Lasse Vigen Christensen has been given a 3 year deal, thankfully. http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/january/30/lasse-pens-extension Now please get Tankovic and the rest of the promising youngsters signed up please.
Good news ahead of tomorrow's first team clash with Southampton and Tuesday's Cup replay. The U21 game, also against Southampton and scheduled for Monday night, has been postponed. The next U21 game is at Motspur Park - v Chelsea on Friday 7th February kick off 7pm
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2 (U21s) Team Suffer First League Defeat No Tunnicliffe, Cole or Tank in tonight's line-up - off with the main squad? Elsad Zverotic did play in midfield though and Cauley Woodrow was back in action. The team was: Joronen, Donnelly, Pritchard (Passley 54), Buatu, Richards, Na Bangna (Williams 63), Zverotić, Christensen, Della Verde (Brister 76), David, Woodrow "Chelsea started brightly at a chilly Motspur Park in the Barclays U21 Premier League, with Jesse Joronen saving at the feet of Alex Kiwomya early on, before John Swift saw a shot from 25 yards fly straight into the arms of the Fulham keeper. Swift soon found the scoresheet, however, sweeping home from close range in the 19th minute after Kiwomya had beaten Josh Pritchard and crossed into the middle. Fulham responded with Buomesca Tué Na Bangna, formerly on the books of Chelsea, seeing a shot deflected just over, before Chris David sent Cauley Woodrow racing clear only for the striker to send his effort the wrong side of the post. The miss came back to haunt Fulham as Chelsea increased their advantage shortly afterwards, and in some style, Lewis Baker smashing home a loose ball from the edge of the box in the 36th minute. The second half began in much the same vein, with Kiwomya shooting too close to Joronen after being found by Nathan Ake. Lyle Della Verde then went close for Fulham before the Whites were handed a way back into the game in the 55th minute when David’s trickery bamboozled Ake who fouled the Dutchman in the box to earn Fulham a penalty. Cauley Woodrow took the spot-kick and although Mitchell Beeney got a hand to it, the ball nestled into the corner of the net. Woodrow, back from his loan spell at Southend United, almost levelled for Fulham, volleying just wide after meeting a corner. With five minutes remaining, Elsad Zverotić, playing in midfield, unleashed a long-range effort that whistled just past the post, while David forced a save from Beeney in stoppage time with a volley that lacked real power. In the dying seconds, Swift almost added a third for Chelsea after a quick breakaway but shot into the side netting before the final whistle sounded to signal a rare defeat for Fulham. Under-21s boss Kit Symons said: “It was a classic game of two halves. They were by far and away the better side in the first half. They had better possession, better chances and obviously scored the two goals. I thought we showed them too much respect and some of our players didn’t show enough courage when in possession of the ball. “At half-time I let the players know in no uncertain terms that they weren’t up to the standards we’d been setting. And, to be fair to them, the response was excellent and we dominated the second half. We got one goal back but unfortunately that wasn’t enough.” He added: “The fact that this group of players have been unbeaten going into February is a remarkable achievement. It’s something they can be very proud of. But now the run’s finished, it’s up to the players to start another one. We play Aston Villa away on Wednesday which will be tough - good, that’s what we want. We want challenges and we want to be tested.”
Here are the goals: [video=youtube;NJa9_2reE7s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJa9_2reE7s&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Apparently kostas scored 2 from outside the area. Great to see him getting straight to work. Hopefully he can get in the first team for the west Brom game.
And hit the post, Cauley Woodrow scored 2 as well, hopefully he'll get near the first team soon too. Even our (u18s)goalkeeper is prolific.
The team was: Rodak; Donnelly, Buatu, Burgess, Richards; Roberts, Della Verde, Christensen (Sambou 78), Plumain (Evans 68); Woodrow, Mitroglou (Hyndman 62). Subs not used: Oberschmidt, Brister. please log in to view this image "Wearing a Fulham shirt for the first time, Kostas Mitroglou scored twice to help our U21s to a 5-3 victory against Aston Villa. Having slipped to their first league defeat of the season last week, following a 2-1 loss against Chelsea, Kit Symons’ side returned to winning ways – and in some style. A positive start from the hosts saw Graham Burke, Jordan Bowery and Callum Robinson all go close, however, it was our new Greek striker that opened the scoring when firing in a confident finish on 19 minutes. The 25-year-old, eligible as one of our three permitted overage players, then showed his class again moments later when sending a stunning looping shot over Villa keeper Benjamin Siegrist. Villa responded, although they had Fulham defender Liam Donnelly to thank, when the Northern Ireland youth international turned Jordan Graham’s corner into his own net on the half hour mark. At the other end, Mitroglou went close to a hat-trick, but saw his volley turned to safety by Siegrist, while Marek Rodak made an even more spectacular save to keep out Burke. Villa were, though, on level terms not long after the break, with Robinson steering in via Donnelly from Bowery’s teasing cross. In an attempt to restore Fulham’s lead, Mitroglou cut in from the right before striking the foot of the post with a cleverly placed, low shot on the run. As both teams created chances, it was the home side that made the breakthrough on 69 minutes when Daniel Johnson slotted in a coolly taken penalty after Lyle Della Verde had brought Bowery down in the box. Della Verde made amends, though, flighting in a brilliant corner from which Cauley Woodrow expertly converted with a volley to set up an exciting final 10 minutes. Having scored in the defeat against Chelsea, Cauley Woodrow netted his third goal in two games when keeping his composure to shoot beyond the reach of Siegrist following Donnelly’s powerful run and cross. Fulham all but wrapped up the points on 85 minutes when, helped by the strong wind, goalkeeper Marek Rodak’s clearance sailed over his opposite number in the Villa goal. Under-21 Manager Kit Symons told fulhamfc.com: “It was a crazy game, and although the pitch was fantastic, the conditions were quite bad at times. In spite of that, though, I thought we kept the ball well and aside from the first 20 minutes of the second half I thought we played some fantastic football. “We showed good character, particularly after they [Villa] got themselves in front, so the approach and mentality was there. After Kostas took his two goals well, Cauley did the same and suddenly we were 4-3 up. Then of course came the freak goal from Marek, which isn’t something you often see. There were good performances all round, which was very pleasing and I thought the players that stepped up from the Under-18s did really well. Obviously, Kostas got a run out as he looks to get up to speed and to full fitness. He didn’t want to come off the pitch, so that was encouraging to see, as was his general application. “After the defeat against Chelsea, it was good to get back to winning ways so quickly, and we’ll go again when we face Leicester City on Monday.”
