I was there tonight, and delighted to see the lads deservedly win the championship. Now for the play offs to become national champions at this level. I can see why Millwall had a game abandoned after a brawl, I gave up counting after their sixth booking, but intimidating better opponents is the way they feel they will get rewarded, and it seems to run like a culture through their club. Mind you they did pull one back with a lovely goal from their best player McNamara. In the first half I think the Millwall tactic was to let us have the ball and they would soak it up. Just as well for them really, because when they had the ball they didn't really know what to do with it. Lots of good performances from our lads tonight, a bit unfair to single anybody out, but once again Lapslie was the player who held the whole team together. I estimate the crowd at 200 or so.
I can see quite a few of this group having a future as professional footballers. RCC, Umerah, Hanlan, KAG, Djiksteel, Barnes, Edwards and perhaps a keeper. There may be a few missed.
Today could've quite easily, kicked off big time. The Millwall lads were aggressive and some of the challenges going in were shocking really. The worst one could've quite easily ended Archie Edwards' career before it had even started. You don't like to see that in Development football.
The ref was very poor. He offered our players no protection. He booked their full back for that challenge on Edwards - which means he saw it. How it wasn't a straight red was beyond me. Barnes got booked for telling the ref exactly what happened. "He was off the ground, out of control and his studs were up."
We played very well considering. We kept our cool and for our first, Yamfam and Barnes linked up well before Barnes was taken out in the box. For our second, Lapslie played a lovely in swinging Dre kick into the box and Dan Bowry just nodded home.
The Millwall consolation was from their only player who was up for playing football and he played well in truth. Was a good finish against the run of play.
This time last season, I was saying that Barnes was the weak link in the team, Mitov would get snapped up by a Prem team and KAG would be playing frequently in our 1st team this season. It goes to show that you can never really tell how players develop and that's why development football is so much better than just reserve team fixtures.
From the current crop of youngsters, I can see Dijksteel, Barnes and Lapslie really pushing in next season. Barnes has come on leaps and bounds this season and his decision making has improved a lot. Lapslie and Dijsteel are very composed on the ball and work hard off of it. Lapslie more so than Dijsteel.
Many of our youngsters could push on - but I'd like to see more of them go out on development loans. If the club aren't willing to do that, then they need to be looking at moving to the next youth level because our lads aren't really tested as much as they could be. That's our 4th development league title in a row.
They've played very well and credit must go to Euell and his staff.
Just emphasises the need to build the training ground to get cat 1 status so we can move up to the higher level but that's nothing to do with the kids and takes nothing away from their or Jason Euell and the other coaches achievements.
Bowry impressed me when I've seen him and he's young in that group. Lapsie too.
Well done to the lads. I have enjoyed watching the U23s this season. There is a togetherness and organisation that the first team could learn from. Euell deserves to Coach at a higher level. I couldn't make it last night as I am away but I will be back for the home semi final.
Just emphasises the need to build the training ground to get cat 1 status so we can move up to the higher level but that's nothing to do with the kids and takes nothing away from their or Jason Euell and the other coaches achievements.
Bowry impressed me when I've seen him and he's young in that group. Lapsie too.
Accurate summaries by both Seth and Rugby, and an indictment of what seems to be the 'Millwall' approach to football. I had just 25 seconds on my stopwatch when Matt Carter was crunched by an AWFUL tackle, and in the aftermath of the flying tackle that saw Barnes booked for having the temerity to offer a captain's opinion of the incident, the opinions of the crowd could be clearly heard! Excellent penalty by KAG and superb header by Bobby Bowry from Lapslie's free kick in a fine team display which also featured good individual performances. They absorbed Millwall pressure well late-on, and responded well to Euell's 'coaching' advice of 'keep the ball'! A rewarding evening.
Wasn't impressed with Wednesday when we beat them recently with something to spare. Hull are dangerous and hopefully Millwall can eliminate them on Friday.
Just emphasises the need to build the training ground to get cat 1 status so we can move up to the higher level but that's nothing to do with the kids and takes nothing away from their or Jason Euell and the other coaches achievements.
Bowry impressed me when I've seen him and he's young in that group. Lapsie too.
Does anyone know the date and venue of the Under 23s semi-final ?
I think that Karl Robinson mentioned that their game was on "Monday week" - i.e. on 8 May - but I see that Hull have to replay their abandoned game against Millwall before the final league placings are resolved.
Lapslie, Barnes, Djiksteel and KAG are better than some players in their position in 1st eleven this season (inc a certain RB).
I paused and had a chat with Kevin Nolan on Saturday, he had been at the U23's game against Millwall, but he is not a regular (and he doesn't come on here more's the pity), anyway he was very enthusiastic about George Lapslie, as am I. What worries me is when people hear good reports (including Roland!) they say they reckon Lapslie is ready or Archie Edwards or whoever. Of course young players have to be ready sometime, but there are examples close to home where we have not taken the right kind of care regarding the introduction of younger players. If Roland or anybody else thinks that these young players can all suddenly be pitched into mens first team football just like that, they would be advised to pause and consider if the youngsters can simply step up as 'ready made'. It is much more complex than that. Ask Joe Piggot, and also ask Harry Arter or even Oztumer who his fellow pro's voted into the League One team of the year.
