Fulham 0 Derby 1 (U21s) Derby showed why they're topping the table with an impressive win at the Cottage tonight. Helped a little with the added bonus of having Will Hughes turning out for the first hour. Our team was: Joronen; Sheckleford, Hutchinson, Pino Soler, Donnelly (Elworthy 69'); Smile; Adeniran (Adebayo 63'), de la Torre; Kwietniewski (Thorsteinsson 55'); Humphrys, Walker Unused sub: Norman "With Fulham’s First Team in action at Preston North End on Tuesday night, Peter Grant named a young side for the game against the Rams with only Joronen and Shaun Hutchinson boasting experience at senior level. The Rams had the first chance of the game in the fifth minute when a corner was only half-cleared and Calero’s shot drew a save from Joronen. The rebound fell to Hughes but his effort was blocked by a Fulham defender. At the other end, an unmarked Stephen Humphrys arrived to meet a cross from the right by Ryheem Sheckleford but got his effort all wrong and saw it go harmlessly behind. Derby’s Vernam then burst into space down the left a couple of minutes later but his near-post drive was beaten away by Joronen. Fulham responded in the 14th minute through Humphrys who received a pass from Luca de la Torre on the left flank, cut inside Kyron Stabana but dragged his shot wide. Moments later, de la Torre slipped Adeniran through but Ravas raced off his line to save with his legs. The match then entered something of a lull, before Liam Donnelly tried his luck from long range in the 35th minute but his effort deflected off a Derby back and went behind. Donnelly met the resulting corner but could only send a half-volley looping into the air. A quick Fulham breakaway in the 37th minute saw Mikolaj Kwietniewski run with the ball from deep. With options to his left and right, he went for goal but saw his shot fly narrowly wide with Ravas at full-stretch. With five minutes of the half remaining, Adeniran won the ball from Kellan Gordon with a fine tackle. His left-footed delivery flashed across the face of goal, with no-one in a white shirt able to get on the end of it. There were no changes by either side for the start of the second half and Alex Cover sent an early header straight at Joronen after meeting a corner from Guy. The Rams, though, didn’t have to wait long to go in front. Guy picked up the ball and burst into the box with his low cross from the byline tapped home by Zanzala. It was almost 2-0 to the visitors a minute later. This time Calero fizzed in a cross-shot that hit Pino Soler, the Spaniard managing to scramble the ball away from right on the line. The Rams had really upped the tempo after the break, prompting Fulham to make their first change, Kwietniewski being substituted for Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson. Elijah Adebayo then took the place of Adeniran as Fulham went with three up front. The first booking of the evening went the way of Cover for a foul on Donnelly in the 67th minute. The Northern Irishman needed treatment on the sidelines and after diagnosis was replaced by Shane Elworthy. Fulham began to enjoy long spells of possession without really troubling the Derby rearguard. That was until the 81st minute when de la Torre played Adebayo in with a defence-splitting pass but Ravas came out to bravely save at the striker’s feet. Pino Soler was booked for a late tackle on Gordon on 83, before Guy was a couple of yards wide with a skimming drive soon after. Four minutes of additional time were added on but Derby held firm for the three points."
With no apologies for having pinched this truly excellent blog following the Derby game - unfortunately I don't know the author's proper name so can't attribute it. Apart from astute player assessments what the blog draws our attention to is, the exceptional work Steve Wigley is doing with the U18s (again) and the void that has been allowed to appear over the last 2/3 years between the Academy at U21 level and the first team. Anyway here it is: "FFC were divided in two. All the experience in the 'back' six, a 23 year old keeper behind a defence aged 18, 25, 20 and 20 with a holding midfielder of 19, all six players out of contract in the summer. In front of them an offensive midfield three of 17, 16 and 17 behind a pair of 18 year olds up top, at least three under contract until June 2017 or 2018, the other two unknown. Goalkeeper Joronen has been unlucky over the last couple of seasons, getting the nod over Bettinelli at the start of 2014-15 proving a poisoned chalice, then suffering injury. He responded to all that was asked of him, was audibly organising those in front of him, and I really don't understand why he is as low as number four in the pecking order. I would definitely give him another contract. The back four all put in competent performances but there was a detectable lack of passion, understandable if all will be moving on. Sheckleford, at 18 the youngest, is worth persevering with, it is not as if we are blessed with natural full backs. Hutchinson disappointed me. As the senior player I expected to hear him, be the leader of the defence, maybe that is not in his nature. As the senior player I expected him to dominate the solitary Derby frontman, mostly he did but not without difficulty and of course the Derby number nine netted the game's only goal. Pino Soler put in another competent performance, he reads the game well, but nothing to suggest that he can overtake all of