As Doug said, it was a weird one. I kinda thought City dominated really for the first 70 minutes before it all went tits up. I thought the turning point was pretty clear; Boadu went off injured and we just seemed to lose control of the midfield after that. It really stood out to me how clear it was that he was the best player on the pitch - he was basically the same age as many out there but it felt like he was playing amongst boys, whereas he is most definitely well on the way to becoming a man. Bigger, more assured, more confident. It felt like he'd outgrown many of the players around him after becoming part of Wilcox's Youth Cup team alongside Barker, Angelino etc. As honest and as hardworking as they were, for example, Vasi and Tattum were no Maffeo and Angelino, and Dilrosun isn't even fit to lacing Barker's boots at the moment. It bodes (you have no idea how much I wanted to make a Boadu/bodes pun there...but didn't, kind of) well though as it looks like he enjoys the responsibility - he appears to be getting better with each game and i think he's becoming a real prospect.
West Brom in the end were good value for their win as the way City capitulated was a little tragic in the end, though I did miss the last goal as I was legging it home to catch the first team. I knew it'd happen though, you could see it unfolding. We were incredibly vulnerable to any pressure when they got their act together and decided to get forward. I also found myself experiencing something i'd never experience during a first team game - i felt sorry for an oppo player! I was sat near some nice lady during the first half who happened to be the WBA keeper's mum and if im being honest, her son had a shocker. Felt for her! It was bloody early and a long way to go to see your son drop a couple of clangers. But I guess they won so ya know...
Back to our lot. On the contrary, I was a little disappointed with Buckley if im being honest, Doug. I felt he worked really hard, so fair play to him, but the ball bounced off him so many times and he kept overrunning it. He felt very.....English, If you know what i mean. Technically he wasn't on the same level as Garcia or Fernandes. Though he did work harder as you alluded to but i was just hoping for me.
This team in general was just 'decent', i think. When you see the u18 youth cup team there's a huge difference in natural ability. Both the same age groups but one is much further along the way. I'm not convinced any of the back four will make it at our level. They just seem to be lacking 'something', that natural star quality. I could be hugely wrong, but when you see someone like Angelino, Boadu, or even Adarbioyo (or however you spell it), make a mistake it doesn't bother you as much cos you can still see that clear huge potential shining through. I didn't quite get that same impression from some of these.
I thought Marcus Wood was a real mixed bag. There was one moment of real quality from him when he did a Zidane-roulette past one, then skipped past another as he was advancing towards the goal and it was brilliant, as he was his pass for the marvellous third goal. Very direct and full of natural confidence...the next moment he was getting caught in possession and looking a little lost. I do think there's something there though maybe as he's a pretty well built lad so could keep developing.
Fernandes and Garcia were like little clones of each other. Kept getting em mixed up!
That's em fucking up a corner just like the first team usually do.... in general they were a bit poor. Technically great, yeah, but lacked a little but ive still got hope for them. I thought Dilruson was average too - i dont get it with him really.
It'll be interesting to see how they develop but all this game seemed to highlight for me was how good our Youth Cup team actually is. This team was by no means bad - probably actually good really, but they are a fucking world away from that team.
Edit - first time ive ever stood during a game too and i must say, when the suns out its great. You feel a lot more inclined to get involved, so to speak.
