The Banya and Betsy Show please log in to view this image "Fulham youngster Charles Banya played the full 90 minutes as Woking earned a surprise 1-0 win at Skrill Conference promotion hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night. Banya almost gave the Cards a dream start, controlling the ball 20 yards from goal and running at the opposition defence but sending a shot narrowly wide of the near post. The visitors made the breakthrough in the 64th minute when Kieran Murtagh played a great ball to Fulham Academy Coach Kevin Betsy who got to the byline and crossed for Scott Rendell to smash home from close range. Banya saw a late shot blocked as Woking secured an excellent three points to move up to 17th place in the table."
Crewe Alex are hoping to get Neil Etheridge - "Crewe have not given up hope that Neil Etheridge will pull on his gloves to play for the club again. Etheridge has returned to parent club Fulham for treatment after suffering a tear in a quad muscle when kicking the ball in the last minute of Crewe's 1-0 win over Crawley Town. The injury was expected to keep the 23-year-old goalkeeper, pictured right, out until after his loan spell expires on January 1. But Steve Davis hopes the Philippines international could return in time to play in Crewe's New Year's Day fixture at home to Carlisle. Davis said: "Neil has gone back to Fulham and we are hoping he will get back just prior to the end of his loan period, maybe for the last game. I've had contact with his goalkeeping coach at Fulham and we'll also try to speak to Neil to see how he's progressing. He has one-to-one physiotherapy down there which should speed up his recovery. "We're hoping he can get back before the loan finishes, and we'll review it going into January." Etheridge has impressed in his three appearances for Crewe, keeping one clean sheet to date. Davis added: "He's done well. He looks quite established for a 23-year-old. He looks a presence in goal, which is what I like. It looks like he belongs there. He's athletic and he's got a point to prove." Source: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Crew...tory-20305516-detail/story.html#ixzz2nB0r2n9f
And Ryan Williams is looking to extend his loan deal - "Oxford United close in on a deal with Fulham to extend the wingerâs loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old has become a key player in recent weeks, filling the gap on the right flank left by Alfie Potterâs ankle injury. Williams had not started a senior game when he signed in the summer, but has been in the Uâs side for ten of the last 11 games. His four goals included the winner in Monday nightâs 2-1 FA Cup win at Wrexham. As it stands, the initial agreement from Fulham expires on January 1. There is the possibility the Cottagers may want to loan him out to a club at a higher level, but the Australian-born livewire is keen to stay at United. âFor sure â as you can tell, Iâm enjoying my football here,â he said. Source: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/10868192._/
Marcello Trotta has been given an International call-up: "Brentford’s on-loan striker Marcello Trotta has been called up to the Italy Under-21 squad for a special friendly next week. The 21-year-old joined Brentford on loan from Fulham for the first half of the 2013/14 season, his second spell at Griffin Park. He has been selected for Italy’s Under-21 squad for a match against an Italy ‘B’ side. The fixture will be played on Tuesday afternoon, December 17. Marcello – who has represented Italy at Under-20, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-16 level – will be seeking to play his first game at Under-21 level, albeit he won’t win an international cap. Source: http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/a...-up-13.12.13-1232800.aspx#gSGv7eDuRQot6Iel.99
Saturday Update Dan Burn continued his return to form as Andrew Shinnie and Nikola Zigic scored the goals to secure Birmingham City's third away win in a row with a 2-0 victory at Bournemouth. [Sorry Captain!] Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275171 In League 1, Crewe Alex are still in trouble at the bottom despite a spirited 2-2 draw away to Coventry. Mesca played the full game. Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275245 Marcello Trotta was an unused sub as Brentford continue their promotion chase with another win. Although it did take a last minute winner as they beat Oldham 1-0 at home. Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275242 Another last minute goal saw Oxford defeat Dagenham and Redbridge 2-1 and stay in pole position in League 2. Ryan Williams played his part and was unlucky with a couple of shots late on, before being subbed in the 85th minute. Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275540 In the same League Southend lost ground with a surprising 1-0 defeat away to bottom club Torquay. [Cauley Woodrow missed out again through suspension.] Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25275398 Marcus Betttinelli saved yet another penalty but Accrington Stanley could not quite complete a fightback against Exeter City victory at the Store First Stadium. Three nil down inside 20 minutes, they pulled it back to 3-2 just after the start of the second period. Exeter could have sealed it in the 55th minute but keeper Marcus Bettinelli saved a spot kick for the second successive game. Match report: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/accrington_stanley/news/10878278._/ Following their surprise victory 1-0 over promotion contenders Kidderminster Harriers last Tuesday, Charlie Banyaâs Woking had a disappointing 4-0 defeat away to North Ferriby United.
