FA Youth Cup against Arsenal LIVE ON SETANTA

[alex_yid]

just got home, and i have to say how pleased i was with the level of quality in our team, there are some talented players out there and in particular tonight i thought that Townsend looked a cracking prospect, very tricky with pace and good close control another little lennon on the left, his crossing was also very good, also thought that Mason had a solid second half.. All in all really pleasing and i thought they were a little unlucky to lose by 3 goals to 1..

 

[Chris12345]

I thought our left side was very strong... and number 15 looked good when he came on for Mpuko(sic) playing the 'free' role I think... not much to shout about elsewhere... all the 'stars' weren't particulary impressive imo...

How shit is Northumberland Park?

 

[nightgoat]

Their number 11, Thomas I think it was, was an absolute beast physically, much taller and seemingly stronger than anyone else on the pitch, although apart from his goal he didn't do that much. Their number 4, no idea what his name was, played better in the holding/fighter midfield role than Denilson has done all year for the first team, although he was a bit of a dirty player.

Which brings me to the referee. Utterly disgraceful performance, let two-footed challenges (several by their number 4) that clearly made contact go, and then gave bookings for innocuous and sometimes even clean-looking tackles. The bad decisions nearly always went Arse's way, although we got a couple of horrendous decisions our way too. Mason in particular was repeatedly dragged down and fouled without getting anything. Let's hope he never refs in front of a bigger crowd or in a more important game, he clearly wasn't good enough.

It certainly seems Arsene's filled his youth team with the biggest, strongest, quickest kids he can find and then teach them the skills, awareness etc... Our team was full of kids that look like 17 year old boys should do...

I also noticed that Frimpong, their number 4 is a dirty, dirty player...

Townsend was very impressive, our most threatening player all evening... I don't know how near to making the first team squad he is, but if we get to the point towards the end of the season and we've got nothing to play for he could be in with a shout... Caulker looked very impressive, too... Maybe Parrett and Bostock didn't rise to the occasion as there was probably more expectation on them to deliver... I really like the look of Mason, too, although his set pieces weren't great... Anyway, regardless of the result, we've got a talented bunch in the right hands...

The ref got in the way and deflected the ball favourably for their 3rd as well, bastard...

 

[DC_Boy]

yep the ref was terrible - AFC were 'putting their foot in' to a ridiculous extent yet kept getting away with it

at this level particularly surely skill needs encouragement, not letting the 'bully boys' boss it

 

[mil1lion]

Certainly some promise shown out there. Townsend was certainly the most impactful player. And Caulker was very solid at the back. Bostock only started to play when he went out on the right. Parrett only started to play about an hour in. Those 2 were a bit sloppy in possession. Mason looks a tricky player with a good football brain. Obika is a strong and hard working striker, who just needs to react better in the box at times. And the fullbacks Cox and Smith looked good too.

My biggest concern is the lack of strength in the team. Aside from Caulker, Bostock, Townsend and Obika, the rest are pretty small and need to strengthen (even Jansen in goal is small.) I liked Smith and Cox, but i'd worry about their lack of height at fullback. Parrett is also small and needs to strengthen, but he's a tenacious player and could be a Diarra in centre midfield. Mason is cerainly another talented young player, but isn't strong enough yet and went down too much last night. They're all young though and they're at an age where they can all strengthen early in their careers.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Mil1lion it’s not so much their height I’m worried about but definitely their strength. Bostock, Obika, and Townsend seem strong enough but the rest of our team compared to Arsenal were below par physically. Wilshire is probably one of Arsenals smallest players but it doesn’t matter as he is very strong on the ball and has a dribbling style that makes him hard to tackle. Definitely some positive signs from the team overall but best not to write of or overhype any of the players based on just that game.

Arsenal were very impressive hate to say it, players looked like they had been playing together for years.

 

[sidford]

have to say i wasnt that impressed with smith at right back. agree that townsend played well, obika should've scored a second and lost the ball too easily for the 2nd scum goal but its encouraging he keeps getting himself in the right spot just like he did in europe - makes good runs. there is undoubted talent in the team, caulker had a very good game especially for a 1st year academy player so theres some good signs but have to admit was disappointed with parrett and bostock but hopefully they'll learn from the game

 

[WhiteStripe]

My main observations.

#5 - good prospect
#11 - good prospect
#9 - good prospect

Arsenal #11 - 35 year old man!

