Southampton 1 Fulham 1 (U21s) The team was: Rodak; Passley, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Baba (Mesca 55'); Plumain, Tunnicliffe, Della Verde (Evans 83'), Sambou (Smile 70'), Richards; Trotta Unused subs: Barnes, Donnelly A decent start to the League campaign with a number of U18s stepping up. Notable inclusion of Tunniclffe and Trotta! Here is the Club report: ”In an entertaining encounter, it was the Whites who looked most likely to grab the win when Ange-Freddy Plumain netted late on, only for the home side to hit back immediately through Saphir Taider to ensure the points were shared. Both teams had chances to break the deadlock early on, with Fulham’s best chance arriving from the boot of Marcello Trotta – the Italian firing over from Ryan Tunnicliffe’s corner. Saints could have moved in front shortly after the interval but visiting captain Jack Grimmer blocked England youth international Josh Sims’ shot, before Omar Rowe missed the target with the follow-up. Trotta and Sims then drew saves from the respective goalkeepers, before Fulham eventually took the lead on 75 minutes. Kit Symons’ side won the ball back high up the pitch courtesy of their pressing game, with Trotta then holding the ball up before his perfectly weighted pass released Freddy Plumain who slotted his finish under the Paolo Gazzaniga. The lead lasted just three minutes, though, as Jason McCarthy robbed the ball and played in Taider –currently on loan at St Mary’s from Inter Milan – who flashed the equaliser beyond Marek Rodák. “It was a good game between two good teams who really went at it,” Symons told fulhamfc.com after the game. “Possibly a draw was a fair result but I felt we probably shaded it on chances. What I’m disappointed with is that we got our noses in front but couldn’t hang onto it. Overall, though, it was a good game of football, performance-wise, and I’m quite happy. There’s certainly plenty to work on there but we’re just looking forward now to the Everton game next week.”
Video of the goals - nice running off the ball for ours;poor defending for theirs - [video=youtube;lvLqzj3DGkc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvLqzj3DGkc&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Fulham 2 Everton 1 (U21s) Jack Grimmer was ruled out of tonight’s starting line-up because of illness, but the two T’s were there again and boy did they combine well. However it was a 30 yard bomber from Mesca that stole the show. The team was: Rodak; Passley, Buatu, Arthurworrey, Evans; Na Bangna, Tunnicliffe, Sambou, Richards; Plumain; Trotta Subs: Norman, Guirassy, Baba, De La Torre, Redford [Note: Fode Guirassy (came off the bench for Trotta) is a new guy - 18yr old from Marseille and a centre forward.] Not a brilliant night weather wise .. please log in to view this image ……but a good win for the lads. The only excitement in the first half came after half an hour when Everton had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside. Immediately after the re-start Marcelo Trotta poked home after a storming run and excellent pass by Ryan Tunnicliffe. We doubled our lead on the hour mark when Mesca hammered home a brilliant strike from at least 30 yards. Everton got one back 10 minutes later when Galloway headed in from a corner. And they could have grabbed a point in stoppage time when a long range shot hit the post. MOTM - Freddy Plumain who played in central midfield.
Good to hear the U21s performed well tonight, with reports that the Tunnicliffe-Trotta partnership worked. Looking forward to the video of Mesca's goal. COYW!
Apologies if I gave an over-glowing impression GS - they combined well for the goal but not otherwise. Trotta was his usual self; being in the right place at the right time to score but offered nothing else.
Here's a video of the goals, including of course Mesca's must watch strike - [video=youtube;Q6bVparRMJ0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q6bVparRMJ0[/video]
Leicester City 0 Fulham 2 (U21s) A terrific win tonight. That puts us in 4th spot with 7 pts (2 wins and a draw). The team was - Rodak; Passley, Arthurworrey, Grimmer, Evans; Na Bangna, Della Verde, Sambou, Richards; Plumain; Trotta Subs: Norman, Sheckleford, Baba, O'Halloran, De La Torre [Yes, there were only 5 on the bench] Scorers Tom Richards on the break after 26 mins Stephen Arthurworrey with a header after 54 mins.
