Thanks, Dick. I believe Colchester are one of the only two teams to have beaten us this season (the other being Bolton). Again I would point out that some of our best (or, at least, more experienced) u21s were not playing (TH-D, Lookman, KA-G, Lennon, Phillips, Staunton, Sho-Silva, Obileye, and Ansah). The latter three are playing league football. It would be interesting to know if they actually are better than any in today's team.
Certainly THD, Lookman and Lennon are better. But there is a real togetherness in this group of players.
I meant Sho-Silva, Obileye, and Ansah. My suspicion is that S-S and Ansah will never make Championship level, and if Obileye can no longer hold down a regular place in the lowest-placed League team then probably he will not either.
One player I was certain would never make a pro footballer was Jordan Cook, who came off the bench to score 2 goals and win the game for Walsall at the weekend.
He was like Messi compared to some of our recent signings. I think he obviously had some abilities but looked too frail for the English game. It is one thing to come off the bench and shine and another to pull your weight for 90 minutes (as we see from Jackson). This article on the BBC website today. Lost of interesting facts and opinions, though how you apply them in practice is more difficult. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35054310 From my years of running boys teams I can confirm that two-thirds of my teams (from u-12s to u16s) usually comprised boys born between Sept and December, and one third from the other eight months. I was aware of that at the time but was unable to compensate. The kids liked winning and the parents insisted upon it. They would rather beat a weak team 10-0 than play better and lose to a good team 0-1.
Ipswich 2 Charlton 2 Goals by Hanlan, Kennedy. Mitov was sent off for bringing a player down and we played a fair amount of the game with ten men. CHARLTON U21S | Mitov, Barnes, Yao, Staunton, Thomas, Dijksteel, Kelly, Aribo, Ahearne-Grant, Hanlan, Kennedy #cafc CHARLTON U21S SUBS | Prall, Konsa, Assiana, Bone, Lapslie #cafc Apparently Dijksteel signed three weeks ago. Not a word from the OS.
The academy is only thing we can be proud about at the moment. Well done to all involved in bringing these players through.
U21s away to Palace this afternoon (Mon 1st Feb). We have someone called Moore playing. Would that be Ronnie or Graham?
Are you the ones Roly was refferring to when he compalined about 'unemployed people who have nothing better to do with their time'? Still cracks me up. Like listening to an eighteenth century noble coplaining about peasants, or a football chairman complaining about the fans hanging around Sparrows Lane.
U-18's play in the final of the League2 trophy on Monday night, so Saturday won't be my last game at The Valley until Roland goes. Should be a proper Charlton team.