Fulham 0 Arsenal 0 (U21s) Dembele Makes Debut No Jack Grimmer or Alex Brister (were at Motspur Park and not obviously injured??) but great to see Moussa Dembele being promoted to the U21s. Arsenal made a number of changes with a lot of players having been called up to their first team last night. The Fulham team was: Joronen, Passley, Arthurworrey, Kavanagh, OâReilly. Minkwitz, Christensen, David, Mesca, Dembele, Richards Subs: Norman, Tankovic, Plumain, Buatu, Islamovic Fulham pressed right from the star and Moussa Dembeleâs first chance came after only 3 minutes, but his close range shot was blocked. Arsenal started to get control and midfield though and could have gone ahead in the 10th minute after an almighty scramble in the our six yard area. While they stayed on top for most of the half, their efforts were kept to long range. In the final five minutes it was Fulham that had the chances - Dembele glanced a header just wide from a terrific cross by Josh Passley; Richards blasted a shot over when he might have played it inside to an unmarked Moussa; only a great tackle stopped Josh Passley getting in a clear shot. So it ended 0-0 at half time. The second started well with Chris David creating a couple of chances for himself but his finishing was a bit weak. Then Mesca went on a mazy run but his shot was well saved by the Arsenal goalie. Then Moussa beat two players but his strong shot was again well saved. The Tank came on for Ronny Minkwitz on the hour and nearly scored straight off - Moussa put him through but he blasted over. Fulham were really having a go now and only Martinez in the Arsenal goal was keeping them out. He made a fantastic save from a Moussa header after another terrific Passley cross. Then he made two more great saves from shots by Lasse Christensen and Passley. Freddy Plumain came on for Tom Richards with 10 minutes to go. Fulham continued in charge and Danny OâReilly headed over from a corner 5 minutes from the end. An overhead kick from The Tank was again brilliantly saved by Martinez and yet another header from Moussa, this time from a Freddy Plumain cross, went just over. Fair play to Arsenal in the first half but it was one way traffic in the second and goodness knows how we didnât score - well we do know in fact, it was entirely down to the Arsenal keeper. Well played the lads though.
Here are video highlights of some of our chances - oooh Moussa how did you miss that header in the final minute?? Interesting to see how many players we get forward and in the box though! [video=youtube;DPLBulBB_AY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPLBulBB_AY&feature=player_embedded[/video] The U21s are currently on a trip to Indonesia and the Philippines. Their next League fixture is against Necastle on Friday 18th October, kick off 7pm at Craven Cottage.
In their first game the U21s went down 2-0 to an Indonesian All Stars XI - in front of a crowd of 25,000 !! please log in to view this image
Confidence booster for the U21s "Fulham Under-21s rounded off their brief tour of Asia with a resounding 7-0 win over Woodlands Wellington at the Jelan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Friday. The Whites, who lost 2-0 to Indonesia Under-21s on Tuesday, thumped Wellington – a side currently fourth in Singapore’s top division. Lyle Della Verde and Dino Islamovic both scored twice, with Mananga Jonathan Buatu, Lasse Vigen Christensen and Ange-Freddy Plumain completing the rout. Kit Symons said: “The boys worked hard in hot conditions with 80 per cent humidity to bring a productive end to our stay. As well as experiencing different styles of football, the boys have had a tremendous life experience and it has been great for their learning and development. Despite the loss on Tuesday, the game was watched on television by 19 per cent of the viewing public." I’ve been delighted with the way my little soldiers have conducted themselves off the pitch and they’ve been excellent ambassadors for Fulham.” please log in to view this image
Fulham 2 Newcastle 2 (U21s) Here is a video of all the goals including Moussa Dembele's marvellous double: [video=youtube;l0U4GDwUW2A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l0U4GDwUW2A[/video]
We have been drawn away to Aston Villa in the U21 Cup, the tie to be played in the week commencing 18th November. Certainly winnable; Villla are currently lying third from bottom of the League having won only 1 of their 5 games played, whereas we are third from the top and undefeated in 7.
