U23 (PL2) Team - Season 2017/18

Fixtures for the U23s have been published. The lads kick off with a home game - albeit strangely scheduled for Friday 11th August kicking off at 2pm - against Middlesbrough.

Here's the link to the full list:

http://www.fulhamfc.com/pl2/2017_2018/fixtures

 

Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 2 (PL2)

Disappointing start to the season from the lads. Was going to say we were overly complacent but that doesn't really describe our play; an awful lot of aimless long balls and poor crossing meant that we never had a grip on the game. Mind you with the huge number of fouls given and stoppages for injuries, especially in the second half, the game was perpetually disjointed.

'Boro were organised, content to let us huff and puff, and much sharper in the final third. That said, our goal by Stevie Humphrys having gone two down was a corker and in the final quarter after we were finally on top. There were numerous chances for the equaliser and it should have been 4 minutes into injury time when Georgie Williams put a free header inside the six yard box wide.

And the line-up looked so promising:

Norman, S.Sessegnon, Davies, Opoku, Kavanagh, O’Riley, Kait, Thorsteinsson, Humphrys, Williams, Woodrow (Adebayo 45')

Unused subs: T.Ashby-Hammond, Nabay, Andrason and Pearce


PS Reading scored Boro's first goal on the stroke of half time - nothing prescient intended, just mentioning!

 

Fulham to night drew 3 3 away at Pompy, winning 4 2 on penalities.
acording to a Pompy report the game was evenly matched with Fulhams keeper
keeping us in the game on several occasions.
evedantly there were 65 Fulham fans at the match well done to them.

 

Apologies rosc, was still typing about this and hadn't realised you'd posted. Being usual pedantic self though, it was an U21 side (well mainly; the Checkatrade Trophy rules allow a few over that age).

 

Brighton 4 Fulham 2 (U23s)

Topsy turvy game from the lads. We went ahead in the 2nd minute - wee Georgie Williams was fouled in the box, picked himself up and put the spot kick away (again). Brighton then went 2-1 up before Stevie Humphrys (again) equalised on the stroke of half time. But Brighton were the sharper team in the second half.

The team was:

Norman, Felix, Kavanagh, Nabay (Kwietniewski 61'), Davies, Trialist, Humphrys (Pearce 88'), Kait, Adebayo, Williams, Thorsteinsson (Elstone 79')

Subs: T. Ashby-Hammond and Andrason


A plus was the team wore red just for the Captain.





PS the 'Trialist' was Rob Atkinson, a left footed centre back from Basingstoke Town, and made what must be a first by captaining the side.

 

Fulham 2 Aston Villa 3 (PL2)

The lads are making hard work of their early g.ames. But, guess we need to remember this is now at an U23 level and how young the team is - taking out Sean Kavanagh (23) and Georgie Williams (21), they were all under 19 today. The team was:

Rodak; Felix, Harris, Trialist, Kavanagh; Adeniran (Kwietnieski 46'), O'Riley; Humphrys (Kait 88'), Williams, Thorsteinsson; Adebayo

Unused subs: T. Ashby-Hammond, Pearce and Elstone


Good to see Dennis Adeniran back in action and the 'Trialist' Rob Atkinson getting another opportunity. The one thing you can say about the team is that they don't give up. Going one down after a minute they equalised four minutes later with a fine header from Elijah Adebayo..They fell behind again to a soft penalty, which Marek Rodak saved but the Villa man scored on the rebound. Jayden Harris was unlucky to pick up a yellow for the penalty award; the first of two he saw.

Loads of missed chances before the second equaliser - a great curling shot from the edge of the box from Mikolaj Kwietniewski in the 75th minute. Villa grabbed the winner only a minute later and try as they might the lads just couldn't get back on terms.

 

Reading 2 fulham 1 (PL2)

Like the first team injuries are not helping the U23s. And don't know whether the lads that played are just trying too hard rather than rely on their natural game. Don't mean they should unnecessarily be relaxed but from what I gather an awful lot of our efforts on goal were hurried. Not to take anything away from the Reading goalie who made some fine saves when we were on top in the first 25 minutes.

