Is Amos injured or likely for Watford mid week ?
Carl your half time post is great..tallies with what I've seen of them this year. Best TEAM since mason Smith Parrett days
Great report IG. Exciting to see this group develop, hopefully can have a good run in UYL. Bowden seems to be getting a lot of plaudits lately. Only seen him briefly, is he another Skipp in the making ?
what do you guys make of Dinzeyi? Tanganga, Eyoma + him have been involved in a lot of bad results where they seem utterly helpless at times. So many goals conceded. I've seen the other two look alright for England, but is Dinzeyi just a complete product because he's so tall? On the flipside, England have a few defenders like Tanganga, Eyoma + Latibeaudiere who just seem very short.
There's so many goals being scored in the U23 + U18s leagues in the last couple of years that it's hard to gauge the relevance of anything sometimes.
So do I. Plenty of games for the other two between CL and PL. At least give the kid the cups, and if he's performing well give him a chance in the league against a bottom 10 side. He's ready.Hope KWP starts this Wednesday. If not, there is a chance he won't play again this year unless we get an easy opponent in FA cup 3rd round or drop off to Europa league.
So do I. Plenty of games for the other two between CL and PL. At least give the kid the cups, and if he's performing well give him a chance in the league against a bottom 10 side. He's ready.
Great write up thanks for the effortI started writing this when I got back, then got bored, but thought it would be good to give a classic breakdown so just finished it, so it may sound a bit rushed
Oluwayemi - I'd argue was largely responsible for the outcome of the game. He made 2 or 3 big saves at 0-0 that West Ham should have put away while we were finding our feet. They score those and it all changes. Made himself big and got out quickly. Also doesn't shut up, barking orders at the defenders telling them where they should be
Tainio - Growing on me, though I still feel he essentially a very basic footballer. Not intending to be too critical but he doesn't look out of place.
Lyons-Foster - As always composed at the back. Comfortable turning either way off the ball out of pressure, causing a few off their players to hit the deck though it was wet. Always looking for the forward pass. The penalty decision was soft. But the build up was great, and exemplifies the type of player he is that he found himself in the box after some one touch passing with others. Dropped the should, the defender dangled a leg I think he caught BLF but his fall was slightly delayed.
White - Incredible how he has transitioned from a no.10 to a DM/CM. Looked fairly solid for a midfield and generally slight guy, excellent at getting himself out of tight situations and quickish feet. Tucked away his penalty cooly.
Cirkin - seems to have really grown not that he is massive but he used to be quite small. Knows how to play the game, supported the attack well, generally calm at the back
Bowden - One of our best players. I have always liked him and but like a lot of the players last year he didn't seem to perform as well as I expected hence not being considered for England, but he was absolute quality today. Skill, very languid still got about, ridiculous compusre, intilligetn and movd the ball quickly when eh needed to and slowed it down on some occasions. The through ball for Parrott's 2nd goal was on the countre got the ball and just helped it through for Parrott. Would like to see a bit more create passing from him, but he is very Carrick like. There were a couple of sublime pieuces of skill from him to beat his man which I didn't expect, like he was having fun, but I guess that is to be expected whatever nil up.
Shashoua - Senior player, very quick in his thought and movement. Influential and helped to make things tick moving the ball quickly and linked up Bowden and Markanday. He is the captain and plays like it to always making himself available
Bennet - didn't have a great game. Beat the fullback a coupe of times but his final ball was lacking. His best moment was early on when he cut in on his right and hit the bar.
Richards - I thought he had a good comeback. I like him. I feel he is a player with a lot of time. He doesn't rush his decisions but is also a quick thinker. There will be times he will receive the ball and you think that he will quickly move it on to the wing, he almost shapes to do it, then out of the corner of his eye he will notice someone in a better position and deceive the defender and pick out a better placed player. Sometimes he can end up playing it too late, but I think it is good trait in general. He misplaced a couple of passes out to Bennet on the counter which was frsutrating but otherwise was good to see him back. He's very brave and will fly into challenges and his second goal was a curler from the edge of the box. He's a player I think would get more recognution from England were his age group not so strong.
Markanday - said a lot about him already, but I think he is our biggest threat. Very nippy, and hard to contain, a constant thorn for the opposition and a real team player. He has a lot of strength considering his size but also knows how to use his body. There is the argument he could be a bit more selfish, when on the edge of the box, as he gets himself into good positions, but he instinctively looks for the man in a better position and will lose his shooting opportunity. Quality player
Parrott - Held the ball up really well. I know he is big and their defence contained a number of u16s but with his facial hair too he looks like an overage player. As I have seen before he has some flair. Missed a sitter in the first half, but put away his 2nd chance, and his 2nd goal was a lovely dink over their keeper. Very promising
Sub
Statham - Did OK when he came on
Pochettino - even at 7-0 up he still never managed to beat a man or try to really do anything. Would love to see what he does in training. Don't want to be too critical of him, but he is very limited.
Clarke - excellent cameo. Wanted to see him start but everyone did so well so can't complain. Refreshing to see him going at the defence and trying to beat them. Could have had a penalty for Parrott's 1st goal as he was taken out by the keeper and the ball ended up rolling to Parrott who just tucked it into an open net. Very positive introduction and not what their defenders would want to see.
Overall it was an excellent game. Their team was very young, 3 of their 4 defenders were u16s, one was an u15 I think, but they are all experienced at this level and play regularly, one or two have also played for the u23s. Better than the 10-1 I saw against Stevenage.
Considering how well we're doing I'd expect a couple of our players to make an England squad.
Bowden, Bennet, Markanday, and Maghoma (who has started to do well for the u23s) may start to find themselves in contention for a call up for a good England age group. I think a reason this team is also doing well, is because it has been fairly uninterrupted. The only regular missing is Maghoma who would used to often play up himself, so generally they all know each others games. Also I think they are all on the same level, there is no outstanding player so they all take responsibility themselves, which contributes to the team dynamic I imagine. They've lost Madueke unfortunately but then it means the work load is spread evenly. Or it could just be down to how Wells has them playing.
Was speaking to an agent and he was very impressed with how we played, like it was a different level. Playing out of tight situations from the back under pressure and finding a man in CM who would attack. Also thought it was funny listening to the parent of a West Ham player say 'ye well Spurs look good, as they are technically better, but I promise you 2nd half we will beat them as they tire and they aren't strong physically' well he called that wrong. Apparently they had beaten us 6 games in a row in lower age groups. Which probably goes to show, how eventually the physicality will level out and technique is what shines. He also commented on how we play well as a team rather than individuals, which is the complete opposite to what I'm used to seeing, and definitely saw a change with this lot. All in all a good game