Bit of an 'unsung' tour so far as the Club's publicity lot are concerned. However, terrific start for our U18s today, as they opened their Portugal tour with a 5-1 defeat of Vitoria Setubal - with George Williams scoring four! Pat Roberts got the other goal, and had two assists to boot. And the U21s didn't do too badly either. They had a 3-0 win against Sindicato Jogadores. Cauley Woodrow scored twice, with Ryan Williams scoring the other
Porto 0 Fulham 2 (U21s) The game was played yesterday. No details as yet - I guess when they get over all the Jacksonville excitement the Club will manage to post something.
Guimaraes 2 Fulham 2 (18s) So a draw this evening for the U18s in their final game of the tour in Northern Portugal. George Williams was on the score sheet again, with Moussa Dembele getting our other goal.
It's hard to judge, but they seem good results from the youngsters. My impression ( from Zeus knows where) is that the Iberian teams have had good youth programs for some time now, so to perform well against them = good progress. am I just being naïve ?
Your impression is correct. For example, Real Madrid has a youth system consisting of 13 levels to reach the senior side. And the beauty is that all these youth teams function in the same way as the senior club side and also play in the same kind of leagues designed for their specific ages. So, as the players move up the order they begin to gain the necessary exposure playing in competitive leagues rather than some meaningless reserve games that hold no importance. Players performing well in these youth leagues are then picked up by the regional football federations for representation. RFEF has 19 regional football federations and all these federations work in sync with the national and the club federations. All the players’ information is passed from the club level to the regional level and then to the national level in a detailed manner. If any player manages to impress at club level, he is called to play for his regional federation and if he further impresses, he then progresses to play at the national level. Spain churns out 100’s of footballers every year and we can imagine the kind of effort, the filtering and the competition these kids face to make it to the national youth side. The RFEF has divided its youth set up into two groups- Formation group and performing group. The U15, U16, U17 and U18 teams come under the formation group and U19, U20 and U21 come under the Performing groups. Each age group has a dedicated coach and an assistant and if the dedicated coach decides to move on, the assistant takes up his job with the coach in the next age group appointed as his assistant. This ensures the continuity of progress. And when the player has achieved success at U21 level, he is then graduated to the National A squad, which is the stepping stone to a place in the Spanish National team. The most important tool in this Spanish youth set up is the communication between different coaches. All youth coaches interact regularly with the club youth coaches finding new talent and then making sure that their talents are utilized to the optimum. Also, the biggest advantage is that these coaches follow the same pattern and coach in the same way laying emphasis on ball retention, ball control, use of ball in tight spaces, setting the pace of the game and the steps to take when they lose possession of the ball. Team values, discipline and compromise for the greater good of the team are highly valued and every player is made sure that he follows the same path. And this is quite evident in the senior team today. The players are also taught to improvise and are pushed to think when they play. The players are taught to make sure of the position of their team mates and their opposition on the pitch and then make their moves and utilize the spaces on the field. The players are asked not to depend on some luck but to create their own chance. It’s no exaggeration that all the Spanish teams from the youth level to the national team play the same brand of football so that if they needed to replace anyone in the senior squad, the federation would always have multiple options because they all play in the same way and their coaches have been coaching the same way. For example, a Cesc Fabregas can play in the role of Iniesta or Xavi and a Fernando Torres can replace David Villa to win the Euro and a Silva can replace Pedro to provide that extra creativity. The philosophy has paid dividends as nearly 80% of the players playing in the La Liga are eligible to play for the Spanish national team unlike only 40% in the English premier league. Since 1998 until their WC victory, Spanish youth teams from under-16 to under-21 level have won 19 UEFA and FIFA championships and have given players such as Fernando Torres, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos who have now become the spine of the current senior squad. Their style of play has only developed with more playing time and now the results are for everyone to see. This progress has been possible not only by focusing on developing more Spanish players and by making them more technically sound but also making sure that there are sufficient number of coaches to educate and instill the correct footballing philosophy. Apparently (according to the web, anyway), Spain had almost 15,000 UEFA A and Pro Licence coaches in 2008 – more than double the number of any other European nation. And that is despite it taking 750 study hours to acquire a Pro Licence in Spain, compared with just 245 in England; Germany follows with 6500 and England with only 1000. Since then, Spain have clinched the EURO and the FIFA WC and you can only imagine the number to grow. These coaches are trained to make sure that all the players play the same way and hold a common football philosophy so that when these players come together to play for the national team they can be on the same page and with the same ideas. A school level coach in Spain has the same qualification as the top division coach. The coaches undergo special training programs at national level where they reach a level so that they could be eligible to go to any country and coach any team. For years now, every nation had a distinct style of play attached to it. The RFEF has made sure that their coaches promote exactly the same style of football – the highly technical, possession-based game. Brazilians were considered the magicians while the Italians were considered to the masters at the art of defense. Now all this effort and success has finally managed to give Spain a distinct identity in the world of football.
