for the Liverpool U18s game.... and to pick up the away shirt for my birthday. Nice.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

It does tend to get a bit complicated and blurred as TS says in his report ( great piece by the way) but I expect will start to become clearer as the season develops and we see which players have graduated up the age groups.

I watched the under 18's at Rhyl last week and there were not many playing who were in the under 18's last season. Some key 18's who are still eligible for under 18's this season may well be moved up to the more testing world of the EDS and thus under 19 and 21's competitions.

So looking forward to tomorrow's game.

[bobby brows]

The team I help run, West Didsbury & Chorltin in the North West Counties, entered the FA Youth Cup for the first time last year...and lost 6-0 in the first round to Wrexham!

However the young lads did themselves proud, playing on the Racecourse and won plaudits on the night, I'm dreaming of them getting few a couple of rounds and getting City

[bobby brows]

Good preview, really explains what's happening, I'd be down this morning but I've a game this aftefnkon

I remember meeting the City under 9s coach, who now coaches in Dubai, telling me about the plans for players to play above their age group. Good to see that vision working.

[clippo22]

Enjoyed the read! Thanks very much!

[twosips]

And they won their first game of the season 1-0 today. Enjoyed it too. Davenport impressed me. Tough little fella. Nmecha is such a natural forward though. He moves like Anelka on the ball (Doug pointed that one out to me...) finishes really, really well too. Another gem coming through.

http://inesteemedkompany.blogspot.co.uk ... -u18s.html

As ever, wrote a huge blog up there ^

[craigmcfc]

He may have faded in the second half but Will Patching was the one that caught my eye. Great energy and composure on the ball, looking forward to watching him progress as the season unfolds.

[twosips]

He may have faded in the second half but Will Patching was the one that caught my eye. Great energy and composure on the ball, looking forward to watching him progress as the season unfolds.

Yeah I enjoyed his peformance. Actually thought he showed some really nice moments in the second half. Couple of lovely runs. Such lovely feet. Proper silky....just Nasri syndrome when it comes to shooting :)

[Im_Spartacus]

Great article, and thanks for the report of the game. It will be interesting to see how some of the first year players step up, I'm particularly hoping that Diallo has great things ahead of him. If he turns into the player he could be developing into and smooths some of the rough edges out, that will be very exciting (not to mention, financially rewarding) for city

[craigmcfc]

He may have faded in the second half but Will Patching was the one that caught my eye. Great energy and composure on the ball, looking forward to watching him progress as the season unfolds.

Yeah I enjoyed his peformance. Actually thought he showed some really nice moments in the second half. Couple of lovely runs. Such lovely feet. Proper silky....just Nasri syndrome when it comes to shooting :)

Haha exactly my words when he passed up that shooting chance in the second half.