Under 21's Cup Game v WBA

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Here's the report from the OS.

In this last match before Christmas, goals from Seko Fofana and Devante Cole ensured the festive spirit was not extinguished as City overcame a resilient West Brom side to extend their winning run to four games.The young Blues were looking to go far in the competition after overcoming Stoke in extra time to reach the last 16 and end 2013 on a winning note.

West Brom were looking for revenge after goals from Sinan Bytyqi and Jordi Hiwula condemned them to defeat and saw City leave the Midlands with all three points last time out.
For this cup clash, Patrick Vieira made three attacking changes from the side that emerged victorious from the clash with the Baggies last weekend. Hiwula replaced John Guidetti, who was on the bench for the first team on Saturday, while Fofana and Cole came in for Albert Rusnak and Bytyqi.

The game started quickly, with both teams winning corners within the first two minutes. Samir Wabi had the first shot on goal for the visitors with a dipping free kick, but Ian Lawlor was able to watch the ball sail safely wide of his right hand post.
City were unlucky not to take the lead within the first ten minutes, after delightful build-up from Marcos Lopes and Adam Drury played in Fofana, but the midfielder fired wide on the volley from the edge of the area.

The hosts began to exert some dominance, and were unlucky not to open the scoring after 20 minutes. Drury and Lopes were the architects once more, but Cole couldn’t quite find the telling touch to turn Lopes’s cross home, and the England youth international blasted the ball onto the underside of the bar just minutes later.

Lopes cut inside to shoot from 20 yards out and his rocket just skimmed the bar on its way over, while at the other end Wabi’s ambitious shot from range was not far from hitting the target and Rees Wedderburn’s cross fizzed dangerously across the area.
It was all square at the break, but Seko Fofana finally found the opening City craved in the 56th minute, drilling his shot low into the corner after good work on the left by Cole.

Chances were at a premium in the second period, but Cole himself doubled the lead with just under 20 minutes left on the clock. Substitute Sinan Bytyqi jinked his way through the area amid a tangle of bodies and crossed for the forward to gleefully poke the ball home.

The game came to life after City's second goal, and Jack Rose in the Albion net was forced to pull off a great save low down from a Hiwula header, while Ian Lawlor clawed the ball out of the air to stop Andre Wright halving the deficit for the visitors and saw a powerful header bounce onto the bar and over.

The Baggies began to exert some pressure as the final whistle approached and Lawlor was again called upon to pull off a good stop from Liam O’Neill’s free kick, but the Blues calmly saw out the game to claim a clean sheet and a valuable victory.

Not a great game to watch but a win's a win.The 2nd goal was sweet as the ball got to Bytyqi from a neat backheel from Lopes.Quality goal as it ended with a clever backheel from Cole as well.

I liked the look of Denayer again. Strong in all aspects and seems quite quick too.

[nottsblue]

Which, if any, are close to 1st team do you reckon Doug? Do we have a potential defender in the making or are we purchasing again next month? Any tasty talent up front that can give serious threat to be on bench (Guidetti aside)?

[Ted Hughes]

I liked the look of Denayer again. Strong in all aspects and seems quite quick too.

Moved over to right back, in 1st team emergency ?

Starting to lean that way yet ?

;)

Thank's for the report Doug.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I liked the look of Denayer again. Strong in all aspects and seems quite quick too.

Moved over to right back, in 1st team emergency ?

Starting to lean that way yet ?

;)

Thank's for the report Doug.

I doubt there is a chance that would happen unless we find tomorrow that Milner,Clichy and Boyata are all injured along with the rest.

A few years back with us nowhere near the top and maybe he or someone else might have been given a go. I wouldn't take the chance either especially in a big match like v Liverpool.No rush just yet.

[Ted Hughes]

I liked the look of Denayer again. Strong in all aspects and seems quite quick too.

Moved over to right back, in 1st team emergency ?

Starting to lean that way yet ?

;)

Thank's for the report Doug.

I doubt there is a chance that would happen unless we find tomorrow that Milner,Clichy and Boyata are all injured along with the rest.

A few years back with us nowhere near the top and maybe he or someone else might have been given a go. I wouldn't take the chance either especially in a big match like v Liverpool.No rush just yet.

I did say 'emergency'.

I don't think any of the EDS have quite got it yet defensively but I'm really impressed with every one of them & the U18s from a football point of view. They are very comfortable with the ball.

Also, the ones I didn't like the look of in that respect, such as Wabara & more recently Plummer, have been moved out on loan etc, which I don't think is a coincidence.

[Beefymcfc]

Denayer seems a prospect but, as Doug says, not as a RB. He's learning from Vinnie and was brought in as such.

It'd be nice to see these lads come through and I think if anything, this lad would be one of them.

[Ted Hughes]

Denayer seems a prospect but, as Doug says, not as a RB. He's learning from Vinnie and was brought in as such.

It'd be nice to see these lads come through and I think if anything, this lad would be one of them.

It's physique which is the least impressive thing about these lads imo. I would be surprised if Denayer doesn't make it, but I'm not convinced it will be at cb. And he is one of the bigger built lads. But Premier League cbs are on the whole, monsters.

Some of the younger cbs may end up as big units though, & are also good footballers.

Denayer though, imo, is possibly too good a footbaler to be a cb, even if he can play there at the top one day. Maybe a waste to use him back there.

[Beefymcfc]

Denayer seems a prospect but, as Doug says, not as a RB. He's learning from Vinnie and was brought in as such.

It'd be nice to see these lads come through and I think if anything, this lad would be one of them.