We had another good spell at the start of the second half when Elijah Adebyo equalised. Ten minutes in and the team were on the back foot again however, after a lucky rebound fell to a Reading boy to toe poke it in from close on goal. From then on it was much the same as before with us having a whack of efforts but unable to convert any. Hats off to MOTM Tayo Edun who worked his socks off with no reward and Stevie Humphrys who must have set some sort of record for attempts on goal.

The team was:

Norman, Felix (Jenz 72'), Kavanagh, Edun, Davies, Atkinson, Kwietniewski (Harris 84'), Kait, Adebayo, Humphrys, Thorsteinsson.

Subs: L. Ashby-Hammond, and Elstone

 

Fulham 3 West Brom 0 (PL2)

At last the lads get that win and well deserved it was too. As was a goal for the birthday boy. Stevie Humphrys pummelled the opposition goal all night and it's unbelievable that he only got one - our second, with a trademark thumping shot from the edge of the box. Our third, only 4 minutes later, was an equally blistering shot from Elijah Adebayo, albeit from closer in.

The team's first goal was attributed to an OG, which was a tad harsh on Tayo Edun. He broke through the middle and his goal bound shot was helped into the net by a retreating defender.




The goal about 5 minutes before half time was really important in settling the team, after a barrage of chances had earlier gone a-begging. Significant that it came from Tayo as he was yet again the driving force. The team was:

Norman, Jenz, Kavanagh, Edun, Davies, Atkinson, Kait, O’Riley, Adebayo (Pearce 88'), Humphrys, Thorsteinsson (Elstone 76').

Unused subs: L. Ashby-Hammond, Felix and Kwietniewski

 

Blackburn 4 Fulham 0 (PL2)

The lads are really struggling to get it together this season. Strange since, even with some 'names' missing, our starting line up looked good. Mind Blackburn are at the other extreme and riding high in the League, with their star of the moment Joe Nuttall on 7 goals and 2 assists before tonight.

The game itself was marred by two serious first half injuries; resulting in something like 15 minutes extra time. Joe Nuttall was taken off after a collision with Magnus Norman, as he scored Blacburn's second. Then there was an even longer break when Isaac Pearce was hurt as he collided with the Blackburn goalie going for a ball whipped in by Luca de la Torre.

Chances were few and far between for the team but guess the good news is that the best of them came from good work by Soares. Not a night for him to get more than 60 minutes game time in though. Blackburn dominated the whole game with two goals in each half and even missed a last minute penalty, when their lad hit the crossbar. The team was:

Norman, Jenz, Soares (Nabay 63'), Edun, Davies, Atkinson, de la Torre (Elstone 63'), O’Riley, Adebayo, Pearce (Kwietnieski 44'), Thorsteinsson

Unused sub: L. Ashby-Hammond

[The limited number of players on the bench tells a story in itself].

 

Fulham 2 Stoke 1 (PL2)

Good win for the U23s at Motspur Park tonight, which should help confidence. All the excitement came in the first half though and at each end - kind of literally. Stoke went ahead after 2 minutes and Elijah Adebayo got our winner 2 minutes before half time, from the penalty spot. In between those goals Rob Atkinson got our equaliser and his first for the Club, so well done him.

And well done Cameron Thompson on his U23 debut.

The team was:

Norman; Jenz, Davies, Atkinson, Martin; Edun, O'Riley; Kwietniewski (Harris 86'), Kait, Thorsteinsson; Adebayo (Thompson 46')

Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, Nabay and Elstone

 

Wolves 1 Fulham 4 (PL2)

Great night for the lads, especially in the second half. Not a great pitch up at Telford but Luca de la Torre, Tayo Edun and Matt O'Riley strutted the strut in midfield and while I'll come to the star of the show in a sec, a special mention to 16 year old Luca Ashby-Hammond making his U23 debut - with some fine first half saves. Marcello (Djalo) also made a 'special' appearance.

