U18/U21 Development Thread (33 Viewers)

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SlowerThanPlatt

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Eaden delighted with player pathway to Sky Blues first team

Coventry City U23s coach Nicky Eaden says he is delighted with Devon Kelly-Evans's progression to the Sky Blues first team and hopes to see more development players make the step up.

Kelly-Evans made his full senior debut against Exeter City on Saturday and capped off an impressive performance with a late goal to hand Mark Robins's men three points.

Speaking after the Sky Blues' U23s win over Ipswich Town on Monday afternoon, Eaden said: "It was great.

"I felt when he went wide he had more of an impact on the game, and then topped it off with a goal so I'm very pleased for Devon."

"It's my job to get players through to the first team so it was pleasing for me. Sometimes you might think that kids aren't good enough, but when you throw them in they show they can cope."

Robins signed 12 new players over the summer, but Eaden insists he will do his best to promote the youngsters at the club despite the fresh faces.

"If a manager signs a new player they tend to pick them over the kids, but I've battled for a few of them to get a chance and that's why it was so pleasing to see Devon's contribution," he said.

"I've said similar things about a few of them to the manager and it's great that he has shown a bit of faith and been repaid."

Eaden clearly has high hopes for many of the U23s and striker Jordan Ponticelli has recently signed a new four-year deal with the club he has supported since a boy.

The 19-year-old bagged another goal for the U23s against Ipswich on Monday afternoon and is expected to travel with the senior squad to Swindon Town on Tuesday.

He added: "JP (Ponticelli) has not been at the club for that long but he has created plenty of interest in himself with his goals.

"There will be times in the game when he's quiet, but he always seems to pop up and get you a goal, and he's got another one today.

"He's still a kid and there are a few aspects of his game he can improve, but he has got that one natural talent of being a goalscorer and you can't coach that."

Ben Stevenson returned from injury to play 80 minutes against the Championship club's U23s on Monday and Eaden believes his performance will hold him in good stead.

He added: "His quality stood out today especially in the first half, but he needs game time under his belt before he gets back in."
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SlowerThanPlatt

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Ponticelli is actually classed as an 'U19' now, was U18 last year.

Wouldn't say there's that much in this current U18s side. Decent hardworking team but no real standouts. The group the club have high hopes for are the U16s. If I had to pick three out of the current 18s who could have decent careers I'd go Billy Stedman (AM), Ross McMahon (CB) and Josh Eccles (DM).

In the 23s Tom Bayliss is the one to watch. Been in the squad few times this season. Another Leicester lad like Stevenson and Thomas, excellent passing range. I read that Spurs were interested in him a few months back
 
SBchimp

SBchimp

Well-Known Member
SlowerThanPlatt said:
Ponticelli is actually classed as an 'U19' now, was U18 last year.

Wouldn't say there's that much in this current U18s side. Decent hardworking team but no real standouts. The group the club have high hopes for are the U16s. If I had to pick three out of the current 18s who could have decent careers I'd go Billy Stedman (AM), Ross McMahon (CB) and Josh Eccles (DM).

In the 23s Tom Bayliss is the one to watch. Been in the squad few times this season. Another Leicester lad like Stevenson and Thomas, excellent passing range. I read that Spurs were interested in him a few months back
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The standout player in the 18's currently is Lewis Green, Billy is also a very talented lad.
Couple of decent prospects in the 17's
The under 15's and 16's have a number of players that if they reach their potential will be exciting, but still a long way to go..
 
CCFC_maddog

CCFC_maddog

Member
SlowerThanPlatt said:
Ponticelli is actually classed as an 'U19' now, was U18 last year.

Wouldn't say there's that much in this current U18s side. Decent hardworking team but no real standouts. The group the club have high hopes for are the U16s. If I had to pick three out of the current 18s who could have decent careers I'd go Billy Stedman (AM), Ross McMahon (CB) and Josh Eccles (DM).

In the 23s Tom Bayliss is the one to watch. Been in the squad few times this season. Another Leicester lad like Stevenson and Thomas, excellent passing range. I read that Spurs were interested in him a few months back
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Bayliss, Finn and Thompson will be the 3 that progress be that with Coventry or elsewhere. The interest they have had from other, highflying clubs, has been well discussed. One of them turned down a big move over the summer but with all the hype around Ponticheli they do get overlooked by the fan base!


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SlowerThanPlatt

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Nicky Eaden moving to Chesterfield apparently as assistant manager. Done a good job here, wonder who we'll appoint next? Carsley would have been a great appointment after he left Man City but he just recently took the same role at Blues
 
Nick

Nick

Administrator
SlowerThanPlatt said:
Nicky Eaden moving to Chesterfield apparently as assistant manager. Done a good job here, wonder who we'll appoint next? Carsley would have been a great appointment after he left Man City but he just recently took the same role at Blues
Click to expand...
Who's their manager?
 
better days

better days

Well-Known Member
SlowerThanPlatt said:
Nicky Eaden moving to Chesterfield apparently as assistant manager. Done a good job here, wonder who we'll appoint next? Carsley would have been a great appointment after he left Man City but he just recently took the same role at Blues
Click to expand...
Probably not a massive surprise. When our number two had his health problems we went outside and brought in the guy from Chelsea Academy instead of asking Nicky Eaden to step up
 
Winny the Bish

Winny the Bish

Well-Known Member
rochey said:
What's the score with the 18s? Bad start but is that levels or performance?
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A lot of talented players from last years team graduated to U23s, and the new crop of 1st years that replaced them wasn't as good.
The current U16s group is highly-rated, which is why we're seeing a lot of them make the premature step-up, but they're 2-3 years younger than the U18s they're going up against.
 
Nick

Nick

Administrator
Coventry City XI: Addai, Ford, Hyam, Leahy, Maycock, Eccles, Di Kelly-Evans ©, Bayliss, Finn, Haynes, Thomas.

Subs: Bilson (GK), Burroughs, Green, Doyle

Looks like with all of the loans going out and use in first team, the u23's wont be as strong now.
 
steve82

steve82

Well-Known Member
Been saying for a while I like the idea of him playing in a advanced role opposite JJ.
All the attributes are there, let's hope MR tries it in the 1st team
 
SlowerThanPlatt

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Talented U16 CM Dan Lafferty has been called up by Northern Ireland U17s.

He becomes the fourth player of the the original U16 group to get international recognition after Rowe (England U16), Tyler (Wales U17) and McCann (England U16)

 
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