Just got back from watching this. It was an incredibly young team (most of our lads were 15/16) and we lost 2-0 to Middlesborough, who were a team full of men compared to us. A good team too even without the size/age advantage. In fact, half of our eligible and best under 18s players were quite literally sat next to me. Garcia, Humphries, Tosin, Nemane, Kongolo all literally to my right in their tracksuits, Vieira mooching about too - guess they'd just had training that morning so popped along to watch the rest. Nice to see Humphries and Tosin side by side even in the stands - proper partnership that. Ha. Crazy to think those 'senior' academy lads are either 16 or recently turned 17 too.
The team was a mixed one. We had Albinson in goal, Callum Bullock at right back, Sam Tattum and Charlie Oliver in the middle and a young lad called 'Domeko' (or something like that, no idea how to spell it) on the left - I asked Aaron Nemane sat next me who he was. English lad but I'd never heard of him. Apparently nearly as young as 14 and he's usually a right back according to someone else I asked, but the coaches insist on switching positions with players to improve them. Second half him and Bullock switched sides. Both struggled if im being honest. Only young though and they will improve.
We had a midfield three of Wood, Will Patching and Celina. Dilruson on the left, Fernandes on the right and Buckley through the middle. Second half Tom Dele-Bashiru and Lukas Nmecha came on as Buckley and Celina picked up knocks.
To be honest, we didn't really do anything. Couldn't really create or cut through against a much more confident Middlesbrough team who capitalised on our naivety in possession - we tried to passing it out but it wasn't really happening. There were sporadic moments of quality from the two wide men, Fernandes and Dilrosun, but the final ball let them down. Buckley, and later on Nmecha, ran about a lot but they had scraps to feed off. Celina couldn't really get into his stride and found himself a lot deeper than normal, whereas Wood burst forward with pace and power a few times, striding through their midfield impressively, but he kept undoing all his good work by then giving it away cheaply, and often. Patching floated about looking quite elegant, reminding me of Huws at times, but did little really. Tattum was the captain at CB - usually a RB, but i can see why they're trying him there. He's a committed lad and a good little player. I wouldn't think he'd ever make it in the centre though and he's definitely a full back in my opinion. It's a waste of his energy playing him there.
In general it was a poor performance, but as ever I enjoyed the experience of the game and being in and around the academy. It really is a beautiful place and we're lucky to have it. I took this little panorama of inside the academy at half time where the coffee and tea bit was and its very nice.
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One huge complaint though. Getting in was a fucking nightmare. The clubs a joke with al things re Academy games at the moment. Info is terrible and pointlessly vague. They weren't letting ANY spectators in when we got there - only family, despite on their site saying fans can email at least twenty four hours earlier to get email confirmation to go in. I'll hold my hands up and admit that I didn't do that, but even though it was behind closed doors on the side pitches i'd be in before and just gotten a pass and it was no problem after signing in. I presumed, fairly imo, that i'd be able to do the same today. Others though even had emails back from some bloke yet the security still insisted that no one would be allowed in today as it came from the top, apparently. A shambles - there was only about twenty of us! After about fifteen minutes moaning some bloke came out and begrudgingly apologised to us all saying the bloke had gone on holiday and not forwarded on the message to let some in. Couldn't make it up… he then issued us passes and let us in five minutes after kick off. Terribly run and totally unnecessary. The club really needs to sort it out as they're contradicting themselves left, right and centre and alienating loyal fans who go watch the young lads for absolutely no reason.
