Well blow me down.

Best ever crop of youngsters?

Maybe Willie has been doing something down Merkland Road after all. 

 

Record Number of AFC International Youngsters

 

Nicky Low and Michel Megginson both played for Scotland U17s this week against Malta along with Fraser Fyvie and Callum McRobbie.The inclusion of Low and Megginson means that the Aberdeen Youth set up now have an incredible 15 internationalists at the club. It is the most the Dons have ever had at the club at the one time.

 

 

The internationalists, who have represented 5 countries this season or in the past, are as follows:

 

Scotland

 

Scott Fowlie Scotland U16

 

Jack Grimmer Scotland U16

 

Fraser Fyvie Scotland U17

 

Ryan Jack U17

 

Callum McRobbie U17

 

Nicky Low U17

 

Mitchel Megginson U17

 

Jonathan Crawford U19

 

Republic of Ireland

 

Anthony Bolger Republic of Ireland U16

 

Northern Ireland

 

Dean Jarvis Northern Ireland U16

 

Sammy Stewart Northern Ireland U21

 

Faroe Islands

 

Gilli Sorensen U17

 

Harllur Hannson U17

 

Rogvi Holm U19

 

Poland

 

Przemyslaw Luksik U17

 

(we have listed the oldest squad the player has represented their country at)

 

 

 

AFC are also hopeful Stirling Smith will get his first cap for the Scotland U19s shortly taking the total to 16. The Scots U19s have a get together with matches next month.

 

The list only includes players currently involved in the AFC Youth set up (ie playing for Aberdeen U17s U19s) - Although Sammy Stewart is in the senior squad he has played for the Aberdeen U19s this season. Obviously Sone Aluko has played for England U19s in the past, Chris Maguire has been capped at U21 level this season etc but they are not included as they are too old to play for the Aberdeen 19s now.

 

 

 

Neil Simpson Neil Simpson Assistant Academy Director is delighted to have so many internationals players on his books."It is hugely encouraging for everyone working in the AFC Soccer Academy and for everyone at the club. It is really good for our people working hard in the background such as the scouts and youth coaches at all the various levels. Most of them will have worked with these kids at some point. It is recognition of all the hard work they put in.

 

"I am naturally delighted to have so many youngsters getting a chance to experience International football. I was lucky enough to play for Scotland at various Youth levels. For me it was an opportunity to gain experience of European football. Then when I came to play in the Dons first team it is was not such a big deal travelling to play in a foreign country. For example you were used to how to prepare for matches, how to adjust your timings and eating habits. The aim is to bring as many of these boys into the senior squad as we can and we want the club to be playing regularly in Europe. Therefore the more kids we can get to play at that level it is going to be of great benefit for the club.

 

"The fact we have so many boys playing at all different international levels U16s - through to U19s shows that the club provides them a pathway to International football at all ages groups. With the reputation we have for Youth football, international coaches will always keep a close eye on our boys at all the different levels. The younger we can take the boys on board and the quicker we can get them in the system the better because once you represent your country at U16 level you will be far more likely to the go on and play for the U17s and then U19s and even the U21s. Jonathan Crawford is an example of a player who has gone up the ladder through all the different levels.

 

"Hopefully Stirling (Smith) will get a chance to play for the Scotland 19s next month and we are all working hard, searching the archives long into the night to see if Peter Pawlett has a Scottish granny!!

Now I know you're not being serious!

 

Why was it badly needing looked at? we took through mcnaughton, mackie, diamond, clark, anderson etc etc etc so it couldnt have been that bad before could it?

 

How long ago was that though?

 

We've brought fuck all through since other than Bebo and I think that says it all.

 

How do we know none of the young players arnt good enough to make the step up if we never play any of them?

 

Ok, so you're saying that it's the fans who decide whether they should get a game each week is it?  Should this be a voting system like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire where we all get a button to vote once he's on the park?

 

In the meantime I'll trust the manager to make that call.

Is he a goalkeeper?

I remember hearing something about us looking at a Polish keeper playing in the North East, for one of the HL teams maybe?

 

Think the guy your thinking of is Kula at Peterhead.

 

Lolzers out loud at stoney! No getting enough attention elsewhere? Getting all cranky wi the diet thing? Right up, or perhaps down, there wi attention deprived abeerdeenbasedtit.

Put yer fishing rod away man!

 

can we not just leave the weegies to bite a bit longer 

 

but im the thick one clearly  ;D

 

keep taking the chill pills gents 

Stoney makes a cunt of himself then claims to be fishing. Don't think we've seen that one before!

 

Extreme self pocketing.

Shut it speccy 

Shut it speccy 

 

Ouch! 

 

I love you too! 

ooh the banter !!!

 

well don to the young dons though , lets hope a high sense of moral highness has been bestowed on them and a willingness to live and die in a dons top!!!

Well I'll list the ones that have made the break through from youth players:

 

Mackie, McNaughton, Foster, Zander, Considine, Clark, Hart, Anderson.......

 

And you can list the ones we've let go for one reason or another and have went on to bigger and brighter things:

 

 

It could be suggested McNaughton has done very well for himself since leaving us.  The Cardiff fans adore him.

same question could be said what happened to hart, nicolson anderson and clark after leaving pittodrie never hear of them anymore so by that logic they must not have been very good either?