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U23 (PL2) Team - Season 2018/19

Discussion in 'Fulham' started by Cottager58, Jul 26, 2018.

  1. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fixtures for the new season are out. Looks like the lads will now have a Friday night (instead of Monday) as their regular game time, which is good since likely to get a bigger turnout and more youngsters among them.

    The first match is a sort of biggie, v Man Utd on August 10th at Motspur Park. Here's a link to the full fixture list:

    http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/26/pl2-fixtures-announced
     
    #1
  2. kunye

    kunye Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 2 Brighton 1
    Reports said it was a good game with us just edging it
     
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  3. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 2 Man Utd 2 (PL2)

    Good, competitive game played at tempo. The team was:

    Norman, Jenz (Drameh 67'), Davies, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith, Kait, O’Riley, Francois, Thompson (Harris 72'), Woodrow, Thorsteinsson.

    Unused Subs: Stahl, Opoku and Carvalho

    Relegated from last season, United had slightly the better of the first half; our midfield couldn't get tight enough and they used the wings well, with our FBs looking to go forward. Their opener was typical of this play, although it came from a defensive lapse when the cross was met by their little No 11 unmarked and slap bang in front of the goal. Five minutes before half time we got the equaliser however. A wicked free kick by Matt O'Riley (you guessed it with that left boot) was met by a determined Aron Davies and thumped into the United net.

    Second half the whole team showed Aron's gutsyness from the off. But we went behind again from a really sharp bit of United play (No 11 again, this time making the killer pass). We really should have been on level terms after that, and indeed ahead, but Cauley Woodrow missed 3 sitters; two from inside the 6 yard box and one when he was clean through. Equalise we did though when our other CB Rob Atkinson nodded home after a corner from Matt O'Riley was headed back across his own goal by a United player.

    The 6 minutes of extra time were manic with both teams going for the winner but a draw was probably a fair result.

    Thought Aron Davies was outstanding and a true captain, Matt O'Riley (second half) showed quality, young Tyrese Francois was energetic and showed vision but perhaps not quite sharp enough in his passing and another 18 year old Jaydn Mundle-Smith a right driving force down the left. He wasn't MOTM but Cameron Thompson was the one who caught my eye. Still has some rough edges and needs a tad more composure but before he came off injured, he did enough to demonstrate that he'll have no problem in stepping up the age group. A plaudit also for the main playing area at Motspur Park, which looks like a proper little stadium. And could wrong here, but pretty sure Steve Wigley (rather than Peter Grant) was in charge tonight which might explain our extra effort in the second half.

     
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  4. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Middlesbrough 4 Fulham 3 (PL2)

    Bit of a ding dong match.

    Old Fulham boy Djed Spence, who signed for Boro in the summer, won a penalty for them inside the first minute - Luca Ashby-Hammond was unlucky not to pull off one of his landmark saves. The lads hit back though with goals from Moritz Jenz ( following another of those wicked Matt O'Riley free kicks which the keeper could only parry) and Cameron Thompson (of course) to go in 2-1 at half time. Jayden Harris put the team 3-1 ahead early in the second.

    Boro got one back two minutes later though and then really had their tails up. Suffice to say they piled it on and took all three points. Possibly the lads missed the leadership of Aron Davies in the final quarter of an hour but over the piece can take a fair few positives. Little curio tidbit - the two Ashby-Hammonds were in the squad but of course being goalkeepers the brothers couldn't both play. The team was:

    L. Ashby-Hammond; Drameh, Jenz, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith; O'Riley, Harris; Hilton, Francois, Thorsteinsson; Thompson

    Unused subs: T. Ashby-Hammond, Davies, Tiehi, Kelly and Carvalho
     
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  5. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    The U23s have been drawn in Group G against Reading, Birmingham City and Colchester United in the Premier League Cup. The lads play each side home and away, with the top two teams progressing to the knockout stage.
     
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  6. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Peter Grant has gone. Not at all surprised by this and indeed happy it's happened.


    "Fulham Football Club has today announced the departure of Senior Professional Development Coach, Peter Grant.

    Peter leaves the Club after four years, having joined in the summer of 2014, initially as First Team Coach. Following the departure of Felix Magath that year, Grant’s role changed to Senior Professional Development Coach where he worked closely with the Academy as well as overseeing the Club’s Under-23s team. Prior to this role, Peter also presided over the First Team in a caretaker capacity in November 2015 for three matches.

    The Club would like to thank Peter for his hard work and commitment during his time at Fulham. Peter made a significant contribution to the Club’s success. He will always be welcome at Fulham and we wish him all the very best for the future
    ."
     
