Fulhaman. Having watched our youngsters many times,I feel there is a lot of tallent in this squad. Agree,Rooney,Our own Jonny Haynes,George Cohen, & Alan Mullery, made 1st team appearances in their late teens. Regarding Tankovic,personally I would like to see him go on loan to a good championship or div1 side for a year,along with Joronen,Woodrow Donnigan. Williams, Handyman & Roberts i think should stay with us,and continue to hone their craft, with our excellent coaching staff. Dan Burn should return, and be given the chance to perform with our senior squad along side Kaca
I go along with rosc, Fulhaman and so it seems does Jol. In the most recent “Fultime”, Jol was asked Yet you’re not someone who is afraid to give youth a chance …. And replied But we need to be more productive - four or five young players in the squad is not enough. That is why next year we will make another step. I’ve got three players from the Academy and there will be at least two in the first team squad, not the Development squad. In Holland, if you go to Ajax, if you end up in the Development Squad that is the second team, the reserve team. You will never have a career; you will go from the Under-18s to the first team if you are good enough and that is the culture I would like to bring here. I have boys who won’t be in the first team next year, but maybe the year after. I’ve got Muamer Tankovic who will be in the first team, maybe Cauley Woodrow as well. Charle Banya is making stepd now. I’ve got one Australian player, Cameron Burgess, he’s a centre-back. He will be a very good player.” So he obviously rates the Tank. I found his comments very illuminating. I'm not quite sure how they sit with the thoughts of Kit Symons but they are fairly close to how Steve Wigley (Head of Coaching and the U18 Manager) sees it though, well kind of - at least according to his article in “Fultime” which has just been posted on the Club site: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/march/07/steve-wigley-fultime Having seen both U21 and U18 teams this year there’s no question in my mind that the real talent (and the future) is in the U18s.
Here are the video highlights - the Tank has obviously been watching Berba's penalty kicks. [video=youtube;AvF-X_dniBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AvF-X_dniBE[/video]
Blackburn 1 Fulham 3 (21s) Fulham fielded an attack minded side, with three out and out front men. And arguably only three at the back with Christensensen deep on the right. Also good to see young Magnus Norman getting âpromotionâ to back-up keeper. The team was - Joronen; Christensen, Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Kavanagh; Smith, Minkwitz, David; Altman, Woodrow, Islamovic Subs: Norman, Williams (Ryan), OâReilly, Banya, Mesca Fulham went comfortably in front with two first half goals. Chris David scored the first and Omri Altman the second with a header. Blackburn, who had Fabio Nunes sent off on the hour, pulled one back after a poor punch by Joronen. After dominating the game Fulham were then holding out desperately before a neat piece of combined play saw them clinch the game with a goal in extra time by Alex Smith. That makes it three wins in a row and a decent run for the team.
Here are video highlights - [video=youtube;kAqRyH594Rg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAqRyH594Rg&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Reading 3 Fulham 1 (U18s) The U18 bubble burst today in this re-arranged fixture (carried over from last Saturday because the Reading pitch was water-logged). The Fulham team was - Oberschmidt; Donnelly, O’Reilly, Burgess, Richards (Evans 60); Roberts, Sambou, Hyndman, O’Halloran (Williams 60); Tankovic; Dembele Here is the Club report:
Fulham 0 Blackburn 1 (U21s) Not a good week for the Academy teams. The U21 side this afternoon was - Etheridge; Passley, Kavanagh, Vigen Christensen, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Na Bangna ( Banya), Smith (c); Woodrow, David (Islamovic), Frei ( Altman) Subs (not used): Joronen, Minkwitz Here is the report from the Club -
Manchester United 3 Fulham 1 (U18s) Despite pressing hard in the second half the youngsters went down to a well organised ManU team, who got their third with the last kick of the game. Pat Roberts got our goal. please log in to view this image The Fulham line-up was - Rodak, Donnelly, Burgess, Richards, Passley; Roberts, Sambou, Hyndman, Williams; Tankovic, Dembele [Not sure who the ânewâ goalie is!] Here is the Club report :
Southampton 2 Fulham 4 (U18s) Back to the bread and butter of league football after the Dallas Cup victory, this win takes the U18s back to the top of the league. The team was - Rodak; Baba (Della Verde 65), O’Reilly, Burgess, Evans; Roberts (O’Halloran 70), Sambou, Hyndman, Williams (Richards 80); Tankovic; Dembele There was no sign of jetlag as George Williams’ hat-trick and a late Moussa Dembele strike saw Fulham defeat table topping Southampton on the south coast. The team took the lead following a fairly even opening 15 minutes when Williams finished after being found by Muamer Tankovic, before the Welshman doubled the advantage following good work by Patrick Roberts. The Saints pulled a goal back but Fulham’s two-goal lead was soon restored as Williams completed his treble. Dembele made sure of the victory late on – Emerson Hyndman with the assist – although another strike from Southampton gave the home side a little consolation.
