U23 game live tonight from MP Vs Newcastle

[fulhamben]

should of had a third but hit the post. anyhow much better tempo and directness than our first 11.

[@jolslover]

Will write my full thoughts later - But would like to say I thought Fossey did very well. The Rafael comparison was a good one

[grandad]

should of had a third but hit the post. anyhow much better tempo and directness than our first 11.

:plus one:
Quite refreshing to see us attack with pace & run at their defence putting them on the back foot.

[cmg]

Interesting game.
We struggled a bit in the first half but settled down after going ahead and bossed it in the end playing some quite neat stuff.

Good night for Fossey, Humphrys (played effectively wide left first half and wide right second), Adeniran.
Edun is quite tricky on the left, but is quite little and easily muscled off the ball. De la Torre had some promising moments, too. Jozebad is skillful but tends to lack an end product.
Bettinelli made some excellent saves, but one or two errors too.

This faffing about in our own penalty area is obviously club policy. But I don't understand it and I don't like it.

[davew]

Will write my full thoughts later - But would like to say I thought Fossey did very well. The Rafael comparison was a good one

He is definitely 1 for the future, I expect the scouts have him on their lists!!

[Bill2]

Have to agree with a lot of the comments on here, no commentary but could mention the score occasionally and when they put up the additional time all I got was a red blur, so again just a few words. Will write to to the the Club with comments.

As regard to playing we were fitter than Newcastle, they couldn't keep up the high pressing game. A number of wayward passes by most players where they should have done better, bit like watching the first team. Thought the defence was pretty solid, but some confusion in the last few minutes between Bet's and the No 3. Fossey was pretty useful, got a lot of pace and did some nice runs with good control. Ref has never heard of the advantage rule, not sure if their keeper should have got a red for the penalty, no replays.

All in all a good performance showing some class.

[BedsFFC]

This faffing about in our own penalty area is obviously club policy. But I don't understand it and I don't like it.

It's big of you to admit that you don't understand it.

In very simple terms, its just using the keeper as the 11th outfield player in a sweeper type role. In theory, if your opposition don't do the same, you have an extra outfield player and the pitch becomes larger when you are in possession.

Done properly its such an obvious but sensible tactic. Germany with Neuer being the best example of it being used. In fact, it is felt that one of the main reasons Gaurdiola replaced Hart was because of Hart's ball skills.

I understand why you don't like us doing it but I would suggest that is probably more to us not being that great at it at the moment. It can tend to lead to be a little "heart in mouth" time. It has a lot to do with defenders as much as keeper. Defenders must want the ball.

Anyway, I must assume that we will get better at it. It definitely got overused at Villa. Opposition setting traps for us is a good thing. as long as we combat it.

[davew]

This faffing about in our own penalty area is obviously club policy. But I don't understand it and I don't like it.

It's big of you to admit that you don't understand it.

In very simple terms, its just using the keeper as the 11th outfield player in a sweeper type role. In theory, if your opposition don't do the same, you have an extra outfield player and the pitch becomes larger when you are in possession.

Done properly its such an obvious but sensible tactic. Germany with Neuer being the best example of it being used. In fact, it is felt that one of the main reasons Gaurdiola replaced Hart was because of Hart's ball skills.

I understand why you don't like us doing it but I would suggest that is probably more to us not being that great at it at the moment. It can tend to lead to be a little "heart in mouth" time. It has a lot to do with defenders as much as keeper. Defenders must want the ball.

Anyway, I must assume that we will get better at it. It definitely got overused at Villa. Opposition setting traps for us is a good thing. as long as we combat it.

You sound like SJ, scrap this system immediately, we are not good enough to play it, not many teams are!!!

[cmg]

This faffing about in our own penalty area is obviously club policy. But I don't understand it and I don't like it.

It's big of you to admit that you don't understand it.

In very simple terms, its just using the keeper as the 11th outfield player in a sweeper type role...

Thanks for the explanation. I'm beginning to see the plot...although it seems to be suffering a bit of slow period right now, both in Birmingham and Barcelona. Still, I'll keep an open mind, even the best plans have their off days, although, in our case a bit more rehearsal time before the show went on stage might have paid off.
Do you think we will get Neuer in January? Or will we have to have Lahm and Hunmmels as well?

[Ronnief]

Having watched the game live, my impression with regard to the passing out from the back is now club policy.  Some players were obviously not comfortable in this style of play. As probably the most experienced player Jozabed was mostly anonymous. Christiansen was playing deep midfield and gradually got into the game. In this age group we do not seem to have any specialist central defenders. With three full backs and a midfield player as our back four, I thought they did quite well against a much physically bigger team. Betts was the man of the match and Humphries took his goal well. He is a real striker, with good shooting skills, a bit greedy but will score goals.

[@jolslover]

Anyway, Here are my thoughts for anyone that didnt watch

Betts had a good game, made a few very good saves
Fossey at RB stood out for me, bags of energy and went on some good runs. Perhaps not quite ready but definitely one to watch. Looks an exciting fullback
Sheckelford and Kavanagh played at CBs, both had solid games. I think it was an interesting watch as CB is perhaps neither of these players natural positions. I think Sheckelford just edged it out of the two as having the better game but neither stood out as bad or good.
Edun played at Left Back, he went on one or two great runs throughout the game and his dribbling skills impressed me, However his final ball let him down at times.
I thought De La Torre was quiet first 45, and was pushed off the ball a few times, I feel he grew into the game however and looks technically good. Still think his strength means hes some way off a first team spell
Adeniran played CM and I thought he had a good game, He was powerful and kept possession well
LVC also played CM and thought his workrate was brilliant, Many first teamers would approach a 21 game like they were above it but LVC never stopped running. Felt he could have impacted the game more from a technical standpoint however.
Jozabed was the most interesting, I thought his workrate was poor, and it looked to me like he thought he was above the occasion. That being said his touch was brilliant and passing was very sharp. Didn't get involved at times though. Reminded me of Berba in a way.   
I thought Humphrys had a good game, Was direct and skillfull. His dribbling impressed me as I didnt think he was that sort of player. However I felt (for a striker) his shooting was wayward.
I thought first half Woodrow was decent, Worked hard and scored a peno, but then he faded. Was almost invisible second.