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  7. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Aston Villa 2 Fulham 1 (PL2)

    Still no wins for the lads. Not that their form is poor, rather it seems it's the missed chances. The one that was taken this afternoon was by Jayden Harris with a tap in from a Cameron Thompson assist. The team was:

    Ashby-Hammond; Jenz (Abraham 85'), Davies, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith; O'Riley (Carvalho 79'), Francois; Hilton (Drameh 61'), Harris, Thorsteinsson; Thompson

    Unused subs: Stahl and Opoku


    Link to the Club reporter's account: http://www.fulhamfc.com/pl2/2018_2019/league/away/aston-villa
     
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  8. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 1 Southampton 1 (PL2)

    This game at the Cottage went completely under the radar, for me anyway. There's also conflicting reports as to who got our goal - the official site says Aron Davies, the USMNT site says Luca de la Torre. Since the Club says it was from "a delightful Mat O'Riley free kick", I'll go for that.and Aron.

    Great to see Jerome Opoku back, after being out with injury for a fair while.The team was:

    T. Ashby-Hammond; Opoku (Atkinson 87'), Jenz, Davies; Dramah, de la Torre (Carvalho 67'), Harris, O'Riley, Mundle-Smith; Francois; Thompson

    Unused subs: Stahl, Kelly and Abraham


    Link to yet another very brief account from our Club reporter: http://www.fulhamfc.com/pl2/2018_2019/league/home/southampton
     
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  9. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 1 Wolves 0 (PL2)

    Marvellous start for new U23 boss Mark Pembridge, as the lads get their first win of the season against table topping Wolves. The winner came from a cool penalty by Matt O'Riley, sending the keeper the wrong way as that left foot slotted the ball into the opposite corner of the net, after only 5 minutes.

    Fulham had their best spell in the first 15 minutes before the game settled into an entertaining rhythm, if you like possession football. And that from both teams who were very similar in style. Cody Drameh at RB impressed but it was a very deep lying O'Riley who ran the show for us.

    upload_2018-9-14_21-43-8.png


    Second half we started brightly but from 5 minutes in it was all Wolves. Only a resolute defence - and the cross bar - kept them out. To a man our lads were totally committed and gosh knows how many blocks were made in and around our box. Little observation here. Doubt if there's been a taller Fulham Academy side - the current lot, at the back and in midfield are huge. Nor will there have been more player whose natural position is CB as there were on the field at full time.

    In fairness, Wolves deserved something from the game. First half, the penalty award was pretty soft and they hit the bar for the first time shortly after that was given. Second half, as said, was all them apart from one grand burst from Abraham, saved by their keeper. Thanks to sheer effort and strength we hung on though and got the points, so well done the Lads. The team was:


    L. Ashby-Hammond; Drameh, Davies, Opoku, Mundle-Smith; O'Riley (Abraham 72'); Jenz, Harris; de la Torre (Carvahlo 77'), Francois; Cameron (Atkinson 82')

    Unused subs: Stahl and Kelly


     
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  10. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Stoke 1 Fulham 1 (PL2)

    Who'd want to got to Stoke's Bet365 Stadium on a windy, cold Monday night? Well, in a fairly uneventful first half, not many. The only real chance fell to Cameron Thompson. He beat their keeper to a through ball but put wide from a tight angle. Things hotted up in the second though and the lads had a storming last 15 minutes after going one down. They had to wait till the death for the equaliser however. It came from captain Aron Davies who diverted a Sonny Hilton shot into the roof of the net.

    Good to see Nicolas Santos-Clase - funnily enough was wondering at the weekend where he was - back on the scene. Also that Ben Davis is still with us rather than doing National Service elsewhere. The team was:

    L. Ashby-Hammond; Jenz (Kelly 73'), Atkinson, Opoku, Drameh; Davies; Francois, Harris, Mundle-Smith (Santos-Clase 60') ; Carvalho (Hilton 83'), Thompson

    Unused subs: Stahl and Davis



     
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  11. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Newcastle 5 Fulham 2 (PL2)

    Cold and drizzly evening which kind of sums up our first half play as well. The lads had the bulk of possession in the first half hour but it was all ' huff and puff ' with no real chances created. Jayden Harris and Cameron Thompson making a hash of the only real chances. Then Newcastle got two in 4 minutes - the second being a real bummer. The shot skimming off the surface and the ball somehow going in at the far corner.

    Newcastle not only finished the half well on top, they started the second similarly and got a third goal after only 5 minutes in. It was another fluke though - this time the shot was deflected off Atkinson and the ball trundled into the net.


    But then the tables turned and the lads were on a charge, Aron Davies had a great shot saved and a header cleared off the line before Jayden Harris got our first in a goal mouth scramble. Within 5 minutes he got his own, and our second, with a rasping shot. The pressure was leaving us exposed though and sure enough they grabbed a fourth in a breakaway movement and shortly after an almost replica move made it 5-2.

