u18s v Chelsea

Scoham

Regular updates from http://twitter.com/#!/chelseayouth Will hopefully get some feedback on our players at some point after the game (he's the Chelsea researcher for FM)

Charlton: Howard, Ajayi, Fox, Osborne, Lennon, Poyet, Jordan, Goldberg, Azeez, Willer, Pigott

Henry Irving

one up already

Scoham

GOAL, Charlton take the lead as Ajayi's cross is swept home by Azeez.

Scoham

GOAL, 2-0 Charlton, Ajayi with the assist again, Goldberg with the finish. Similar goal to the opener.

ISawLeaburnScore

Fantastic

According to top football journo Lee Clayton:

"Charlton creating chances, working the back four and testing the gk. Impressive."

ISawLeaburnScore

#Charlton absolutely running the show. For a club with little money, they are showing the value of an academy team.

Scoham

chelseayouth Half Time: Charlton 2-0 Chelsea. A very deserved lead for the hosts, who have been excellent.

chelseayouth Don't want to be too critical of a very young team but this isn't Chelsea. They're not playing well in any phase, Drummy not happy.

We've got three school boys in there and the rest are first years, so a fairly young team ourselves. Though Chelsea have given a debut to their 18th(!) schoolboy this season

PaulCAFC

Chelsea have a very young team out including 15 and 16 year olds - looks the same as the team that were beaten 4.1 by West ham a few days ago.

Scoham

chelseayouth Azeez is an absolute load in attack. Nkumu doing well in a fascinating battle.

ISawLeaburnScore

According to Clayton Chelsea have improved in the second half and the game is less one sided

Scoham

2-1 now and we've put striker Tom Derry on, one of next seasons new first years

ISawLeaburnScore

Hopefully we'll hold on, could be claiming wins over Spurs and Chelsea inside a week...

Scoham

chelseayouth Chelsea have a huge penalty appeal turned down for foul on Mitchell.

chelseayouth Azeez rattles the outside of the post. Good shot but Blackman may have had it covered.

chelseayouth Charlton's last sub is Popo for Goldberg.

Henry Irving

Eat your heart out Redmidland, this is much more exciting than a first team thread : - )

Scoham

Tense finish coming up

chelseayouth Three injury stoppages in the last five minutes ensures there'll be quite a bit of added time.

Scoham

We won, Chelsea keeper came up for a corner at the end but we held on
chelsea youth Full Time: Charlton 2-1 Chelsea. Much better second half from The Blues but it's just short of enough.

chelseayouth Report will be up soon, that's it for this academy season though, Charlton leapfrog Chelsea, who finish 9th.

Henry Irving

Buy a Valley Gold membership if you can afford it.  This is what it supports ie our youth team beating that of one of the richest clubs in the world.

£120 well spent.

Redmidland

Henry nice one re the match thread.....at least we had a Charlton team winning!!!!

Six-a-bag-of-nuts

@Scoham

What did you make of Harry Lennon, mate?

Scoham

I wasn't there but here's the feedback from the Chelsea FM researcher.

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As you saw, you won 2-1. Played very well first half, less well second as you conceded ground and let us play. First half pressure was impressive, always quick to the ball and dominant in all capacities.

Played a diamond midfield, a narrow one, aim of getting it, playing it to the full backs wide and cutting back for runs into the box.

George Howard: Had very little to do in terms of saves, so we'll cover the rest. Stocky build, right footed, has a long kick. Is patient when dealing with possession, willing to let the ball roll longer to take more time off the clock etc. Creates confidence in him with command of his box, not exceptionally vocal but gets point across.

Semi Ajayi: Played RB today, probably twice the size of our left back, whilst our left winger was a 15 year old debutant. When he runs, he absolutely gallops. Eats ground up so easily, and has good composure and feet in the attacking third. Assisted both goals. Surprisingly though, given his size, he could be stronger with it, losing out a few times to smaller players he shouldn't have.

Harry Lennon: Tall, robust, bit of a throwback. Was happy to defer to Osborne in possession and dealt with high balls well (we don't play many as we're titchy). Does his job with the minimum of fuss.

Harry Osborne: Quiet, but strong, quick and smart. Played right side of the CB pairing, unremarkable qualities but did nothing wrong either.

Morgan Fox: He strikes me as one who 'gets it'. Very vocal, particularly when questioning the referee. Leads by example and by voice, gave our right side nothing in the first half, had more work in the second and didn't fare as well. His attitude helps him out a lot.

Diego Poyet: Classy, classy player. I've never seen him off the field but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's polite, smart and professional in everything he does. Just anchored the team at the base of the diamond, got the ball, played it well, and has the total respect of his teammates. Really enjoyed watching him.

Bradley Jordan: Bit tenacious, dogged, terrier-like in that he's everywhere but he's good on the ball. Likes a shot from outside the box, and he's not bad at them. Faded in the second half.

Jamal Willer: I get the impression he'd rather be wide and running into the box so using him central in a diamond seemed to reduce his effectiveness, but he chased everything and played for the team. When he got the chance to run with it, he's quick.

Bradley Goldberg: Smaller than his other teammates, but clever. Good movement, good vision, good shooting. Was given more freedom in that he didn't appear to have much defensive responsibility, but shone in the first half.

Adebayo Azeez: He's a tank of a lad but impressed me more at Cobham when playing wide, because he can get his legs open and run at full pelt. He didn't do that so much today, they played into him and fed off his hold up play. Was in a great battle with Nkumu, no ground given nor taken, and finished a tie on points really. Finished well, shoots with some power in his boots.

Joe Pigott: Disappointed me a bit, he got in good positions but probably should've scored. Didn't get involved as much as he could have and for a taller lad didn't put himself about a lot either.

Subs: Warren, Derry and Popo, they didn't really do much. Derry appears to be right footed, ran about a bit, offside a coupla times. Warren was the best of the group, they wanted some legs in the middle and he brought what was needed.

Six-a-bag-of-nuts

Thanks Sco.

Wonder if we can keep hold of Diego?

danny777

I know the main purpose is to develop players, not necessarily to win games, but if the u18s play in a league, why doesn't the OS ever show the table?

LoOkOuT

Well done U18s.