KidWatch, small white mints Special + update + internationals

It was recently highlighted that the Academy had adopted 4-3-3, presumably to mirror the First Team.

From the official site last weekend:
"Returning to a 4-4-2 formation for Saturday’s game against the Blues [Chelsea, lost 1-3] saw many positive returns for the U18s, which Thorn thinks is down to the change in roles in the midfield.
“Osman and Harry [Brooke] are definitely better used in the 4-4-2 because they’re more attacking-minded.
“When we play with a diamond, we have to have that defensive midfielder, which is tough because we don’t really have any defensively-minded midfielders. It makes it easier for us as a team to play and link up.”

Question: If the club ethos is now 4-3-3 - using defensive-minded midfielders - why have we not recruited any Youth players that are suited for this role?
Answers on a postcard ...

For the record, the U18s results so far this season are: 0-2, 0-10 and 1-3 (the odds on Osman Foyo winning the U18s Goal of the Month comp for August are pretty short)

U23s are doing better, with two wins and one defeat from their three matches so far.
With eight of the DS out on loan, plus the exits of Nizet & Fitzpatick(tbc), the squad is down to 19.
It will be interesting to see if Bushiri, McCracken & Mair get match-time now the Window has quietly been latched.

Finally, internationals.
Well done for the following call-ups:
Sam Blair (Eire U21) & Benji McCabe (Wales U16)

With 42 players listed in DS & U18s I wonder if just one int'l call-up from this group is meeting expectations?

To expand this point, since June England have called up 150 players across the U16/U17/U18/U19/U20 & U21 groups, with Max Aarons being the sole Norwich representative.

Posted By: Henclrikus, Sep 1, 12:48:31