U18 Fixture list 2013 The new fixture list for the U18s has just been published. Key matches at this stage are : 16th January - FA Youth Cup 4th round away to Arsenal 19th January - 1st Elite League match away to Reading 26th January - 1st Elite home match v Man Utd (ko 11am at Motspur Park) . . 24-31 March - Dallas Cup. [This is a prestigious invitation only youth cup competition held annually in Dallas, Texas. The only other English club invited for the 2013 tournament are Man Utd - who were runners up to Coritiba last year. The clubs invited are - Aalborg BK (Denmark), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), Fulham FC (England), Manchester United (England), Fluminense FC (Brazil), Coritiba FC (Brazil), Tigres UANL (Mexico), Club America (Mexico), Kashiwa Reysol (Japan). To be invited is in itself a fantastic achievement by the U18s and the Club.] Here is a link to the full fixture list - http://www.fulhamfc.com/the-teams/u18s/u18-fixtures-201213
Fulham 5 Crystal Palace 2 (U21 Friendly) Albeit a friendly, a good win for the U21s this afternoon at Motspur Park. The scorers were; Lasse Vigen Christensen (2), Tom Donegan, Ryan Williams and Richard Peniket. Interestingly Jesse Jorenen, Corey Gameiro and captain Alec Smith all played and presumably are back from their respective loan spells with Dartford, Eindhoven and Leyton Orient. Here is a link to the match report from the Club - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/04/palace-u21s-result
Fulham 5 MK Dons 1 (U18 Friendly) A good win for the youngsters yesterday ahead of the FA Youth Cup tie against the Arsenal. Our goals came from Moussa Dembele, Cameron Burgess (x2), Cauley Woodrow and Lyle Della Verde. EDIT: The FA Youth Cup game against Arsenal is now to be on a re-arranged date because of their first team draw today against Swansea (that replay being scheduled for 16th January).
U21 Fixture List In the new arrangement the U21s are again matched with Chelsea. The other teams in the Group are; Aston Villa, Blackburn, Everton, Middlesborough and Sunderland. [No Liverpoool this time, thank goodness.] The first match is indeed away to Chelsea on 10th January and the first home match is : Monday 21st January v Blackburn Rovers (Motspur Park ko 8pm - open to season ticket holders) Here is the link to the full fixture list - http://www.fulhamfc.com/the-teams/u21s/u21-fixtures-201213
Here is a link to a video clip of the goals - the last one is especialy worth watching : http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/08/u18-highlights
And here is a link to a video clip of the goals in this match - the third is the best of the bunch : http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/08/u21s-highlights
Chelsea 2 Fulham 0 (U21 League) Interesting line-up tonight, in the first League game of the new season, with John Terry making an appearance for the Chelsea side. And Simon Davies returning for Fulham, in central midfield, The Fulham team was - Joronen; Christensen, Grimmer, Pritchard, Kavanagh; Smith, Davies; Williams R, Minkwitz, Altman; Dalla Valle An early mistake by Terry almost let LDV in but the goalie managed to smuggle the ball. The first half was pretty even with Chelsea having slightly the upper hand but Fulham kept there shape and were neat and tidy. The first real effort fell to Chelsea after twenty minutes but the shot was deflected for a corner. Twenty minutes later it was Fulham who made the break when, after a jinking run on the left by Davies, a vicious cross by Kavanagh should have been better anticipated by LDV. The fist half ended with honours even. Terry was replaced at half time (not having exerted himself or being pressed much to be honest) and Rafa left with him. The second started much the same, with the first chance falling to Chelsea after 10 minutes but the player ballooned it high. Five minutes later Altman cut inside and had a low shot well saved. On the hour a Chelsea through ball caught the Fulham defence flat and Joronen, trying to be the auxiliary centre half, miles off his line. The Chelsea man was able to pass the ball into the net from 30 yards to put his side 1-0 up. Ten minutes later Simon Davies came off to be replaced by new boy Chris David. Shortly after, Minky was replaced by Corey Gameiro. Chelsea added to their lead in the 72nd minute from the penalty spot - Kavanagh being a tad unlucky when a cross out on the left struck his arm to give away the penalty. Two minute from the end Islamovic replaced Altman (who never looked comfortable on the wing). Just before the final whistle Joronen made a fine save and Chelsea ran out deserving 2-0 winners. Simon Davies put in a few tackles but had a fairly uneventful 70 minutes, mainly tidying up in the middle and allowing young Minky to do the running ahead of him. He used his experience well in organising the youngsters around him. Smith though was quiet and did little forward running which meant Fulham posed little threat. It is difficult to form an opinion on Chris David; he looked determined and strong but saw little of the ball in his 20 minutes on the pitch. The unfortunate Kavanagh at left back was probably our best player and looked at ease on the ball. All four at the back played fine in fact.
