Youth Cup V Sunderland

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Good win tonight as you may know. 3.1 and played at Edgeley Park.I wonder if there's any truth we will be playing there now rather than at Hyde?

Anyway I do hope Sunderland are a good side because we really dominated them tonight with plenty of good performances from individuals as well.Otherwise we just had an easy win against a poor side. So a few mentions:

Rekik. After his injury I haven't thought he had played that well but tonight he looked commanding apart from falling asleep a bit when we scored our 3rd to allow them their consolation. He really is a confident strong player and as long as he keeps his concentration will be quality.Loves to play too and not just hoof it and is very happy taking the ball forward and getting in goalscoring situations.

Pozo and Lopes I will lump together tonight. Bags of quality on the ball and great belief in themselves like Rekik.Both scored well taken goals tonight and could have had more but the thing for me is I always feel something might happen when they are on the ball.Lovely touch players and although they weren't that good tonight they contributed a lot to the win on top of the goals. They did both lose possession a little too much and at times too easily in bad positions.

Cole.He hasn't always been a favourite of mine as I felt he lacked strength or desire or something but I liked what I saw tonight. He is quick which is a great bonus but he also worked the centre back well tonight and held the ball up better than I have seen in the past.His pass inside the full back for the first goal was superbly weighted and he helped create the 3rd goal for Lopes when his shot was blocked.

Sinan Bityqi. A new name for me but I was impressed. Playing wide right he scored the first very nicely from an angle,showed some great first touches and plenty of energy to get up and down. Could have scored another on a few occasions too but overall just fitted the role very well.One to watch for me.

[BadKompany]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

[Swales4ever]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

[Biamp]

Cheers Doug, this is the team that played today. Do you mind if you go on depth on how we shaped up, the formation we were playing, and positions.

Lawlor, Bossaerts, Leigh, Evans, Plummer, Rekik (c), Ntcham (Bryan 80mins), Bytyqi, Cole, Lopes, Pozo (Byrne 84mins).

[Dameerto]

"Austrian youth international Bytyqi" according to the match report - can't say I've heard his name before either. Sounds like the younger EDS lads are benefiting from playing against older opposition in the u21's league if this u18's cup performance is anything to go by.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug, this is the team that played today. Do you mind if you go on depth on how we shaped up, the formation we were playing, and positions.

Lawlor, Bossaerts, Leigh, Evans, Plummer, Rekik (c), Ntcham (Bryan 80mins), Bytyqi, Cole, Lopes, Pozo (Byrne 84mins).

Bossaerts I think is naturally a centre back but played right full back and looked quite accomplished as well. I haven't been convinced by him in the games I have seen him in the centre so this move to the right was interesting.

Rekik and Plummer were centre backs and mostly were in control.Rekik I have covered but Plummer also played well bar the odd sloppy moment late on when Sunderland seemed to find more zip.He is of the old fashioned centre back type, a stopper with little to offer on the ball imo but a decent left boot ( who does that sound like?)

Greg Leigh at left back looks decent. Has a bit of pace and a good leap on him,he also likes to get forward to support.Not afraid to get stuck in.

Evans plays a real holding role. Literally sits centrally and looks to keep it simple with his passing.When he looks expansive at all it doesn't seem to come off very often but he is quite effective in what he does.Looks to find Lopes or Pozo a lot of the time as the first team would look for Silva or Yaya.

Ntcham played wide left and did ok but I think he would be more natural in a central position.Loves to drive forward with the ball and has a strong shot which we saw a couple of times last night.He didn't play the role last night as a winger but worked well with leigh and Pozo who offered himself a lot for passes.

Bityqi. Played his wide right role well as I said and I very much liked what I saw.

Pozo is a talent and rends to drift around off the front looking for space and the ball.Mostly on the left side although more right footed than left but he has a lovely first touch and a great confidence on the ball. Not sure who best to compare him with but there are Silva qualities when he moves with the ball and changes direction with great ease.

Lopes is the midfield play maker and also has Silva qualities in his style.Very left footed and quite strong on the ball under challenge and he is always looking for the special pass or to get through himself and has a real eye for a goal too.Last night did lose the ball a few times too often but he is always probing.

Cole isn't the classic big target man and isn't used like that.He really needs the ball to feet or down the channels or over the top as he is very quick but having s aid that he does seem to be getting better at receiving balls with the centre back up his arse. Feeling the defender and turning him with good feet.Clearly loves to score but was key in build up play as well last night.

Overall it was a 4.4.2 with Pozo dropping a little deeper a la Tevez.The full backs do support but didn't overlap that much last night. One occasion when Bossaerts did he got a great cross over on the run.

Hope that helps

[Douglas Higginbottom]

"Austrian youth international Bytyqi" according to the match report - can't say I've heard his name before either. Sounds like the younger EDS lads are benefiting from playing against older opposition in the u21's league if this u18's cup performance is anything to go by.

