Academy players (below U18)

Beat Poet

Beat Poet

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Academy players (below U18)

I figure we could do with a thread for general news and observations for players below U18 level, for which there is practically zero coverage.

Dylan Evans, defender, was capped by Wales U15 in November 2025.

Cymru Football - Wales Football - Welsh International Football - Cymru International Football

Welcome to dragonsoccer, a Wales International football website - Safle Tim Pel-droed Cymru
dragonsoccer.co.uk

Hatim Belhaj, presumably a year above ⬇️


View: https://www.instagram.com/ldncityfc/p/DWM_kXwCp1s/
 

Academy players (below U18)

I assume the almost zero coverage is part safeguarding and part protecting our assets. It's safe to assume that if we can find diamonds in the 18-22 age bracket then we will be learning fast how to uncover them in the lower age ranges too, even though MB himself said it's more difficult as there is less relevent data. The last thing we want to do is provide additional warning to Citeh etc. that we've got a 16yo potential superstar who can't sign a pro contract.
 

Academy players (below U18)

Bee(h)Iver said:
I assume the almost zero coverage is part safeguarding and part protecting our assets. It's safe to assume that if we can find diamonds in the 18-22 age bracket then we will be learning fast how to uncover them in the lower age ranges too, even though MB himself said it's more difficult as there is less relevent data. The last thing we want to do is provide additional warning to Citeh etc. that we've got a 16yo potential superstar who can't sign a pro contract.
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They won’t get that from a social media post by us. And they can sign a post dated contract.
 

Academy players (below U18)

Academy players (below U18)

Beat Poet said:
I figure we could do with a thread for general news and observations for players below U18 level, for which there is practically zero coverage.

Dylan Evans, defender, was capped by Wales U15 in November 2025.

Cymru Football - Wales Football - Welsh International Football - Cymru International Football

Welcome to dragonsoccer, a Wales International football website - Safle Tim Pel-droed Cymru
dragonsoccer.co.uk

Hatim Belhaj, presumably a year above ⬇️


View: https://www.instagram.com/ldncityfc/p/DWM_kXwCp1s/
Click to expand...

Capped.


View: https://x.com/EnMaroc/status/2036819762852815027
 

Academy players (below U18)

Out of interest, what % of players are expected to make it to our first xi (in a competitive match) from this age group to be considered a success / successful investment by the club. Absolutely no idea. Totally uneducated guess: 1%?

And possibly 5% to make it to B team / Under 21 contracts? But just a stab.

Anyone know???
 

Academy players (below U18)

Beecareful said:
Out of interest, what % of players are expected to make it to our first xi (in a competitive match) from this age group to be considered a success / successful investment by the club. Absolutely no idea. Totally uneducated guess: 1%?

And possibly 5% to make it to B team / Under 21 contracts? But just a stab.

Anyone know???
Click to expand...
1%, maybe less.
 

Academy players (below U18)

Beecareful said:
Out of interest, what % of players are expected to make it to our first xi (in a competitive match) from this age group to be considered a success / successful investment by the club. Absolutely no idea. Totally uneducated guess: 1%?

And possibly 5% to make it to B team / Under 21 contracts? But just a stab.

Anyone know???
Click to expand...
No, but the general figure that has always floated around football for years and years is 1%. Maybe that wasn’t even measured in years gone by, just stated as a figure to mean ‘not many’.
I guess quality over quantity and all that, but eleven players are still needed on the pitch, no matter how many gems are among them.
 

Academy players (below U18)

Beecareful said:
Out of interest, what % of players are expected to make it to our first xi (in a competitive match) from this age group to be considered a success / successful investment by the club. Absolutely no idea. Totally uneducated guess: 1%?

And possibly 5% to make it to B team / Under 21 contracts? But just a stab.

Anyone know???
Click to expand...
About right. The parents are sold a pipe dream. It’s all quite grubby really.
 

Academy players (below U18)

JANORAK said:
No, but the general figure that has always floated around football for years and years is 1%. Maybe that wasn’t even measured in years gone by, just stated as a figure to mean ‘not many’.
I guess quality over quantity and all that, but eleven players are still needed on the pitch, no matter how many gems are among them.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 

Academy players (below U18)

shaun said:
Team sport so unfortunately probably no other way of doing it.
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I prefer the US college system. The kids over here are exploited and dumped by clubs with no aftercare.
 

Academy players (below U18)

Academy players (below U18)

Academy players (below U18)

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