Manchester United 2 Fulham 2 (U21s) Beckham Sees Fulham Bend It With Dembele and The Tank Yes, David Beckham was watching. And saw Fulham so unlucky not to get full points. Darren Fletcher was given a run out in what was a strong United team. With Chris David travelling with the first team squad to Leicester, Ronny Minkwitz started for the first time for Fulham. The team was: Joronen, Passley, Kavanagh, Minkwitz, Arthurworrey, Buatu, Na Bangna, Christensen, Dembele, Tankovic, Richards Subs: Brennan, Plumain, Della Verde, Islamovic, O'Reilly. United started strongly with Fletcher heavily involved and it took a number of strong tackles from Jon Buatu to stop them getting through. A storming run by Josh Passley saw Fulham force the first corner but in the scramble that followed the ball went out for a goal kick. This seemed to galvanise the team and they really upped the tempo, with Minkwitz prominent. In another strong run Josh Passley gave the ball to Mesca who thumped it against the bar. Minutes later the ball fell to Lasse Christensen who slotted it to Moussa Dembele to finish superbly. The half ended with Fulham deservedly leading 1-0 . Fulham started where they left off and penned United in their own half. From a corner taken by Sean Kavanagh. Lasse Ckristensen headed the ball on and The Tank was there to put it home. 2-0. Within a couple of minutes United pulled one back with a freaky goal. Keane slid in on a cross, Jesse Jorenen saved only to see the ball rebound off Stephen Arthurworrey and go into the goal. That was pretty much United’s first chance. Freddy Plumain came on for Mesca who had been out of sorts most of the night. United subbed Fletcher. Freddy kicked in immediately and had one of his amazing, dribbling runs before giving the ball to Moussa who should have done better. Fulham brought on Della Verde for Muamer Tamkovic to give an extra man in the middle. Ronny Minkwitz had a terrific long range shot but unfortunately it was too close to the keeper. And then Moussa Dembele nearly clinched the game with and long range effort that went narrowly wide. Then out of the blue the United centre half hit an absolute blinder of a strike to equalise. One of those goals that you can’t legislate for. Dino Islamovic came on for Tom Richards, and that was about it. A 2-2 draw in the end but the team really deserved to win - especially Ronny Minkwitz who was magnificent all night. [Aside: I rate him better than Chris David and as you know have likened him in the past to Danny Murphy]
Thanks once again Cottager for your in depth report. Shame that our first team dross does not warrent such a glowing endorsement .
Cheers for the update Cottager, just a quick question. Who is Brennan? He's not on the clubs Player Profiles page. Can only presume he's (another) new keeper? Can't remember seeing his name before.
I believe he was a trialist, FI - Connor Brennan (ironically) from Leicester. Don't know what's up with Jack Grimmer, rosc. He was injured for the U21 Arsenal game but went on the mini-tour to Indonesia (don't know if he actually played however) . Then, as you know, wasn't in the squad for the Newcastle game or last night. Got to assume that his injury was more serious than a hamstring. Hopefully he'll be back soon. Buatu and Arthurworrey are playing okay at CB, but the defence is missing his reading of the game and leadership.
Tweet by Jack Grimmer today: "Buzzing to get back to training tomorrow after being injured for too long" Hopefully that clears that one up!
Here is a video of the goals. It's only a snippet of the game of course, but it gives a flavour of the team's organisation and work rate. [video=youtube;YLzduRSOZKc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLzduRSOZKc&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Bolton 1 Fulham 3 (U21s) Tip Top Tap for Dembele Jack Grimmer was back from injury to Captain an attacking looking Fulham side. The team was: Stockdale; Passley, Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Richards; Mesca, Minkwitz, Christensen, Della Verde, Tankovic, Dembele Subs: Joronen, Plumain, O'Reilly, Buatu, Islamovic Fulham showed intent early on but it was quarter of an hour before they seriously threatened th Bolton goal; Moussa Dembele getting away a shot which was just too close to the keeper. The first half continued with the team well on top but decision making and the final crucial ball was lacking. Fulham did score when The Tank put the ball in the net after a Christensen shot was parried by the keeper, but he was ruled offside. The half ended all square at 0-0. The second period started well though when Moussa Dembele tapped in a delightful cross from Tom Richards, Ten minutes later and no close range stuff this time. Mesca cut in from the right, took one touch and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. 2-0. Jack Grimmer came off on the hour for Mananga Buatu. And five minutes later, it’s another tap in for Moussa Dembele. This time from a cross on the other side by Josh Passley. Fulham were running riot now and should have gone further ahead when a lobbed pass by The Tank was put wide by Tom Richards. Then Mesca missed an easy header. Moussa Dembele came off fifteen minutes from the end. And the team started to sit back. Right at death, Tom Richards let a Bolton player get past him in the box and he passed it to an unmarked team mate to give Bolton a consolation goal.
Why the hell isn't this Dembele fella getting at least a spot on the bench for the first team? We have three strikers, and one is currently injured, what is there to lose giving this guy a chance?
Bandit to young and to early,next season some bench time. To be thrown in now by Tulip would in my opinion set the lad back
He's the top U21 goal scorer with 5, having played in 4 of the 9 games so far. Although tonight's two goals were "tap-ins" they underline his main strengths - running off the ball and being in the right position. That said, it would be a heck of an ask to put him in the first team Bandit, and there's no point in him sitting on the bench. Like David did against Leicester for instance. PS Come to think of it, Chris David wasn't in the U21 squad tonight. Wonder why not?
Heard at MP today Jack Grimmer picket up a slight hamstring injury , thus his reason for being subed. A rather nice comment from David Stockdale who played in goal; " I enjoyed this match and was both amazed and impressed by the lads ability and technical know how, a joy to watch amd play with."
Here's the video of the goals - the mesca one is an absolute cracker, and with his wrong foot! [video=youtube;1a7jISNBGDE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1a7jISNBGDE[/video]