Just watched highlights on the football league show and Trotta actually did come on and hit the bar within a matter of minutes. Also I've seen a small bit (most games highlights and 2 full games) of Dan Burn at Birmingham and I have to say he doesn't fill me with confidence. His positioning seems poor, he looks slow and looks like one of those players that is susceptible to a clanger or two. Can anyone please tell me I'm wrong because I had/have high hopes for him.
Thanks Ireland. You're quite correct and my bad. By all accounts, and on his own admission, Dan has had a mixed season at Birmingham so far. To be honest, how you describe hime is exactly how he looked when playing for our U21s. Ideally what he needs is someone like Aaron Hughes playing alongside him. If you remember when Brede first came to us he was a wee bit similar, in being caught out of position and so on. Aaron acted as his mentor and they gelled into the partnership we came to know and love. Dan's not got an 'Aaron' at Birmingham, so he's having to learn the hard way but hopefully playing in the Championship will toughen him up, at least mentally.
I saw him on loan for Yeovil at Bournemouth last season and he looked very good. It was a good, attacking Bournemouth side he played against too. Even if he's finding this season harder, I've still got high hopes. He'll learn lots this season.
Yeah I actually watched quite a bit of him last year too and that's why I bring it up, he looked a lot more assured last year, albeit at a lower level. Interesting that you mention him playing against Bournemouth because that's who they played (as you probably know) at the weekend and he got caught out a few times missing a couple of clearances that almost cost Birmingham a goal or two. If he's brought up to the first team next year he wont get away with those kind of mistakes (assuming we're still in the PL). Hopefully he gets the mistakes out of his system but I always worry that there's certain defenders that have lots of talent but are prone to blunders, like Zat Knight for example, and I just hope that Burn doesn't turn out like that.
And he scored - "Italy’s Under-21 side beat the Serie B Italia team 3-0 with Stefano Beltrame’s brace and Brentford striker Marcello Trotta on target. This friendly test was organised so Coach Gigi Di Biagio could experiment with some new faces, giving the likes of Beltrame, Trotta, Cagliari defender Nicola Murru and Crotone forward Federico Bernardeschi their debuts. Beltrame certainly made the most of the opportunity, as the 20-year-old Bari hitman netted twice. Fellow debutant Trotta also got his name on the scoresheet when following up Valerio Verre’s parried shot. Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin made his comeback for the Under-21 side after being ignored for a year. “It was a good test,” said Di Biagio. “The lads worked hard and the new ones did well too. If they are here, it means we believe in them and now they’ll have to prove with their club performances that they deserve to be part of this group.” Source: http://www.football-italia.net/42940/u21-debutant-duo-target
Oxford United have been given a pre-Christmas present with the news that winger Ryan Williams will remain at the club until the end of the season. The club posted that: “The 19-year-old Australian winger has played a big part in United’s rise to the top of the table scoring four times in his 13 starts and impressing everyone since arriving on loan from Fulham in August. That loan, due to expire on January 1st, has now become a season-long loan and Manager Chris Wilder is delighted to have Ryan at the club until May: “It’s good for everyone concerned” he said. “Ryan is a talented player and has done well for us. He is enjoying his time here and Fulham can see him gaining experience and playing well. The fans have taken to him and he fits in really well with the lads in the dressing room, so we are really happy that he is our player for the rest of the season.” Ryan was equally pleased: “I have really enjoyed it here and had no hesitation at all in staying. The club is in a great position right now and I am looking forward to playing my part in the second half of the season.” Source: http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/00191213-ryan-williams-1245276.aspx#EYedmyHX8wvtGX5s.99
Back from suspension, Cauley Woodrow came off the bench in the 56th minute for Southend tonight. His team failed to take the opportunity to close the gap at the top of League 2 though, drawing 1-1 at home to Rochdale. Match report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25360629
