Team for Newcastle U21s (home)

[Cureton's Volley]

As in broke a bit or something more spectacular?

ooooo one can only imagine

[higher]

Kick orf:

[sandman]

The scoreboard has just exploded and people are running for cover. There are several people with jester hats on and face paint lying on the ground screaming in agony. Oh God this is awful! There are rumblestix scattered all over the place. It's carnage everywhere.

[higher]

Halftime Tutu

[sandman]

Can't believe they're playing on after all that.

[winchester_royal]

Can't believe they're playing on after all that.

Damn.







I col'd

[Cypry]

Adkins and SJM both in directors box

[higher]

The crowd

[higher]

3-2 urzzz get in

[Cypry]

3-2 - Lawson D'Ath

Samuel has missed two sitters, and Ugwu came within inches of his third.
All Reading at the moment...

[higher]

Had a wee dabble on 4-2 to @ 40/1 ..garn you yooof

[higher]

4-2!! urzzz

[Cypry]

4-2 Samuel - your lucky night

[Cypry]

Full time 4-2 - well worth £4

[madreadingfan]

Back from the game and was a very good match.

A few points:

Ugwu - What a player. I wasn't expecting much from him tonight but he had a stormer. He scored 2 amazing goals and almost scored a 3rd wonder goal. The 1st he cut inside and curled it top corner. 2nd he was through on goal at an angle, cut inside and fooled the defender and curled it bottom corner with his weaker foot. The almost 3rd was he did a great bit of skill to get past a player, then nutmegged a defender then blasted it from 25 yards out but just a whisker wide. He held the ball up well, he was big and strong and wasn't greedy even though on a hat trick and set up dominic samuels goal.

Samuel - Held up the ball very well but should of finished some chances. Bit too greedy at times

Obita- Looked comfortable on the ball and passed the ball well

Overall, our defence looked dodgy and out attack looked very good. It was good to see Adkins philosophy of working the ball from defence is developing in the youth team as well.

[ZacNaloen]

That was very total footballish tonight. Obita, Taylor, Lawson, tshibola etc had no obvious set position. Obita was picking the ball up from the defence as much as anyone else.

The three up front were chopping and changing who was in which position. And at one point the Taylor and D'ath were the furthest forward with ugwu and Samuel picking up midfield.

It was all very fluid and very impressive. They look to have stepped up a gear from last year.

Their goals came from defensive errors from cooper unfortunately. Both goals he switched off and created a danger situation.

Sweeney was solid in defense. Griffin had his moments but was muscled out in the second half for strength, so time he hit the gym I think. Cooper, just needs to concentrate. Cummings, we know what to expect from him. Solid but unspectacular.


Stand out player was Ugwu. Special mention to Tanner who looked excellent when he came on at the end.

[winchester_royal]

Who was managing them tonight, given Cummins got binned at the end of last season?

[ZacNaloen]

Martin kuhl was the most vocal but Dolan was sat in the dug out as well.


Peter Beardsley wad Newcastle manager.

[AkpansBFF]

For me defence looked shakey and our centre backs should have done better considering they were against little strikers and our boys are big. Griffin looked good going forward but too weak at the back. Our number 4 (cant remember his name) too greedy didnt do great with the ball and was sloppy with his passes.

D'ath - Average
Tanner - looked sharp when came on, looked a good little player.
Obita- Loads of energy, fast, looked good but needs to go down the wing more
Samuel- Held the ball up well, bit greedy, should have scored a few from his chances
Ugwu- Showed real signs of quality, big strong powerful, good goals unlucky not to get a third.

Overall team, good attacking, not so good defence, lots of passing, risky passing within the back 5, overdone it a bit always cutting in, felt we should have taken a few more shots on the edge instead of passing which lead nowhere, missed a few good chances.

Hope Adkins gives Ugwu a shot.

[SCIAG]

Overall, our defence looked dodgy and out attack looked very good. It was good to see Adkins philosophy of working the ball from defence is developing in the youth team as well.

That was happening well before Adkins got here

Newcastle knew what to expect and pressed hard, but in the end we had too much attacking talent.

A rather bizarre 4-3-1-2 formation with the front three all rotating and Tshibola (later Taylor) trying to anchor the midfield even though it isn't his natural game. The defence was quite exposed at times as a result. We could have used a genuine defensive midfielder. If we don't sell Leigertwood then I'd quite like to see him play to give the youngsters the freedom to play their natural game and get forward.

Quick comments:
Henly- distribution was fairly poor (particularly his long kicks), but otherwise had little to do.
Cummings- the best player on the pitch by a distance IMO, he led by example and organised the other players. You could tell he was the senior player.
Cooper- great in the air as always, but a bit dodgy on the ground and dwelled on the ball a bit which nearly cost us early on. To be fair he had Adam Campbell to deal with...
Sweeney- vocal, good positioning.
Griffin- pushed off the ball a few times late on, and got booked for a tactical foul, but he got forward well and made space for our attackers. Could have had a goal on a couple of occasions with a little luck.
Tshibola- used as an anchoring midfielder, which meant he couldn't surge forward like he usually does. The weird formation didn't help him. A couple of poor passes, one shot that was deflected, one excellent chipped pass to Taylor.
D'Ath- fairly quiet but showed some good touches in the final third. His big strength looks to be his decision making. Did well to get a goal. Good running near the end.
Taylor- some good attempts at playmaking. Gave away a few cheap fouls and just overhit a couple of delicate through balls.
Obita- good dribbling, particularly late on. His crossing was poor and he sometimes went for over-elaborate options though.
Samuel- overshadowed by Ugwu to an extent, but he used his strength well and made good off the ball runs on the counter. Also hassled the opposition defenders fairly well to win the ball high up the pitch.
Ugwu- an excellent performance. Great dribbling, his first goal was phenomenal, and he set up the last goal well. Nutmegged Bigirimana (sp).

Tanner- lively, and disciplined to sit back when Obita burst forward. Lovely back heel for the fourth goal.