Academy Final v Arsenal.

[It's Baggio]

Unfortunately, the Young 'uns lost 5-3 at the Emirates today in the Premier League Academy final.

Our goals came from Danny Elliot, George Thomson and Tom Mullen.

It sounds as though Mullen had another excellent game

A great season though. :clap:

 

[MansfieldRed]

Hmm. That makes three Forest teams to be playing today then. Academy, Women's and first team.

 

[earthworm]

The Arsenal lot are probably shit hot, so not bad at all to have competed with them.

 

[PopUpRed]

Just got a text message from my best mates brother who was actually reffing the game today and, to echo the first post, he said Forest, and in particular Mullen, equipped themselves very well.

Great effort on a great season young men!

 

[Chivalry Augustus]

Why was it played at the Emirates? Doesn't that seem a tad unfair?

 

[PopUpRed]

I did wonder that myself, but a great chance for the Forest lad's to get a taster of one of the best stadiums in the country. I'll text him back and see if he can find out

 

[MansfieldRed]

Why was it played at the Emirates? Doesn't that seem a tad unfair?

Maybe it is a bit like the Europa League final. The ground was decided at the start for the final and the hosts almost got to the final (I want to say Wolfsburg and I am sure someone will confirm/correct that.) Only difference here is that the decided hosts did get to the final.

 

[Stratty]

Maybe it is a bit like the Europa League final. The ground was decided at the start for the final and the hosts almost got to the final (I want to say Wolfsburg and I am sure someone will confirm/correct that.) Only difference here is that the decided hosts did get to the final.

Well to be fair I think I heard somewhere that there is already a match at the CG this evening. Somebody can confirm this for me, though.

With this being the case the pitch might not be as great as it could be if it was arranged to play tomorrow seeing as there is a fair chance of 120 minutes of football on the CG pitch tonight.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Maybe it is a bit like the Europa League final. The ground was decided at the start for the final and the hosts almost got to the final (I want to say Wolfsburg and I am sure someone will confirm/correct that.) Only difference here is that the decided hosts did get to the final.

No need to correct that, you are indeed right!

 

[MansfieldRed]

Well to be fair I think I heard somewhere that there is already a match at the CG this evening. Somebody can confirm this for me, though.

With this being the case the pitch might not be as great as it could be if it was arranged to play tomorrow seeing as there is a fair chance of 120 minutes of football on the CG pitch tonight.

Of course I was going on the assumption of people thinking it being at a neutral ground.

 

[Stratty]

Of course I was going on the assumption of people thinking it being at a neutral ground.

I don't think that Youth teams go on that basis for whatever reason(I assume it's a money issue).

Isn't the FA Youth Cup final always played at one of the finalists ground?

 

[It's Baggio]

Isn't the FA Youth Cup final always played at one of the finalists ground?

The FA Youth Cup final is played over 2 legs.

This is the Premier League final and is a one legged game, played at the home of one of the two teams. I presume there's a draw to decide the home team. It was the same in the semi's, we drew Leicester and played at their training ground.

Although home advantage would've been nice, I imagine our lads would've preferred to have a game at the Emirates than play them at the CG.

 

[Mark123]

I just posted this in a seperate post:

Guys I know Billy Davis (“BD”) keeps saying that we have a really young squad (which we do) but it must be noted that BD has zero interest in the Academy side. The Regional League winning academy side was paraded around the City Ground a few weeks ago at half time. On the Monday morning every player with their youth contract due up at the end of the season was released bar four players. BD has not watched the academy play once this season, what a joke.

I go to watch every academy game and there are some great players there. The last time we had an academy side win the league the team included, Andy Reid, Jermyn Jenas, Michael Dawson, Marlon Harewood. This was like 10 years ago and in a time when we were a top side. Also the youth teams they played against were mainly UK/Irish players whereas today Arsenal, Man U, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea have French, Spanish, Italian, German and South American players and they spend millions on their academy.

Forest Youth’s won their regional league this year with 3 games to spare (played weak side the last 3 games). They were knocked out of the Youth Cup by the eventual winners Chelsea who have had three of that team in the 1st team squad since then.

Forest went on to play Arsenal in Premier League final at the Emirates yesterday after beating Leicester (unbeaten all season) on Saturday. They put up a great display and were beaten by a better side 5-3. Only 2-3 of Arsenals starting 11 were English though and all of them have loan or Reserve experience.

A lot of credit has to go to Eoin Jesse the Academy boss for the team’s style of football and results this season. On the way to winning the Regional League they beat Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton, and Sunderland.

I just cannot understand BD attitude towards the Academy. Derby came 8th in the Regional League that Forest won yet 4-5 of the Derby Youth team have been in or around the 1st team squad. This is not happening at Forest.

What future to the 4 guys that were kept on have? We don’t have a Reserve team and the 1st team staff clearly have no interest in the Youth team. The chairman talks about BD building a proper club well I can’t see how this can be done by ignoring the youth team.

It must have been a sad trip back from the Emirates yesterday. Not only did they lose but the majority of over best youth team in over a decade knew it would be the last time they played for the club. Best of luck to them all.

 

[Mist Rolling In...]

If anyone wants to watch the highlights, or even the full match, it can be found here. Not sure if you need Arsenal membership or anything though...

 

[deleted]

I think Billy had ideas for what he wanted to do with the youth team but ND told him to keep his nose out ?

Certainly something to that effect was posted on here when Billy first started.

 

[Tutts]

Maybe it is a bit like the Europa League final. The ground was decided at the start for the final and the hosts almost got to the final (I want to say Wolfsburg and I am sure someone will confirm/correct that.) Only difference here is that the decided hosts did get to the final.

When Forest's team won it in 00/01, the final was played at the City Ground.

I'm guessing it's decided when the finalists are known.

 

[Hoax]

shame the majority of these players are being released

 

[EmJay]

The final venue is alternated each year between the Northern Champions and the Southern Champions. A repeat of this final again next year (or indeed any final featuring Forest) would be played at the City Ground.

 

[It's Baggio]

The final venue is alternated each year between the Northern Champions and the Southern Champions. A repeat of this final again next year (or indeed any final featuring Forest) would be played at the City Ground.

They don't have Northern and Southern champions, though.

There are 2 vaguely northern groups and 2 from the south. They are then drawn into semi finals. Last year, 2 southern teams contested the final (Arsenal/Spurs) at White Hart Lane.