Good to see the likes of Roberts, Hyndman and Evans getting games at U21 level. I recall Joey Barton saying a few weeks back that the only good thing about the youth system in the country is the fact that you can mix a few seniors in with the U21s. Having a player like Mitroglou getting a game with these guys can only help their development.
Seems to have a decent left foot - [video=youtube;n6VtkeY5UTY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n6VtkeY5UTY[/video]
Fulham 1 Leicester City 3 (U21s) Poor Fulham Go Down Kostas skiiped training early this morning to play tonight. Matt Brigggs was also back in action as Fulham fielded a strong side with 7 of the 11 having seen first action this year. The team was: Norman; Passley, Buatu, Briggs, Richards; Na Bangna, Tunnicliffe, Christensen, Cole; David; Mitroglou Subs: Oberschmidt, Brister, Plumain, Della Verde, Pritchard Even first half with nothing much to say about it other than a well taken goal by Leicester to put them in 1-0 at half time. The nearest we came to scoring was an effort by Kostas (who didn’t look exactly spritely) hitting the side net. The same eleven came out in the second half but there was no discernable change in the play. However. 10 minute after the restart Mananga Buatu got the equaliser with a thumping header. Leicester seemed determined to hold the score at that but then in a brief foray one of their players toe poked it in. 2-1. Really soft goal. Even worse defending saw a Leicester player run through and make it 3-1 to them 5 minutes from the end. No sign of Felix tonight. Probably as well if he wasn’t around. Will look forward with interest to see what the official Club match report says about that performance.
Your wish and all that C58, here's the club link: http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/february/17/fulham-u21s-1-3-leicester-u21s
You probably want to close your eyes for the first Leicester goal - [video=youtube;CIuer4Q3NZE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIuer4Q3NZE&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Stoke 0 Fulham 0 (U21s) Rodak Saves The Day Lucky to get a point by all accounts. Alex Brister came back into the side for Josh Passley and Matt Briggs retained his place in an attempt to get fit. Moussa Dembele was again promoted. Can't help but wonder if the side is missing the calming influence of Ronny Minkwitz, who is still out injured. The team was: Rodak; Brister, Burgess, Buatu, Briggs; Mesca, Pritchard, Christensen, Plumain; Della Verde and Dembele More complete details later
If Mitro needs match practice then why was he not playing for the U21s today? If he isn't going to be involved with the senior squad then he should have played to get a bit more match sharpness.
The team and subs: Rodà k, Brister (Passley 46), Buatu, Burgess, Briggs (Banya 50), Na Bangna, Christensen, Della Verde, Pritchard, Plumain, Dembélé (Williams 50). Subs (not used): Oberschmidt, Islamovic "Stoke made the brighter start at their Clayton Wood training ground and Alex Grant saw a header cleared off the line in the 13th minute after meeting a cross from Joel Taylor. Fulham had a chance to open the scoring at the other end a few minutes later when Mananga Jonathan Buatu arrived unmarked at the far post but could only send his header wide. Marek Rodà k was called into action in the 28th minute, saving a close-range effort from Grant after the Stoke man had met a corner at the near post. Just after the half-hour mark, Lyle Della Verde connected with Buomesca Tué Na Bangna’s cross but saw his effort beaten away by Dale Eve, before Stoke again went close moments before the break, with Grant’s header from a Charlie Ward corner cleared off the line. Fulham began the second half well and Eve made a great save to thwart Ange-Freddy Plumain a few minutes in. Stoke hit back and Rodà k did well to tip a shot from Adam Thomas over the bar. After a lull in the game, Rodà k again came to Fulham’s rescue late on, tipping a long-range effort by Grant onto the post before the Whites defence cleared the ball to safety in what proved to be the final moment of note in the match. Under-21s Manager Kit Symons said: “Stoke were by far the better team in the first half. We were awful quite frankly and they were well on top. They should have been at least a couple of goals up and we were very grateful to Marek who kept us in the game, while Cameron Burgess defended well at left-sided centre-half." “At half-time I told the boys we were lucky to still be level as we didn’t deserve to be and in the second half they really upped it. We were forced to make three subs early into the half but they came on and did very well and the performance was much better. “But it wasn’t our best performance by a long stretch and the overall feeling was of disappointment because we didn’t play well. But they stuck at it and the second half was much better. We got a point and a clean sheet so there are always positives and some of the young boys did really well.”
He may not be fit to start, but maybe Felix plans to bring him on from the bench. That might explain not playing him for the U21s. Just speculating.
I think he confirmed in his match preview video that Kostas won't be in the squad tomorrow, unfortunately.
