U23s v Peterborough at the Lane, 1pm

[EddieColquhoun]

Lankshear still looks like he is growing.

With the exception of the keeper, they all are.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

 

[EddieColquhoun]

 

[EddieColquhoun]

 

[EddieColquhoun]

 

[S64 Blade]

Just checked the tables and both the under 23s and 18s are fairly comfortable at the top of their respective leagues.

Have we won both in a season before? (In recent times; realising the structure has changed).

The pleasing thing for me is that a lot of the players seem to be playing quite a bit above their ages. How do we compare to others in this regard? Is it the fact we send them out on loan young, a reason for the academy producing a good stream of talent (I suspect so!).

 

[John Cutsbushes]

The standard of opposition in the last 2 games has been appalling
Colchester were miles off with a very young, poor team, and Peterborough played 4 trialiists, and were clearly out of their depth from the start.
Whilst some of our lads look good, it's worth remembering the opposition have made it easy
All of todays goals would have been avoided by more appropriate opponents than 2 of the weakest opponents we will ever face.

 

[Torrix1889]

The standard of opposition in the last 2 games has been appalling
Colchester were miles off with a very young, poor team, and Peterborough played 4 trialiists, and were clearly out of their depth from the start.
Whilst some of our lads look good, it's worth remembering the opposition have made it easy
All of todays goals would have been avoided by more appropriate opponents than 2 of the weakest opponents we will ever face.

And here we were thinking the future was bright.....come on Blades, back down of yer perch of positivity

 

[Grappler]

Lankshear has a decent set of shoulders to grow in to, he will possibly end up with a similar physique to JOC, just imagine a lad built like that racing towards you, if you are a defender or a keeper.

 

[Addison]

Brooks' cross:

It was Gomes who put the cross in. My type of centre back. Big Unit left footed good in the air and can pass a ball. Best of all he gets up the pitch at pace and is similar to JOC in style. He's at the same level as Lopata and Gordon and needs to go out and play mens football. Would be a good replacement for Lopata at Southend. One for Rootshallbloke to consider.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

It was Gomes who put the cross in. My type of centre back. Big Unit left footed good in the air and can pass a ball. Best of all he gets up the pitch at pace and is similar to JOC in style. He's at the same level as Lopata and Gordon and needs to go out and play mens football. Would be a good replacement for Lopata at Southend. One for Rootshallbloke to consider.

Apologies. I've been getting texts from Specsavers for months now

 

[ThatJa]

Who's the trialist?

 

[Silent Blade]

Who's the trialist?

A.N. Other

 

[Champagneblade]

I think it is really worth noting the ages of the outfield players as well. U23s suggests they are just that but 9/12 that played (minus trialist and keeper) could still have qualified to play for the U18s when the season started (various sources, some conflicting):

Sadgev, 18, born October
L Williams, 18, born March
Frecklington, 20, born December
Gomis, 20, born March
Bayubu, 20, born November
Peck, 17, born September
Arblaster, 17, born May
Brooks, 18, born August
Osula, 18, born August
Ayari, 19, born December
Staniland, 17, born February
Lankshear, 16, born April

Or, put another way, the average age of the outfield players for our U23s was 18 years and 6 months, based on the months of their birth. Not bad when you consider the season started 8 months back.

 

[Champagneblade]

Who's the trialist?

Lovechild of Edgar Davids and Amos Brearley!

 

[Champagneblade]

Apparently the guy's name is Lynford Sackey:

Lynford Sackey - Player profile

Lynford Sackey, 23, from England ➤ Yateley United FC, since 2025 ➤ Right-Back ➤ Market value: - ➤ * 18/02/2003 in , Ghana

www.transfermarkt.com