U23s v Stoke City

[larkymasher]

7PM KO at The Lane tonight.

Stoke have spent big money on this side and i expect a tough physical game.

After last night and with no first team game for 10 days, it would be reasonable to expect quite a few first team squad players in action, maybe our two new signings?

Ramsdale, Wilson, Wright, Hussey, Brookes, Reed, Hanson O'Shea, Clarke, Riley could or should be on view. Would be nice for players paid by the club to actually play some football.......

Semple, Slater, Hallam, Graham from the U18s i expect to be involved also, as their development continues.

Enjoy it if you manage to get down.

 

[Ricky]

Free to get in?

 

[larkymasher]

Free to get in?

Free for season ticket holders or £3 if not. Under 16s FOC

 

[JohnDenver]

For those who've not tried it - it's worth going. I would if it didn't clash with my 5-a-sides.

 

[Woodwardfan]

7PM KO at The Lane tonight.

Stoke have spent big money on this side and i expect a tough physical game.

After last night and with no first team game for 10 days, it would be reasonable to expect quite a few first team squad players in action, maybe our two new signings?

Ramsdale, Wilson, Wright, Hussey, Brookes, Reed, Hanson O'Shea, Clarke, Riley could or should be on view. Would be nice for players paid by the club to actually play some football.......

Semple, Slater, Hallam, Graham from the U18s i expect to be involved also, as their development continues.

Enjoy it if you manage to get down.

Is Reed suspended?

 

[albinonick]

7PM KO at The Lane tonight.

Stoke have spent big money on this side and i expect a tough physical game.

After last night and with no first team game for 10 days, it would be reasonable to expect quite a few first team squad players in action, maybe our two new signings?

Ramsdale, Wilson, Wright, Hussey, Brookes, Reed, Hanson O'Shea, Clarke, Riley could or should be on view. Would be nice for players paid by the club to actually play some football.......

Semple, Slater, Hallam, Graham from the U18s i expect to be involved also, as their development continues.

Enjoy it if you manage to get down.

You goin be there larky

 

[BigBed]

Doubt Clarke will feature, he's wank, sorry, I mean injured!

 

[larkymasher]

Is Reed suspended?

You goin be there larky

Reed is suspended yes, and yes i will be there.

 

[Grappler]

I am just seeing if I can make, it, always worth watching

 

[albinonick]

Reed is suspended yes, and yes i will be there.

Lets hope for a good game from both the team and ramsdale. Bought an extra top incase its cold

 

[Ricky]

2-2, Stoke equalised late on. Hallam scored both our goals.

 

[Coily]

 

[robbiez666]

It's been a good couple of weeks for the goalkeeping coach!

 

[FlamingLip]

Only EEL isn't allowed to laugh his sack off at the state of their first equaliser.

Bejesus

 

[Ricky]

2-2, Stoke equalised late on. Hallam scored both our goals.

Correction, Tyler Smith got the first.

 

[jt64]

Nice work on both our goals. Theirs...

 

[Baw Heid]

A good result and I would recommend a look at our goals. The inter passing for Tyler Smith's score and the turn and shot from Jordan Hallam were excellent but shut your eyes for Stoke's equaliser poor pass back and our keeper tries too hard to rescue the situation rather than clearing it into the stand. Had he not slipped it would have been a fine rescue of the situation. I have a lot of time for Ramsdale having watched him over the past two years but it must be difficult not getting game time, he came onto a good game after his lapse and he is a real talent.

Against a big strong side who are buying in players for their 23s and containing players with first team experience our team of scholars ,mainly an Under 18 squad , did us proud. Our back four Bennet, Graham,Semple and Kelly soon got to grips with strong opponents and started to play out from the back. I often think that the lads at the back don't get the praise they deserve, you see the goals being scored but don't always see that the move has been constructed from the back. Semple and Kelly have formed a good understanding on the left and the the big centre back knows where his partner is and finds him every time. I enjoy watching this part of their game as it has been developing and it is great credit to the coaches who have encouraged this manner of safely playing out from the back

We probably shaded the game for 60 mins or so but as Stoke brought on experienced players from the bench the pressure built up although it looked like we would hold out unfortunately we lost a late goal and so I suppose a draw was fair although with the set up of the teams it was more credit to our lads.

Worth noting that our first team play against league 1 teams our 23s play against Premiership and Champioship teams and don't they do us proud

 

[Boxer Blade]

How far away are semple and Kelly from the first team, always hearing good things about them.

 

[Ricky]

Brooks always looks like our brightest prospect and I've got no doubt he could do some real damage in the final third at L1 level. I'd class him as a final third player because his game's about running with the ball to create things and he's very attack minded but he doesn't quite have the physicality or playing mentality to play deeper. I wouldn't play him RM in a 4-4-2 for example. He's a pure attacking player, get him around the box and he'll make things happen.

If we want a player to bring off the bench to unlock a packed defence when we're dominating and have them pinned back then he'd be a good option because that's what he's very good at.

Two things though, he needs to work on his right foot (dribbling especially) and bulk up a bit. That would help his game massively.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Brooksalways looks like our brightest prospect and I've got no doubt he could do some real damage in the final third at L1 level. I'd class him as a final third player because his game's about running with the ball to create things and he's very attack minded but he doesn't quite have the physicality or playing mentality to play deeper. I wouldn't play him RM in a 4-4-2 for example. He's a pure attacking player, get him around the box and he'll make things happen.

