FA Youth Cup 2014/15 Thread

[Bilboblue]

(I posted this over on another City forum I use but i'll post it here too as i was that impressed)

Traffic meant we were a few minutes later but walked in to see Crewe wallop one in through the horrible snowy/sleety stuff from twenty five yards in the top corner. After that it was totally one-sided though. Centre-backs, Tosin A. and Cameron Humphries strolled through it and both looked comfortable in possession throughout. I thought Kean Bryan was excellent once again following on his from performance against Schalke last week - he just makes the right choice nearly every time and reads the game so well. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up a premiership player.

The two spanish terriers were both great at fullback again - Maffeo and Angelino are both brilliant little players. Angelino set up the first after some great work down the left with Barker and curled it across with pace for Nemane to put it away at the back post. Maffeo is just pure Zaba in the way he works with so much determination. He's always one step ahead of his opponent, same with Angelino. Great determination.

Not one of the forwards had a bad game. Celina was fantastic, i thought. Two or three great long range efforts, one from 30 yards crashed the bar and his goal was beautiful - bang in the centre of the pitch 25 yards out he suddenly burst past his opponent who was facing him square, dropped his shoulder and placed it in the bottom right hand corner from the edge of the area. Unstoppable to be honest. He was pulling the strings the whole game and there were so many lovely little delicate touches and flicks. Barker was typically Barker; a frightening pacey terror. I was really impressed with his work rate and his two finishes were excellent - the second was a ball over the top which he won a foot race with a Crewe defender trying to pull him down, yet he still managed to slot it past the kepper. He's a very good finisher. He played a nice little lay off for Boadu's goal too, who finished in a similar way to Celina, cooly placing the ball in the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Boadu really shone for me - first time i've seen him in person in his preferred position just behind the striker and i thought he bullied them a bit at times. Last couple of times ive seen him he's played as a CF and it's really clear to me that the strength in his game comes from running from deep. He reminded me of Barkley actually. He's a big strong lad who is very adept at skipping past players and he did it a few times and could have a couple of assists if other players' finishing had been a bit better. He's not just a runner though and he can see a pass, one that followed a powerful surging run which took three players out of the game before he put Celina through on goal stood out. Nemane wasn't quite at his very best but he was still a menace down the right and took his goal well, setting one up too for Ambrose through sheer persistence and selfless play. He's fucking rapid too. Ambrose played up top and i thought he had a solid game - though i think i've seen him play better on the right but he still lead the line well and i do think he's a better natural option up top than Pozo.

Young Portugese lad came on called Fernandes and he just carried on where Barker left off. I was really, really impressed with his contribution. He came on on the right and he kept skinning his fullback repeatedly - he's absolutely tiny but very darty and nippy and loves a trick. It was his skinning of the full back and powerful drive that lead to the goalmouth scramble that resulted in Ambrose's goal. He physically looked like Nery Castillo if anyone remembers him but played like Navas if he had flair. Marcus Wood came on and took over from Kean Bryan and did basically the exact same composed job. We got a brief Garcia cameo too.

Overall i thought it was genuinely top class stuff. I really liked the formation. Kean Bryan holding with Boadu and Celina as AMs behind Ambrose with Barker and Nemane as proper wingers. It felt so fluid and the team's ability to pass it around simply, retain possession and then quickly step up the pace and run directly at Crewe caused them so many problems. There was loads of flair in this team - it's notable compared to the first team how many players we have who want to beat a man. We have about 2/3 at most who run with pace at people in the whole of our first team squad but we had about 6/7 on the pitch tonight alone who had pace, flair and work-rate. They all play football too - none of the stuff we saw from Weiss for example, running with the ball when he should pass etc. They know when to do what they have to do and after the events of the first team, im not gonna lie it was really heartening stuff.

I've probably gone a bit over the top but i genuinely hugely enjoyed that. The desire was brilliant and we do have some wonderful young talent at our disposal and seeing them all click at the same time tonight was a pleasure.

great report that, twosips, thank you.

 

[Neville Kneville]

There was one move between Angelino & Barker receiving a pretty hard struck pass, a volleyed pass inside, all the pace taken off, placed in front of a guy running full tilt, & a return pass, all in abou the space of a phone box, all done in a flash.

Kolarov, Milner etc would have no fucking chance of ever pulling off anything even resembling any of it, let alone getting all the touches right, nor defending against it, without kicking them up in the air.

But can they do the behind the leg chop that Sasha thinks still fools his opponents? :)

It fools him, that's for sure.

 

[twosips]

I just fail to see how most of these won't make it as top league professional footballers. They're just too good.

Remember Milner's goal the other week where Silva and Nasri played about three one-twos to each other before crossing it for him to head it in? They're all capable of one touch football like that. It's frightening potentially - we have to make the most of it.

