Back from this. I suppose after we went 5-1 Boro knew it was a cup game, and played for some pride, and we might have psychologically eased off so Boro gave it a go and dominated the last 30 minutes. However it was a pretty good performance from us, especially without any of Umerah, KAG or Hanlan available. The thing with Kennedy is he sometimes looks like a standard type of footballer, but he does have an uncanny knack of racking up the goals, he had an assist today as well as his two goals. Hackett Fairchild is coming along nicely, but in terms of the pecking order he is in the right place, still a bit of a raw talent that should continue to develop and there are others rightly ahead of him at the moment. Decent performances all over the pitch, the less experienced Doughty grew into the game and deserves a mention, Lapslie reverted to his midfield role and was his usual consistent high level self. We have won two, drawn one and lost one in this competition so far, and have a good chance of progressing.
Surprisingly good performance given the number of key players either on loan or in the first team squad. Boro overrun us for first 25 minutes and could easily been three up. After our equaliser two bad looking injuries meant they lost two key players and we scored four more from essentially every chance we had.
Thereafter it was all Boro again who could have made it a lot closer. I thought Bowry and Dijksteel were the pick of the bunch. Impressed with my first glimpse of Doughty. Good to see Regan and Terrell there as was damien Matthew. Stood next to a Reading scout who was apparently watching Barnes. Well done the youth.
Surprisingly good performance given the number of key players either on loan or in the first team squad. Boro overrun us for first 25 minutes and could easily been three up. After our equaliser two bad looking injuries meant they lost two key players and we scored four more from essentially every chance we had.
Thereafter it was all Boro again who could have made it a lot closer. I thought Bowry and Dijksteel were the pick of the bunch. Impressed with my first glimpse of Doughty. Good to see Regan and Terrell there as was damien Matthew. Stood next to a Reading scout who was apparently watching Barnes. Well done the youth.
How good is Barnes? We have Konsa and Byrne who can provide depth at RB which, given we're out of the cups should be enough to see us through the end of the year. But should we get a couple injuries to say Solly and Byrne, is Barnes ready to make the step up to the first team bench as cover?
My first visit to the Under 23 and a enjoyable game. Feared the worst as Boro were very dominant first 10 and were one nil up. Then our midfield took over and we played some excellent football. Looked so much better when we passed it than when we tried to hit Hackett-Fairchild in the first half. Came out second half and killed the game off. Yao went off and Dijksteel moved back to the back and the game petered from a Charlton point of view after that. Dijksteel really impressed. Strong and can pick a pass. Look good at centre half too. Kennedy took his goals well and his movement was good. Not as good when he moved back into midfield. Alfie Doughty had a tidy game. I think he is one of the under 18s but look composed on the ball. Hackett-Fairchild scored twice but not sure as a target man. Overall a very enjoyable day out. Better then working!
I am not sure about Barnes. Certainly loves to get forward but not sure about his defensive side. This was exactly what I said over a number of years about Fox and my view never really changed. Barnes is a lot quicker than Fox though so could play the role full backs are required to do today ie in the attacking third. Fwiw still not sure about Kennedy but he has improved considerably this season so huge credit to him.
Dijksteel is quality and will push for Crofts role as holding midfielder next season imo.
Bowry looks a real prospect, quick and good in the air. Not sure he is better than Thomas though. I would like to see Yao kick on. His partnership with Konsa was the highlight of that under 18 winning team 3 years ago.
Barnes has made a bit of a leap forward since his injury in my view. I was unconvinced by him a while ago, but he has qualities, probably as an attacking defender as it were. Kennedy is the enigma at the moment. I don't know when this Derry move might or might not happen, but he might be worth a sub's slot sometime over the next few weeks.
A most enjoyable afternoon and a very good performance by our lads. It was enhanced by the opening of the pitchside Badger's Social Club, albeit that we found ourselves being gently ejected from the 'Scout's area' of the bar by one Peter Burrowes (for it was he - guardian of the half time custard creams).
Boro caught us cold in the first 90 seconds with a long ball from the back, which their wonderfully named centre-forward, Bradley Fewster, expertly tucked away. He and his colleagues up front gave our defence a hard time for the first 15-20 minutes and, overall, we looked a bit lightweight compared to a larger, beefier and generally sharper Boro side. To our players' credit, they played their way back into the game, sensibly eschewing the long ball against big centre backs, and their persistence with short, sharp passing eventually started to create opportunities. Dijksteel fired in an equaliser when a corner dropped to him and after Kennedy missed a decent chance from a ball over the top, he capitalised on a disastrous backpass just before half time to round the keeper and put us 2-1 up. In between time, our opponents lost two players to nasty injuries, which clearly disrupted them. Indeed, we went close to a third goal just before half time, when their goalie just managed to scoop an effort off the line.