It's physique which is the least impressive thing about these lads imo. I would be surprised if Denayer doesn't make it, but I'm not convinced it will be at cb. And he is one of the bigger built lads. But Premier League cbs are on the whole, monsters.

Some of the younger cbs may end up as big units though, & are also good footballers.

Denayer though, imo, is possibly too good a footbaler to be a cb, even if he can play there at the top one day. Maybe a waste to use him back there.

I know what you mean mate but these lads are still growing. Denayer looks a big unit already and we've brought him onboard late for a reason, he's been sourced by Vinnie.

Whether he makes it or not will be down to him but at the moment he's going to put everything in to make it as CB because, as Carragher says, fullbacks are just failed CBs. I'd say they are more than that but you get my point, we love our CBs and have wide spread opinions but, with the exception of the Zabba's of this world, we don't really give a fuck about the fullbacks.

[twosips]

There's plenty of time for them to develop the physical side of their game fortunately. You only have to remember Ronaldo when he signed for United - he was pretty scrawny when compared to the size he is now.

The most important thing thankfully is that they look like footballers. Denayer is great; he's just incredibly composed and has a touch of class. I can see him in midfield to be honest as he has a very similar skill set to someone like Fernandinho.

[Jorgobot]

How is lopes looking? He seems like one for the future to watch

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How is lopes looking? He seems like one for the future to watch

He's having a quiet time at the moment following injuries and niggles but he'll be back firing soon I have no doubt.

[Ted Hughes]

There's plenty of time for them to develop the physical side of their game fortunately. You only have to remember Ronaldo when he signed for United - he was pretty scrawny when compared to the size he is now.

The most important thing thankfully is that they look like footballers. Denayer is great; he's just incredibly composed and has a touch of class. I can see him in midfield to be honest as he has a very similar skill set to someone like Fernandinho.

This is where I could imagine Denayer making an impact possibly earlier than he could at centre back.

He could be like a more defence oriented Fernandinho. He could do what Nige/Barry etc used to do, but much quicker, then has the technique to launch attacks & even get forward himself, at pace.

This is something he could possibly do right now, at first team level, imo. Wheras I wouldn't fancy him at centre back against a big centre forward, at this stage.

[Mike J]

Doug, id beinterested to know what you thinkof Devante Cole. People can think what they like of his old man but he was a fantastic goal scorer. Has he passed any of that down!?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug, id beinterested to know what you thinkof Devante Cole. People can think what they like of his old man but he was a fantastic goal scorer. Has he passed any of that down!?

Jury's still out for me.He has serious pace which Andrew didn't have but he doesn't seem to be the same lethal finisher.I was concerned a year or so back that he didn't seem to be developing much but latterly he seems to have come on.He doesn't have the body strength either but he has started to put himself about more and with that speed is a serious threat to any defence.

Have a look at his goal on Sunday for the U 21's v WBA,nice clever finish.I reckon a loan might do him good.A spell lower down in the real world but playing first team football might do him the world of good.

[Ted Hughes]

Doug, id beinterested to know what you thinkof Devante Cole. People can think what they like of his old man but he was a fantastic goal scorer. Has he passed any of that down!?

Jury's still out for me.He has serious pace which Andrew didn't have but he doesn't seem to be the same lethal finisher.I was concerned a year or so back that he didn't seem to be developing much but latterly he seems to have come on.He doesn't have the body strength either but he has started to put himself about more and with that speed is a serious threat to any defence.

Have a look at his goal on Sunday for the U 21's v WBA,nice clever finish.I reckon a loan might do him good.A spell lower down in the real world but playing first team football might do him the world of good.

I don't know what to make of him either.

Seems to be knocking the goals in though.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug, id beinterested to know what you thinkof Devante Cole. People can think what they like of his old man but he was a fantastic goal scorer. Has he passed any of that down!?

Jury's still out for me.He has serious pace which Andrew didn't have but he doesn't seem to be the same lethal finisher.I was concerned a year or so back that he didn't seem to be developing much but latterly he seems to have come on.He doesn't have the body strength either but he has started to put himself about more and with that speed is a serious threat to any defence.

Have a look at his goal on Sunday for the U 21's v WBA,nice clever finish.I reckon a loan might do him good.A spell lower down in the real world but playing first team football might do him the world of good.

I don't know what to make of him either.

Seems to be knocking the goals in though.

Like a striker should but if I had to vote on the best goalscorer in that team it would just go to Hiwula

[twosips]

You all may laugh at this but i wouldn't be surprised if Devante Cole ended up being our Welbeck. Or something of that ilk anyway. A decent squad player who will happily do a job for the team, with hopefully a slightly greater ability to knock a goal in, maybe more like the mexican one instead then i guess, and he might not end up properly fully developing until the age of about 23 or something. I'd take that. Not every player is gonna be a world star and it'll save us millions.

[Ted Hughes]

Doug, id beinterested to know what you thinkof Devante Cole. People can think what they like of his old man but he was a fantastic goal scorer. Has he passed any of that down!?

Jury's still out for me.He has serious pace which Andrew didn't have but he doesn't seem to be the same lethal finisher.I was concerned a year or so back that he didn't seem to be developing much but latterly he seems to have come on.He doesn't have the body strength either but he has started to put himself about more and with that speed is a serious threat to any defence.

Have a look at his goal on Sunday for the U 21's v WBA,nice clever finish.I reckon a loan might do him good.A spell lower down in the real world but playing first team football might do him the world of good.

I don't know what to make of him either.

Seems to be knocking the goals in though.

Like a striker should but if I had to vote on the best goalscorer in that team it would just go to Hiwula

Both of them seem to me to have moments of real quality, mixed in with moments of sheer incompetence.

Perhaps Dzeko is their inspiration.