 

[.A.]

Key is for us to get a coach who will be able to integrate these lads in the next 2/3 years. Look at Pocchetto's work at Southampton, with the likes of Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Shaw and now at Spurs with Mason, Dier and Kane. Brendan Rodgers is another who's put faith in the likes of Ibe, Sterling and Flanagan as well as maximising the potential of Sturridge and Henderson. That's what proper coaches do.

It would be tragic if we hire another Pellegrini-type who's insecurity in his tactical ability sees him exclusively field expensive over 25s to bail him out. Taking into account the likes of Gunn, Denayer, Byrne and Lopes as well those who featured tonight, we can genuinely expect to be fielding 6 home grown starters minimum within 5 years. These kids are that good.

 

[Nelly's Left Foot]

There was one move between Angelino & Barker receiving a pretty hard struck pass, a volleyed pass inside, all the pace taken off, placed in front of a guy running full tilt, & a return pass, all in abou the space of a phone box, all done in a flash.

Kolarov, Milner etc would have no fucking chance of ever pulling off anything even resembling any of it, let alone getting all the touches right, nor defending against it, without kicking them up in the air.

Wasn't that the start of the assist for Nemane? If it wasn't that it was brilliant either way.

It was the first goal and it was right in front of the crowd. One second the ball was played to Barker by Angelino was set of racing towards him. Barker knocked it at Angelino was controlled it and knocked it past the full back at pace and he was away.The cross was early and it was a great goal.

So much quality on show tonight you could was lyrical about almost all of them. How about a mention for Fernandez who came on for the last 20 minutes. Left footed but plays wide right. A slight lad but tons of quality and we saw plenty of it tonight. Although very left footed he can threaten from both feet.

Looking forward now to the game against Fulham on Friday albeit the "older" lads and then the 18's on Saturday morning.The 18's for that one will probably have none or maybe a couple at most of tonight's 18's side.

 

[twosips]

Fernandes was fantastic. As good a cameo as you're likely to see. Technically he's superb.

 

[jollylescott]

Thanks very much twosips. It is so positive and uplifting to read your report after the watching the first team shoot themselves in their collective feet. I honestly felt like posting your report on the main BlueMoon forum as an antidote to all the doom and gloom.

It's sometimes easy to forget the talent coming throughout the ranks. As you know the vast majority of fans would have no idea of the talent of Boadu, or our very special two young fullbacks, or Bryan, Barker, Ambrose and Celina. It's a shame really because they are missing out on watching some future champions.

As you said there is a wealth of talent coming through and it's hard to single one or two out. To do so would be doing a disservice to the rest of the team.

While I am handing out the complements I also think that Wilcox deserves a bouquet. He is doing a tremendous job with the under 18's.

Thanks again and keep it up. There are a lot of fans who can't get to games, and your report painted a fantastic visual picture for me.

 

[Centurions]

Re: FA Youth Cup Draw - Possible City v United Final

How I wish that had been televised...

Well done lads. First leg is at home against Leicester. http://www.thefa.com/fa-youth-cup/fixtures has our semi's as Sat 7th & Sat 21st of March but I'm guessing that's the week beginning (?).

Manchester City v Leicester City - ?

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea - Thur 05/03/15 @ 19:45 KO (2nd leg, Wed 18/03/15 @ 19:00 KO)

Please, please. please stream it City.

 

[twosips]

Thanks very much twosips. It is so positive and uplifting to read your report after the watching the first team shoot themselves in their collective feet. I honestly felt like posting your report on the main BlueMoon forum as an antidote to all the doom and gloom.

It's sometimes easy to forget the talent coming throughout the ranks. As you know the vast majority of fans would have no idea of the talent of Boadu, or our very special two young fullbacks, or Bryan, Barker, Ambrose and Celina. It's a shame really because they are missing out on watching some future champions.

As you said there is a wealth of talent coming through and it's hard to single one or two out. To do so would be doing a disservice to the rest of the team.

While I am handing out the complements I also think that Wilcox deserves a bouquet. He is doing a tremendous job with the under 18's.

Thanks again and keep it up. There are a lot of fans who can't get to games, and your report painted a fantastic visual picture for me.

Well that's it for me too - i've been feeling well glum about all things City related all week and ive found reading forums depressing places. This game last night was refreshing. I absolutely loved it and it's properly cheered me up and I just wish there were more there to have witnessed it. It was that good and it's impossible not to feel hugely excited about our future when you see em play like that.

And no problem - i'll keep writing them.

 

[SaddleworthBlueRhino]

Really enjoyed the game. Home and away semi finals here I come. Do they have to be played at the main stadium?