Good win for U21s

[Bergen Blade]

http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20121030-birmingham-report-455654.aspx

Think their starting line up was like this:

Willis ​

Hodder Kennedy J.Williams T.Williams ​

Tønne Harriott Pemberton De Girolamo​

Ironside Philliskirk​

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If Kennedy is tall enough to mark Nikola Zigic he should be tall enough to mark anyone. Anders Joa, who had to leave the U18 team for medical reasons, singled out Hodder, Whitehouse and "one in the U16s" - I think this was De Girolamo - as the best of the players he trained with. Hodder is extremely quick.​

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We've had a few U18 reports on here this season, it would be nice if someone shared their thoughts on the U21s as well.​

 

[JohnDenver]

Any news on Whitehouse's crocked foot?

 

[DazBlade88]

I tweeted about this yesterday too, thought it was a really impressive result. The most encouraging thing about this for me is that 6 of that starting line up are actually part of the U18 set up this year, and every substitute they used yesterday is too.

The player he was talking about from the 16s will probably be DeGirolamo, but it could be Dimaio aswell who is another one to look out for.

I've not actually had chance to see the U21s play because of the ridiculous midweek kick off times so I don't know what style they play but I will presume it's similar to the U18s purely for the fact they all seem to make the step up quite comfortably.

Any news on Whitehouse's crocked foot?

He's not far off being fit. He's definitely back training so expect to see him back in a couple of weeks

 

[Balham]

Cheers for the insight Bergen Blade and DazBlade88

Beating Birmingham was a great result - especially when you consider that their team included Nicola Zigic, Papa Bouba Diop and Darren Ambrose as the overage players (with Colin Doyle in goal too). The results for the U21s this season have been good on the whole but the U18s seem to be struggling a little bit more. Is this because we're using a fairly young U18 team?

It's good news about Di Girolamo signing a pro contract - what chance a debut in the JPT against Coventry? I also wonder if that's the game the United management have Whitehouse pencilled in for.

Back to yesterday's game and according to the Birmingham press Matty Harriot was "impressive". I thought he was excellent against Notts Country in the JPT but he doesn't seem to be near the first team squad at the moment. Wilson is currently naming 4 forwards on the bench on a regular basis which seems to me to be complete overkill given his inability to move away from a 4-4-2 formation.

 

[JohnDenver]

Back to yesterday's game and according to the Birmingham press Matty Harriot was "impressive". I thought he was excellent against Notts Country in the JPT but he doesn't seem to be near the first team squad at the moment. Wilson is currently naming 4 forwards on the bench on a regular basis which seems to me to be complete overkill given his inability to move away from a 4-4-2 formation.

When I was a kid I went to a couple of reserve games and watched Graham Anthony spray the ball around like Gordan Cowans. Here's hoping Matty's career turns out better.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

When I was a kid I went to a couple of reserve games and watched Graham Anthony spray the ball around like Gordan Cowans. Here's hoping Matty's career turns out better.

"After brief spells at Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle he settled at Carlisle United where he played regularly for three seasons.[1] He subsequently dropped into non-league football before retiring some time after 2006 to run a guest house in Cumbria"

Whoa. Let's not set the bar too high. It's probably a very nice guest house....

 

[Foxy]

​

We've had a few U18 reports on here this season, it would be nice if someone shared their thoughts on the U21s as well.​

Sadly, due to the new times, I can't make the u21's as I'm at work. Any I do get to will be covered though.

From what I heard from someone I know who was there, Williams had Zigic in his back pocket.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Any news on Whitehouse's crocked foot?

I saw Elliott in the shop across the road before the Walsall game, so I asked him.

He said he'd done some running before that game (and I got the impression this might have been his first running because he must have had that plastic boot on for 3 months).

I asked him when he would be playing again and his first answer was "I don't know" then after more thought he said "3 weeks maybe". The medical team won't have put a date on it yet.

I would interpret this as maybe some competitive U21s activity towards the end of November. I would hope he's ready to take a place on the bench in time for the rush of games at Christmas.

We saw when Doyle stupidly got himself a 3 game ban that we don't have adequate cover.

Personally, I think Elliott will be the next one through and ideal cover for Doyle and he will establish himself in the next few years.

So Elliott and Lecsi just before Christmas would be good news.

 

[sitwell]

will we miss Pemberton ?

 

[UnitedBlade]

will we miss Pemberton ?

We have some good lads at both U18 and U21 level. Pembo didn't have much to do with the U21s and I trust Morgs to make sure any lads coming out of that side have the right mental approach. I don't believe he's ditched the passing game.

I haven't seen the U18s since Jamie took over, but no one could ever doubt he's a Blade through and through. He said on joining that he likes the way the youngsters play the game. He seemed pleased as punch over the 4-1 result on Saturday and said it had been coming.

I don't know how much influence this guy Walmsley from Central Coast will have.

I think the infrastructure and current quality is good so we won't miss Pembo.

 

[Wards]

I saw Elliott in the shop across the road before the Walsall game, so I asked him.

He said he'd done some running before that game (and I got the impression this might have been his first running because he must have had that plastic boot on for 3 months).

I asked him when he would be playing again and his first answer was "I don't know" then after more thought he said "3 weeks maybe". The medical team won't have put a date on it yet.

I would interpret this as maybe some competitive U21s activity towards the end of November. I would hope he's ready to take a place on the bench in time for the rush of games at Christmas.

We saw when Doyle stupidly got himself a 3 game ban that we don't have adequate cover.

Personally, I think Elliott will be the next one through and ideal cover for Doyle and he will establish himself in the next few years.

So Elliott and Lecsi just before Christmas would be good news.

I think the Notts County game proved we do have a replacement for Doyle...Harriot.

Bigger, stronger and back to his normal self this year from what I saw in that game and the reports from the U21s. Would like to think Wilson would stick him in if Doyle, McDonald or Macallister are out.

 

[UnitedBlade]

I think the Notts County game proved we do have a replacement for Doyle...Harriot.

Bigger, stronger and back to his normal self this year from what I saw in that game and the reports from the U21s. Would like to think Wilson would stick him in if Doyle, McDonald or Macallister are out.

Personally I'm still not sure about Matty in the hustle and bustle of first team football. I think Elliott is a better player and can definitely do box to box and score. Undoubtedly he'll put his foot in as well, I'm not sure Matty will prove "hard" enough for that central midfield role.

I saw Harriott and McFadzean play for the U21s v Huddersfield and we were comprehensively outplayed in midfield. Matty did however have a superb shot that hit the bar.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Good photo from the game:

 

[Balham]

Very nice Bergen Blade but how many Shawcrosses is that?