Everton 1 Fulham 1 (U21s) please log in to view this image The Tank Rolls On Unbeaten League leaders, Everton, had Tony Hibbert in their line-up for this game which was played at Southport tonight . The Fulham team was - Joronen, Passley, Kavanagh, Christensen, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Altman, Minkwitz, Woodrow, David, Williams ( R) Subs: Oberschmidt. Tankovic, Islamovic. Banya, Sambou A faily uneventful first half. Chris David came close after ten minutes, curling a 20-yard effort wide of the far post and again shot just wide with a free kick on the stroke of half time. The only other goal threats by us were an Omri Altman shot that also went wide and one from Ryan Williams saved by the keeper. The Fulham defence though was solid and untroubled. Five minutes into the second half, Ryan Williams was desperately unlucky when a low shot clipped the post. But then loose marking at the far post let Duffy head home to put Everton 1-0 up. The game opened up and Fulham hit back with a firm shot from Lasse Vigen Christensen which the keeper got down well to smother. Ten minutes from time [Muamer Tankovic[/B] got the equaliser with a sublime curling shot. That spurred Everton on a tad and their goal scorer Duffy thumped one against the bar. The game then played out to a creditable draw.
Watched the highlights of this game and though you can't get much from a few minutes, George Williams looks like a great talent and showed some positive running for his 1st goal. Who should we look out for from this successful Fulham side? Are you now allowed to clone players like Dembele?
From what I understand, Cauley Woodrow, Muamer Tankovic, (The proper) Moussa Dembele, Chris David and Jack Grimmer. Minkwitz was one to watch a while ago, but hasn't appeared to be making many waves recently. As ever our loveable U21 anoraks C58 and ros will be able to advise more thoroughly!
Our posts obviously crossed and you are talking about the U18 game. To answer your question all of them. I know that sounds biased but they are a smashing group. The core of this team was the one that won the Dallas Cup and if I'm strictly honest it's because they play as a team that they are so good. But there is whacks of individual talent among them. Hopefully most will go on to be as successful at the senior level - as many from your own Academy have been.
The current League Table - U21 Group 1 Everton 18pts Aston Villa 14pts Middlesbro 13pts Fulham 12pts Chelsea 12pts Blackburn 9pts Sunderland 4pts
Thanks guys That does sound bias lol I will look out for Tankovic as have seen him mentioned a few times. The most crucial part is giving these lads opportunities to play in the 1st team. Under the pressures of premier league points that's easier said than done Hope the Fulham faithful are prepared for a couple of years of mid table football while these lads are allowed to bed in. Then there is the small matter of holding on to the ones that hit the ground running whilst the PL vultures swarm your training ground. Jennings & Wigley did a great job for us and look like they're working there magic again. Just hope you get to keep yours for longer.
I'll be honest, Saintly, if we have to start fending off the top clubs for our youngsters it will be vindication of our move to developing youth players. I know Southampton have had a lot of success with their youngsters and have certainly cashed in (Bale, Walcott & Ox spring to mind), and whilst not ideal to deal with potentially losing our youngsters I'd rather we were in that position than be constantly having to buy in new veteran talent with no sell on value!
Here are video highlights of the goals. Our equaliser by the Tank is a must watch - an absolute stunner! [video=youtube;tPWQQuOuQRc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tPWQQuOuQRc[/video]