If we want a player to bring off the bench to unlock a packed defence when we're dominating and have them pinned back then he'd be a good option because that's what he's very good at.

Like Tuesday night.
Better option than Scougall.

 

[Baw Heid]

How far away are semple and Kelly from the first team, always hearing good things about them.

Being young defenders I think the club are building them up to play. It will be important to introduce them in a controlled way and I think the coaches must be working on this as there is a consistent improvement. It must be difficult to introduce young defenders in this league when every game is a must win. If and when we get back to winning ways they could feature with the first team but I prefer to see them getting games rather than warming up the bench. So end of this season or beginning of next that is if they don't go out on loan

 

[Baw Heid]

Brooks always looks like our brightest prospect and I've got no doubt he could do some real damage in the final third at L1 level. I'd class him as a final third player because his game's about running with the ball to create things and he's very attack minded but he doesn't quite have the physicality or playing mentality to play deeper. I wouldn't play him RM in a 4-4-2 for example. He's a pure attacking player, get him around the box and he'll make things happen.

If we want a player to bring off the bench to unlock a packed defence when we're dominating and have them pinned back then he'd be a good option because that's what he's very good at.

Two things though, he needs to work on his right foot (dribbling especially) and bulk up a bit. That would help his game massively.

He picked up the ball last night and went straight into the box surrounded by 4 defenders and still got his shot away. I am a big fan. His style is unusual but effective. and I agree with your comments

 

[BushBlade]

I think with some of the older u23s we're at a point where we should either give them some first team time or get them out on loan. It's no good just having them in the squad in case we need them, we can't just drop them in the first team if there's an injury and hope they do OK. They need a bit of experience to get up to speed and get used to the first team, the crowd etc.

If CW doesn't trust them, fine, that's his decision and I understand it but get them out on loan. We've done it with Whiteman and now we've signed JOS it looks like opportunities for Brooks will be limited so do the same. Likewise with Reed, play him or loan him but don't allow him to stagnate.

 

[larkymasher]

How far away are semple and Kelly from the first team, always hearing good things about them.

Kelly is a strange one. I can't see him breaking through and seems to have fallen down the pecking order with CW. I like Kelly, strong, quick and never seems to let the team down.

Semple is progressing well. Never has a bad game, still only a second year scholar so plenty of time. Word i heard was that Southport in the conference wanted him for the rest of the season but United wanted him to develop with our 23s. I think he will go out on loan next season to Conference, L2 to give him his experience and then back to us. Once he has done all that he will still only be 19 years old. Don't think CW did the lad any favors by building him up last Summer when he was clearly not ready.

 

[Baw Heid]

Just one last thought on last nights game. I like to read the oppositions comments and after reading their report on the game and the manager, Glyn Hodges comments I was not surprised to see that the scorer has just returned as an improved player from being on loan at Shrewsbury Town, The wide left lad was recruited in Belgium, one of the team came on for Stoke in Saturdays Premier League game and the big Centre Back was bought from Dundee United for £200k. This team is being used as Stoke's reserve team and they have the TV money to spend on it. Given all that our youngsters did well to be within 5 minutes of getting a win and they are a credit to themselves and the fine coaches at the Academy.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Just one last thought on last nights game. I like to read the oppositions comments and after reading their report on the game and the manager, Glyn Hodges comments I was not surprised to see that the scorer has just returned as an improved player from being on loan at Shrewsbury Town, The wide left lad was recruited in Belgium, one of the team came on for Stoke in Saturdays Premier League game and the big Centre Back was bought from Dundee United for £200k. This team is being used as Stoke's reserve team and they have the TV money to spend on it. Given all that our youngsters did well to be within 5 minutes of getting a win and they are a credit to themselves and the fine coaches at the Academy.

You must tell me your magic secret for posting 27 times yet you've received 82 likes!

 

[finlaytheblade]

He picked up the ball last night and went straight into the box surrounded by 4 defenders and still got his shot away. I am a big fan. His style is unusual but effective. and I agree with your comments

Brooks was released by man city for being too small his talent wasnt in doubt he has grown maybe 4:5 inches in the last year,he needs a bit of time to fill out a bit and mature, we will then have a real player on our hands

 

[Balham]

You must tell me your magic secret for posting 27 times yet you've received 82 likes!

It's fairly straightforward IIYB - Baw Heid posts about the academy which a lot of posters are interested in but few have any experience of so people appreciate the input. There's something special about players coming through the ranks; notihwithstanding that should happen if, and only if, they're good enough.

 

[itsinyerblood]

It's fairly straightforward IIYB - Baw Heid posts about the academy which a lot of posters are interested in but few have any experience of so people appreciate the input. There's something special about players coming through the ranks; notihwithstanding that should happen if, and only if, they're good enough.

Couldn't agree more. Although I tend not to get too sentimental about the notion of 'our own', I do appreciate a good player who's managed to make it through the obvious cut and thrust that goes with wanting to play for the first team.

 

[Grappler]

Brooks was released by man city for being too small his talent wasnt in doubt he has grown maybe 4:5 inches in the last year,he needs a bit of time to fill out a bit and mature, we will then have a real player on our hands

I have watched Brooks a few times and I agree, a real gem if he can fulfill his potential. If he could gain a little extra height, fantastic, but his growth spurt will be slowing down now I imagine. He needs to add some timber, but not too much, not enough to slow him down, just enough to stay on the ball without getting knocked off.

He is also a very aggressive player at times, for such a slightly built lad.