    Not our best performance over the 90 minutes, by a fair way, but no way does the scoreline reflect the game. The team was:

    T. Ashby-Hammond; Jenz (Drameh 45'), Davies, Atkinson, Opoku (Mundle-Smith 68'); O'Riley; Harris, de la Torre, Francois; Thompson, Carvalho (Santos-Clase 45')

    Unused subs
    : L. Ashby-Hammond and Kelly
     
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  12. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Birmingham 1 Fulham 2 (PL Cup)

    The lads do love the Cup. And 'promoted' Harvey Elliott scores his first for the U23s. Luca de la Torre got the other. Looks a more balanced side than we've seen recently as well:

    T. Ashby-Hammond; Drameh, Davies, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith (Opoku 69'); O'Riley; Harris; De La Torre; Elliott, Thompson, Francois

    Unused subs: Stahl, Jenz, Kelly and Santos-Clase

    Here a link to the Club reporter's full account: http://www.fulhamfc.com/pl2/2018_2019/premier-league-cup/away/birmingham-city


    PS Can't wait for the highlights to see "Matt O'Riley's acrobatic goal line clearance".
     
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  13. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 0 West Brom 3 (PL2)

    How can you have 99% possession and lose 3-0? Not marking your man in the box for one. Poor crosses for a second. Too frequently playing as if it was a training session for another. Ring any bells?

    There's also a clue in the starting line up, so will go straight to that:

    T. Ashby-Hammond; S. Sessegnon, Davis, Atkinson, Drameh; O'Riley, Cisse; de la Torre, Francois, Harris; Thompson

    Understand giving Ibrahima Cisse a run out and to be fair his attitude in dropping down to the U23s was fine. However, pairing him fairly deep with Matt O'Riley (who was pushed to the right side) didn't work and there was no proper link with those in front of them. Cisse was also mainly responsible for the all important second goal, losing the ball just outside our box. Not that all our problems rested there by any means. The CBs 'lost' there man three times and plaudits to West Brom for the clinical finishing that followed. The three offensive midfielders were full of tricks and initial slick passing but invariably ended up running into trouble. As said, loads of possession but mostly huff and puff stuff, with very few threats on the opposition goal.

    There were a couple of highlights nonetheless. Loved the strength of Cameron Thompson and the way he ran the channels but too often, especially in the first half, he was up there on his own. And, coming on as a late sub (in the 78th minute for Jayden Harris) Harvey Elliott was a right live wire and was unlucky when a cracking shot thumped off the cross bar.

    For the record, Nicolas Santos-Clase also came on in the 78th minute, for Cameron Thompson. And Jaydn Mundle-Smith in the 58th minute for Cody Drameh, who went off injured.




     
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  14. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Norwich 0 Fulham 4 (PL2)

    A few wee changes at the back and up front from the last game but the same 4-1-3-2 formation:

    L. Ashby-Hammond; Drameh, Davies (Jenz 69'), Opoku, Mundle-Smith; Cisse; Francois, O'Riley, Harris; Santos-Clase (Carvahlo 78'), Thompson

    Unused subs: T. Ashby-Hammond, Atkinson and Kelly

    But what a huge change in the way the lads played at Carrow Road tonight. Although the first half was fairly even we were always on top. The opening goal came just after the half hour with a marvellous move; O'Riley played the ball out wide to Mundle-Smith whose low cross was converted at the far post by Cameron Thompson. Then on 40 minutes it was Matt O'Riley who swept the ball home after another great cross from Mundle-Smith, which the Norwich goalie could only parry.


    Second half we went into 'game management' mode and picked Norwich off at will. On the hour Cody Drameh lobbed the stricken goalie wonderfully to make it 3-0 and no, it wasn't an intended cross but a great bit of thinking by the youngster when he saw McKracken off his line. Ten minutes from the end, with the rain chucking it down, Cameron Thompson rounded the game off with his second. And what a beauty - inside the penalty box our 'pocket goal scorer' jinxed past two of theirs before side-stepping the keeper and slotting home.

    Well done the lads.
     
    #14
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2018
  15. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Proof indeed ...

     
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  16. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 2 Sunderland 0 (PL2)

    Another clean sheet for the lads. And what a superb demonstration of ball control and sharp passing. The game was all but over inside the first quarter with two stunning goals. The first swept in from 12 yards by Jayden Harris (his fifth of the season) from a cross by Steven Sessegnon and the second a smashing (literally) volley by defender Moritz Jenz directly from a corner kick on the left side by Matt O'Riley.

    There were a couple of changes to the starting line up from the last game - the most surprising being Steven Sessegnon (who I thought might stay with the first team squad for Monday night) replacing Cody Drameh (who had a great game and that wonder goal against Norwich).

    T. Ashby-Hammond; S. Sessegnon, Davies, Jenz, Mundle-Smith; Francois, Cisse; Harris (Santos-Clase 68'), O'Riley (Kelly 75'), De La Torre; Thompson

    Unused subs: L. Ashby - Hammond, Atkinson and Drameh

    The 'old man' of the team (although I'd forgotten he's only 24) was a powerhouse in central midfield. Mainly defensive but he got forward for a fair few shots; especially a rasper in the second half which skimmed the cross bar. Matt O'Riley, playing much further forward than usual, was as ever pivotal in our controlling the game and using that left foot to create openings. I mention Matt not because he's a favourite here or because he was MOTM - every one of the lads could have had a shout for that - but because he was my second surprise of the night. And that was because Tyrese Francois played where I'd expected Matt to be; deeper in midfield. Tyrese saw an awful lot of the ball and showed great skill but ... he didn't actually create too much. Got to assume this was a tactical change by Mark Pembridge.

    Anyway enough of me speculating again. They were all terrific !!!
     
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  17. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 5 Colchester 0 (PL Cup)

    Stunning victory for the lads and no doubting who was MOTM

    upload_2018-11-10_15-12-2.png


    Yup, Matt O'Riley but more of that in a sec. Boss Pembridge made 5 changes - not totally surprising since the guys had played 3 games in 8 days before this one. Crucially however, he stayed with Tyrese Francois playing deep and Matt much further forward. The team was:

    L Ashby-Hammond; Jenz, Davies, Opoku, Atkinson; Harris (Frei 58'), Francois, Kelly; O'Riley; Santos-Clase, Thompson

    Unused subs: T Ashby-Hammond and Mundle-Smith

    The game was kicked off by ... Matt O'Riley. Ten minutes in and Cameron Thompson took a pass from Chris Kelly, turned his man and thumped the ball home. Twenty minutes later a beautiful through pass from ... Matt O'Riley ... sent Rob Atkinson free and his pass was slotted home by Nicolas Santos-Clase. There were more chances with ... Matt O'Riley ... and Cameron Thompson combining well. Then on half time our hero struck for the first time; pouncing on a saved shot Matt O'Riley tapped the ball into the net.

    With the game all but over the lads played the second half tidily, leaving it to ... Matt O'Riley .. to deliver the finishing touches. After a long run he was brought down just outside the box and taking the free kick himself, Matt O'Riley's left foot popped the ball into the far corner of the net. That was 5 minutes after the re-start and quarter of an hour later Matt O'Riley rounded off the afternoon with his hat trick. A delightful chip over their goalkeeper.

    Great performance by all the team but you've guessed it, the man who made it an exceptional one was ... Matt O'Riley.

     
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  18. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Reading 3 Fulham 0 (PL2)

    Despite a great display by goalie Lucas Ashby-Hammond the run of clean sheets came to an end tonight. Truth be told, table topping Reading were just too strong throughout the game.

    Team boss Mark Pembridge brought Cody Drameh and Harvey Elliott back in to the side:


    T. Ashby-Hammond; Drameh, Davies, Jenz, Mundle-Smith; Francois, Harris, O'Riley; Elliott, Santos-Clase (Carvalho 45'), Thompson

    Unused subs
    : Stahl, Atkinson, Kelly and Davis
     
    #18
  19. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Reading 2 Fulham 1 (PL Cup)

    A bit like the U18s in their games against Arsenal, the U23s faced Reading at theirs within a couple of weeks. And what a different performance. The lads more than held their own in the first half and indeed had the best chances; both created by Matt O'Riley ...

    upload_2018-12-3_22-6-45.png

    .... when he played Nicolas Santos-Clase in and the popped a corner on the head of Aron Davies. Matt had a go himself but that one was high and wide.

    The second was decided on good and bad fortune. Reading scored twice from deflections and we hit the post twice. Ten minutes from the end Nicolas Santos-Clase toe poked the ball home to get us back in the game. The lads really fought for the equaliser but not to be. The result puts Reading at the top of Group G. However, still plenty of games to go.

    The team was:

    Ashby-Hammond; Sessegnon, Davies, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith; Francois, Harris; Kelly (Carvalho 74'), O'Riley, De La Torre; Santos-Clase

    Unused subs: Stahl, Jenz, Davis and McAvoy
     
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  20. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    Fulham 1 Stoke 1 (PL2)

    Same scoreline and similar game as the one at theirs back in September. Nicolas Santos-Clase put us ahead just after half time when he cottoned on to a poor back pass. Great to see young George Wickens standing up well in goal. The team was:

    .
    Wickens; Jenz, Davies, Atkinson, Mundle-Smith; Francois, Harris; Kelly (Thompson 75'), O'Riley, De La Torre; Santos-Clase

    Unused subs: Stahl, Opoku and De Havilland
     
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