That point was made strongly on the OS report on the game. I really look forward to seeing some of them in a couple of years

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

Rekik did have that injury. He has been back a month and needed that to find his feet and form and for me it has taken a while to get back to his best.Last night he looked confident,quick,powerful and ready for the 1st team squad.Maybe not quite 1st standard yet but worth a place in the squad.

Razak of course is already there but somehow hasn't kicked on for me to suggest he is actually ready.

[Ted Hughes]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

Rekik did have that injury. He has been back a month and needed that to find his feet and form and for me it has taken a while to get back to his best.Last night he looked confident,quick,powerful and ready for the 1st team squad.Maybe not quite 1st standard yet but worth a place in the squad.

Razak of course is already there but somehow hasn't kicked on for me to suggest he is actually ready.

This is pleasing stuff.

Is there any evidence at this level that they are being encouraged to play proper pass & move football ? I have been saddened by the lack of this at EDS level; the under 15s seemed better coached & most decent opponents that I've seen, even the young ones, seem to have better instruction . I expected Lombardo's appointment to be precisely to teach them stuff like that. Is there evidence to suggest he is doing that at the younger level ?

[Dameerto]

"Sadler and Lombardo could be heard throughout, directing proceedings from the touchline and they would have been delighted with the intensity and creativity of the possession football their young charges were producing in that first half."

Sounds like there's a plan to have them playing to a blueprint, though I didn't see them play personally.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Cheers Doug, this is the team that played today. Do you mind if you go on depth on how we shaped up, the formation we were playing, and positions.

Lawlor, Bossaerts, Leigh, Evans, Plummer, Rekik (c), Ntcham (Bryan 80mins), Bytyqi, Cole, Lopes, Pozo (Byrne 84mins).

Bossaerts I think is naturally a centre back but played right full back and looked quite accomplished as well. I haven't been convinced by him in the games I have seen him in the centre so this move to the right was interesting.

Rekik and Plummer were centre backs and mostly were in control.Rekik I have covered but Plummer also played well bar the odd sloppy moment late on when Sunderland seemed to find more zip.He is of the old fashioned centre back type, a stopper with little to offer on the ball imo but a decent left boot ( who does that sound like?)

Greg Leigh at left back looks decent. Has a bit of pace and a good leap on him,he also likes to get forward to support.Not afraid to get stuck in.

Evans plays a real holding role. Literally sits centrally and looks to keep it simple with his passing.When he looks expansive at all it doesn't seem to come off very often but he is quite effective in what he does.Looks to find Lopes or Pozo a lot of the time as the first team would look for Silva or Yaya.

Ntcham played wide left and did ok but I think he would be more natural in a central position.Loves to drive forward with the ball and has a strong shot which we saw a couple of times last night.He didn't play the role last night as a winger but worked well with leigh and Pozo who offered himself a lot for passes.

Bityqi. Played his wide right role well as I said and I very much liked what I saw.

Pozo is a talent and rends to drift around off the front looking for space and the ball.Mostly on the left side although more right footed than left but he has a lovely first touch and a great confidence on the ball. Not sure who best to compare him with but there are Silva qualities when he moves with the ball and changes direction with great ease.

Lopes is the midfield play maker and also has Silva qualities in his style.Very left footed and quite strong on the ball under challenge and he is always looking for the special pass or to get through himself and has a real eye for a goal too.Last night did lose the ball a few times too often but he is always probing.

Cole isn't the classic big target man and isn't used like that.He really needs the ball to feet or down the channels or over the top as he is very quick but having s aid that he does seem to be getting better at receiving balls with the centre back up his arse. Feeling the defender and turning him with good feet.Clearly loves to score but was key in build up play as well last night.

Overall it was a 4.4.2 with Pozo dropping a little deeper a la Tevez.The full backs do support but didn't overlap that much last night. One occasion when Bossaerts did he got a great cross over on the run.

Hope that helps

Thanks for this Doug, this is brilliant.

Just out of curiosity, you say Plummer is left footed, Rekik is too I believe? Which one of the two played right side centreback?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

Rekik did have that injury. He has been back a month and needed that to find his feet and form and for me it has taken a while to get back to his best.Last night he looked confident,quick,powerful and ready for the 1st team squad.Maybe not quite 1st standard yet but worth a place in the squad.

Razak of course is already there but somehow hasn't kicked on for me to suggest he is actually ready.

This is pleasing stuff.

Is there any evidence at this level that they are being encouraged to play proper pass & move football ? I have been saddened by the lack of this at EDS level; the under 15s seemed better coached & most decent opponents that I've seen, even the young ones, seem to have better instruction . I expected Lombardo's appointment to be precisely to teach them stuff like that. Is there evidence to suggest he is doing that at the younger level ?

Not an easy question to answer that Ted. So I will just say yes:) I can definitely say they don't go out there to just lump the ball forward and hope but equally I don't see them passing the ball for passing sake which arguably the first team could be accused of.

Lopes ,as the chief playmaker, gets it down and gets his head up.He looks to play the little give and go stuff to get a bit of space and he is always looking positively.It doesn't mean he won't pass back or sideways but it does mean he doesn't just look for hopeful stuff. I do think similarly with Pozo when he drops deeper. always looking for one twos to create space and inside/close to the penalty area he is a real danger. Suarez of course is very much this type of player so there is some real quality coming through.