the six or seven centre halfs that are ahead of him at the club. It is incredible to think that if he hadn't fallen foul of an injury Donnelly would have made his first team competitive début at the beginning of 2014-15. One of Magath's golden six Donnelly now seems destined to move on. I felt sorry for him during this match. A heavily right footed centre half played out of position at left back, he performed manfully defending well overall, but couldn't offer the traditional overlap and cross. Smile sat in front of the back four, tidied up and fed the front five, easy on the eye, appearing unruffled as he breaks up play and picks a pass. I think he has progressed over the season and I hope he is offered another year. Onto the midfield three, given their ages their development has a long way to run. Adeniran does have the physical attributes to compete at this level but largely had a quiet game. This was the first time that I have seen Kwietniewski in action and I thought he showed a lot of promise, very comfortable on the ball. On this performance one for the future, but I have no idea whether this was the 'norm', those who have seen him on a number of occasions surely have a more accurate view than me. De la Torre is quite similar, he doesn't convince me yet, but again time is very much on his side. Given the quirky eligibility rules for this competition both Adeniran and Kwietniewski will still be available to play in 2020-21 without being classified as 'over-age'. Front pair Humphrys and Walker are both around 14 months younger than Dembélé. Neither looks ready to take over a striker role in the first team. I wouldn't like to guess, though, how fast they will progress over the next year. FFC, not for the first time, failed to name a full quota of substitutes. Isn't that a tad embarrassing, especially given how many players we have under contract. It did mean Peter Grant had little choice to make and rather predictably kept substitute custodian Norman on the bench. Adebayo (18), Elworthy (18) and Thorsteinsson (17) all crossed the white line, none made a lasting impression. I don't believe any of the outfield eleven looked current first team material. Only a couple of years ago I was convinced that Christensen and David not only deserved a chance in our midfield but that they would grasp it, and that Kavanagh (prior to his injury) was going to challenge to make the first team left back slot his own. And two seasons ago there was the occasional substitute appearance of the talented youth side to look forward to, unfortunately we don't have a production line of Patrick Roberts's. Times have changed. With the club loaning a whole team the Under 21s will inevitably suffer most. Somewhat annoying is the complete absence of information from the club as certain players just disappear for months on end. Why can't the club keep us informed about all long-term injuries at the club? I presume that is why O'Halloran and Kait (only 17 years old but already at home in the Under 21s) have been absent since Christmas. It would be nice to know."
Wolves 0 Fulham 3 (U21s) A really young team tonight and they got the side back on track with a stunning win. The team was: Norman; Sheckleford, Pino Soler, Davies (Humphrys 69'), Elworthy; Adeniran (Thorsteinsson 62'), Smile; de la Torre, Kait, Walker; Adebayo (Opoku 76') Unused sub: Ashby-Hammond "Wolves started the match brightly and had Magnus Norman in the Fulham net under pressure from the get go. Hakeem Oddoffin saw his cross headed wide by Bradley Reid in the 6th minute and shortly after Donovan Wilson had an effort deflected wide following a neat cross. The deadlock was broken somewhat against the run of play in the 18th minute. Captain Josh Smile switched the play out to the right flank to Ryheem Sheckleford, who dug out a cross to Josh Walker. The two youngsters combined well and eventually the ball found its way to Mattias Kait just outside the box, who fired a left footed shot into the back of the net to give the Whites the lead. The Estonian was involved moments later after some more excellent work from Sheckleford who linked up well with Luca De La Torre. After a cross, Kait sent a header narrowly wide from 6 yards out. The lead was indeed doubled in the 25th minute. After a good ball from Sheckleford, Josh Walker turned his defender and played a lofted cross to the back post. The Wolves defence failed to deal with the cross and Elijah Adebayo reacted quickly to poke past Harry Borgoyne in the Wolves net. Fulham continued to press and reaped the rewards of some loose defending from the Wolves back line in the 36th minute. A Fulham corner was not cleared and Ian Pino Soler played it into Kait. The scorer of the first goal played a cross into the box that eluded everyone except for an unmarked Lucas De La Torre who slotted home from close range. Fulham entered the break with a convincing advantage after some clinical finishing in front of goal. Wolves were quick out of the traps at the start of the second period but Magnus Norman was alive to an Oddofin shot following a positive run. Walker was unlucky not to give the Whites another goal in the 62nd minute with an angled drive but Burgoyne made a tidy save to push behind. Wolves pushed for a consolation goal in the dying stages but were unable to break through a solid Fulham side and Peter Grants men were able to see out the tie and head back to London with all three points."
