Academy v Stoke City

Hussain has had a good 2nd half too, I like the way he plays, has an ability to drift away from players and is very composed and creative in possession. Ajose's movement is also very intelligent, he's made a big difference up front after a quiet game on the wing first half.
 
Stoke go close near the end with a curling effort that didn't quite dip enough although Johnstone looked to have it covered.

3-2 FT

Excellent 2nd half to make up for an unusually poor first half. Stoke may feel a little aggrieved to have lost as they had the better of the first half, and the penalty was perhaps a little weak however we created a number of good chances 2nd half and played some excellent football at times, with Tunnicliffe and Pogba central to all we did well.
 
Tunnicliffe was excellent, particularly alongside Pogba second half who really changed the game for us.

Penalty was fortunate but they were lucky to keep eleven men on the field so it evens itself out (and we've had enough poor penalty decisions of our own this season, we deserve one to go our way!).

Thought we were obviously the superior team - Stoke had the better of the first half but never really forced the issue, instead seeming just happy to keep it scrappy and keep their 1-0, and they paid for it.
 
Strange second half in some respects. We were very clinical with our chances, though the pen was fortunate and came at a good time for us. We've a lot of character in the team.
 
Pogba always seems to have time on the ball which is the mark of all the really good players, and to be able to find that time in a congested, competitive central midfield marks him out as something a bit special. When you add the vision, physique, skill on the ball and natural 2 footedness he has a real chance.
 
Judging from the reports, it seems like Tunnicliffe again had a good game, now the media labelled him as a Gerrard type of player, is he that kind of player?
 
Escobar said:
Was Petrucci subbed cause of his performance or what?
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no he was fine. We've another game coming up so he was probably just rested. He's very intelligent. He did this nice bit of skill early in the game that took the ball away from the defenders challenge so he could cross it. Overall he looked good but the first half was difficult for everyone as our performance wasn't good
 
I thought Petrucci dropped a little deep first half and left Cofie largely isolated which meant a number of cheap losses of possession. He looked creative however, and the substitution appeared to be in mind of the Youth Cup game away to Blackburn on Thursday (they are top of the Academy League at the moment).
 
Karan Mittal said:
Judging from the reports, it seems like Tunnicliffe again had a good game, now the media labelled him as a Gerrard type of player, is he that kind of player?
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He's probably more similar to Keane - a hard tackling midfielder who makes powerful driving runs and likes breaking into the box and scoring also. It's lazy to make these comparisons as he's his own player, however it should give you an idea as to how he plays.

He's come on a lot this season and probably been our most consistent performer at this level and not looked out of place when he's been called up for the reserves.
 
datura said:
He's probably more similar to Keane - a hard tackling midfielder who makes powerful driving runs and likes breaking into the box and scoring also. It's lazy to make these comparisons as he's his own player, however it should give you an idea as to how he plays.

He's come on a lot this season and probably been our most consistent performer at this level and not looked out of place when he's been called up for the reserves.
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Isnt he the one who turned 17 lately and signed a pretty big pro contract? From the reports I read, he has bags of talent and potential
 
datura said:
I thought Petrucci dropped a little deep first half and left Cofie largely isolated which meant a number of cheap losses of possession. He looked creative however, and the substitution appeared to be in mind of the Youth Cup game away to Blackburn on Thursday (they are top of the Academy League at the moment).
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We weren't getting enough control of the ball in midfield. As the game progressed this happens especially when you play in the hole and have played in midfield. Cofie is a big lad who at times should use his strengh more to shield the ball

It was a very hard half to judge anyone so it's credit to stoke but we were just rubbish to the point we had one shot on goal and that flew miles wide from ajose
 
datura said:
He's probably more similar to Keane - a hard tackling midfielder who makes powerful driving runs and likes breaking into the box and scoring also. It's lazy to make these comparisons as he's his own player, however it should give you an idea as to how he plays.

He's come on a lot this season and probably been our most consistent performer at this level and not looked out of place when he's been called up for the reserves.
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Thought the drive and attitude he showed today was very Keane-like, absurd as it is to be comparing a 17yo with Keano.
 
datura said:
He's probably more similar to Keane - a hard tackling midfielder who makes powerful driving runs and likes breaking into the box and scoring also. It's lazy to make these comparisons as he's his own player, however it should give you an idea as to how he plays.

He's come on a lot this season and probably been our most consistent performer at this level and not looked out of place when he's been called up for the reserves.
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Thanks mate.

Good to see that we have some very promising central midfielders in our youth and reserves team. James, Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Evans, Eikrem(More of a Scholes like player) have got a decent chance of making it here.
 
PS18 said:
Thought the drive and attitude he showed today was very Keane-like, absurd as it is to be comparing a 17yo with Keano.
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Well if you are gonna compare him to someone - I would call him a young Steven Gerrard or or a Roy Keane after Paul Ince left.

He has many of the same qualities they had - and he is the kind of a player I have missed in our side. The one who would jump into tackles in midfield and harrass the opponent when we are struggling
 
Girish. Legend.

That was some faceplant by Johnstone.
 
lysglimt said:
He has many of the same qualities they had - and he is the kind of a player I have missed in our side. The one who would jump into tackles in midfield and harrass the opponent when we are struggling
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surely that is a description of fletcher.
 
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