[Swales4ever]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

Rekik did have that injury. He has been back a month and needed that to find his feet and form and for me it has taken a while to get back to his best.Last night he looked confident,quick,powerful and ready for the 1st team squad.Maybe not quite 1st standard yet but worth a place in the squad.

Razak of course is already there but somehow hasn't kicked on for me to suggest he is actually ready.

Well, there's certainly nobody in better position that You to assess that.
My point is slightly more general and also. in a way, embraces Ted's point about the overall "master plan" behind the Accademy.

I am quite disappointed that, due to the massive pressure for instant delivery (I think more generated by media and us, rather than Owner and Top Management), Mancini has waived one of his main features: the ability and desire for developing Youngster.
Irrespectively of contingencies, I think that either The Club, Mancini reputation and the Table Standings, would have had much more benefit in saving say 50 mils quids spent on second strings (Garcia, Sinclair and even Rodwell) and developing the likes of Razak, Rekik, Suarez and Ibrahim. Many of us would have, eventually, taken a runners-up position in the League final standing and an unlucky visit to Wembley with much positive perspective.

sorry for the convoluted construction... ;)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Cheers Doug,a combination of our youth/EDS proving all is not that bad after all!

I have hopes at least a couple of those on show tonight may eventually break through to our first team,at worst,some tidy profits will be had.

Cheers as ever for the report.

That's exactly. I still struggle to understand why Rekik and Razak had not been aggregated to first team this season. For the green they may be I think they would have helped in a couple of games. Just to mention I've spent almost the whole match time of the Dortmund away dreaming to have Abdi instead of a posh hair style.

Cheers for double effort, DH

Rekik did have that injury. He has been back a month and needed that to find his feet and form and for me it has taken a while to get back to his best.Last night he looked confident,quick,powerful and ready for the 1st team squad.Maybe not quite 1st standard yet but worth a place in the squad.

Razak of course is already there but somehow hasn't kicked on for me to suggest he is actually ready.

Well, there's certainly nobody in better position that You to assess that.
My point is slightly more general and also. in a way, embraces Ted's point about the overall "master plan" behind the Accademy.

I am quite disappointed that, due to the massive pressure for instant delivery (I think more generated by media and us, rather than Owner and Top Management), Mancini has waived one of his main features: the ability and desire for developing Youngster.
Irrespectively of contingencies, I think that either The Club, Mancini reputation and the Table Standings, would have had much more benefit in saving say 50 mils quids spent on second strings (Garcia, Sinclair and even Rodwell) and developing the likes of Razak, Rekik, Suarez and Ibrahim. Many of us would have, eventually, taken a runners-up position in the League final standing and an unlucky visit to Wembley with much positive perspective.

sorry for the convoluted construction... ;)

I don't think Mancini has waived anything as you suggest he might have.The reality is that ,although we had some good academy players we didn't have any stand out ones.At least none ready to make an immediate step up with Suarez arguably the nearest.We had picked up a couple of players we hoped would do the business ( Henshall comes to mind) but nobody quite bridged the gap.

Now we have a few more with Pozo,Rekik and Lopes being names we are hearing more and more of albeit they are still very young.There are also high hopes for Ntcham and Bossaerts and more who are even younger coming through.

Ibrahim???

[Swales4ever]

I don't think Mancini has waived anything as you suggest he might have.The reality is that ,although we had some good academy players we didn't have any stand out ones.At least none ready to make an immediate step up with Suarez arguably the nearest.We had picked up a couple of players we hoped would do the business ( Henshall comes to mind) but nobody quite bridged the gap.

Now we have a few more with Pozo,Rekik and Lopes being names we are hearing more and more of albeit they are still very young.There are also high hopes for Ntcham and Bossaerts and more who are even younger coming through.

Ibrahim???

Mate,
I'm not implying rather than expressing an opinion free of any moaning will, perhaps a gut feeling if You prefer - and my language limits certainly don't help.

Ibrahim is certainly nowhere near to ever make a starter in the present City, nonetheless I think neither him or Razak would have done any worse that what we have seen from +30 millions pounds Garcia (Dortmund shame) and Rodders (4pts. dropped). As well as a still light and green Suarez wouldn't have done any average than Sinclair.

In other terms, if I had been Mancini on the last week of the summer window, I would have cut the losses, saved money, awaited better times (sporting director) to come and built on future, proper raw materials or not.
In the knowledge that City now, it's not the same as it was when HRH took over. we are certainly missing something yet (a back-up to YaYa and Dave) to be shoulder to shoulder with the very best sides, but this also means that there is very few on offer which can make us close that narrow gap (De Rossi - Hazard/Muniain/Goetze).
Failing that, imho, we do not need to spend anymore, just because we are rich. It's much and much worthier to work and improve the wealth we already have in the 1st Team - as Bob is doing - and add a couple of green bets at zero cost.

that's - right or wrong - my 5p. but I am also aware that You know best, particularly about our prospects.