Well, it's pre-season friendlies really. The Club have announced the following fixtures for the U21s: Saturday 9th July (3pm) – Sutton United v Fulham XI Wednesday 20th July – AFC Bournemouth U21s v Fulham U21s [One for the Captain's diary] Saturday 23rd July – Barnet U21s v Fulham U21s Wednesday 27th July – Queens Park Rangers U21s v Fulham U21s All fixtures are away from home, with kick-off times to be confirmed. Further fixtures and information will be detailed in due course.
Another fixture has been added to this list . Saturday 30th July - Southampton U21 v Fulham U21s ( at the Staplewood Campus kick of 12pm) Source: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...son-brentford-fulham-southampton-3174000.aspx
Surprisingly none of the senior players featured and it was a very young Fulham U21 side that took on Sutton today: Ashby-Hammond; Fossey, Opoku, Davis, Sheckleford; Smile (Capt), Nabay, Hallan; Kweitniewski, Walker, Thorsteinson Subs: Lukwata, Adebayo, Thomas and Dolan And fair play to them, after going 1-0 down they fought back to win 3-1. [No other details yet]
Sutton United 1 Fulham 3 Here's the take from the opposition camp (they even had an Odoi playing for them - wonder if he's a relation?) "Making nine changes at half time, Sutton conceded three second half goals this afternoon after an encouraging first half performance highlighted by a spectacular 25th minute goal from summer signing Bradley Hudson-Odoi. U's enjoyed the better of the first half and took advantage of Fulham's desire to play the ball out of their penalty area, often gaining possession within thirty yards of goal, but Fulham keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond tipped over efforts from Bedsente Gomis and Dean Beckwith, while Ross Stearn twice shot wildly over when well placed. The goal that did come, though, was worth waiting for as Ashby-Hammond punched away a corner from the left and Hudson-Odoi's volley on the run from the edge of the penalty area flew back past him in to the net. From the starting line-up only Stearn and goalkeeper Denzel Gerrar re-appeared after half time as several triallists were among the new faces, and one of them, Silvano Obeng, almost made an immediate impact with a turn and powerful shot from twenty yards that crashed down off the underside of the bar. Nine minutes in to the second half, though, Gerrar came out to challenge Jon D'Agur Thorsteinsson to a bouncing ball inside the penalty area and made contact with the player rather than the ball, and Thorsteinsson picked himself up to equalise from the penalty spot. Unsurprisingly given the number of changes Sutton failed to regain the fluency of the first half, and with fifteen minutes left Elijah Adebayo ran on to a through pass and slotted the ball past Gerrar. Fulham put the game beyond reach two minutes from time when Cassian Thomas forced the ball in after Gerrar had failed to gather Adebayo's low cross" Source: http://www.suttonunited.net/news.php?#3566
The Club have confirmed the team as: Ashby-Hammond, Fossey, Davies, Sheckleford, Opoku, Smile, Trialist, Thorsteinsson (Thomas), Kwietniewksi, Nabay (Adebayo), Walker (Dolan) The 'trialist' is being rumoured as Faurlin, although not quite sue how he could be in two places at once!?
Moreirense 1 Fulham (U21) 2 The lads got off to a good start on their trip to the Algarve. Our goals came from Josh Walker and Aron Davies. No other details as yet
The U21s had a 6-1 win in their second game out in Portugal but I'm srtuggling to get more details. It's really frustrating that the Club don't keep us in formed about how the Academy are doing. Not that who they played matters all that much. However, it would be nice to be able to put it in context and at least know who played.
All set for tomorrow night Captain? Looking forward to your match report. Even more intrigued to find out who plays for us - the total number of U21s on the official 'Player Profiles' is now down to 6, with Cameron Burgess having gone out on loan. Meanwhile the opposition seem well set: http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/afc-bournemouth-under-21s-fulham-3194248.aspx?
Frustratingly, I can't make it. The one o'clock kick off, coupled with the time my boys finish school - today is their last day - mean I'll have to give it a miss. Grrr.
Bummer. Or maybe I meant Grimmer? As much because I've been wondering whether Jack will play in this one. He hasn't featured in the main squad stuff, despite being in loads of the early training gallery photos. On his way to another loan season?
