Watch Adam Taggart's first for the Club in this video highlight of the goals. [Hazard Warning - You might have turn the sound down!]
In his press conference today Kit talked about two of our U21s who have been kind of lost under the radar because of injuries. He said, “Larnell Cole’s obviously had a nightmare with injuries. He’s back in training now with Pete [Grant] with the 21s and he’s been up with the First Team as well and he’s been getting back looking quite sharp. When he’s popped up and been with the First Team he’s looked really bright so we’re keen to get him back fit." "Liam Donnelly’s another one who sort of went missing through injury. He’s back now in full training and available for selection for the 21s so he’ll start getting a few games as well."
Blinder of a win GS. And Adam Taggart on the score sheet again, so only an hour-and-a-half to get him out on loan. [Just joking]. No, apparently he and Freddy Plumain were terrific. Also good to see Liam Donnelly back, albeit only on the bench, The team was: Norman; Voser, Baba, Buatu, Evans; Della Verde, Smile; Na Bangna, Plumain, Richards; Taggart Subs: Barnes, Humphrys, Edun, De La Torre, Donnelly ”The Whites fell behind with just seven minutes played, and were responsible for their own downfall. Having collected a short Magnus Norman free-kick, Josh Smile attempted to play the ball out from the back but his pass was intercepted by James Weir. He quickly fed Nick Powell who poked beyond Norman with the outside of his right boot for 1-0. With 24 minutes on the clock Richards demonstrated the qualities of his left foot when he bent a teasing ball into the box that just evaded the toe of Taggart by an inch or so. United goalkeeper Joel Pereira then made a hash of an attempted clearance and drilled the ball to Buomesca Tue Na Bangna 25 yards from goal, but the Fulham winger fired over once he’d got the ball out from under his feet. Powell had the ball in the net again on 39 minutes when he lobbed Norman, but the flag had long since gone up for offside. Fulham improved as an attacking force after the break and took just 11 minutes to draw level. Na Bangna cut the ball back from the left to Tom Richards who had found space cleverly, and the midfielder did well to control his first-time strike inside the near post. That goal buoyed Peter Grant’s men and they turned the game on its head on 64 minutes. Richards played an inch perfect throughball for Adam Taggart to run onto, and although the Australian international had Reds captain Tom Thorpe for company, he had enough pace and strength to burst beyond the backline before finishing confidently between Pereira’s legs from a tight angle. The striker then set Richards up on 76 minutes but his low strike was well held by Pereira, before the goalkeeper made an identical save from a similar effort by Ange-Freddy Plumain. United threatened an equaliser but a dangerous cross on 85 minutes was well shepherded out by Noe Baba, and their final chance passed when Rafael dragged a shot wide in stoppage time following a corner.”
The transfer window only applies to permanent moves. If Kit still wants to loan Taggart out to regain match fitness, it doesn't have to be done tonight.
Man Utd 1 Fulham 2 (U21s) Video highlights of the goals. A tad scratchy and short but well worth watching to see an extraordinarily well taken goal by Adam Taggart for our second. [/SIZE]
West Ham 2 Fulham 1 (U21s) Unbeaten run comes to an end but Adam Taggart scores again. And, as mentioned in the other thread Amorebieta and Hoogland - interestingly at holding centre midfield - were given game time. The full tean was: Norman; Voser, Buatu, Amorebieta, Evans; Hoogland, Della Verde; Na Bangna, Plumain, Richards; Taggart Subs: Barnes, Williams, De La Torre, Baba ”All three goals arrived in the space of six first half minutes, with the home side going in front early on when Josh Cullen converted at the far post from Joe Powell’s cross. The Whites were level just two minutes later, though, as Adam Taggart grabbed his third goal in as many games when he collected a long pass and fired a composed finish beyond Hammers goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel. The frenetic pace continued as the hosts restored their advantage moments later when Powell delivered another inviting cross which was this time attacked by Jordan Brown who found the net with his header. Taggart went close to a second equaliser of the game but just missed the target midway through the first half when he got on the end of Buomesca Tue Na Bangna’s centre. And West Ham survived another scare shortly before the interval when Alex Pike made a hash of his clearance and saw the ball hit his own crossbar, and then the post before the danger was averted. Djair Parfitt-Williams thought he’d made it 3-1 shortly after the restart when he tapped in Brown’s cross, but the flag was up to deny him. Brown then went close to putting the finishing touch to a fine Hammers move, while up the other end young Luca De La Torre was denied by a superb Manny Onariase tackle as the youngster went to shoot. Despite their exertions, Fulham were unable to find a way back into the match as they found themselves on the wrong end of an entertaining 2-1 encounter.”