So to the main man, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson. He put us ahead in the first half with this curler from 25 yards -





Wolves got back into it early in the second half when Ashby-Hammond was beaten by a 30 yard thumper. Then we took over. Elijah Adebayo getting our second from an O'Reilly cross and Jon Dagur completing his hat trick with two late goals.To be honest not entirely sure how we lined up but it appeared to be 3-4-1-2. Anyway, the team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Davies, Djalo , Atkinson; Jenz, de la Torre, O'Riley, Edun; Thorsteinsson; Adebayo, Elstone

Subs: Wickens, Harris, Nabay, Pearce and Kwietniewski

 

Fulham 2 Norwich 0 (PL2)

Hard to believe it was only 2-0 but a third win on the trot for the lads will do just fine. The first goal was from a first half penalty by Elijah Adebayo, meaning he's scored in each of those last three wins. And the second, 10 minutes from the end, was by the U18 top scorer ... Cameron Thompson, who came on as a sub for the injured Adebayo.

In the hour between the goals, the creative play of O'Riley and Thorsteinsson was stand out and the number of chances they created - especially Matt - would have made our stats guys eat pi (sorry!). But they were that good. Add in the performances of 17 year old full back Djed Spence, making his U23 debut, and 18 year old forward Isaac Pearce and you have a superb effort from a very young team.

Staying on youth. Congratulations to 16 year old keeper, hot from training with the 1st team on Thursday, Luca Ashby-Hammond for keeping his place. (Although that may be tempered a tad by older brother, Taye, not being available.)

Apologies to the others for picking out a few - they were all terrific. The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond, Spence, Atkinson, Davies, Jenz, Kwietniewski (Pearce 73'), O'Riley, Harris, Adebayo (Thompson 59'), Elstone, Thorsteinsson

Unused sub: Nabay

 

Fulham 0 AFC Wimbledon 2 (Friendly)

A behind closed doors friendly on Monday. Absolutely no idea what our team was or if it was indeed the U23 squad but assume so since they've had a fair few on the injury list and that this was principally a match to give them game time. Anyway here's a link to the Wimbledon report - not that says much about our lot.

https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2017/november/development-friendly-match-report/

 

The team playing against Southampton tonight gives a clue or two about who is in and who is out of favour:

Norman, S. Sessesgnon, Soares, Davies, Djalo, Kwietniewski, Harris, O'Riley, Adebayo, Graham, Thorsteinsson

2-0 up; 3-1 up. Our goals from Jordan Graham and Elijah Adebayo x 2. However, 3-3 at half time and goodness knows how - our defence is so bad. If you want to watch the second half live, here's a link:

 

Southampton 3 Fulham 4 (PL2)

Much improved second half defensively; more organised and generally the team managing the game better. Jordan Graham - playing down the left - making an impact. Firstly with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the box, and gosh knows why, but the flag was raised on the far side and the goal disallowed. Then secondly. a strong run brushing aside a couple of defenders before squaring the ball for Mikolaj Kwietniewski to score our winner.

As often happens bringing in a wodge of "fringe" first teamers disrupted the U23 team's momentum. Know it's a tad difficult for these 'in-betweeners' as well but have to say wasn't impressed by any of Djalo, Soares (especially poor) or Graham. Sure Graham had his first half goal and an assist but he lost the ball an awful lot and all too easily.

However credit to the team as a whole against a strong Southampton side. That's our 5th win in six games, putting us in 5th spot and a play off place.

The final line up:

Norman, S. Sessesgnon (Jenz 80'), Soares, Davies, Djalo, Kwietniewski (Elstone 88'), Harris, O'Riley (Atkinson 87'), Adebayo, Graham, Thorsteinsson

Unused subs: T. Ashby-Hammond and Pearce


PS Bit worrying that Matt O'Riley seemed to pull up with a hamstring just before he was subbed.

