West Ham 0 Fulham 2 (U21s) Very decent crowd of 2370 at Upton Park watching the match at Upton Park last night. And, the Daily Mail singing our praises. Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Video highlights - watch Jordan Evans' corker for the first and Josh Smile's brilliant thinking for the second -
Two of them are close: Jon Thorsteinsson (Icelander) 16yrs Dennis Adeniran (English) 16yrs, and Mattias Kait (Estonian) is only just 17yrs
In his post-match comments on the Official site following the West Ham game, Peter Grant said this of Jordan Evans, “Great credit to Jordan for taking it on,” his Manager said of the effort [Jordan’s goal from a free kick]. “That’s what we say to the boys, you’ve got to have confidence to try things and add things to your game. He’s done very well in certain games and not so well in others, so I was very pleased with him. His positional play was better on Monday as well, so his all-round game was better and he got his reward with a goal.” Is this a ‘seasoned’ manager ensuring that the young player keeps his feet on the ground OR a grumpy old sweaty trying to pump up his own ego? Personally I’m unconvinced about Grant’s ability to properly develop the youngsters. And I certainly think false praise like this is best left to the training ground.
Unless I'm missing something, Cottager, I don't see anything wrong with Grant's comments. In what way is this false praise? To me it sounds like measured praise, recognising good things while also acknowledging flaws. Then again, I haven't seen any of the matches concerned, which I think you may well do, so the error is probably mine!
Nothing at all wrong with his comments Captain, if he says them to the player in private. Just think a public forum like the Official site is the wrong place or at least could have been expressed differently by Grant.
Fulham 1 Swansea 0 (U21s) What a shocker! Fairly evenly matched sides in the first half but Swansea well on top in the second. Credit to our defence for hanging in there and then against the odds we score the winner in ‘slow motion’ in extra time. A bit of a concern that wee Georgie Williams had to go off inujred and a strange sight in Sean Kavanagh then playing right winger. The team was: Rodàk; Sheckleford, Pino Soler (Donnelly 69'), Elworthy, Evans; Kait, Smile, Hyndman, Kavanagh; O'Halloran (Walker 67'), Williams (Redford 59') Unused sub: Dawber ”Fulham went close in the fifth minute after Sean Kavanagh dispossessed Swansea in midfield. He fizzed a ball into Mattias Kait who touched it off to Smile advancing from deep, but the midfielder pulled his first-time effort just wide.Five minutes later, the visitors almost caught the Whites on the break. Henry James raced down the right before picking out Adnan Maric in the box. Under pressure from the Fulham defence though, the Swede could only head over.Kavanagh played another dangerous ball that almost saw Kait open the scoring a few moments later in a fast-paced opening. After play broke down from a deep corner, the Irishman regained possession and sent a looping ball to Kait at the back post. His header, though, was saved by Josh Vickers in the Swans’ goal. Mid-way through the half, Fulham went close twice in the same attack. Ryheem Sheckleford attacked with pace down the right and rolled a low ball hard across goal. It fell narrowly out of reach for Dean O’Halloran but Kavanagh was there to meet the clearance 20-yards out. A swing of that vicious left boot looked to be troubling the Swansea goalkeeper but a defender’s block kept the Whites at bay.The right-back looked dangerous again in the 35th minute as he rode two challenges in a blistering burst forward to win Fulham their third corner of the game. The fireworks that burst into life in the background were perhaps a little premature though, as the set-piece came to nothing. Swansea had a string of corners themselves as half-time approached, as Owain Jones’ mazy runs caused problems. Their captain Liam Shephard, young player of the season last year on loan at Yeovil Town, sent a stinging 35-yard shot goal-bound after the ball was cleared. Goalkeeper Marek Rodak did well to collect cleanly after a tricky deflection and the teams went into the break goalless. Seven minutes into the second half, the visitors almost had the lead. Persistence on the right allowed Jones to work an opening a find Ollie McBurnie in the middle just 12 yards out. He turned it round the corner and Rodak sprawled superbly to deny James what looked like a certain goal.The Slovakian was called upon once more five minutes later as the Swans launched a quick counter attack. Daniel James looked to bend one in the far corner from 20 yards but Rodak was equal to it and made the save diving to his left. Raheem Hanley rattled the post for the Welsh side in the 66th minute with a ferocious 35-yard effort. Left with space advancing forward, the number three unexpectedly unleashed his long range effort that looked in all the way but crashed back off the upright.It was a slower start to the second half for Peter Grant’s men and the Manager completely changed the front-line with two substitutions in ten minutes either side of the hour mark. Aaron Redford and Josh Walker looked to bring fresh energy as they came on for Williams and O’Halloran, who both played considerable parts just five days ago. Chances were harder to come by but Fulham’s defensive solidarity was on display twice in as many minutes late on. McBurnie found space on the edge of the box but was denied by an excellent last ditch block by substitute Liam Donnelly, before a cross from the left found its way to the back post. Only Jordan Evans’ intervention to turn the ball behind stopped Swansea taking the lead. That dogged determination was rewarded when the hosts grabbed a late winner. With two minutes added on, Fulham piled men forward for a wide free kick into the box. The Swansea defence cleared but only as far as Josh Smile who was waiting just outside the box. His well-timed strike rolled past Vickers to give Fulham their second win in just five days.”