It’s been confirmed. The U21s will play Chelsea in the Quarter-Finals of the U21 Premier League International Cup. We finished second in Group B on goal difference behind Athletic Bilbao, and so would face the winners of Group A. There are still games to play in that group but none of Norwich City, Borussia Monchengladbach or Porto can catch Chelsea at the top. The game will be played on Thursday 19th February (kick off 7.05pm) at Aldershot Town’s Recreation Ground, with tickets priced at £3 adults and £1 concessions.
Spurs 3 Fulham 1 (U21s) (Friendly) A week or so ago Kit said that the Club would be arranging a ’practice match’ to give our longer term inured players game time. With a slack week in the U21s’ calendar we played Spurs this afternoon. There’s been nothing on the official site but here’s the report from Spurs - sounds as though Sean Kavanagh was well in the mix; ” The Cottagers, who named Tim Hoogland and Sean Kavanagh in their starting line-up, forged ahead five minutes into the second half, but we quickly assumed control of the game and went on to secure the victory. It was the visitors who started strongest, going close on a handful of occasions in the first 10 minutes. Alex McQueen denied Hoogland with a goal-line clearance after Freddy Plumain’s cut-back at the near post, Dan Burn prodded wide after getting in front of his marker to meet Kavanagh’s corner and Plumain played Adam Taggart clean through on goal – only for the wide man to blaze off target. Our first real effort came from the boot of Ruben Lameiras after a quarter-of-an-hour, the attacker drilling just wide after Ward won the ball on the edge of the box and exhibited some clever footwork to set up his team-mate. Just before the half-hour mark, Plumain burst down the right and curled in a cross which found its way to the unmarked George Williams on the left side of the box. He pulled the trigger, but goalkeeper Luke McGee was equal to it, saving with his legs. Despite Fulham’s early chances, we gradually grew into the game, but it was nonetheless the visitors who opened the scoring in the 50th minute. Sean Kavanagh’s in-swinger from the right flank evaded everyone in the box and drifted all the way in at the far post. We responded well and drew level four minutes later, Akindayini playing a neat exchange with Lameiras on the edge of the box before slotting low into the corner. The same players then combined on the right two minutes later, Akindayini blasting into the net to put us 2-1 up. Ward burst forward as we went on the attack again on 59 minutes, feeding Lameiras from the right side – only for the latter to be denied by the legs of goalkeeper Craig Ross. Within 60 seconds of that chance, McEneff drilled towards the far corner but saw his effort whistle agonisingly the wrong side of the post. The Cottagers were next to go close, Hoogland’s fierce header from Jordan Evans’ left wing cross being blocked in the box by Connor Ogilvie, while a speculative 40-yarder from Williams dipped at the last second and hit the woodwork. We put the game fully out of Fulham’s reach on 87 minutes when McQueen scurried down the left-hand side and his cross was turned home by Miller as he arrived in the box. Kavanagh then sent a stoppage time free-kick into the side netting in the last significant action of the game.”
