U23 Development League 2017/2018

[sir_gary_cahill]

1-0 Villa Jordan Cox, nice little finish

[sir_gary_cahill]

2-0 Cox again

[Junxs]

Who's this Jordan Cox? 

[BOF]

Just now, Junxs said:

Who's this Jordan Cox? 

18 year old right winger

[BOF]

Well that's HT.   Presumably Kodger subbed off.  Hopefully no ill-effects

[BOF]

Cox opener

 

[BOF]

Cox second.

 

[Phumfeinz]

Nice finishes for both of them

[BOF]

L Armstrong and G Miller have scored for Boro tonight

[BOF]

Blackett-Taylor makes it three.

 

 

O'Hare.  Noice.

 

[sir_gary_cahill]

Thanks BOF

[HanoiVillan]

45 minutes ago, BOF said:

L Armstrong and G Miller have scored for Boro tonight

Amusing on at least two, and arguably three, levels. 

[BOF]

2 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said:

Amusing on at least two, and arguably three, levels. 

Continuing the musical theme, S Smith got a brace for Reading  

[BOF]

Up to second now and we play the league leaders on Friday

After this performance and result, I wonder how many of this side will be missing, with an eye on the senior game the day after.

[Zatman]

I know its for fitness but Van Dijk doesnt look arsed

Suppose still an upgrade on playing in Liverpool back 4  

[OutByEaster?]

That was really quite good. Let's make no bones about it, Southampton are no mugs,  especially at the back, Alfie Jones is very highly rated let alone the fella next to him. It was a good game and in fairness quite even in lots of ways but our finishing set us apart - you won't see a better goal than O'Hare's this season I'd wager.

I'll go straight at the players and try and remember stuff as we go:

Johansen (7) - one error in the first half where he couldn't hold on to a shot and didn't get it far enough away, but a number of good saves and some excellent work in defending and pawing away corners. He looks decent. Incidentally our backup keeper tonight, Emmanuel Idem is the largest eighteen year old in the world.

De Laet (7) - rock solid, helpful where needs be and a good influence on the game. Interesting that he played 90 minutes. He's proved himself fit and able, but you'd kind of like for him to be fit and able to play tomorrow.

Suliman (7) - classy, positionally good, quick enough, good on the ball, he's a bit Southgate. Someone feed this boy for McGrath's sake, it's the only the thing he needs.

Clark (7) - one skinny, one short. He's determined, he's calm on the ball, he knows what he's about and he's got a little bit of talent - I wish he was five inches taller - I don't think he'll end up a right back.

Borg (7) - at times excellent, at times he made mistakes, which is sort of true of all them - he got more and more confident as the game went on and pushed further and further up the pitch. Southampton had a couple of quick, tricky wingers and both Borg and Clark did a terrific job keeping them relatively quiet.

Cox (7) - (8 1st half/62nd half) - sometimes a player in the reserves blossoms - sort of finds his man-legs and gets a burst of pace and power - if that ever happens to Jordan Cox, he'll be a heck of a player. For now he's a little whippet of a right winger, I've never really noticed him much before, but he imposed himself on the first half, going the long way around the full back a couple of times before his first goal which he took with a wonderful calmness and then adding a second by turning past Van Dijk and blasting into the net. He faded in the second half, but if I was him, I'd be telling my "how I beat Van Dijk" story from now until Christmas dinner. Faded, but a lot of promise if he grows a bit.

Clarke (6) - In and out of it, but he worked his socks off - tackled, harried and pressed. 

Doyle-Hayes (6) - the best game I've seen him have is still the one for the first team. Like Clarke he chased everything, but didn't look as assured on the ball as I'd have liked - maybe he needs a bigger crowd?

Blackett-Taylor (7) - he got more than one surname, at times, it's hard to believe he's not more than one player, by turns slow, then quick, with a wonderful then unpredictable first touch - he's got the ability to go past a full back and did so a couple of times tonight with real flair - he's a long way from the finished article, but he's good some good material to work with.

Kodjia (6) - Some nice touches and turns on the ball as Kodj found his feet, never really got into positions where he could drive at the defence, but looked like he enjoyed himself, linked play up nicely and worked well with the youngsters. He had a couple of wrestles with Van Dijk that will have done him the world of good. Happy to sing autographs before the game and looked relaxed - even for him. Welcome back.

O'Hare (9) - man legs strapped on and fully functioning - over the last six to nine months Callum has turned from a little 'un to a mini tank and that bit of added strength and power has turned him into a real threat. He chases everything, never stops running, tackles, takes a kicking and gets up and will complete with anyone. On the ball tonight he was often a joy and nowhere more so than for his goal - coming back to the half way line, he took the ball off a midfielder, played a one two facing his own goal and turned across the centre circle skipping a couple of challenges - the rest you can see on the clip above, but you're only getting half of that goal. He was excellent tonight - to the point where I half wish he hadn't played - he's ready to play on Tuesdays.

Subs 

Knibbs (6) - needs to get stronger - he's tall and he has good feet, but he gets knocked off it a little easily at the moment. It'll come I think. Extra point for the kid n' play haircut.

Mooney (6) - a trier at this point, I'd need to see more of him to figure out what he's good and bad at - took a bit of a whack in the mouth at a corner and had to come off as we played out the last five minutes with ten men.

Bedeau (6) - not too long on the field, but he reminded me a fair bit of the player next to him - at first look he has a lot in common with Suliman.

The referee was appalling, he gave trips, but practically encouraged grappling, wrestling, pulling, pushing and holding. In the end he booked four players - three for dissent - a sign of their frustration with his ability rather than his ability to deal with frustration.

Bruce helped bump the attendance up to 470 and he'll be pleased to have seen Kodjia get a workout, De Laet back to rude health and O'Hare banging on the door - with a little bit of promise on show elsewhere as the cherry on the cake. Southampton look a talented bunch and will have better days, the game was a little more even than 4-0 suggests but I'll take it. The first team empties you out, and the kids fill you up.

 

[BOF]

Stats updated.  Interestingly we had 2 new players added to the squad last night.  Our new youngest member, 16 year old English striker Michael Tait and 18 year old Slovakian midfielder Jozef Pastorek.

[BOF]

Good news.  Tonight's game is available on the Villa youtube channel.  It's live from 18:30BST (KO @ 19:00)

Other games this evening.

Blackburn v Fulham
Newcastle v Wolves
West Brom v Southampton

Boro have already beaten Stoke this gameweek and extended their lead at the top to 8pts.  They're currently looking unstoppable.
Meanwhile Reading drew 2-2 at home with Norwich.

[sir_gary_cahill]

1 hour ago, BOF said:

Good news.  Tonight's game is available on the Villa youtube channel.  It's live from 18:30BST (KO @ 19:00)

Other games this evening.

Blackburn v Fulham
Newcastle v Wolves
West Brom v Southampton

Boro have already beaten Stoke this gameweek and extended their lead at the top to 8pts.  They're currently looking unstoppable.
Meanwhile Reading drew 2-2 at home with Norwich.

Thanks again BOF

[BOF]

Interesting to see Šarkić back between the sticks tonight.  Obviously with him not getting any game time at Wigan they want to keep him active, and this is the best way.