Dino Islamovic scored both goals. The Club posted a brief report today - "Kit Symons’ side began their match strongly and twice went close to taking the lead within the opening 10 minutes, but the Porto goalkeeper was equal to efforts from both Ronny Minkwitz and Dino Islamovic. Islamovic wasn’t to be denied, though, and handed Fulham the advantage before half-time. He then doubled his and Fulham’s tally in the second period. Porto enjoyed a couple of decent spells of possession but lacked the cutting edge shown by the Whites as they held on to secure an impressive win." PS I'm almost certian that the U21s played 3 games in the Tour (and probably the U18s did as well) but I'm blowed if I can find out anything about the missing game.
It's pre-season friendlies rather than part of 'The Tour', but both our teams did well today: The U21s beat Celtic 2-0 at England's St George's Park. Marcelo Trotta got both of the goals. The U18s beat Charlton 5-1. The scorers were Moussa Dembele (2), George Williams and Jordan Evans (2)
As always (or so it seems) the only decent report comes from the away lot: "The unbeaten start to Charlton’s U18s’ pre-season campaign came to an abrupt halt on Saturday as they slipped to a heavy 5-1 defeat against Fulham. Some clinical finishing from the Cottagers put the game out of sight before the break, with Karlan Ahearne-Grant grabbing the Addicks’ consolation. The home side had started the game well, and threatened in and around the Fulham box thanks to some enterprising approach play. But the Cottagers broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, and added four more goals in a devastating 15-minute spell to take firm control. After a diagonal pass elude full-back Aaron Barnes, Fulham’s winger cut inside before drilling a low shot past Dimitar Mitov, and the Bulgarian would pick the ball out of the back of his net twice more in the next five minutes. After a slaloming run from the right from a visiting attacker, his cross was tapped in for 2-0 while a third arrived in route one fashion as a clearance from the keeper was flicked on for a striker to nip in and finish. The goal of the game came soon afterwards as the Fulham’s French centre-forward [Moussa Dembele] span away from Joe Gomez and curled home a superb shot and it was 5-0 on 35 minutes as possession was surrendered in midfield and the same player moved into space and shot home. The sixth goal of the half went Charlton’s way after Ahearne-Grant was shoved in the box and stepped up to fire home the subsequent penalty. The hosts improved after the break with the introduction of Terrell Thomas adding some defensive steel as they kept Fulham at bay. Despite being dominant in possession they couldn’t add to their tally as the scoreline remained the same. Head of coaching Steve Avory reflected: “Obviously it was a shock scoreline in the way it emerged and we had actually started the game in a very promising fashion. I have to say Fulham finished clinically, but it was how those chances came about that concerned us. They came about through some defending that was not to the standard we expect and it was quite surprising to see it unfold the way it did. It was a harsh lesson to the players to go five goals down within such a short space of time, but at least we recovered before half-time with the penalty. One of our messages at half-time was to ensure it didn’t happen again and above all keep a clean sheet. We managed to do through more solid defensive performance.” Source: http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130729-u18s-report-952805.aspx
It continues to surprise me that a multi-million pound organisation like a Premier League football club does not have a couple of full-time journalists to cover things like this. First rule of media is that you want to be in front of the story - control what is said about your club. Hire a couple of journalism graduates for £25k each, and manage your fan base. Anyways, more good news for our kids. Clinical finishing is something we could really use in our first team!