Cheers hope it was an enjoyable read.

[razor05]

In this age group we do not seem to have any specialist central defenders. 

The only natural CB in this age group is Aron Davies , who I believe picked up an injury versus Swansea.
I agree Fossey has potential to be a great player but needs to improve on his decision making.

[MJG]

In this age group we do not seem to have any specialist central defenders. 

The only natural CB in this age group is Aron Davies , who I believe picked up an injury versus Swansea.
I agree Fossey has potential to be a great player but needs to improve on his decision making.

Hes going to be a proper CB as well. If he gets the right chance I can see him playing at the highest level.

[RaySmith]

Definitely agree that the possession style and playing from the back seems club policy, but the youngsters seemed more comfortable with it than the seniors- at this level- though there were a few hairy moments.

Well, they grew into it as the game went on, after  Newcastle at first seemed dominant, and their pressing from the front would cause  problems.

Both full-backs impressed me, as did Betts, Cauley and Humphries, and our general team play- pace and quick passing movement.

[Bill2]

Anyway, Here are my thoughts for anyone that didnt watch

Betts had a good game, made a few very good saves
Fossey at RB stood out for me, bags of energy and went on some good runs. Perhaps not quite ready but definitely one to watch. Looks an exciting fullback
Sheckelford and Kavanagh played at CBs, both had solid games. I think it was an interesting watch as CB is perhaps neither of these players natural positions. I think Sheckelford just edged it out of the two as having the better game but neither stood out as bad or good.
Edun played at Left Back, he went on one or two great runs throughout the game and his dribbling skills impressed me, However his final ball let him down at times.
I thought De La Torre was quiet first 45, and was pushed off the ball a few times, I feel he grew into the game however and looks technically good. Still think his strength means hes some way off a first team spell
Adeniran played CM and I thought he had a good game, He was powerful and kept possession well
LVC also played CM and thought his workrate was brilliant, Many first teamers would approach a 21 game like they were above it but LVC never stopped running. Felt he could have impacted the game more from a technical standpoint however.
Jozabed was the most interesting, I thought his workrate was poor, and it looked to me like he thought he was above the occasion. That being said his touch was brilliant and passing was very sharp. Didn't get involved at times though. Reminded me of Berba in a way.   
I thought Humphrys had a good game, Was direct and skillfull. His dribbling impressed me as I didnt think he was that sort of player. However I felt (for a striker) his shooting was wayward.
I thought first half Woodrow was decent, Worked hard and scored a peno, but then he faded. Was almost invisible second.

Cheers hope it was an enjoyable read.

Thought Shackleford was good, especially going forward and high up the pitch which is probably his more natural position.

[Southfield White]

Definitely agree that the possession style and playing from the back seems club policy, but the youngsters seemed more comfortable with it than the seniors- at this level- though there were a few hairy moments.

Well, they grew into it as the game went on, after  Newcastle at first seemed dominant, and their pressing from the front would cause  problems.

Both full-backs impressed me, as did Betts, Cauley and Humphries, and our general team play- pace and quick passing movement.

Who ever the first team manager ( head coach is) they get the u16 and u18s and u23s to play how the first team play.

End of the day its all about the first team and if every team plays the same way, then if a youngster has to step into the first team then he will be comfortable with how the team plays.

Going back to Marlon, when he first came over, he was a centre forward, slowly he has been moved backwards, ( expect to see him as a keeper next season ;-)  )

[kiwian]

Just watched the U18s game highlights where Brighton scored from a miskicked clearance from the keeper who had been put under pressure from a passback, sound familiar?

[SG]

Definitely agree that the possession style and playing from the back seems club policy, but the youngsters seemed more comfortable with it than the seniors- at this level- though there were a few hairy moments.

Well, they grew into it as the game went on, after  Newcastle at first seemed dominant, and their pressing from the front would cause  problems.

Both full-backs impressed me, as did Betts, Cauley and Humphries, and our general team play- pace and quick passing movement.

Who ever the first team manager ( head coach is) they get the u16 and u18s and u23s to play how the first team play.

End of the day its all about the first team and if every team plays the same way, then if a youngster has to step into the first team then he will be comfortable with how the team plays.

Going back to Marlon, when he first came over, he was a centre forward, slowly he has been moved backwards, ( expect to see him as a keeper next season ;-)  )

Watched our U15s down at Brighton the other week and they played the same. Our team was a mixture of 14s and 15s and their composure and confidence on the ball in their own area being closed down or closely marked by the opposition was amazing.

[love4ffc]

I love to hear that Fossey has potential and stood out.  I have only seen him play for the States.  He always looks good in those games.  I hope he continues to develop and finds his way into the first team. 

[longleigh10]

enjoyed the game, happy the players are getting publicity. felt the production could have been better - closer zoom in camera work would help, difficult to spot who's who, lack of commentary same with the U18s vids.  hope communications team take note. we are paying for this after all..