Obika is back !!!!! Jonathan Obika made his comeback from longterm injury today and scored in a 2-2 draw with Brighton at our training ground. He got 45 minutes game time, as did Lewis Holtby and Capoue. Our team was Archer, Fredericks, Smith, Veljkovic, Gallifuoco, Holtby, Ward, Capoue, Obika, Coulthirst and D McQueen. Reuben Lameiras, who had replaced Holtby, scored our other goal.
"Obika is back !!!!!" Like a turkey with the imminent transfer window being like the week before Xmas ??
Charlton could desperately do with Obika's return. Or anything, frankly. New owner, new money (apparently), but they're floundering about down the bottom like the bad old days, I'm afraid.
Good to see at the end of the game today, the members of the under 21 squad, Bentaleb, Fredericks and Kane walking off the OT pitch together and clearly Enjoying the occasion. Also, a good TV shot of reserve keeper Jordan Archer celebrating our second goal. COYS.
Very refreshing to see Tim giving them all a chance, given our injuries it's great we've got a dependable group of youngsters we can rely on
Bentaleb looks so assured and comfortable for us. He's really surprised me, he always got mentioned on here but I personally never expected him to look so at home in a Prem midfield, from the glimpses I've seen of him at any rate.
We beat Charlton in a friendly/u21s 10-6. Obika got 6, Chadli 2, Lamela 1 and Holtby 1. Obika for England!
Obika was linked with a move to Charlton before his injury issues. I doubt that performance will have done his chances of joining them any harm.
So in the past couple of days our kids have beaten Charlton and Japan? Slightly different experiences, I'd have thought.
Hard to tell. Everyone, judging by the match report. Lots of mentions of Smith, Chadli, Lamela and a late assist for McEvoy, on as a sub. Line up: Miles, Fredericks (Stewart 57), Smith, Capoue, Veljkovic, Fryers, Lamela (McEvoy 57), Holtby, Obika, Kane (Coulibaly 57), Chadli. The side were 5-1, 6-2, 7-3 and 10-4 up, so it seems that there was a bit of pissing about at the back with the game well one.
Miles; Fredericks (Stewart 57), Smith, Veljkovic, Fryers; Lamela (McEvoy 57), Holtby, Capoue, Chadli; Obika, Kane (Coulibaly 57) So we weren't playing rush goalie then?
There were a lot of scouts at the game today and I would imagine any club looking to take him on loan, will have to join a queue. Notwithstanding the standard of the opposition and some questionable defending, he did give a very impressive performance.
Did they play 4-3-3 for this game ?? I am pondering whether Lamela can play the roaming role in the front 3 for this formation.