What the Club had to say - ”After a slow start, the home side gradually began the exert the greater pressure out of the two sides and were the dominant force in the opening 10 minutes – the Whites defence held firm, though. An injury to Foxes defender Zoumana Bakayogo then led to a long stoppage in play, after which his side continued to press but, again, without any end product. Fulham’s first opening of the game arrived when Marcello Trotta was sent through one-on-one, but the Italian striker couldn’t get the ball under control and the chance passed him by. It mattered little, though, as the Whites were soon ahead. Good play between Lyle Della Verde and Ange-Freddy Plumain saw Tom Richards sent through and the left-winger kept his cool to find the net from 10 yards. After the break, City went close to hauling themselves level with a free-kick which hit the bar, but soon after they found themselves two goals down. Some sloppy play saw them concede a corner from which Fulham took full advantage, when the ball was worked back out to Richards who whipped in a great cross which Stephen Arthurworrey gleefully headed in. Leicester pressed for a way back into the match but couldn’t find the goal their play probably merited, although that was largely down to Whites goalkeeper Marek Rodák who made two smart saves to keep them out.”
Big day for Kit Symons at Motspur Park tomorrow - 1st Team press conference at lunchtime and (undefeated) U21 game against West Ham in the evening (kick off 7pm).
Fulham 1 West Ham 1 (U21s) While not in charge, a smiley Kit Symons was at Motspur Park tonight. No surprises in our line-up. The team was: Rodà k, Passley, Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Evans, Na Bangna, Sambou, Della Verde, Richards, Plumain, Trotta Subs: Norman, Buatu, Baba, O’Halloran, De La Torre West Ham had Ravel Morrison facing up for them in midfield. Quite a vigorous first half hour with Fulham making most of the breaks but not actually creating chances. The nearest we came was from a corner, after a great run by Josh Passley, and Stephen Arthurworrey headed just wide. Freddy Plumain unfortunately pulled a hamstring and Dean O’Halloran came on. The team started to take control and forced a whole series of corners but just couldn’t find the target. Again Arthurworrey came closest and that was just before half time. And so it ended 0-0 at the break. Josh Passley didn’t come out at the start of the second half - Jon Buatu came on and Jack Grimmer went to right back. We continued on the front foot and ten minutes in, Jordon Evans put over a great cross for the man in the right place, Marcello Trotta, to smash a header into the net. Almost immediately though Marek Rodak fumbled a cross and in the scramble that followed a West Ham player poked it home from almost the goal line. 1-1 The game opened up a bit and the West Ham fullbacks looked dangerous going forward. Both defences we pretty much in charge though and the Hammers were having the best of possession. Indeed they did most of the pressing in the final 10 minutes. Although right at the death Tom Richards could have got the winner but couldn’t finish from another great cross from Jordan Evans, A draw was probably a fair result since an organised, fairly defensive West Ham saw most of the ball but we had the better chances, especially in the first half. On balance, I think a game Monday/Friday told on the lads in the end. Still undefeated though and the point takes us up to second place in the League, albeit having now played a game more than most others.
Here's a video of the goals, and of course, Marcello Trotta's thumping header - [video=youtube;Oysmtf3qPkU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Oysmtf3qPkU[/video]
Fulham 0 Man City 2 (U21s) The team was: Rodak; Grimmer, Arthurworrey, Buatu, Kavanagh; Eisfeld, Sambou (Baba 60'), Della Verde, Richards; Plumain; Dembele (Mesca 60') Unused subst: Passley, Evans, Norman "Fulham began quite brightly, knocking the ball around well. But two first-half goals in quick succession did the damage. After Stephen Arthurworrey had conceded a silly free-kick just outside the box, Sinan Bytyqi sent the resulting set-piece past Marek Rodà k. It was 2-0 soon after when Brandon Barker drove into the box from wide on the right and slotted into the bottom corner of Rodà k’s near post. Rodà k prevented City from adding a third in the second half, making a fine save after a City player had gone clear. Fulham had a real go in the last 15 minutes, throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents. Freddy Plumain almost found the net but his header was saved low down by City goalkeeper Ian Lawlor."
Right at the beginning of the season I posted that we’d be playing against Bilbao as the first game in a ’European Cup’. But it didn’t happen ... until now that is. Today the Premier League launched the ‘Premier League International Cup’ – a four-group tournament involving some of the top Under-21 and elite development teams from England and other European leagues. In addition to the Fulham, the English clubs involved in the tournament are: West Ham, Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City, Manchester City, Norwich City, and Sunderland. All eight clubs have Category One Youth Academies. The other international clubs taking part are: Benfica, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic, Schalke, Porto, and Villarreal. The full groups are: Group A Chelsea, Norwich City, Porto and Borussia M'gladbach Group B Fulham, West Ham, Bilbao and PSV Eindoven Group C Leicester City, Manchester City, Benfica and Shalke 04 Group D Everton, Sunderland, Celtic and Villareal Clubs will play each team in their group once and all matches, including those between international teams, will be played in England. Upon completion of the group stages the winners and runners-up from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, all to be played as single-leg ties in England. Group stage matches will be played between 15th October 2014 and 31st January 2015 with a full fixture programme due to be published. All matches will be organised by the Premier League. The only fixture arranged so far is, West Ham v Bilbao being played today (15th October). This is a terrific opportunity for our young players .. and fans as well.