Fulham 3 Reading 3 (U21s) Fulham started brightly in the (behind-closed-doors) friendly match at Motspur Park this afternoon, and had the game’s first opportunity after only three minutes when Islamovic intercepted a loose pass before finding Captain Lasse Vigen Christensen who then fed Woodrow to his right. Unfortunately, though, the striker took a fraction too long to pull the trigger and his shot was well blocked. Islamovic then volleyed wide from distance, before Reading’s Shane Griffin slid a neat ball in between two white shirts to present Craig Tanner with a sight of goal, only for the forward to lash his effort wide. The Whites then took the lead with a well worked move as Vigen Christensen waited until the perfect moment to play in Dino Islamovic who had found space in the area. The big frontman then opened his body up and passed a left-footed effort first time beyond the goalkeeper and in off the far post. Reading responded immediately, though, as Ugwu got up higher than Stephen Arthurworrey to accurately head Sean Long’s delivery beyond Neil Etheridge. Tankovic then went close with two efforts, before Vigen Christensen chipped over the bar following excellent link-up play with both Woodrow and Islamovic. Reading took control as the half drew to a close, with Daniel O’Reilly needing to be alert to get in a crucial block as Jack Stacey shaped to shoot having been played in by Ugwu. . The second half began relatively slowly but Fulham reclaimed their advantage shortly before the hour mark. The marauding Vigen Christensen was bodychecked 25 yards from goal and, after Tankovic’s free-kick had struck the wall, please log in to view this image Dino Islamovic was on hand to slam home from distance into the bottom corner, for his double. Again, the lead was short lived as a mix-up in the Fulham defence resulted in a Muamer Tankovic own goal. A harmless ball across the face of goal was intercepted by the Swede who attempted to shepherd it back to Etheridge, but the goalkeeper had left his six-yard box to claim the ball himself. The pair then watched agonisingly as it trickled into the back of the net via the post. Neil Etheridge then had to be on hand to palm Aaron Kuhl’s dipping free-kick to safety, while at the other end Arthurworrey nodded narrowly wide of the far post after connecting with substitute Sean Kavanagh’s corner. With the match entering its final stages, things were really opening up and Reading took the lead for the first time following a slick counter attack that culminated in Ugwu lashing an unstoppable strike past Etheridge in the 77th minute. But, just like their hosts, Reading could not remain in the ascendency as Charles Banya caused havoc inside their penalty area before finding Cauley Woodrow who maintained his composure to prod home the equaliser, in what was the last meaningful act of the contest.
Fulham 3 Bristol Rovers 1 (18s) [No team line-up is given but there are a few new names (my italics) in this report from the Club] "The game started badly for Fulham as Conor Lemonheigh-Evans broke through the defence inside a minute to force a great stop with his feet from goalkeeper Marek Rodak, then Cameron Burgess gave the ball away to the Bristol striker again only to see Rodak save the day once more. Bristol’s players were pressing all over the pitch and putting us under a lot of pressure. Another defensive slip let Joe Morrell free and his pass saw a lob from Tom Fry kept out by the retreating Elijah Adebayo on the line. Rodak was at it again in the 12th minute as Pierce Mitchell flicked the ball on from a corner, and produced a wonderful diving stop to tip the ball round the post. The game began to settle down after Rodak’s heroics and Fulham started to find a foothold. Adebayo’s pace was needed to snuff out the threat of a counter-attack but then Bristol made us pay for another error. This time it was Ryheem Sheckleford who gave the ball away and Jamie Horgan burst through to receive Fry’s pass and slot home into the bottom corner. Fulham regrouped and Mekhi McLeod was released down the left flank but the winger cut inside and was closed out by defenders. Shane Elworthy’s tame shot was then saved, but it looked like the Whites might get back into it before the break. Rodak produced a comfortable save from a Bristol free-kick, then we got our equaliser as a trialist's shot found the bottom corner. Just ahead of the break, McLeod broke away and tried a shot himself, but it was easily saved. During half-time, Elworthy was taken off and McDonald came on, with the excellent Rodak also replaced by Magnus Norman between the posts. Wes McDonald did not take long to make his mark as he arrived running into the box and his cool finish low down beat the goalkeeper to put us ahead. Fulham were buzzing and McLeod’s run from inside his own half soon after saw the ball squared in the box and Bristol goalkeeper Jojo Wallocott pulled off a fine stop from close range. McDonald tested the stopper moments later from 30 yards, but found him strong enough to tip the effort round the post. Bristol were still proving dangerous on the counter and a high swung in ball from Morrell found Tyson Pollard free at the back post but Norman was able to easily gather. Fulham then extended our lead on 60 minutes as a cross low into the area saw Wallocott push the ball back out into danger and Wes McDonald was there to control, turn and hit it into the corner of the net. At 3-1 up, Fulham continued to pressure as the game wore on and two corners saw us given another chance to break through: first the ball in was headed out from underneath the bar; the second found the head of Adebayo but the powerful effort flew wide. The remaining minutes saw one shot dragged inches past the post, then McDonald almost grabbed a hat-trick as he found space in the box but was unable to find the target after he beat two men."