Bad luck on anyone hoping to do some 'live' football catchup this week. The U21s game against Aston Villa on Thursday at Motspur Park has been moved forward to a 1pm kick off and will now be behind closed doors. Which clubs' rogue scouts do you reckon they're trying to keep away?
Fulham 2 Aston Villa 2 (U21s) Oh dear, Wee Georgie in injury touble again. The team was: Norman, Sheckleford, Pino Soler, Opoku, Evans, Smile, de la Torre, Kait, Humphrys, Williams, Woodrow Subs: Dawber, Fossey, Thorsteinsson, Walker "George Williams was handed a seventh U21 start since his return from injury and Fulham’s first opening fell his way when Kait’s fantastic diagonal cross-field pass sent him in on goal. The Wales international couldn’t quite get the ball under control, though, and goalkeeper Matija Sarkic was able to claim. That proved to be Williams’ only telling involvement in proceedings as he made way for Marlon Fossey with little more than a quarter of an hour played. Hopefully a precautionary withdrawal rather than anything more serious. It was a first appearance at this level for 17-year-old Fossey but he started confidently and within five minutes of coming on he broke down the right wing before cutting back to Stephen Humphrys who tried a first-time shot which was easily blocked. On 28 minutes Cauley Woodrow showed some neat footwork just inside the box to make space for a shot but a defender in claret and blue got a toe on it and it deflected behind. Magnus Norman was then forced to save from McKirdy, but the Villa man set strike partner Hepburn-Murphy up a minute later for the opener as the big forward latched onto his slide-rule pass and finished low inside the near post. The lead lasted just three minutes as Mattias Kait waltzed into the area and fired in a low shot that was parried by Sarkic. Fortune favoured the Fulham man as the loose ball fell his way and he kept his composure to smack it into the corner. That sparked Fulham into life and Woodrow went close twice in quick succession, but a sucker-punch in added time saw Villa restore their lead when Hepburn-Murphy found space in the box and squared to McKirdy who was left with a simple finish. Around the hour mark the two sides took it in turns to counter from each other’s corners. First the Whites broke at pace to set up Kait whose shot was blocked, while at the other end Corey Taylor crossed for McKirdy who volleyed straight at Norman. Fulham drew level with 65 minutes played when substitute [for Cauley Woodrow 60’] Josh Walker drew a foul on the edge of the box and captain Jordan Evans stepped up to expertly plant the free-kick around the wall and beyond Sarkic. Both teams believed the winner was in their sights and each had chances to grab it. A great last-ditch tackle denied Fossey a clear sight of goal on 72, before Jordan Lyden leant back when executing a shot from 20 yards to send his effort well over. Right-back Josh Webb headed over and Jerell Sellars also missed the target with a left-footer as Villa finished the game strongly, but a point apiece was probably a fair outcome.”
Villa have a neat and quite professional way of reporting the U21 game - bit like a radio (606?) report. Here's the link to listen in:
Video highlights of the goals - 3 really good ones and I'll leave you to decide which was the odd one out.
Premier League Cup - 3rd Round The team have been drawn away to Colchester United in the Third Round of the U21 Premier League Cup. The tie has been scheduled for Tuesday 8th December. Colchester beat Bournemouth U21s 3-0 in the last round so won't be a walkover by any means.