Agree Seth but in the last three meaningless matches we had an ideal chance to give youngsters game time. Not all together, but in a side that recently has some structure. It was embarrasing to see our captain chasing shadows yesterday, when Lapslie or Djiksteel could have boosted confidence against players they probably trounced in U23s.
Comments
Great stuff, lads !
And stuffed the Spanners too !
What's not to like ?
It would be wonderful if our owner wanted success for the first team as well. We live in hope.
Well well welll..
There always to me anyway appears to be a plan for each team he sends out.
I can see why Millwall had a game abandoned after a brawl, I gave up counting after their sixth booking, but intimidating better opponents is the way they feel they will get rewarded, and it seems to run like a culture through their club. Mind you they did pull one back with a lovely goal from their best player McNamara.
In the first half I think the Millwall tactic was to let us have the ball and they would soak it up. Just as well for them really, because when they had the ball they didn't really know what to do with it.
Lots of good performances from our lads tonight, a bit unfair to single anybody out, but once again Lapslie was the player who held the whole team together. I estimate the crowd at 200 or so.
The ref was very poor. He offered our players no protection. He booked their full back for that challenge on Edwards - which means he saw it. How it wasn't a straight red was beyond me. Barnes got booked for telling the ref exactly what happened. "He was off the ground, out of control and his studs were up."
We played very well considering. We kept our cool and for our first, Yamfam and Barnes linked up well before Barnes was taken out in the box. For our second, Lapslie played a lovely in swinging Dre kick into the box and Dan Bowry just nodded home.
The Millwall consolation was from their only player who was up for playing football and he played well in truth. Was a good finish against the run of play.
This time last season, I was saying that Barnes was the weak link in the team, Mitov would get snapped up by a Prem team and KAG would be playing frequently in our 1st team this season. It goes to show that you can never really tell how players develop and that's why development football is so much better than just reserve team fixtures.
From the current crop of youngsters, I can see Dijksteel, Barnes and Lapslie really pushing in next season. Barnes has come on leaps and bounds this season and his decision making has improved a lot. Lapslie and Dijsteel are very composed on the ball and work hard off of it. Lapslie more so than Dijsteel.
Many of our youngsters could push on - but I'd like to see more of them go out on development loans. If the club aren't willing to do that, then they need to be looking at moving to the next youth level because our lads aren't really tested as much as they could be. That's our 4th development league title in a row.
They've played very well and credit must go to Euell and his staff.
Just emphasises the need to build the training ground to get cat 1 status so we can move up to the higher level but that's nothing to do with the kids and takes nothing away from their or Jason Euell and the other coaches achievements.
Bowry impressed me when I've seen him and he's young in that group. Lapsie too.
Wish them all luck. Home semi final V northern runners up so could still face Millwall in the final
http://us.soccerway.com/national/england/central-league/20162017/regular-season/r35951/
1 Sheffield Wedn… 28 15 5 8 43 28 +15 50 DLWDL
2 Bolton Wandere… 28 13 7 8 53 42 +11 46 LWWWD
3 Crewe Alexandr… 28 13 7 8 53 46 +7 46 WLWWW
4 Hull City U23 27 14 3 10 49 41 +8 45 LWWWW
5 Huddersfield T… 28 13 5 10 54 42 +12 44 WLWWW
6 Birmingham Cit… 27 12 7 8 42 37 +5 43 WWLWW
7 Sheffield Unit… 28 12 6 10 49 43 +6 42 LLWLW
8 Nottingham Forest 27 10 5 12 41 34 +7 35 WLLLD
9 Barnsley U23 28 9 4 15 35 50 -15 31 LDLLW
10 Leeds United U23 26 5 6 15 30 50 -20 21
Well actually, he needs to beat Millwall (h) to play Charlton at the Valley. Tidy set up to see the season out
I think that Karl Robinson mentioned that their game was on "Monday week" - i.e. on 8 May - but I see that Hull have to replay their abandoned game against Millwall before the final league placings are resolved.
What worries me is when people hear good reports (including Roland!) they say they reckon Lapslie is ready or Archie Edwards or whoever.
Of course young players have to be ready sometime, but there are examples close to home where we have not taken the right kind of care regarding the introduction of younger players.
If Roland or anybody else thinks that these young players can all suddenly be pitched into mens first team football just like that, they would be advised to pause and consider if the youngsters can simply step up as 'ready made'. It is much more complex than that.
Ask Joe Piggot, and also ask Harry Arter or even Oztumer who his fellow pro's voted into the League One team of the year.