Here's the weekend round-up from the Club: "Marcello Trotta was on the scoresheet as Brentford secured an impressive 3-0 win away to promotion rivals Preston North End in Sky Bet League One on Saturday. Adam Forshaw put the Bees in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Clayton Donaldson had been brought down. And Trotta doubled the lead moments later with a cool finish from Forshaw’s pass. David Button then saved a penalty to maintain the two-goal advantage in the second half, before Trotta was substituted in the 65th minute. The Italian watched on as his loan side wrapped up a ninth victory from 10 league games when Sam Saunders volleyed in with 17 minutes remaining. The Bees now sit just a point below leaders Leyton Orient in the table. A division above, Dan Burn helped Birmingham City extend their unbeaten run to seven matches as they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest at St Andrews. The centre-back played the full 90 minutes as his side enjoyed the better of the play throughout but were just unable to find a way past Karl Darlow, with Nikola Zigic squandering the best chance in the first half. Even after Forest had substitute Darius Henderson sent off for a reckless challenge, they couldn’t find a way through and the result leaves Blues sitting in 16th place in the Sky Bet Championship. Back in League One, Buomesca Tue Na Bangna put in a promising display as Crewe Alexandra drew 1-1 at home to Shrewsbury Town. The winger picked out Chuks Aneke at the far post who nodded back across goal for Tom Hitchcock to open the scoring in the 21st minute, and Mesca twice had chances to double the lead but his efforts lacked conviction. The Shrews pushed hard for an equaliser and were rewarded 10 minutes after half-time when Jon Taylor smashed the ball in to deny Crewe the points and leave the Railwaymen sitting second bottom. Marcus Bettinelli was involved in a thrilling win in Sky Bet League Two as a late, late comeback saw Accrington Stanley secure a 3-2 victory at Mansfield Town. A goal from John McCombe either side of Kal Naismith’s equaliser had given the home side a 2-1 lead going into stoppage time. But Naismith grabbed his second in the 90th minute to grab what looked like a point for Stanley. That equaliser had come shortly after Bettinelli had made a crucial save to prevent Mansfield from grabbing a third, and James Beattie’s men then went one better as James Gray snatched the winner right at the death to move his side up to 17th in the table. One side who do currently occupy one of the promotion places is Oxford United and Ryan Williams played 77 minutes of their goalless draw away to York City. The hosts had a decent chance to open the scoring when Josh Carson volleyed wide, before Dave Kitson saw his effort tipped behind. In truth it was something of a scrappy encounter, with a point apiece probably a fair result. Finally, in the Skrill Premier, Woking secured an impressive 2-0 victory away to Nuneaton Town, with Charles Banya[/B[ seeing 81 minutes of action. Nuneaton started brightly but went behind early in the second half when Jack Marriott netted, before Fulham Academy Coach Kevin Betsy made sure of the points on the hour mark. The result leaves Woking sitting 16th in the Conference table going into the Christmas period."
The latest round-up from the Club: "Marcello Trotta hit the winner as Brentford twice came from behind to defeat Swindon Town 3-2 on Boxing Day in Sky Bet League One. please log in to view this image The 'new look' Marcello Ryan Mason put the Robins ahead on 10 minutes but Sam Saunders made it 1-1 with a free-kick just before the half-hour mark. Nicky Ajose then put Swindon back in front on 53, before Clayton Donaldson's diving header two minutes later made it 2-2. Trotta then claimed the Bees' winner in the 71st minute when he stuck out a toe to divert a Jonathan Douglas pass home from eight yards as Brentford secured a fifth successive victory to stay third. Bees boss Mark Warburton said: “To come back that positively was excellent. Marcello Trotta was tremendous, he worked so hard.” In the same division, Buomesca Tué Na Bangna played the full 90 minutes as Crewe Alexandra went down to a 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers to slip to the bottom of the table. Michael Jacobs opened the scoring in the third minute but Wolves had to wait until injury time to make sure of the points when Leigh Griffiths fired home from the edge of the box. In Sky Bet League Two, Cauley Woodrow stepped off the substitutes’ bench to hit the winning goal as Southend United defeated 10-man AFC Wimbledon 1-0. George Francomb was shown a straight red just before the break for the hosts and Woodrow was thrown into the mix on 59 minutes. And the change paid off as Woodrow powered in a header on 76 minutes to seal three points for the visitors who move up to sixth place in the table. In the Sky Bet Championship, Dan Burn helped 10-man Birmingham City to a 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic. Jesse Lingard was sent off for a lunge on Jordi Gomez just after the hour mark at the DW Stadium and Burn and the Birmingham defence held firm to secure a valuable point. In the Skrill Conference, Charles Banya played for 69 minutes as Woking lost 3-1 at home to Salisbury City. Jack Marriott put the home side into a 13th-minute lead but City levelled on 16 through Chris McPhee and Ricky Wellard made it 2-1 to the visitors soon after. Tyler Harvey sealed the three points for Salisbury in stoppage time with a 25-yard strike."