Chelsea 2 Fulham 2 (U21s) What a great fight back and result against the ârunawayâ leaders in the League. Surprisingly the game was played in Aldershot !? The team was: Rodak; Passley, Arthurworrey, Buatu, Evans; Fotheringham, Della Verde; Woodrow, Eisfeld, Plumain; Trotta Unused subs: Barnes, Baba, Sambou, Smile âThe Blues opened up a two-goal lead at Aldershot FC's Recreation Ground through Isiah Brown and Jordan Houghton's strikes. The German midfielder provided the perfect response, hitting back within minutes of the Blues' second goal, and he doubled his tally late on to secure a share of the points. The Whites were chasing the game from the early stages after Brown pounced to put the Blues ahead when Ruben Loftus-Cheek's third-minute shot cannoned back off the crossbar. Marek Rodak was to thank for keeping Fulham in the game, twice blocking efforts from Jeremie Boga before Josh Passley made a timely interception to deny Brown a second goal. The best opportunity for the Whites to get back on level terms before the interval fell to Marcello Trotta, but the Italian forward could not keep his strike on target following a goal-mouth scramble in the Blues penalty area. The home side doubled their advantage shortly after the break when Jay Dasilva's cross was parried by Rodak, and Houghton slotted in the loose ball. But the Whites replied quickly, as Ange-Freddy Plumain powered forward, forcing keeper Mitchell Beeney into a good stop, before Thomas Eisfeld followed up to keep Fulham in close contention. The comeback was completed when in the closing stages, when Loftus-Cheek could only half-clear his lines and Thomas Eisfeld executed a terrific volley from outside the penalty area to bring the Whites level.â
Video clip of the goals - fantasic team effort for both of Thomas Eisfeld's goals and great technique by him for his second - [video=youtube;txpuzQIqfL8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=txpuzQIqfL8[/video]
To day we are playing Liverpool at MP ko 12, should be a good on as I believe are unbeaten. We are 5th in table.
Fulham 3 Liverpool 2 (U21s) What a win ! The team was: Norman; Passley, Buatu, Burgess, Evans; Richards, Della Verde, Sambou, Na Bangna; Plumain; Trotta Unused subs: Barnes, Baba, O'Halloran, Casasola, De La Torre âAfter a frantic opening, the Whites slipped behind when Josh Passley lost his footing and Ryan Kent took advantage, feeding Trickett-Smith to put the Reds ahead. But Fulham were behind for less than a minute. A sweeping move reached Marcello Trotta and the Italian found Tom Richards in space and he rifled a half-volley past keeper Ryan Fulton. Jonathan Buatu kept the scores level with a superb goal-line block after Kent fired across goal, and a twisting run from Ange-Freddy Plumain caused problems for the Reds in the opposite penalty area. It continued to be an end-to-end first half, with Trickett-Smith coming close from a 25-yard free-kick and Lyle Della Verde slamming an effort just wide of the Reds goal. Magnus Norman made an outstanding point-blank save from Samed Yesilâs header on 26 minutes, before Yesil broke through one-on-one but chipped wide of goal. Plumain had a similar opportunity on 34 minutes. This time Fultonâs quick reflexes saw him block the Frenchmanâs attempted chip, and the teams went into half-time level. The Whites came out playing with a high tempo in the second half, and Marcello Trotta wriggled free on the edge of the area before burying a shot into the bottom corner on 54 minutes. Eight minutes later, the Italy Under-21 international had doubled his tally. After the Reds failed to clear a corner, Trotta collected Buatuâs pass and drilled another strike into corner of the net. This time it was the Reds who offered a quick response, when Harry Wilson teed up Sinclair on 67 minutes and the substitute added a composed finish. Liverpool pushed forward for a leveller late on and the best chance went begging when Cameron Brannaghan was denied by the legs of Norman at close range. Fulham were still offering a threat on the counter. Plumain made Fulton stretch to fingertip his 20-yard free-kick over, but it was Norman to the rescue again in stoppage time. The Fulham keeper saved at the feet of Kent from inside the six yards box to secure all three points for the Whites.â
Cannot disagree with your summing up Cottager, Trotta took his chances well, and I feel a loan spell could make or break, him which could ultimately benefit both parties