The U18s are going great guns in the 5-a-side indoor tournament in Germany, which started on Thursday. They now have 3 wins and 1 draw to their credit. An article from the Club yesterday gave some background to the tournament and details of their first two wins. It mentions the key match against Hamburg - well the lads drew that 2-2 and then went on to beat the local side 1-0. Here is a link to yesterdays article - http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/11/vics-germany-update Brings back memories of the Evening Standard 5-a-side tournaments at Haringey in the 60s with Johnny Haynes and co. beating the best. Here's hoping the youngsters can do the same and bring back our first trophy of 2013.
Not to be unfortunately. The lads lost to Austria Vienna and consequently their group on goal difference. The AV team have gone through to the final.
Here a very edited video highlights - I think they are taken from Chelsea TV so even in edited form they are a bit one sided - [video=youtube;SomoEs1i-V4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SomoEs1i-V4[/video]
Thanks Cottager for these uodates. Cant wait to get back to watching our under 21/acadamy side. But it was confirmed what I said in an earlier thread,my admired goalkeeper Joronen does tend to go on walkabouts. if he can only be taught to position himself better, he could make himself our no 1.
The U18s FA Youth Cup tie due to be played tonight against Arsenal has been POSTPONED. The game has been (optimistically) re-scheduled for next Tuesday (22nd January) at Barnet FC's ground, ko 7pm. Meanwhile here is a little collage of pictures from their 5-a-side tournament in Germany. (Young Cauley Woodrow seems to feature a lot !) http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/17/u18s-in-germany
Sunderland 2 Fulham 2 (U21s) On a bitterly cold day in the North East, the U21s had a credible draw in their first match of the new league campaign. The team was - Somogyi; Brister, Kavanagh, Christensen, Grimmer; Burgess, Williams, Smith, Donegan; Dalla Valle and Altman Subs: Oberschmidt, Minkwitz, David, Islamovic, Gameiro The first half was much of a stalemate with Sunderland going ahead after 10 minutes with a goal from George Honeyman after a shot had been blocked and Lauri Dalla Valle equalising late on from the penalty spot. Fulham took the lead in the second when Tom Donegan chipped in from close range on the hour mark. The lads held out until 4 minutes from time when Laidler thumped home Sunderland’s second to tie the match.