Virtually all of the U21 League games in December and January have been shifted out to much later in the year. The Club have given no explanation and I'm stumped to even come up with a conspiracy theory. Anybody any insider info or ideas? The revisions are: The away game at West Bromwich Albion, previously scheduled for Monday 30th November, will now take place on Monday 15th February. The home game against Arsenal, previously scheduled for Friday 4th December, will now take place on Friday 18th March. The away game at Brighton & Hove Albion, previously scheduled for Monday 14th December, will now take place on Tuesday 22nd December. The trip to Swansea City, previously scheduled for Monday 11th January, has been postponed and a new date has yet to be arranged. Also, the home game against Derby County, previously scheduled for Friday 1st April, will now take place on Monday 4th April. The FA cup tie against Colchester on 8th December still stands (presumably because there is no option. But other than that match it means only one other (Brighton) between now and 22nd January.
One of the few games left in the U21 calendar for the moment. But wow! ... look at this starting line-up: Rodák, Richards, Grimmer, Burn, Kavanagh, Hyndman, Smile, O’Halloran, Kait, Kačaniklić, Woodrow Great to see Jack Grimmer back to boot.
Colchester 1 Fulham 3 (U21s)(PL Cup 3rd Round) No banana skins here, as Peter Grant resumed his U21 manager role and a strong Fulham side marched into the next round. Rosc will be particularly pleased when he reads about the contribution made by Emerson Hyndman. The team was: Rodàk; Richards, Grimmer (Pino Soler 67'), Burn, Kavanagh; Hyndman, Smile; O'Halloran, Kait (de la Torre 45'), Kačaniklić; Woodrow Unused subs: Soutter, Elworthy, Sheckleford ”It was Fulham who started the brightest. After some tidy hold up play from Woodrow, Emerson Hyndman carved out some space for himself on the edge of the Colchester box and fired a low drive just wide. A vocal Grant in the Fulham dugout urged Fulham to work the ball wider and Richards was a constant outlet in the opening stages. Fulham continued to press, utilising the overlap on either flank to overload Colchester and force errors through a high press. In the 17th minute a perfect inswinging corner from Josh Smile eluded everyone and went just wide at the back post. Hyndman was finding pockets of space all across the pitch and minutes later a Kačaniklić cross found Mattias Kait unmarked at the back post but his header was well saved by James Bransgrove. The breakthrough eventually came with the match petering out towards half-time. Alex Kačaniklić picked up the ball just inside the opposition half and remained unchallenged. With no pressure emerging from a backtracking Colchester defence he unleashed a vicious drive from 23 yards out which crashed in off the underside of the bar with Bransgrove stranded helplessly in the Colchester net. Fulham remained completely in control and pressed all the way up to the half-time whistle with Woodrow going close on two occasions with a visibly rattled Colchester unit struggling to get any foothold in the game. The dominance continued from the first kick in the second half, with Hyndman pouncing on a stray pass out and offloading to an open Kačaniklić on the edge of the box. He put his shot a fraction wide of the left hand post. However, Colchester were back level two minutes later. With no options either side of him, Chris Regis had an effort deflected in past a stranded Marek Rodák. Fulham did not let their heads drop, though, and hit back immediately through O'Halloran. A Hyndman free-kick was parried wide earning a corner. From the resulting set-piece a teasing cross found its way through the crowd to Dean O’Halloran at the back post who reacted well to slot home. On his return, Grimmer was replaced with 20 minutes remaining after a stellar display. Grimmer and Burn had been untroubled for large parts of the match and his distribution was excellent. With the temperature dropping further Fulham remained in firm control. A short corner allowed Kavanagh to whip in a looping cross. Woodrow climbed above the defender but was unable to get enough purchase to hit the target. Woodrow was involved once again a minute later as his low shot was palmed wide for a corner following more lovely build up play and another outstanding Smile cross was scrambled clear. With the clock ticking down Cauley Woodrow got a deserved goal following some brilliant work and tireless running throughout the match. He was played through on the counter and with only the keeper to beat he opened up his body and curved his shot into the bottom right hand corner.”
EM This Guy brings a new dimension to the game so why is he not a first team regular ? Our managerial / coaching staff would not see talent if it bit them in the arse.