Nice to see a bunch of the U18s joining back up at u21 level - let's hope that they can replicate their success in the older age group. A name that we seldom comment on here, but a lad that has impressed me for a while is Steven Arthurworrey. He is so mature and seems a good reader of play and a natural leader on the pitch. Quiet, no fuss, effective. He's also effing enormous for a youngster - when will he stop growing? The only weakness I've spotted is that although he is nicely mobile and a good reader, he seems a bit slow in a straight line (though this may be just the illusion of his very long legs not needing a rapid cadence). I have high hopes for the lad.
Dartford 1 Fulham 1 (U21s) Freddy Plumain made his debut. The starting line-up was: Bettinelli Brister Grimmer Kavanagh Arthurworry Christensen Tankovic David Plumain Frei Trotta Marcello Trotta put Fulham ahead on the half hour but Dartford equalised before half time. Despite good efforts by Frei there was no further scoring. By all accounts Freddy was lively and skillful on the wing. Stephen Arthurworry was commanding at the back but Chris David was Fulham's MOTM and very creative in midfield.
Fulham 1 Notts Forest 0 (U18s) At Motspur Park earlier today the U18s took a 10th minute lead courtesy of a Moussa Dembele goal but couldn't break down an organised Forest defence after that. No team details unfortunately.
I hadn't realised that our very own Gary Brazil was in charge of the Notts Forest Academy. please log in to view this image Considering the managers he played under when with us (Alan Dicks, Don McKay, Ian Branfoot) he didn't do too badly. A midfielder turned striker, his best spell was during McKay's spell when he scored 38 goals in 120 matches.
Here is a (slightly) more detailed account, with an amusing local flavour - “DARTFORD’S final pre-season workout at Princes Park produced an entertaining encounter against a Fulham outfit which included former Darts loanee keeper Marcus Bettenilli. It wouldn’t be a Darts pre-season game unless there was some shirt number confusion. On this occasion Alan Julian was listed as number one on the teamsheet but had 29 on his jersey. It was noticeably cooler at Princes Park for Saturday’s visit by the Cottagers, with fluffy clouds taking up more than half the sky. But where the sun shone through it did so brightly. Supporters are getting used to the organisational abilities of Adam Birchall who, again, orchestrated Darts in attack and it was good to see Danny Harris back to his speedy best. Hosts Dartford had a slight edge for the first hour and tested Bettinelli more than once, so it was against the run of play when Fulham took the lead just before the half hour through Marcello Trotta. But it was all square before the break as Lee Noble got into space long enough to score a typical one of his goals. please log in to view this image Marcus Bettinelli is beaten by Lee Noble’s shot The second half saw the customary flurry of substitutions as Fulham applied more pressure, at one time forcing a brace of excellent saves from Alan Julian whose performance was deservedly awarded the man of the match accolade.” Source: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/10592289._/
Notts Forest 2 Fulham 3 (U21s) Two goals in final 3 minutes secure win for Fulham The team was: 1. Bettinelli, 2. Brister, 3. Kavanagh, 4. Vigen Christensen, 5. Arthurworrey, 6. O'Reilly, 7. Plumain, 8. Minkwitz, 9. Woodrow, 10. Tankovic, 11. Banya Subs: 12. Oberschmidt, 14. Buatu, 15. Richards, 16. Della Verde, 17. Grimmer “In the first half, the Whites lacked the intensity they had shown in previous games over the summer, which resulted in Forest taking the lead, although Cauley Woodrow responded just before the interval. Fulham flew out of the blocks in the second period and put in a much more lively display, only to see the home side take the lead in the 87th minute. Kit Symons’ boys didn’t let their heads drop, though, as two well-taken strikes from Lasse Vigen Christensen please log in to view this image ensured their final friendly game ahead of the weekend’s season opener at Manchester City ended with a win. “The first half really wasn’t good enough and I let the boys know that, as I do,” Kit told fulhamfc.com after the game. “But the second half was miles better and we showed great spirit to come back. It looked as though I’d be preparing my post-match team talk for a 2-1 defeat, when in fact we ended up winning the game.” “It was a good way to finish our pre-season campaign. We’ve gone the entire summer unbeaten and everyone is looking fit and in really good condition. They’ve all had some decent game time and now it’s about taking all our hard work over recent weeks and putting in a strong performance against Man City on Sunday.”