Bournemouth 2 Fulham 2 (U21s) Nothing yet from the Club so here's the opposition write up: "Stephen Purches’ side started the match well and almost took the lead after a matter of minutes. A smart exchange in passes left Sam Matthews with plenty of space in the visitors' penalty area, but the midfielder was unable to steer his strike goalwards. Fulham, however, looked threatening going forward and took the lead after 15 minutes. Goalkeeper Callum Stanton could do little to prevent the low strike from close range. Having worked their way back into the game after conceding, the Cherries had a good chance to level proceedings. Brandon Goodship teed up Cornick on the right of the penalty area, but the forward’s low strike was parried well by the ‘keeper at his near post. AFC Bournemouth continued to grow into the match and began to look more assured in their passing. Just five minutes before the break Jake McCarthy’s quick feet created space in the middle of the park and he sent Goodship running towards goal, but the striker just couldn’t get enough on his strike to beat the goalkeeper. Goodship had another chance to level the scores before the interval. Bursting in from the left flank he cut onto his right foot and hit a strike goalwards, but was unable to prevent it from rising over the crossbar. Purches made three changes to his side at the break, as Callum Buckley, Callum Stanton and Matt Worthington made way for Ben Whitfield, Patrick O’Flaherty and a trialist. The Cherries started the second half well and Cornick in particular looked determined to bring his side level, but it was the visitors that soon doubled their lead. A mix up at the back saw O’Flaherty foul a Fulham striker inside the penalty area and the referee point to the spot. The resulting penalty was then converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. But, despite the 2-0 deficit, AFC Bournemouth didn’t give up and soon fought their way back into the match. Goodship’s free-kick from the edge of the penalty area was parried by the 'keeper and Cornick was the first to react and prod home to make it 2-1. Purches then made four more changes to his side as Jordan Green, Matthews, Jordan Lee and Goodship were replaced by Ndjoli, Keelan O’Connell and two trialists. Ndjoli made an immediate impact. The summer signing dragged his first effort wide of the far post, but showed resilience to burst back into the area moments later. This was eventually rewarded as he was dragged down on the right side of the area and awarded a penalty, which he stepped up to convert and level proceedings. The final ten minutes saw AFC Bournemouth create a number of chances to win the game. Ndoji and Whitfield caused plenty of hassle for the visiting defence and the latter was unfortunate to twice be denied a winner by the woodwork."
The Club have now posted something on the official site - well nothing really; just a few soundbites from Peter Grant. No team news! Only information of note is that Josh Walker got both of our goals. And a picture of this guy .. please log in to view this image ... who I don't recognise. Anybody got any clues?
For some reason this match has been cancelled. Source: http://www.barnetfc.com/news/article/2016-17/fulham-h-development-team-match-cancelled-3198318.aspx?
QPR 1 Fulham 2 (U21s) (Friendly) Not quite as emphatic a win as their younger brethren but we still keep on winning against our North Borough neighbours. Our goals came from Jerome Opoku and Elijah Adebayo. Here's a clip of Peter Grant talking about the game and more generally about the season ahead now that it will be at U23 level -
Southampton 1 Fulham 0 (U21s) (Friendly) Scott Malone gets a run out ... and the match report from the Club hardly gets up a head of steam. The team: Norman, Sheckleford, Malone, Smile, Davies, Kavanagh, de la Torre, Adeniran, Walker, Adebayo, Edun "Peter Grant’s side, which included the likes of Scott Malone to get valuable match fitness, fell behind on 12 minutes when Marcus Barnes headed in following a corner. Aron Davies looked for an equaliser midway through the half but his direct free-kick missed the target, and Sean Kavanagh went much closer after the restart when his set-piece was pushed behind by Saints goalkeeper Will Britt. Magnus Norman was then called into action at the other end, while Fulham had a late chance to equalise when an effort was cleared off the line."
Video highlights from the opposition - a few lessons tcould be learned by our media/comms lot if they watched it
Tottenham 4 Fulham 3 (U21s) (Friendly) Only detail I know at this time is that we equalised 6 minutes from the end and then in the 90th minute, they got the winner as one of our defender’s cannoned a header off the back of a team-mate and the ball went into the net. Hopefully the Club will post something.
