The top team watched on as a Fulham XI beat Crystal Palace U21s 1-0 this afternoon. please log in to view this image {No Billy Mac??} The players involved were: Stockdale (Etheridge 46); Riether (Passley 46), Grimmer, Amorebieta (Arthurworrey 59), Richardson (Riise 46); Duff (Richards 59), Boateng, Parker (Minkwitz 59), Plumain (Na Bangna 46); Taarabt (Della Verde 84); Bent (Dembele 59) ”The Whites enjoyed the better of the play throughout, but a solitary strike from Adel Taarabt proved to the only difference between the sides at the bitterly crowd Training Ground, with Palace, too, naming a strong side. It was 18 minutes before either side mustered an attempt on goal, but Taarabt’s long-range effort was easily blocked after the ball had fallen kindly into his path following a ricochet off the referee. Two minutes later Palace had a glorious chance to open the scoring but David Stockdale read Kevin Phillips’ cutback to claim the ball. Ange-Freddy Plumain cut inside with 24 minutes on the clock and tried to bend one towards the far post but, unfortunately, his right-footed effort didn’t quite have enough curl and it whistled just wide. A brilliant Phillips shot rattled the crossbar on the half-hour mark, although Stockdale may have got fingertips on the ball, and Taarabt smashed a powerful effort wide at the other end shortly after. Neat skill from Plumain in the 32nd minute saw him leave two Palace defenders for dead – his cutback was met by Damien Duff but, under pressure from a recovering defender, the Irishman’s shot flew over. The Whites weren’t to be denied for long, though, as a quick one-two with Darren Bent culminated in Adel Taarabt advancing into the area and poking an accurate effort inside the far post. A cynical challenge by Jack Grimmer presented the Eagles with a free-kick 20 yards from goal in the 41st minute, but Dwight Gayle’s set-piece was straight at Stockdale who saved comfortably. Jonathan Parr then fizzed a low effort across goal that skimmed the post before heading out of play. Jimmy Kebe saw a shot deflect over the bar three minutes after the restart but the subsequent corner came to nothing, despite Fulham taking a little while to clear their lines. Taarabt then had two efforts from range in close succession; the first flew miles over the bar but the second went agonisingly wide of the far post. The game had opened up in the second period and a swift counter attack involving Bent, Taarabt and Buomesca Tué Na Bangna saw the latter presented with a shooting opportunity from 25 yards out, but his dipping effort was never troubling the goalkeeper. Moussa Dembele had the ball in the back of the net with 69 minutes gone following another swift counter but he’d strayed marginally offside prior to tucking in Na Bangna’s low cross. And the striker was in the thick of the action again four minutes later. A fine ball was played out to the left from Taarabt which found John Arne Riise, who cut it back for Dembele. The striker opened his body up well to place one goalwards but a Palace head intervened and deflected it over for a corner. A great last-ditch sliding challenge from Stephen Arthurworrey was required as Kebe looked set to burst clean through in the 86th minute, and Neil Etheridge had to come out quickly to smother Jerome’s effort shortly after as the visitors finished the game strongly. They couldn’t breach the Whites backline, though, as Fulham held firm to keep a clean sheet."
A few positives to take from this: Players not involved in International football keeping their match-fitness up, Rene got to see some of the lads in action (especially the younger ones), younger players integrating with the senior lads as had been discussed in another thread, Dembele certainly looks to be making an impression!
Was waiting to see who exactly had gone on International duty. They were: Stekelenburg , Senderos , Hughes , Zverotic , Kasami , Kaca , Karagounis and Dejegah Brede and Hugo are injured so that just leaves Bryan, Sidwell and Berbatov who didn't get a run out yesterday. Since Bryan didn't get an internation call up, I assume his bad back is still playing up and that's why he didn't play. One thing you can say about Sidwell is that he's fit so wouldn't need the run out. Whereas Boateng certainly does and was given the full 90. I suppose Sidwell could have come on for Parker but I'm actually really pleased that Ronny Minkwitz was given the chance instead. So, I'm assuming that accounts for Sidwell not playing as well. Which just leaves Berbatov ??
The video of Adel Taarabt's goal: [video=youtube;8NwbFqSX7J4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NwbFqSX7J4&feature=player_embedded[/video] Pretty debable to call rhar an assist by Bent (as the Club did) but a well taken goal, although it confirms what has been said about Adel only having only one thought in his mind.
