Under 20's Team

[adwebb16]

I'm a little surprised that this hasn't been given a mention. Although what with the contracts issue at the moment perhaps i'm being a little naive.

On the OS http://www.southendunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~1326441,00.html

Ricky Duncan et al are on the verge of an Under 20's squad. What a fantastic idea and it really shows how the club is trying to create a solid structure behind the scenes. We all know that it pays to invest in youth and it has to be said that we do get glimmers of talent that seem to make it through the SUFC youth teams, Moussa being a prime example.

In the current climate with all the contracts/disloylaty/money taking centre stage it is a fantastic achievement by Dunca, Tilson, Martin to really start to shape a true club. As Duncan says in the article it is a perfect way to assess those players that don't seem to be able to crack the first team but are beyond the youth team, the first examples that sprang to my mind were Kightley & Lawson. Both with a specific training programmes and the opportunity for good quality game experience at other clubs could have flourished (open to debate).

Well done guys at the club, at least we know that we are developing something nehind the scenes that seems solid and will stay solid for many years to come. Keep up the hard work.

:support:

 

[Pubey]

I dunno really... I thought that's what the reserves was for, and he also says he wants to get our graduates out on loan to conference teams.. so who is going to be playing for the under20s team and the stiffs?

 

[sufcalways]

Not a bad idea having more youths? Will mean higher chance of loyal serving players :)

 

[Sean 2]

To think a few years ago Southend even culled the reserve team,let alone have an under-20's!!

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

Certainly a far sighted move, in my opinion. We need to build our own team, rather than rely on cast-offs, and over-priced never-will-be's.

 

[haveaguiness]

It seems ricky duncan has been learning from the tournaments he has been taking the youth teams to in Europe. This is very much a european thing having an under 20's side, thats why you dont see alot of the european based players exceling until they are 22/23 because they are giving more time to develope the techinical side of their games in the youth games.
This is an amazing idea for me, but who are they going to play> i cant see many other teams having an under 20's team in england just yet.

 

[discord]

To think a few years ago Southend even culled the reserve team,let alone have an under-20's!!

Yeah and we inherited WetSpam's res in place of our 2nd string... That has got to be the biggest insult to this club ever:stunned:

 

[discord]

Just read the article looks like this u20's team will be playing elsewhere and not here...... Good move though and shows that RM is putting the money recieved for Fred to good causes.

But here's a better idea for the u20's get them to play in a dutch, german or french u20 league that would surely develope their skills!

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Creates a bridge between leaving the under 18s and starting to play for the senior team. I think young players these days are thrown into the senior squad too quickly and they're left to rot away and eventually released.

 

[SUFCEssex]

sounds good. i'm hoping to go to the harlow and bishop stortford pre season games as they are new grounds so be a good chance to see the u20's and the future of the club in action.