 

[$hoguN]

Anyone else spot Wenger there with a bottle of babyoil and Camera?

 

[WhiteStripe]

Anyone else spot Wenger there with a bottle of babyoil and Camera?

No, but seriously, there was a man a few seats away from me, who looked like a trainspotter, had a clipboard, and was salivating. Very very wierd mg:

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Watched on line, shame about the scoreline but we do have some promising youngsters.

That clipboard story reminded me of an eccentric old chap back in the 50s and early 60s who used to stand on the terraces and make shorthand notes of every single move in a game to analyse it, with the aim of producing the perfect match by eliminating all the errors!

No chance but he was certainly dedicated if also somewhat crazy.

 

[miles_64]

Despite not having caught the game, I was really gutted by this defeat, probably because it represents the diminishing of the great hope I had for our youth team. Very disappointed to hear about Bostock and Parrett but at least Caulker and Townsend sound like prospects.

 

[Dangerous_Clive]

My main observations.

#5 - good prospect
#11 - good prospect
#9 - good prospect

Arsenal #11 - 35 year old man!

My Boss's nephew.

Absolute beast.

 

[Kendall]

Arsenal's 3rd goal was fucking brilliant.

To be honest, they totally outplayed usfor the whole game and 3-1 was a fair result.

 

[tylaw]

What was all the commotion in the North Stand upper after Arsenal scored?

 

[WhiteStripe]

My Boss's nephew.

Absolute beast.

He really is, I just thought they had kept kanu's twin brother a secret until now, unleashing hism as a new 18 yesr old wonderkid!!

Arsenal's 3rd goal was fucking brilliant.

To be honest, they totally outplayed usfor the whole game and 3-1 was a fair result.

Agreed. we looked a little more dangerous in the second half, but Arsenal were a class above.

It strikes me that the style Arsenal play football in the first team is the style that flows down through all the teams in the club. The whole philosophy of interchanging, quick passing football, with excellent off the ball movement was there for all to see last night.

It does strike me that this could be the reason why so many young players come through at Arsenal. The consistency over the past 10 years of having the same manager in charge, with his own distinctive style, that he has been able to instill in all areas of the club means that by the time players get to the first team, they are used to the Arsenal way of playing.

With Spurs, there is no chance of this happening, as the manager is changed so frequently that a consistent style of play is not possible, so every time a player moves up a level, they have to learn to adapt in a new style of play etc. This cannot help our youth players education in playing the game.

 

[DC_Boy]

I saw this on some site or other

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged the Football Association to hand out longer suspensions for players guilty of dangerous tackling.

well he should look at some of the tackling his boys were putting in last night

 

[DEFchenkOE]

What was all the commotion in the North Stand upper after Arsenal scored?

Some arsenal fans up in the crowd celebrating i think and it all kicked off

He really is, I just thought they had kept kanu's twin brother a secret until now, unleashing hism as a new 18 yesr old wonderkid!!



Agreed. we looked a little more dangerous in the second half, but Arsenal were a class above.

It strikes me that the style Arsenal play football in the first team is the style that flows down through all the teams in the club. The whole philosophy of interchanging, quick passing football, with excellent off the ball movement was there for all to see last night.

It does strike me that this could be the reason why so many young players come through at Arsenal. The consistency over the past 10 years of having the same manager in charge, with his own distinctive style, that he has been able to instill in all areas of the club means that by the time players get to the first team, they are used to the Arsenal way of playing.

With Spurs, there is no chance of this happening, as the manager is changed so frequently that a consistent style of play is not possible, so every time a player moves up a level, they have to learn to adapt in a new style of play etc. This cannot help our youth players education in playing the game.

Agree with this completely, I said earlier no matter if it's their 1st team, reserves or youth they play the same football and makes the transition much easier. Their style of football was clear to see as they attacked with precision and skill. This was missing from our play generally.

 

[danielneeds]

Agree with this completely, I said earlier no matter if it's their 1st team, reserves or youth they play the same football and makes the transition much easier. Their style of football was clear to see as they attacked with precision and skill. This was missing from our play generally.

Yeah but you can only have that continuity of all the teams right through the club playing the same style if you have continuity in the management structure for a prolonged period, unfortunately something we have not been able to achieve.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Yeah but you can only have that continuity of all the teams right through the club playing the same style if you have continuity in the management structure for a prolonged period, unfortunately something we have not been able to achieve.

Which is what I said in the post he was agreeing with :up: