U23 Team - Season 2016/17

Yup, it's been rebranded and the U21s are now the U23s in the new format (that must be why Larnell Cole features in the 'Player Profiles' on the official site!). The team kick of the season on 15th August with a home match against Blackburn Rovers.

Here's a link to the full fixture list:

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/july/20/under-23-fixtures?

 

A potted description:

The 2016-17 Premier League 2 is the debut campaign of the new top tier of the Professional Development League. It has been rebranded from the previous Under-21 Premier League, with the age range changed from Under-21 to Under-23. Clubs are also still permitted to field three 'over-age' outfield players and one 'over-age' goalkeeper. The match calendar is set to be fixed at the start of the season with no movement to match rounds permitted; clubs will only be permitted flexibility regarding on which weekend day (Friday to Monday) the game will be played.

The league remains split into two, with both Derby County and Arsenal promoted to the top division, the Rams as Division 2 champions and the Gunners as playoff winners. They replace Middlesbrough and Norwich City, who were relegated from Division 1.

Promotion and relegation of two teams will apply once again this season. The teams finishing 11th and 12th in Division 1 will be relegated, while the team finishing top of Division 2 will be automatically promoted. Those teams finishing second, third, fourth and fifth in Division 2 will compete in a promotion playoff.


And to confirm , Fulham are currently in PDL Division 2.

 

Smashing interview by our U23 captain

Bearing in mind how young the lads are, holding our own at this level will be good never mind getting promoted. However, the 5 guys who spent the summer with the main squad will inevitably play in most of the U23 games so you never know ...

 

The season kicks off tonight with a home game against Blackburn. And it's at The Cottage kick off 7pm.

 

And a win , great start

 

With a win, great start

 

Fulham 1 Blackburn 0 (U23s)

Here was me hoping to find Larnell Cole but had to sit this one out because of a family commitment. Would only have been thwarted anyway as the team was:

Norman; Fossey, Davies, Sheckleford, Kavanagh; De La Torre, Smile, Adeniran, Edun; Walker (Humphrys 60'); Adebayo (Thorsteinsson 73')

Unused subs: Lukwata, Dolan, Kait

"It was Fulham who were quickest out the traps and the first chance fell to Josh Walker after a neat lay-off by Elijah Adebayo. His shot was blocked by an onrushing Blackburn defender but the Whites continued to turn the screw; a high press stifling any forays out of their own half by Rovers. The next chance came about six minutes into the half when the lively Luca de la Torre found Tayo Edun in some space on the overlap. Edun unleashed a fizzing drive that went just past the right hand post. Blackburn had no answer for a dominant Fulham outfit and in the eighth minute Sean Kavanagh went close with an audacious drive from outside the box.

The bombardment continued and Kavanagh was involved yet again, but this time from a set-piece. His curling effort was somehow clawed out of the net by Andrew Fisher in the Blackburn goal. The only respite for a shell-shocked Rovers outfit was an injury to Fulham captain Josh Smile that delayed the game for two minutes before play resumed. Fulham went close again in the 24th minute when a mesmerising run from Adeniran opened up some space for Walker in the box. His low shot on target was again smothered by the impressive Fisher. As the half progressed Blackburn grew into the game but the back four of Kavanagh, Ryheem Sheckleford, Aron Davies and Marlon Fossey stood firm, with the two full-backs willing options on the counter attack. Possibly the best chance of the half came with two minutes remaining, with the tenacious Smile winning possession and picking out Adebayo with a superb pass. The striker took a touch and fired on target, only for his shot to take a slight deflection and go behind for a corner.

Blackburn started the second half with promise and came close to snatching a lead in the 51st minute when Willem Tomlinson thundered a vicious drive just wide of the right hand post. Rovers continued to press and without an exceptional sequence of defending from Fossey they may have taken the lead. The young defender standing up an attacker twice with two perfectly timed challenges. Blackburn were almost made to pay for their inability to take their chances in the 61st minute when a cross was met by de la Torre in the centre of the penalty area. His shot had the beating of the keeper but grazed the bar and went behind.

Fulham began to grow into the game and substitute Stephen Humphrys went close after pouncing on an errant pass. He beat his defender on the outside and attempted a left-footed shot from outside the box that went marginally wide. With the sun setting, legs tiring and neither side able to break down the opposition it was something special that broke the deadlock. A cross from the right wing took a deflection and fell into the path of Dennis Adeniran who smashed a thunderous drive into the top corner. A wonderful goal worthy of winning any match."


Can't wait for the highlights to see that goal.

 

Link to the highlights and .. that goal. What a cracker it is.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/august/16/u23s-fulham-1-0-blackburn


Might take a wee disagreement with the Club on their description of the lead up to Dennis' shot. Seemed to me like a well intentioned pass from Marlon Fossey.

 

Should be an interesting team selection for the game away to West Brom tonight, given Wednesday's match.

 

West Brom 2 Fulham 1 (U23s)

Against the run run of play by all accounts. The woodwork and missed chances foiling us. The team was:

Norman; Fossey, Sheckleford, Davies, Opoku; Kait (Dolan 46'), Smile, Thorsteinsson; Humphrys, Adebayo, Walker (Harris 84')

Unused subs: Lukwata, Mundle-Smith

[So, no Edun, Adeniran, de la Torre or Kavagh. Being saved for Wednesday!?] [A debut though for Jayden Harris]


"Albion named several first team players in their starting XI, and within five minutes one of them – Callum McManaman – sent a ball towards the far post which Wright volleyed off target. The Whites responded through two Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson efforts, the first of which curled over, while the second was brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Jack Rose at point blank range. A cluster of off target efforts from each side then followed, before Stevie Humphrys’ opener 36 minutes in. The forward let fly from a good 20 yards out, and via a deflection it found its way into the top left corner of the net.

