Official Reserves and Youth Team thread

[Lofthouse Lower]

He came back from the USA with a knock, so would expect they want to get him back fit, wouldn't read too much into it

[t_o_molloy]

That's good then, I'd go as far as saying he's our 2nd best 'ball-playing' centre back behind Cahill.
But I always think he plays better when he plays in midfield.
6 month loan to the Championship would be a good test of his abilities.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Mowbray agrees

[t_o_molloy]

Stockport away on Tuesday in the Senior Cup.
£1.80 return on the train. Can't complain.
And Euan Holden plays for Stockport so Stuart might just be there

[Lofthouse Lower]

See you there, Thomas

[t_o_molloy]

Stockport County 2 - 3 Bolton Wanderers
(Sampson, O'Halloran, Blakeman)

Comprehensive performance by our reserve team against a pretty much full-strength Stockport County side. They took the lead early on after some good attacking play and chants of 'Premier League, you're having a laugh' somewhat humorously echoed around Edgeley park (as if they didn't realise that our most experienced player hardly managed to set League 2 alight). However apart from that, the first half was ours with Blakeman completely running the show from the midfield.

3 minutes after kicking off for the second half we had equalised. That man Blakeman with a superb cross which allowed Jack Sampson to coolly volley home from close range. We took the lead around the hour mark through some brilliantly effective 'route one' play, in which Michael O'Halloran (who had frustrated up until that point) latched onto a long ball and looped it over the head of oncoming ex-Wanderer's 'keeper Matt Glennon, however Glennon managed to get back and O'Halloran had to be very brave by chasing the ball to the net and taking one for the team by crashing into post as he ensured the ball crossed the line. 10 minutes later it was 3; Tope Obadeyi (who is possibly the most left-footed player I have ever seen) did a few fancy stepovers and crossed it onto the head of man of the match Blakeman, who headed the ball down towards the corner, but Glennon somehow managed to push it onto the post. It was, however, in vain as it came straight back to Blakeman and bounced off his bollocks into the net.

However Stockport ensured a tense finale when, 5 minutes from time, they pulled a goal back despite Jay Lynch making a wonderful double save.

-------------------------Lynch----------------------------

Riley---------Connolly----Eckersley-------McQuade

Tope---------Blakeman-----Vela---------Kellett

-------------O'Halloran----Sampson-----------

[Lofthouse Lower]

Excellent report Tom, thank you for that.

Good to hear that my boy Lynch continues to impress - he's got a big future.

[t_o_molloy]

Yeah, he's not the tallest of keepers but he's very agile. And I was more distracted by Kellett's height than his. The lad's tiny!
Some guy in front of me who was talking absolute shite throughout the game also sang to Lynch, 'you're not Jaaskelainen' after the first goal

[Lofthouse Lower]

That was probably that Turkey character.

Good report that. How did Vela get on? Did Odelusi play?

[t_o_molloy]

Vela - composed on the ball, made one particularly superb pass, complemeted well by Blakeman but needs to curb his aggression.

Odelusi didn't get on unfortunately. Thought he would have played ahead of Kellett.

[Armchair Wanderer]

How many people were there?

Do you think it'll be a similar team against York? It sounds like we don't have any kids who could play in the first team without a loan spell somewhere first. Apart from Connolly anyone else who you could see stepping up... Blakeman, Vela, O'Halloran?

[t_o_molloy]

Yeah, probably will be a similar team against York.

I personally rate Blakeman.
Vela's only 17 so has a good few years to improve yet and he's already good.
Can't see O'Halloran making it to be honest.
I think the only ones we'll see this season are Connolly and particularly Eaves in the cups, or they could go out on loan.

[Bruno3]

I'd be interested to know in what way you think that the players mentioned need to improve in order to figure in the first team - skill, fitness, physicality? If Vela is already good why not put him on our bench and give him a few last 15/20 minutes to get his experience?

[Lofthouse Lower]

Would send Vela, Blakeman, Connolly and Eaves on loan to Oldham or someone similar.

It's not a question of skill, fitness or physicality - it's experience.

[Bruno3]

So at what age do they have "enough experience"? If it was really necessary you wouldn't have seen, for example, Rooney playing for Everton at 16. If they're good enough they should get the experience at the highest level that they're capable of.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Then they're clearly not good enough yet. You don't have to be established at 18/19 to be a good player. These things take time.

[t_o_molloy]

Then they're clearly not good enough yet. You don't have to be established at 18/19 to be a good player. These things take time.

Take Gary Cahill for example. Didn't get his Villa debut until he was 21 and whilst he's overrated, he's still a good Premier League player.

[t_o_molloy]

Great to see Joe Riley get a game last night. I really rate the lad.
Also, he's come all the way through our academy, he's been with us since he was 9 years old.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Would have liked to get Vela and Blakeman on for 10mins at least.

Shame but at the moment they don't seem anywhere near the first team squad.

[t_o_molloy]

Would have liked to get Vela and Blakeman on for 10mins at least.

Shame but at the moment they don't seem anywhere near the first team squad.

Yeah, it's strange how they were both in the squad for Man City (Vela making the bench) yet neither of them went to USA.
I think they're a great partnership, complement each other well and they're both versatile. Both should probably go on loan this season, ideally together but realistically at separate clubs.