FA Youth Cup (U18s) Arsenal 2 Fulham 1 (aet) In the oft-postponed FA Youth Cup 4th round tie at Barnetâs Underhill ground tonight the U21s were unlucky to lose out to Arsenal. The team was - Granger; Donnelly, Arthurworrey, Passley, Richards; Roberts, Sambou, Hyndman, Dembele; Tankovic, Woodrow Subs: Oberschmidt, O'Reilly, Evans, O'Halloran and Williams Both teams started nervously but a goal by Jeffrey after only 9 minutes settled the Arsenal. Fulham were restricted to breakaways with Moussa Dembele coming close with a shot from the edge of the box. Passley with fine block and Granger with an equally fine save kept Fulham in the game but on the half hour the team started to get their game together. Although both teams had chances the first half ended 1-0 to Arsenal. Fulham came out fighting and got the equaliser after only 5 minutes of the restart. Muamer Tankovic firing home after great work by Solomon Sambou. Only a few minutes later the two combined again to set up a chance for Jordan Evans, which he failed to take. Fulham were taking the game to Arsenal now and only a great tackle stopped Emerson Hyndman scoring. Liam Donelly was also unlucky with a header. Arsenal were still dangerous though as the game opened up - neither team wanting to go to extra time. With Pat Roberts controlling the midfield, and showing some flashes of attacking brilliance, Fulham remained the most likely to score; Cauley Woodrow nearly getting through on two occasions. Nonethless at the end of the 90 minutes it stayed âeven stevenâ Both teams started warily, trying to keep the ball. Fulham were still the tidier but the only chance in the first period fell to George Williams, who might have done better. At the whistle both sides looked exhausted and penalties were looming. Arsenal took the lead with a long range shot from Lipman early in the last period. And with only 3 minutes to go they had a goal disallowed. In a last gasp effort Stephen Arthurworrey nearly got the equaliser but it was not to be. The team will rue all the missed chances in the second half of normal time but what effort.
Cottager. Unfortunatlyhaving been away for the last couple of months , could not watch any reserve or acadamy matches,but have been reading your match reports. Apart from Joronen,who gained his first cap,and who I hope for great things, what are your views on my other 4 hopefulls Donigan, Handyman, Woodrow, & Roberts.
All four are top drawer in my view, rosc. If I had to pick one, it would be Pat Roberts. He had a blinder tonight. The lad's only 16 and he out thought, out ran and generally out played guys who regularly play for Arsenal's under 21 team. That U18 side is full of talent though.
Middlesborough 2 Fulham 2 (U21s) Haven't any details other than Cauley Woodrow scored in the first minute and Ryan Williams equalised five minutes from the end.
Fulham 5 Southampton 1 (18s) A terrific win for the talented youngsters in their first League match at home. The team was - Oberschmidt; Sheckleford, O'Reilly, Donnelly, Evans; Roberts, Hyndman, Sambou, Williams; Tankovic, Dembele Fulham started brightly and with the first chance of the game Pat Roberts beat his man only to hit the post with a swift shot. The side got lucky 5 minutes later though as the ball broke to the Saints striker in the box and he lashed past from 8 yards. In a very open game Liam Donnelly put a free header over, then in quick succession Moussa Dembele forced the first Fulham corner and followed by the first for the Saints. After 25 minutes the âTankâ cut the ball back for Pat Roberts to slide the ball inside the the bottom corner and put Fulham 1-0 up. The game then went quiet until 5 minutes before half time Muamer Tankovic burst forward and smashed a 20yard shot into the roof of the net, from a tight angle. Unfortunately just before half time Max Oberschmidt mis-judged a long cross allowing a Saints forward to poke the ball into an empty net. The team still had time to create a couple of chances but they went in with Fulham 2-1 up. Max made amends though with a brilliant point blank save from a Saints header from 5 yards minutes after the re-start. With Saints getting on top George Williams came off for Tom Richards and Jordan Evans moved into midfield. On the hour Moussa Dembele intercepted a short back pass only to be brought down by the keeper. Muamer Tankovic cooly sent the goalie the wrong way from the resulting penalty for his second and to put Fulham 3-1 ahead. Dean OâHalloran came on for Pat Roberts and Magnus Norman (good to see the young man get game time) for Max Oberschmidt. Magnus was only on for minutes before he brought off a great save and Saints were looking dangerous. However in a breakaway Sheckleford crossed a long ball for Moussa Dembele to head home from close in. Fulham 4-1. Jordan Evans then scored the goal of the match to make it 5-1.
The Tank and Dembele score for fun the academy don't they! I hope they can translate that into the senior squad at some point.