Chelsea 3 Fulham 4 (U21s) (PL International Cup) Fantastic win by the lads tonight to take us into the semi-finals. And an interesting line-up. Tim Hoogland in at right back, Liam Donnelly as central midfield defender, with Ryan Williams. Pat Roberts (left) and Freddy Plumain (right) as wide wing men. Moussa Dembele up front with in form Adam Taggart. The team was: Norman, Hoogland, Buatu, Baba, Evans, Roberts, Donnelly, R.Williams, Plumain, Taggart, Dembélé Subs: Rodák, Casasola, Richards, Na Bangna, Della Verde Fulham went ahead inside 2 mins. When Moussa Dembele converted a a lovely cross from Jordan Evans. Both sides then had their share of possession and Dembele should have put us further ahead when put through by Roberts and one-on-one with the keeper he shot straight at him. But it was Chelsea who were showing the more patient build-up and they equalised after 14 mins. when Noe Baba made a silly tackle from behind, inside the box. Baker scored from the spot kick. Straight from the restart however, Dembele hustled on the right and as the ball came across Pat Roberts calmly put a left foot shot away. And within two minutes Fulham should have been further ahead when, following a corner, and a scramble in the Chelsea box [??] missed from point blank range. …Lost the stream I was watching at this point. Will have to now wait on agonisingly slow feeds from the Club …. * Chelsea equalise again after 33 mins. And at half time 2-2 * Roberts and Dembele subbed for Mesca and Richards (Tom) on the hour * Ali Suljic, who played so well for them against our U18s last Friday, gets two second half goals - one at each end!. 3-3 * Adam Taggart scores in the 83rd minute !!! 4-3 to the lads!!!! Club match report to follow
Rather a longer report than normal from the Club, so here's a link to their post: http://www.fulhamfc.com/under-21s/2014_2015/international-cup/quarter-final/chelsea#report
Fulham 1 Leicester 3 (U21s) No details from the Club so here’s a brief report from the opposition: ”The Foxes were 2-0 up within nine minutes thanks to strikes from Jak McCourt and Harry Panayiotou, before Patrick Roberts pulled one back for the hosts just before the break. And as Fulham went in search of an equaliser, it was Anthony Knockaert who grabbed a third for City from the penalty spot, sending Leicester home with three points. Steve Beaglehole’s side were boosted by the influence of first-teamers Knockaert and Tom Lawrence and were captained by right-back James Pearson.” Link with a little more: http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/u2...ester-city-3-2302268.aspx#dhyciTRzxpmihoEh.99
Video highlights of the goals. Nando looks a bit dodgy for their second. However worth watching to see Pat at his best.
Thought it worth saying a little about where we are at the moment with the U21s. First though, a summary about the Barclays Premier (Elite) U21 League * In total, 24 clubs compete in the League, with each of the clubs having applied for ‘Category One’ status in the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). * There are 15 clubs from the Barclays Premier League and nine clubs from the Skybet Championship. * For the 2014/15 campaign, the 24 clubs are be split into two divisions. * The teams who finish 11th and 12th in Division 1 will be relegated, while the top two teams in Division 2 will be promoted. Full details: http://hk.premierleague.com/content.../u21-competition-format/#sthash.cWmLTFai.dpuf After a series of disappointing results we are currently lying in 11th position; equal on points (16) with Leicester, Norwich and Sunderland but with an inferior goal difference and 5pts ahead of bottom club West Ham. That’s quite a slump since Peter Grant to over from Kit - at that time we had 7pts from a possible 9 and had conceded only 2 goals. The last two games were defeats against West Ham (away) and Leicester (home). Tomorrow’s opponents, Manchester City (away), are only one point ahead of us. There are still eight games in total to play but this has now become quite a crunch game if we are not - for the first time - to drop from the ‘Elite Division 1’. Of course we have the semi-finals of the International Cup to look forward to but, I’d argue, staying in the top flight is significantly more important for the future development of our youngsters and for the Club. Link to League table: http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/...r-league-tables.html?paramYouthStage=NATIONAL
Manchester City 3 Fulham 1 (U21s) Worrying times! No Adam Taggart; Moussa Dembele was up front. The team was: Norman, Baba, Sambou, Buatu, Evans, Williams, Donnelly, Na Bangna, Roberts, Plumain, Dembele Here’s a brief report from the opposition: ”Ending a run of three successive league defeats, Patrick Vieira’s side saw off visitors Fulham 3-1 at the Academy Stadium on Friday afternoon. Thierry Ambrose added to his growing portfolio of headed goals to give his side the lead after nine minutes but City were reduced to ten men in the middle of the first period. Jack Byrne was the player shown a straight red card after 33 minutes, casting a shadow over an authoritative first-half display from the home side. Despite the one-man discrepancy, City went into a two-goal lead five minutes into the second period when Brandon Barker scored from the penalty spot after he was fouled just inside the box. Ange-Freddy Plumain brought the visitors back into the game with a goal on the hour-mark but Bersant Celina tapped in from a yard out with eight minutes left to complete the scoring in a deserved win for a steely City showing.”
Video highlights of the goals - the quality of the editing probably sums the game up. Neat goal from Freddy Plumain though. That's some 'second string' ground Man City have!!
