Barradell: A Positive Start To The Season
- Leicester City Under-18s drew 1-1 with West Ham United
- The young Foxes are currently third and unbeaten in the U18 Premier League South Division
- Adam Barradell reflects on the game and the start to the season
Four games in for the Under-18s, and they are currently sat third with eight points in the U18 Premier League South Division and yet to see defeat in the competition.
Their most recent game saw them draw 1-1 with West Ham, but after being reduced to 10 men while behind, the coach believes it was a decent point that the squad worked hard for.
“I think we had plenty of chances to win the game,” Barradell admitted. “But looking at how it went in the later stages, where we were 1-0 down and reduced to 10 men, it was probably a good point.
“It’s important to get back into the game and, with a player less, it was about digging in, but we do think we had enough opportunities on goal to take all three points.
“West Ham are a good side and historically done well over the last few years, so it’s still a positive point to build on.”
Just two points off leaders Aston Villa, it’s been a promising start this season for Barradell, who looks back to an industrious pre-season, that he believes allowed the squad to prepare themselves to head into the competitive campaign.
The coach continued: “It’s been a positive start after a good pre-season, with difficult tests aboard, and that set us up nicely. The boys have been excellent and had some good performances over the four games.
“We’ve challenged ourselves to be better in both boxes this season; to score more goals but to be more ruthless in defence as well. So that will be a process we work through over the next six months.
“The highlight of the first four games was the performance over Chelsea, but it's a positive start and one we look to carry on with, as the group continue to learn and develop.
“They’re a fantastic group of players, and one that we transitioned a lot of them last year into the Under-18s group. A lot came in and a lot started, so it’s a group I know well with a lot of positive characters.
“They want to learn and take on the information and have been a pleasure to work with so far which I’m sure will continue over the course of the season.”
With plenty of Development Squad players heading out on loan before the closure of the summer transfer window, this has freed up space for younger players to make the step up.
Delighted to see the Academy conveyer belt in full swing, the coach understands the need to be competitive on the field but focuses on the main aim of producing talent through the set-up in Seagrave.
“Like I’ve always said, we want to do well in cup competitions and leagues, but the ultimate objective is to push players through the pathway,” Barradell outlined.
“It’s great to see boys go out on loan, and then Under-18s getting the chance to play for the Under-21s which is what we want. We know the landscape might change at times in terms of results, but we want to give those opportunities to young players.
“It’s good to see the groups within the Academy come together and, of course, we want to be competitive so if we can do that, while bringing more younger players through, then we’re doing our job.”
Their fifth league game of the season sees Leicester welcome Brighton & hove Albion to their turf on Saturday morning (11am BST kick-off) and Barradell states it is a game they are looking to win, rather than focusing on their unbeaten run.
“It’s a home game, and one we want to have a good performance in,” the coach explained. “It’s one we’re going out to win, not to not lose. It’s nice to keep going unbeaten but what we’ll be concerning ourselves with is the performance and building on the last couple of weeks.
“Can we continue to be an attacking threat and more ruthless than we were against West Ham, but also good defensively? We’d like to get our first clean sheet on Saturday.”