U18/U21 Development Thread (4 Viewers)

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Palace get one back and Kyle Spence on for goalscorer George Thomas. 3-1

About 15 mins left
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Match report:

Jason Farndon oversaw the Sky Blues’ Development side as they continued their remarkable winning run with victory against Crystal Palace.

First-half goals of the highest quality from Jack McBean and George Thomas set the visiting side on their way to victory, before a Devon Kelly-Evans strike completed the victory to make it seven wins on the bounce.

City started the game brightly and went close to taking the lead in the opening minutes after a lovely passing move. Cian Harries switched a fantastic 50-yard pass into the path of George Thomas, the forward cut it back towards Jordan Shipley, who on the run hit the ball first time, but found the outside of the post.

Palace responded well, with pressure on the Sky Blues’ backline forcing errors. Andre Coker pounced on a mistake to drive at the City defence, beating his man before dragging his shot wide of Reice Charles-Cook’s far post.

City came forward once more through Dion Kelly-Evans. The fullback knocked the ball around his man and stood up a cross for Jack McBean to attack. It seemed just out of reach of the American striker as he headed it over the bar, having been unable to make clean contact.

The Sky Blues’ main source of attacking threat seemed to come from their advancing full backs. This time it was Darragh Leahy, who was picked out by a wonderful Jordan Shipley diagonal pass, that drove at the Palace backline before whipping a ball onto the head of Thomas, but the forward couldn’t divert it towards goal.

The visitors’ persistence soon paid off as Jack McBean put City ahead. A short corner routine found its way to the striker following a lovely bit of build up play from Jodi Jones, Jordan Shipley and Darragh Leahy, and he rifled an effort into the top corner for his 7th goal of the season.

City soon doubled their advantage through a lovely goal from George Thomas. Jones fired the ball into the path of the attacker, and a stunning first touch took him past the defender, before he finished past Palace ‘keeper Perntreou and into the bottom corner.

A matter of minutes into the second half, City came close to adding a third. Thomas won the ball high up the pitch after poor Palace defending, but through on goal he couldn’t quite lift it over the ‘keeper to extend the lead.

The Sky Blues didn’t have to wait long to add their third, courtesy of a fantastic strike from captain Devon Kelly-Evans. Played through by Leahy, he cuts inside his man and fired the ball across the ‘keeper and into the top corner.

Palace gave themselves a lifeline with fifteen minutes left to play. Levi Lumeka took advantage of a stray back pass to round the City ‘keeper and eventually bundle it over the line, despite the best efforts of Charles-Cook to save it off the line.

Substitute Kyle Spence went close to adding a fourth late on, but a last-ditch Palace tackle denied him a shot at goal after good work from Dev. Kelly-Evans and Jordan Ponticelli in the build up.

Charles-Cook (GK), Di. Kelly-Evans, Harries, Finch, Leahy, Maycock, Shipley, G. Thomas (Spence 74'), Dev. Kelly-Evans (C), Jones (Sayoud 83'), McBean (Ponticelli 90').

Subs: Addai (GK), Whitmore

http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/report-coventry-city-crystal-palace-under-23-3382996.aspx
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Think 7 wins in a row might be a record for a competitive CCFC team. First team record is 6

The U23s will be looking to make it 8 consecutive wins when they take on Colchester on Monday at the Alan Higgs Centre (1pm)
 

Wiseoldfool

Well-Known Member
Think 7 wins in a row might be a record for a competitive CCFC team. First team record is 6

The U23s will be looking to make it 8 consecutive wins when they take on Colchester on Monday at the Alan Higgs Centre (1pm)
It's a great response to 7-2 reverse to Charlton ,mind you I think they had a makeshift defense that day
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Jason Farndon:



Jason Farndon was delighted to see the Sky Blues’ Development side continue their rich vein of form as the defeated The Eagles in the Development League South.

Jack McBean and Devon Kelly-Evans both scored their seventh goals of the season, while George Thomas also got on the scoresheet as City ran out 3-1 winners.

Farndon believes after a slow opening, his side dominated much of the game. He said: “We didn’t have the ideal preparation with only turning up 45 minutes before kick-off, but the lads were excellent.

“I think after a slow opening ten minutes or so we dominated pretty much all of the game, and also scored three very good goals.

“The preparation could have effected the players today, but there is nothing we could have done about it and their performance has shown just how well they’re all playing at the moment.”

Farndon admitted that following victory on the road - the Sky Blues U23s' seventh straight victory - their confidence is sky high as they aim to continue the recent momentum.

“When you’re playing well and winning games it doesn’t take much motivation to go out there and perform well. Each player is looking forward to stepping onto that pitch and performing.

“I thought we were excellent for 80 minutes. We were disappointed at conceding the goal because it was a mistake on our part, but Charles-Cook is adamant it didn’t cross the line.”

He added: “We had lots of chances in the game and the lads put in a real shift today. We were really good in possession, but our defensive shape was excellent and we gave them very little.”

Jack McBean:



Sky Blues striker Jack McBean is hoping his goalscoring form for the Under-23s can aid his chances of getting a first-team call up.

McBean scored his seventh goal of the season during the Development side’s 3-1 win against Crystal Palace in South-London, as the young Sky Blues continued their recent winning run.

The 21-year-old admits his game is improving as he adjusts to English football. He said: “I am feeling confident in front of goal now, and I believe if I get chance I can score it.

“I think everyone wants to move up, myself including. Even though I am only here on loan I want to represent the highest level I can and be scoring goals for whoever I am playing for."

“I thought the team played very well today, overcoming a slow start to control most of the match. Once we got into the lead it was always going to be difficult for them come back with the confidence we’re playing with.”

Following his loan move to Coventry from LA Galaxy in August, McBean has noticed a change in playing style in England, compared to that of America.