The weekend round-up from the Club: "Marcello Trotta was on target for the third game running as Brentford went top of Sky Bet League One with a 3-1 home win against Milton Keynes Dons on Sunday. Clayton Donaldson's powerful effort gave the Bees the perfect start after two minutes, before Sam Saunders set up Trotta to make it 2-0 shortly after half-time. Saunders scored from 20 yards to seal the win on 58, before Lee Hodson netted a consolation for the visitors in the 73rd minute. Trotta was substituted with nine minutes remaining. The victory – Brentford’s 11th in 12 league games – saw the Bees leapfrog Leyton Orient and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who drew 1-1 at Molineux. In the same division, Buomesca Tué Na Bangna helped Crewe Alexandra move off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 win at Colchester United. The U's led at half-time through Luke Garbutt's deflected free-kick but Chuks Aneke equalised for the visitors on 73 minutes. And three minutes later, Tom Hitchcock headed in a Brad Inman corner to wrap up the win for Alex. In Sky Bet League Two, Cauley Woodrow played 66 minutes as Southend United drew 1-1 at Accrington Stanley. Stanley went in front just after the hour mark when Mark Phillips turned the ball into his own net. But Luke Prosser headed in Kevan Hurst's corner in the 78th minute to ensure the points were shared. The result means Southend remain in the Play-Off places, three points behind leaders Chesterfield and level with Oxford United, for whom Ryan Williams played the full 90 minutes of their 2-0 defeat at Scun.thorpe United. Journeyman striker Deon Burton opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but later had a penalty saved after Deane Smalley handled in the box. The Iron increased their advantage on 72 minutes, though, when David Syers fired in and Oxford’s day was summed up when Smalley saw a late penalty saved. In the Sky Bet Championship, Dan Burn and Birmingham City survived a Blackburn Rovers comeback to emerge 3-2 winners at Ewood Park. Blues were 3-0 up within 36 minutes, with Lee Novak tapping in Burn’s pass from close range and then scoring with a 30-yard effort, before Chris Burke grabbed the third. Jordan Rhodes gave Rovers hope with a header in the 66th minute and then lofted the ball over Darren Randolph soon after to set up a nervy finish. They almost equalised in injury time when Scott Dann's header hit the post but City held on. Birmingham are now unbeaten in nine league games and sit 17th in the table. There was no action for Charles Banya on Saturday in the Skrill Conference as Woking’s game at Dartford was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch."
Hadn't realised this - Stephen Arthurworrey has gone on loan to Tranmere. He went straight into their team for a real tussle against top team Wolves. "Tranmere had an unfamiliar look to a defence left threadbare with right-back Danny Holmes (hip), Ian Goodison (thigh) and Jim McNulty (ill) all out. They signed Everton right-back Matthew Pennington and Fulham centre-back Stephen Arthurworrey, both on loan, to make their debuts." Stephen and Tranmere came out of it with a very credible 1-1 draw. Here is the full match report: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2014/01/01/tranmere-1-wolves-1-match-report/
Good question. Arguably with Stephen Arthurworrey going the other way Dan will slot back into the U21s and be around in an emergency. I suspect they'll play him in the Cup game against Norwich (the selection choices are pretty limited) and them take it from there.
