Reserves Tonight v Everton

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thought I would pop along for a look and was entertained with a 4 .1 demolition of the blue scousers.
Interesting game we dominated for most of the match and scored quite early through Ball. He really is a good goalscorer and it was simply down to his desire to get to the ball first. Initially against a big defender who tried to pull him back a little but there was no thinking about going down as he shrugged him off and then got to the ball just before the keeper to poke it home.]

The 2nd goal was all about Cunningham timing a break from left full back and getting slipped in by Karl Moore , he then cut inside the full back advanced on the keeper and scored from the angle. Excellent goal and Cunningham looked good all night going forward.

The 3rd goal was a an aggressive run forward by Vidal an exchange of passes with Poole and an extremely cool sidefoot finish. So that's both full backs on the scoresheet.

We then missed a penalty which was a real shocking effort from Nimley. He tried the stutter approach and then a soft sidefoot. Sadly the keeper went the right way and saved with the utmost ease.

The final goal was Ball again latching onto a ball down the left from Cunningham. He made his marker look a fool and then ran onto the keeper to score with ease.

Evertons goal was far too easy. A run down the right and a cross past Cunnigham . Mee was marking the guy who scored but I thin he slipped which let him score from about 7 yards. Gunner Nielsen in goal made 2 excellent saves in the 2nd half but all in all wasn't ever under much pressure.

[feedthegreek]

thanks for that doug, glad they won and played well.
proper city fan you.

[Blue Toy]

Cheers Doug.

Who was in goal for us?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug.

Who was in goal for us?

"Gunner Nielsen in goal made 2 excellent saves in the 2nd half but all in all wasn't ever under much pressure."

[Blue Toy]

Cheers Doug.

Who was in goal for us?

"Gunner Nielsen in goal made 2 excellent saves in the 2nd half but all in all wasn't ever under much pressure."

Exactly, who?

;-)

[Grob]

Cheers for that doug

[john68]

Doug,
You spend a lot of time around City and see a much broader picture than most of us.

Question: Are we producing good youth/reserve TEAMS that win games, or are we producing individual players who can come through into the 1st team and cope with prem football?

[PoC]

I went tonight aswell, i though nimley's penalty was especially poor


i passed mark hughes as he was pulling up in his aston martin pre game

[irblinx]

Not been to a reserves match for a while now, must make a point of going again.

ref Nimely, you know I've never been that impressed with him tbh. I'm not at all sure that he will make it here.

Ball however was a revelation when he came in to the ressies (season before last), up till that point Ched had been the star striker (Sturridge was out injured) and when he went on loan we didn't look like scoring for a couple of games as we were left with Grimes. Then Ball moved up and couldn't stop scoring, I'm lead to believe that Mak is of the same ilk although haven't really seen him.

How does Nielson look in general Doug, the keeper was always the weak point when I went. They all seemed a bit small and not great on crosses either

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug,
You spend a lot of time around City and see a much broader picture than most of us.

Question: Are we producing good youth/reserve TEAMS that win games, or are we producing individual players who can come through into the 1st team and cope with prem football?

That's a toughie. I haven't really seen enough reserve and youth team games to know . My gut feel would be that we produce very good ,well coached, well organised teams that win games. Obviously talent within that who will make the grade at some pro level but how many have that special talent to make it at prem level is hard to tell.

Someone like Sturridge stood out but my guess is that Stephen ireland might not have done. Let's face it although he has looked a good player for quite a while it only came to the fore how special he is last season. I know Trippier is extremely highly thought of and he has made an early appearance with the first team squad.The big question though is always going to be how to get them intgo the first team matches as it is only then you will know how good they are or can be.

Ball I really like from what I have seen. He seems clinical and quite cool in front of goal. That's great but he would need to be more than that ( more than a Paul Moulden!) He does seem to come off the centre backs to recieve the ball well and shows a good touch but I havent seen enough of his movemenet off the ball and his appreciation of players around him to fully judge. Only my opinion anyway but I plan to watch much more to find out.

I like Boyata as well. Tall centre half who isn't just about heading the ball but again I havent seen much. Ben Mee I have liked for a while. Not the tallest but good in the air , composed on the ground.

Plenty of them have real quality. It would be good to see occasions where chances are given in the first team but it won't happen that often.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Not been to a reserves match for a while now, must make a point of going again.

ref Nimely, you know I've never been that impressed with him tbh. I'm not at all sure that he will make it here.

Ball however was a revelation when he came in to the ressies (season before last), up till that point Ched had been the star striker (Sturridge was out injured) and when he went on loan we didn't look like scoring for a couple of games as we were left with Grimes. Then Ball moved up and couldn't stop scoring, I'm lead to believe that Mak is of the same ilk although haven't really seen him.

How does Nielson look in general Doug, the keeper was always the weak point when I went. They all seemed a bit small and not great on crosses either

Nielson looked pretty good to me. He is actually quite a big lad but last night wasn't really tested on crosses. I have seen plenty of him at training though to know he has good hands but the only true test re crosses is under pressure in games as we know.

Robbie Mak's has an excellent reputation as a goalscorer. I saw him once last year and he scored a very good goal then so definitely one to watch.

[Ted Hughes]

In response to the team v players question; I think it's a bit of both. We win a lot of games because we have good teams with some very good & some not so good players. Also we only play against a few decent teams per season so it often depends on which 11 we put out against them, we can beat a lot of the others anyway.

I don't go much these days but in the past I've seen us win games comfortably without having a real prospect in the 11 but equally lose heavily with a team full of potential PL players.

Jim Cassell's always said winning comes 2nd, it's all about developing players. An example would be when Micah missed the FA youth cup final 1st leg v Liverpool & Jim played a little lad in his place which was the worst tactical disaster in the history of football but it was probably done because that lad had been in the squad & it was his turn & to bring in someone from outside the squad would've been a blow to him. The lad's opportunity was probably more important than the result.

[john68]

Thanks for the heads up gents. Some years ago,I stopped going to 1st team games and watched the stiffs regularly. Now I don't get to see the kids except for Youth Cup games...and we ain't had many of them at home.

[ross.mcfc]

Thanks Doug. Great report.

Do you reckon we would have won 6-1 if Jim Cassell hadnt been hounded out of his postion?

[Slim]

Thanks Doug. Great report.

Do you reckon we would have won 6-1 if Jim Cassell hadnt been hounded out of his postion?

This was reserves wasn't it? Has Glyn Hodges been hounded out too?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Thanks Doug. Great report.

Do you reckon we would have won 6-1 if Jim Cassell hadnt been hounded out of his postion?

As Slim said its Hodges with the reserves anyway but the answer would have been no anyway. Personally I think your question is over emotive , wrong and out of order but that's just me.

[john@staustell]

It's good to think that with about 25 mostly dead-wooders transferred or loaned out of the way, there may be a first team chance for the likes of Ball if we get a couple of injuries up front.

[Dameerto]

They showed the goals from this game on SSN last night. Moyes and Hughes were both there watching.