The 2 players that have impress me this season to add to my previous " one sfor the future" are Mattius Kait & Harrison Paton both only 17 but have the EH, PR, look about them
Got to add Ryan Sessegnon to that rosc. He's got a terrific future ahead of him (already Captaining England U17s) and the problem will be keeping him, with Arsenal the main contenders among many sniffing around. I'd add as well Stevie Humphrys. Came into the U18s a couple of years ago and looked strong, but shall we say not too elegant. This year he has come on in leaps and bounds; showing a good football brain to add to his scoring abilities. They're not alone in looking the part however and while I've sung the praises recently of the work Steve Wigley has been doing with this batch of U18s, we shouldn't forget the quiet man behind the scenes, Huw Jennings. Since he joined in December 2008, 26 young players have made their Fulham debuts.
Swansea 3 Fulham 0 (U21s) Not the best way to finish the season. Still another young group today and clearly building for the future. The lads ended up in 9th spot in the League tale (out of 12). The team was: Norman; Sheckleford, Elworthy (Opoku 88'), Pino Soler, Donnelly; Smile; de la Torre, Adeniran; Kait (Redford 56'); Walker (Humphrys 56'), Adebayo Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, Nabay "The Swans started brightly, dominating possession and enjoying plenty of space down the left. From that position, Kenji Gorre unleashed a curling effort that flashed just wide in the 16th minute. Soon after, Magnus Norman did well to deny Owain Jones after the Whites had lost the ball cheaply, before Fulham began to work their way into the game. The visitors could have gone in front but Elijah Adebayo failed to make contact with Josh Smile’s excellent corner and the big striker put a chance wide from close range on the half-hour mark. Dan James then fired the wrong side of the post from eight yards, but Swansea were in front in the 34th minute, Adnan Maric firing home a rebound after an effort from Gorre had been parried by Norman. At the other end, Liam Donnelly saw a free-kick comfortably saved by Gregor Zabret in the 40th minute after Luca de la Torre had won a free-kick just outside the area. The Swans began the second half on the front foot and increased their lead in the 55th minute. After a foul by Shane Elworthy on the edge of the penalty box, Gorre quickly took the free-kick and sent it past an unsighted Norman who was still organising his defensive wall. In response, substitute Aaron Redford had a header saved by Gregor Zabret after meeting a corner. Fulham appeals for a penalty were then waved away after Redford went down under a challenge from Zabret. James then had an effort parried away by Norman, before Adam King went close with a low drive. But it was 3-0 to the hosts in the 73rd minute. Norman’s clearance went straight to an opposing player and Gorre tapped home from close range. With a minute left, Dennis Adeniran sent Redford through but his low shot was saved by Zabret, before Stephen Humphrys cut inside but fired wide of the far post in the final action of the game."
It was a campaign of mixed results for the U21 team – which was often predominantly made up of Under-18 players – as they registered 9 wins, 5 draws, and 10 defeats across all competitions in 2015/16. On the Official site Peter Grant gives a pretty good summary, highlighting the individual performances of many young players who were 'bloodied' this year: “I’ve been very pleased,” Grant said in review. “It’s difficult when you look at the league table to say it’s been a successful season. But if you’re judging success on the way the boys have played, I’m very happy with the way the season has gone. This season we’ve had 17-year-olds starting 90 per cent of the games. We’ve had 16-year-olds play for us in some cases and we’ve had eight Under-18s start for us pretty much every game. The season as a whole has been a success but the only time I’ve been disappointed was towards the end when we could have finished in the Play-Offs. You want to be in the top league but it’s been a competitive league this season and I think the boys have benefitted from that. Ryheem Sheckleford and captain Josh Smile led the way in terms of appearances with 20 and 19, respectively, while Luca de la Torre (17), Shane Elworthy (16), Ian Pino Soler (16) and Stephen Humphrys (15) were also regulars. The main goal threat over the course of the campaign came from 18yr old Humphrys and midfielder Mattias Kait, who’s still 17, as the pair each netted five times at Under-21 level. Humphrys has also been in good form for the Under-18s, while Kait has received international recognition this season and travelled with the First Team for their match at Burnley’s Turf Moor – a trip which saw him given the squad number 47. Josh Walker chipped in with two braces throughout the campaign, one of which came on his debut at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium, while de la Torre, Jordan Evans, Dean O’Halloran, Cauley Woodrow and George Williams all netted twice. Some of the goals scored have been quite superb, too. Alexander Kačaniklić’s brilliant strike in the Under-21 Premier League Cup win at Colchester United claimed the Club’s December Goal of the Month award, while Evans’ dipping 35-yard free-kick in a 2-0 win over West Ham United at Upton Park came second in October’s vote." Plenty have done well but personally I'd pick out Stevie Humphrys. Elsewhere I mentioned how well he's developed in football terms (he always was a big strong boy) over the last year, but his main claim from the season is a total of 22 goals (across the U21s and U18s). Well done him and one to note.