“The pace of the game is completely different. It’s a lot quicker in England with everyone flying into challenges and trying to close you down.

“Your decision making has to be a lot quicker, because if you take too much time of the ball the opposition will be upon you. It’s something I’m getting used to know I’ve been here a little while."

He added: “The last month has been a lot better for me personally. I am enjoying being here and the challenge that brings. I feel it is a really good club, that is improving me as a player.”
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
I don't want to get over excited about Kyle Finn because you know what happens but he has that ability that I haven't seen in many of our young players and that is the ability to ease past a defender either side of them. He glides with the ball and he has a good physical condition to deal with that side of the game. He's a first year scholar (so a decision gets made on him next season) and he's recently made his debut for Ireland U18s.

#10 Kyle Finn in action:

 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Plenty of goals for our young players so far:





The U23s face Stratford Town away in the next round of the Birmingham Senior Cup
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
#10 Kyle Finn in action:



A portrait phone video of a landscape video that's running not full screen on a PC.

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His shameful technical skills aside, he looks promising.
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
A portrait phone video of a landscape video that's running not full screen on a PC.

giphy.gif


His shameful technical skills aside, he looks promising.

Was on the scoresheet yesterday but to no avail as the U18s were beaten 4-1 by Charlton. Charlton now top the league whilst we drop down to second place
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
The table topping U23s are in action tomorrow at the Alan Higgs Centre when they take on Colchester United (1pm) as they look to make it 8 wins on the bounce

The U18s are in FA Youth Cup action on Friday night when they travel to Nottingham to face Dunkirk (7:30pm).

The Youth Cup games are often the most anticipated as it allows smaller academies to take on the bigger, more resourced academies. The club have a proud record in the Youth Cup - reaching 5 finals, only Aston Villa in the Midlands (6) can boast more.

This seems to be the preferred U18s team at the moment:

Konrad SKUZA

Jak HICKMAN
Reece FORD
Jordan THOMPSON
Chris CAMWELL

Tom BAYLISS
Liam DOYLE

Kyle FINN
Billy STEDMAN
Dan SMITH

Jordan PONTICELLI
 
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SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Thomas looked to have won the game with his second but Colchester equalised in the 89th minute with a great strike

MOTM goes to U18s captain Tom Bayliss. Fantastic 30 minute cameo, including the assist for Thomas' second
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Match report:

Nicky Eaden resumed his duties in the U23s dugout as they were held to a draw against Colchester United.

After a tight first half, George Thomas opened the scoring before Colchester responded immediately to level the scores. With just ten minutes left to play, the Welshman was again on the end of a well-worked team move, but a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the City 18-yard gifted the U’s a last minute equaliser.

After a quiet opening, the first clear chance of the game fell to Sky Blues' free-scoring forward Thomas. City broke from a Colchester corner as Ivor Lawton, on his first start since injuring his knee 12 months ago, drove at the U’s backline. The midfielder found Bilal Siyoud, who’s low cross was turned over the bar by Thomas.

Colchester responded well and were only denied the opening goal through a smart Reice Charles-Cook save. Their number three cut inside from the left, driving to the byline, but couldn’t beat Charles-Cook at his near post.

City continued in their attempts to break through a stubborn Colchester defence as a lovely bit of link-up play nearly yielded a chance. Kyle Spence fired the ball into the feet of Thomas, but the latter’s backheel flick couldn’t quite find the attacker as he drove towards goal.

After a cagey first 45, City started the second half on the front foot and went close within a few minutes of the restart. Firstly Thomas flashed an effort wide via a deflection, before a lovely team move ended in a ball being fired across the six-yard, but it was somehow not converted as multiple Sky Blue shirts crowded the area.

City took the lead shortly after through Thomas. Dev. Kelly-Evans whipped in a free kick from out wide and when the ball was only half-cleared, Thomas was on had to slip it past the ‘keeper.

Despite the Sky Blue pressure, Colchester came forward and were back on level terms immediately. A corner was knocked back across goal, before the away side's number nine acrobatically diverted the ball goalbound and past half time substitute Corey Addai.

In complete contrast to the first 45, the second half seemed to come to life as City went close to retaking the lead. A well worked bit of play down the right hand side found its way to Thomas, the forward turned and struck it towards goal, but some heroic defending saw the ball diverted off the goal-line.

With just ten minutes left to play, City regained their advantage. A lovely interchange between Tom Bayliss and Thomas teed up the attacker to score his second of the game, slipping it under the oncoming ‘keeper.

As it looked to be yet another three points for City, Colchester's number 16 picked up the ball on the edge of the box before curling it into the top corner from 20-yards to level the scores late on.


Coventry City U23: Charles-Cook (GK) (Addai 45'), Dev. Kelly-Evans (C), Di. Kelly-Evans, Harries, Finch, Sayoud, Lawton (Bayliss (60'), Shipley, G. Thomas, Spence (Finn 75'), McBean.

Subs: Whitmore, Eccles.

http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/...chester-united-under-23-31102016-3392927.aspx
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Been helping Venus with first team hasn't he?

Correct. U18s coach Jason Farndon oversaw the 4-1 win at Barnsley and 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. I think he'll be taking charge of the U23s next game as well which is away at QPR on the 11th November (2pm) unless the managerial situation has changed by then
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
Thomas looked to have won the game with his second but Colchester equalised in the 89th minute with a great strike

MOTM goes to U18s captain Tom Bayliss. Fantastic 30 minute cameo, including the assist for Thomas' second
Gonna be a top player in the future.
As natural as Stevenson but inclined to play further up from what I've seen.
Devons record for goals Is Impressive.
 
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Joy Division

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Is George Thomas worth another go in the first team? Seems we gave up on him too quickly at the start of the season.
 

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