1-1 half time and just by listening to Gentleman Jim it sounds like Burn, Stockdale and David are playing well and Kasami, Boateng and Zverotic not so much.
Lasse Vigen Christensen, Chris David, Ange-Freddy Plumain and Dan Burn all given their senior debuts today. Good stuff.
Finished 1-1. We probably could do without the replay but at least it's another chance to give the youngsters some more first team experience.
Listened to Gentleman Jim, who was clearly impressed by Stockdale. Good to have the youngsters playing - Dan Burn seemed to be safe (a good attribute given our 1st team defence), working with Captain Hughes. Look forward to hearing from those who went. Pity about another match, but as Ireland as says an opportunity for the youngsters. Also for Clint to get some match-time. COYW!
Sounded like a good game. Burn sounded like he commanded the back line and won loads of headers. Plumain also when he came on got good reviews. Could have done without a replay but loving the fact that we had several youngsters playing and gave Norwich a game.
Yeah. Gentleman Jim certainly seemed impressed by Dan Burn's headers. A very decent result indeed. Although, as you and FI say GS, probably could have done without a replay. It's going to be tricky for Rene (and Kit) - the replay is scheduled for Tuesday 14th, with the U21s playing a Cup game against Arsenal on the 9th and a League game away to Villa on the 13th.
I think the youngsters (that Rene plans on using) will play the Cup game against Arsenal and then be excused of U21 duty for the league game against Villa. I'm sure some of the U18s can take their places.
The only thing FI, is that a squad of U18s are off to play in the Gottingen Tournament from 9-12th January. I haven't been able to find out details of this competition and my hope is that it's one of those Futsbol (6-aside) affairs which could/should free up some of the U18s. Whatever, it is a wee problem since the Club, having established a reputation abroad as winners of the Dallas Cup and so on, won't want to sell themselves short.
At £15 & £5 for u17s for the replay, it's got to (sorry, I cannot bring myself for a "gotta) bring a few with me. Should see 3-5 of the youngsters on display. C O Y W !
did anybody actually go to the game today? If so would love a quick round up of the players especially the youngsters. Surprised Dembele wasn't given a game. I'm glad we got a replay a game at the cottage when we can play our young guns again, also I can make mid week games
It wasn't a great match, and the result was just about right. Burn was My MOTM, he had a good all round game, although he wasn't under pressure he dealt with everything in the air. David had a steady game, nothing spectacular, he was busy trying to link play. Plumain came on as sub at the beginning of the 2nd half, and showed a willing to get to the byline and put in crosses and take on their fullback. Christensen come on for the last 20 mins, did a few good things but nothing noticeable. Dempsey looked OK, and lasted the full 90. Bent was really sluggish again. Boateng had a poor game, a lot of his passes went to Norwich players. Kasami passing for most of the game was poor Amorebieta and Zverotic both had problems defending against speedie wingers. Stockdale made two great saves, but could have done better for their goal. Again we concede in the last 5 mins of the first half.
A couple more questions for anyone one who saw the game, sorry! A. I have read a few people say that David played well and reall looked comfortable in that position, but what Position did he actually play yesterday? B. Did Burn show enough to go straight into the first team in an important relegation battle?
I'd say David played a central midfield position linking defence and attack. Linked well with Dempsey at times, but didn't give Boateng enough cover at times. Burn just had a good game all round, winning lots of headers, and passing well out of defence. He was a threat at corners. So on this showing he would be a good choice. But one good game doesn't mean he's solved the CD problem.
That's not bad. If we win it is another where some youngsters could be thrown in. Thought West Ham had some decent youngsters. Apparently not. Shocking performance all round.
I'd certainly play Burn against Sunderland. He looked good enough to me. Zverotic is an awful FB and shouldn't be playing PL football. Stockdale gave us the replay, we had nothing in the 2nd half in terms of serious shots.
They have, although not quite as good as ours and not top of the U21 League as suggested by Allerdyce on ITV. They are in second place, 4pts behind us with a game in hand.
The Zverotic experiment has to be over. He makes Salcido look like a quality fullback. I really don't think playing a youngster could be worse than playing Zverotic at this point.
Good news. The U21 game scheduled for Monday evening 13th January has been postponed. Source: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3606342,00.html Well done the Club (and Villa for accommodating us).
