We lost 1-2, having dominated the game. The team played good skilful passing football despite missing some key players including Callum Harriot and Stephen Camacho. Some excellent performances from Joe Carter, looking very assured at left back, and Jordan Cousins at centre back. Connor Morris, Freddie Warren played well and Azeez was always a threat up front. Our goal came from a penalty - Joe Piggot bravely chased down a bit of a lost-cause ball into the penalty area and was then floored by the Saints' outrushing keeper. The penalty kick was well taken by Tosan Popo. We looked to be heading for a well deserved victory until a 40 yard free kick took everyone by surprise (including the Southampton player who took it!). It was obviously over hit and looped over everyone and into the back of the net. Our tall goalkeeper, Conor Gough, might perhaps have saved it if he'd been slightly more agile but nonetheless it was a freak goal. And Conor Gough certainly couldn't take the blame for Southampton's second goal a minute or so before full time - it came from a corner, the ball bobbled around in the penalty area and was poked in through a melee of players. An undeserved defeat but a heartening performance. I still think this group of players looks our best U18s for a couple of seasons. Maybe, like the first team, they need a bit more steel, a bit more belief in themselves and.... some luck.
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As you are such a great follower of our youth sides and were the first person to tell us that there was a young boy called Shelvey who looked quite promising (when he was about 14 , I think!) , I have a huge respect for your judgement.
And while I'm on, do come and watch some more Kent cricket with me next season. As a life member, I now have a second free ticket for every KCCC match for the rest of my life. More often than not the second ticket goes unusued - so please give me a call any time you fancy a day out at Canterbury, T Wells or Beckenham!
You say it's the best group in a few years, who would do you think has a real chance of eventually breaking into the first team? Obviously the club rate Cousins highly, but what about the others?
Hey Paddy. Yes, Diego was playing yesterday. He certainly didn't boss the game - Freddie Warren was much more dominant in midfield - but he looks useful and committed. It seems as if he also has a Latin short-fuse: he picked up a yellow after a couple of incidents and a go at the ref. From what I could gather from a couple of guys there that's par for the course!
Hi Uncle - what age group is Connor? There were a couple of U18s I wasn't able to put a name to yesterday and - as part of the cut-backs I suppose - they don't hand out team sheets any more.
You say it's the best group in a few years, who would do you think has a real chance of eventually breaking into the first team? Obviously the club rate Cousins highly, but what about the others?[/quote]
Hi Scoham. The thing is that they are a good group, rather than a good collection of very very talented individuals. There's no one who stands out as much as Shelvey, Waggy or Solly did, but at the moment I would say that Callum Harriot, Jordan Cousins, Joe Carter and Freddie Warren show real promise. But it worries me at this level to over-estimate or under-estimate kids who are still developing. I'd love the Academy to get more attention from CAFC supporters but at the same time I fear that some of the instant judgements that people make might have a poor effect on the kids.
Is easy to over/underrate based on a game or two, look at Solly. In the summer there were a fair few fans saying they didn't rate him. Yet after the Bournemouth game, and Francis' unconvincing performances, people want Solly back in the team when fit. The players who turn pro do for a good reason, Wagstaff looked poor after being thrown in too early by Pardew, but in the last year has shown in the first team what they all saw in him.
What sort of midfielder is Diego? Be interesting to see if he starts for England in the Victory Shield.
What sort of midfielder is Diego? Be interesting to see if he starts for England in the Victory Shield.[/quote]
I've only seen him once. On that very limited evidence he seemed like a combative defensive midfielder unafraid of going in with passion.
Probably true. Also applies to a number of the current kids playing for the U18s since quite a few genuine U18s are out on loan or are on the fringes of the first team and therefore not playing in these matches.
He's 15, actually, after I just quickly stalked his profile. Bodes well.
I was thinking of guys like Yado Mambo, Carl Jenkinson, Ben Davisson, Lewis Perkins who kind-of still figure on the Academy list but who have been fast-tracked out on loan or into the first team squad.
You a regular at the U18 games, Paul? If so, we ought to meet up for a chat at one of them.
Also saw that in the same u16 squad is Bryan Gunn's son Angus who's only 14.
Report on the OS
Team was- Gough; Morris, Carter, Osborne, Cousins; Sho-Silva (Pigott 60), Poyet, Warren, Willer (Ajayi 60); Popo, Azeez. Subs (not used): Hall, Fox, Goldberg
Hey Dick - I agree. Except I'd go further and say that I get more enjoyment watching the youngsters - probably because there's less riding on the results and I can just enjoy the football.