 

Fulham 3 Newcastle 0 (PL2)

Superb win by the lads. Fairly even first half, with anything a very competent Newcastle just shaving it. However, on the 53rd minute (yup, 9 minutes of injury time were played) Michael Elstone bundled the ball home from close in. Straight from the restart, literally, Elijah Adebay strode through to make it 2-0. From then on we were in complete control. And in the 70th minute young Elstone got his second after great work down the right by Adebayo.

Difficult to pick out any individual. Together again, the regular U23 back four were immense, especially in the first half. Equally impressive were the midfield pair of Tyrese Francois and Jayden Harris (both normally U18s). Mollo played his part; loads of step overs, crosses and helped well in tracking back when needed. If I had to have a moan about him it was in the second half, when we were well on top he tried one too many 'hollywood' passes which went wayward.

Again, to repeat, a really, really good performance by the everyone. The team was:

L. Ashby-Hammond; Jenz, Davies (Nabay 39'), Atkinson, Spence; Harris, Francois (Thompson 78'); Mollo, Elstone, Thorsteinsson; Adebayo

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Andrason and Kwietniewski

 

Fulham 1 Brighton 1 (PL2)

The lads certainly like to ensure the half time talk is comfortable. Tonight they yet again went ahead on the stroke of the whistle being blown for the break, with a real blaster from Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson -




Not for the first time he's done that and not for the first either that he's been MOTM. The guy had a phenomenal number of shots and potential assists. Brighton were a tough outfit though and following a pretty even first half, had us under the cosh for long periods in the second, getting their reward with an equaliser in the 80th minute.

Noted Rafa Soares at right back and Sean Kavanagh coming on for the last half an hour. That wasn't so much a move to 'go defensive', rather it reflected the paucity of our bench. Other than those two older codgers, the team was as ever stacked with youngsters:

L Ashby-Hammond, Atkinson, Jenz, Davis, Soares; Harris, Kwietniewski, Kait; Elstone (Kavanagh 60'), Adebayo, Thorsteinsson

Unused subs: J. Schwarzer, Andrason and Nabay

 

Cottager you have watched him far more times than me, so how do you rate Thorsteinsson.
I think on what i have seen he has great potential.

 

He has rosc. As does Mattias Kait.

 

Aston Villa 1 Fulham 3 (PL2)

Terrific start to the New Year by the lads. And great to see Wee Georgie Williams back after being out for so long with a bad injury. Soares and Graham were given a game as well.

First half we played very much like the first team; lots of the ball, controlling the game but no real threat. Despite that it was Villa who took the lead. Their left back made a neat break down our right and his deflected cross was headed on for one of theirs toe poke it in from a couple of yards. Being honest, had we been a bit more alert we could, indeed should, have cleared it before the header. The second half started with a blitz though. Five minutes in and we scored 3 in 4 minutes.

The first was a tad lucky but actually well merited. Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson make a great run, sent a Villa player the wrong way and his half blocked shot trickled over the line with the goalie wrong footed. Two minutes later, Kait sent Graham away and his low cross was thumped home by Mikolaj Kwietniewski. Then only two minutes on and it was Kwietniewski again. This time making a superb run forward before slipping the ball to Mattias Kait, who had overlapped him deep in their box. Kait's cross cum shot was put in the net by a Villa man - OG. From then on in we played well within ourselves, managing the game out. That kind of underplays the performance of Tayo Edun however. He was absolutely magnificent; completely running the show.

The team was:

Norman; Jenz, Davis, Atkinson, Soares; Edun; Kait, Kwietniewski; Williams (Pearce 60’), Thorsteinsson, Graham

Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, Andrason and Nabay

PS Snippet on Soares and Graham. First half they both hugged the left touchline and got in each others way as often as not. Also each was pretty lackadaisical with their passing. Second half they were sharper but didn't exactly hit the headlines. Don't remember Soares making a tackle all game!