Peter Grant’s men were looking confident in possession of the ball, but they found their advantage was gone within 10 minutes of the restart. Rekeem Harper was brought down in the area by Magnus Norman, and Wright dispatched the subsequent spot-kick. Fulham responded in positive fashion, although they soon found themselves behind against the run of play when Robinson headed in Brad Sweeney’s cross. Humphrys thought he’d restored parity a matter of minutes later, only for Rose to make a superb save from his driven strike.

Robinson and Elijah Adebayo then exchanged missed chances, before Josh Smile was desperately unlucky to see his free-kick smack the crossbar in the closing stages. Jayden Harris has three Under-18 goals to his name already this season and was introduced late on as Fulham chased an equaliser which nobody would argue would have been undeserved, but unfortunately it was not forthcoming."

 

Back to a link - wish the comms people would get their act together with Academy coverage. Anyway, here it is - highlights rather than just goals, which is something. Although when you see the wayward shooting in the first half you might not agree. Not until you come to Stevie Humphrys' wonderful chip from 25 yards that is; Berba would have been proud!

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/august/24/pl2-west-brom-2-1-fulham

 

Brighton 1 Fulham 0 (U23s)

The lads were dumped by an injury time goal by ten man Brighton. Unlike some, who are using the new structure to field a Reserve Team, we continue to very much see it as a Development Squad for our youngsters - for now anyway while the Cup run marches on. Only Luca de la Torre from the main group was out tonight and even he's only 18 years old. The team was:

Norman, Sheckleford, Opoku, Davies, Fossey, De La Torre, Smile, Kait, Thorsteinsson, Humphrys, Adebayo

Subs: Rodak, Jenz, Dolan and Walker


No report from our lot yet - probably all out celebrating a job done, publicising our new signings - but here's a link for the opposition's take on the match:

http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/brighton-hove-albion-fulham-3274341.aspx?

 

That's one young team.

 

The comms people have now come up with ... well, let's just call it a résumé:

"The Whites were the dominant force early on, as Elijah Adebayo had a shot saved by Robert Sanchez, before Stephen Humphrys had a goal disallowed for handball.

Tyler Hornby-Forbes was then sent off for an off-the-ball incident midway through the first half, and Adebayo had a chance to put his side in front before the break but hit his effort off target. After the restart Jesse Starkey headed over for the hosts, before James Tilley smashed the crossbar from close range.

Josh Walker went close to winning it late on only to be denied by a superb Sanchez save, and Luca de la Torre was unfortunate to see his shot deflect behind as the match drew to a close. And those misses ended up proving decisive, as Joe Ward lobbed Magnus Norman in the second minute of stoppage time to earn Brighton all three points."

 

Decent interview on the Club site by Peter Grant, explaining why the opposition is tougher (more organised/more physical) this season and what he and our young lads are doing to combat that. Also some previously unseen video clips.

Obviously as a prelude to fulhamfcTV it's a link again:

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/september/03/peter-grant-very-pleased

 

Jake Soutter has signed professional forms.




"The giant 195cm tall goalkeeper joined Fulham two years ago and was invited to join the club’s first team squad on their pre-season trip to Portugal. Soutter said he was delighted to sign his first professional contract after he missed the first season of a two-year scholarship with the club’s under-18s after injury and a delay getting an international clearance from FIFA.

After completing the pre-season tour Soutter has now gone to work with the club’s under-23 Premier League 2 squad and is looking forward to training and competing with Fulham’s senior shot stoppers"

Source: http://www.theleader.com.au/story/4...rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

All go for the first home game tonight at the upgraded Motspur Park. Here's a link for a sneak preview of the new look:

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2016/september/12/motspur-improvements

 

And made all the more interesting as Gabriel Agbonlahor will lead the line for Villa.

 

Fulham 3 Aston Villa 0 (PL2)

Penalty!! Yup, Fulham U23s got a penalty decision in their favour. Good open first half but the second dominated by our lads. The team included a number of young first team squaddies:

Norman; Fossey, Davies, Sheckleford, Kavanagh; De La Torre, Smile, Adeniran (Thorsteinsson 70'), Edun; Walker; Adebayo (Humphrys 70')

Unused subs: Rodak, Dolan, Kait


"Villa had the best chances of the game early on with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy coming closest to opening the scoring. After being played through on goal he escaped Sean Kavanagh but saw his effort go wide. Fulham won themselves a free-kick eight minutes in and Kavanagh stepped up to take it only missing the post by inches. Two minutes later the home side attacked again. Lucas de la Torre ran through the Villa defence before squaring the ball to Tayo Edun. He then found the unmarked Josh Smile who had his effort saved by Viktor Johannsson. In the 29th minute Dennis Adeniran found his way in to the box after a wonderful bit of play but Johannsson made a great reaction save to deny him.

Moments after the second half had started Fulham went ahead. Edun floated in a cross to Josh Walker who headed home. Just after the hour mark Fulham attacked once more and were unlucky not to score when Walker played in Adebayo but his his vicious shot smashed in to the side netting. With 17 minutes to go substitute Stevie Humphrys doubled the lead from the penalty spot when he sent the Villa keeper the wrong way. Five minute later Villa went down to 10 men when Clark got sent off for his second bookable offence.

With the game looking over Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson finished the game off in style when he produced a beautifully well struck shot that curled in to the top corner of the net leaving the Whites with a grand 3-0 victory."

 

A link to the highlights and some great attacking play by the lads (although this gives the impression it was almost all in the first half, which it wasn''t)


http://www.fulhamfc.com/pl2/2016_2017/league/home/aston-villa/match-action