And so to the warmth of 'Badger's Bar' at half time...only to emerge a couple of minutes late for the second half -a consequence of a queue for hot chocolate and beer and a quick visit to the gents - to find it was 4-1 ! Alas, two goals missed, but at least they went in the right net. Kennedy didn't waste too much time in making it five with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the box and it was game over. Boro, to their credit, worked hard to try and get back into the game and got one back when Mitov seemed to gather a cross but then lost his balance and dropped the ball into the net. There were a few other close shaves with good deliveries into our box but we saw the game out reasonably comfortably and will hopefully now progress in the competition.
Lapslie and Djiksteel (a strong lad who uses his body well) were impressive, as was Mikhail Kennedy once he and the team got going. The young left back, Alfie Doughty, had a slightly shaky start but grew into the game and did very well. Overall, a good team performance, especially given the absence of players like Hanlon, Umerah, Aherne-Grant, Aribo and Charles Regan-Cook (I had a quick word with the latter, who said he was looking forward to crossing swords with Brandon Hanlon and Bromley on Saturday).
As the more regular watchers of the Under 23s have said, this is a very well coached and disciplined team who clearly know what they are doing.
A couple of pints in the Hare & Billet with my Boro supporting mate rounded off an excellent afternoon.
Comments
I suppose after we went 5-1 Boro knew it was a cup game, and played for some pride, and we might have psychologically eased off so Boro gave it a go and dominated the last 30 minutes.
However it was a pretty good performance from us, especially without any of Umerah, KAG or Hanlan available. The thing with Kennedy is he sometimes looks like a standard type of footballer, but he does have an uncanny knack of racking up the goals, he had an assist today as well as his two goals.
Hackett Fairchild is coming along nicely, but in terms of the pecking order he is in the right place, still a bit of a raw talent that should continue to develop and there are others rightly ahead of him at the moment.
Decent performances all over the pitch, the less experienced Doughty grew into the game and deserves a mention, Lapslie reverted to his midfield role and was his usual consistent high level self.
We have won two, drawn one and lost one in this competition so far, and have a good chance of progressing.
Thereafter it was all Boro again who could have made it a lot closer. I thought Bowry and Dijksteel were the pick of the bunch. Impressed with my first glimpse of Doughty. Good to see Regan and Terrell there as was damien Matthew. Stood next to a Reading scout who was apparently watching Barnes. Well done the youth.
Dijksteel is quality and will push for Crofts role as holding midfielder next season imo.
Don't know much about him other than he's a CB - how do those that have seen him rate him?
http://mobile.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-athletic-football-club-dan-bowry-contract-extension-3572951.aspx
Boro caught us cold in the first 90 seconds with a long ball from the back, which their wonderfully named centre-forward, Bradley Fewster, expertly tucked away. He and his colleagues up front gave our defence a hard time for the first 15-20 minutes and, overall, we looked a bit lightweight compared to a larger, beefier and generally sharper Boro side. To our players' credit, they played their way back into the game, sensibly eschewing the long ball against big centre backs, and their persistence with short, sharp passing eventually started to create opportunities. Dijksteel fired in an equaliser when a corner dropped to him and after Kennedy missed a decent chance from a ball over the top, he capitalised on a disastrous backpass just before half time to round the keeper and put us 2-1 up. In between time, our opponents lost two players to nasty injuries, which clearly disrupted them. Indeed, we went close to a third goal just before half time, when their goalie just managed to scoop an effort off the line.
And so to the warmth of 'Badger's Bar' at half time...only to emerge a couple of minutes late for the second half -a consequence of a queue for hot chocolate and beer and a quick visit to the gents - to find it was 4-1 ! Alas, two goals missed, but at least they went in the right net. Kennedy didn't waste too much time in making it five with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the box and it was game over. Boro, to their credit, worked hard to try and get back into the game and got one back when Mitov seemed to gather a cross but then lost his balance and dropped the ball into the net. There were a few other close shaves with good deliveries into our box but we saw the game out reasonably comfortably and will hopefully now progress in the competition.
Lapslie and Djiksteel (a strong lad who uses his body well) were impressive, as was Mikhail Kennedy once he and the team got going. The young left back, Alfie Doughty, had a slightly shaky start but grew into the game and did very well. Overall, a good team performance, especially given the absence of players like Hanlon, Umerah, Aherne-Grant, Aribo and Charles Regan-Cook (I had a quick word with the latter, who said he was looking forward to crossing swords with Brandon Hanlon and Bromley on Saturday).
As the more regular watchers of the Under 23s have said, this is a very well coached and disciplined team who clearly know what they are doing.
A couple of pints in the Hare & Billet with my Boro supporting mate rounded off an excellent afternoon.