The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Second half fight back falls just short for City, beaten 4-3 with goals by Jac Thomas, Leeyon Phelan and Mannie Barton.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

No Kpakio in the u-21s today, Giles, Davies and Reindorf there though. 12.00 v Ipswich.

https://x.com/CF11Academy/status/1841055639037981025/photo/1

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

City completely dominant for twenty five minutes, then the ref decides to give Ipswich a very dodgy penalty which they, somehow, score from (still not sure how) - got to say our finishing is pretty hopeless mind.

Is it me, or have they narrowed the pitch at Leckwith?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

1-1, good header by Reindorf from a fine cross by Giles.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Mannie Barton scores a second City goal in three minutes capitalising on a gift from Ipswich. It’s no more than City deserve though as they could be about 5-1 up at half time. We’ve played some very nice football with Reindorf to the fore, but I’ve been most impressed by Cody Twose in midfield.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

City completely dominant for twenty five minutes, then the ref decides to give Ipswich a very dodgy penalty which they, somehow, score from (still not sure how) - got to say our finishing is pretty hopeless mind.

Is it me, or have they narrowed the pitch at Leckwith?

Never a penalty. Good response to keep going and go in 2-1 up though.
Not sure about the pitch. It's up to the running track on the far side but could be narrowed from the near side, if that makes sense.
I was wondering the other day if we should narrow the CCS pitch. We get little joy from wide play and might be able to keep things tighter and keep more compact without wingers. Wouldn't be pretty, but we're looking for not completely shambolic rather than pretty right now.

[Hilts]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Reindorf is so unlucky that he's at a club which as such quality as Kanga keeping out of the squad.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Never a penalty. Good response to keep going and go in 2-1 up though.
Not sure about the pitch. It's up to the running track on the far side but could be narrowed from the near side, if that makes sense.
I was wondering the other day if we should narrow the CCS pitch. We get little joy from wide play and might be able to keep things tighter and keep more compact without wingers. Wouldn't be pretty, but we're looking for not completely shambolic rather than pretty right now.

Yes, it would only be on the near side and it’s only by a yard or two - maybe it’s for the players’ protection because I’ve seen some players take some horrible falls on the concrete that separates the grass from the running track.

Anything’s worth a try as far as the first team is concerned - narrowing the goals might be worth a try given that we don’t score at home.

Disappointing and careless from City in the second half and Ipswich’s equaliser wasn’t a surprise - Dennis should have done better with that long shot.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Yes, it would only be on the near side and it’s only by a yard or two - maybe it’s for the players’ protection because I’ve seen some players take some horrible falls on the concrete that separates the grass from the running track.

Anything’s worth a try as far as the first team is concerned - narrowing the goals might be worth a try given that we don’t score at home.

Disappointing and careless from City in the second half and Ipswich’s equaliser wasn’t a surprise - Dennis should have done better with that long shot.

We had oversize goals at Wigan a couple of years ago - we could try undersize.

Yeah, sloppy goal. Keeper seemed to lose it in the air.

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Reindorf very unlucky to hit the bar then.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Reindorf hits the crossbar with a chip from thirty yards, why on earth isn’t he involved more with first team?

Very good save by Dennis to keep it at 2-2.

Finished 2-2, we really should have won given how dominant we were in the first half, but we never really got going after half time - still, I’m not going to be too critical and would rather remember some of the good stuff we played in the first forty five.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Only caught the second half today so missed the best of it. Some interesting points raised above.

As mentioned, the pitch can only have been narrowed by inches if at all.

Twose is a good player, yes. He has a slightly different approach to central midfield play than Siopis. I thought it was interesting he came on to replace Colwill against Southampton, I felt it would've made sense to bring Ashford inside to carry on where Colwill left off but it was a big vote of confidence to put Twose in there and he did nothing wrong that night (until, very unluckily, he did do something wrong).

I felt Dennis was a bit unlucky with the 2nd goal. The guy absolutely nailed the shot and there seemed to be a bit of movement on it. I could understand him not catching it but it was impossible to deflect it wide or over either so he had to trust to luck a bit. He should've done better but I had some sympathy for him.

I'm with TOBW about Reindorf, it's staggering to me that he's not in the first team squad. Not perfect today, he never is and I'm not expecting him to be, but each time I see him he seems to have added something else to his game. We were struggling second half but he never stopped tracking back to help out in midfield, putting pressure on defenders or making himself available when we did get the ball. He's fit, confident, got goals in him, makes things happen (that chip came from his hassling and out of nothing) and never stops trying. He must wonder what more he can do.

Not only was Kpakio not there today but neither was Will Spiers. One or both may have knocks, of course, but say we play 3/5 at the back tonight then they could both do wing back as well as any other option I'd have thought (as could Bagan on the other side). I assume Purse is with the first team again today which would help with their introduction. It's the hope that kills you though.

[AdrianAlston]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Twose is a good player, yes. He has a slightly different approach to central midfield play than Siopis. I thought it was interesting he came on to replace Colwill against Southampton, I felt it would've made sense to bring Ashford inside to carry on where Colwill left off but it was a big vote of confidence to put Twose in there and he did nothing wrong that night (until, very unluckily, he did do something wrong).

Twose is a very good footballer. He clearly is rated, but his slight physique has probably held him back until now. He appears to be getting stronger. I still can't work out if he is going to be a no.10 or a box to box midfielder. His movement is very good.

Trey George is another very good footballer whose size has been a been his weakness at junior level. Appears to be strengthening up now.

I really hope we've seen the last of Siopis. We really need better.

[Loramski]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

Twose is a very good footballer. He clearly is rated, but his slight physique has probably held him back until now. He appears to be getting stronger. I still can't work out if he is going to be a no.10 or a box to box midfielder. His movement is very good.

Trey George is another very good footballer whose size has been a been his weakness at junior level. Appears to be strengthening up now.

I really hope we've seen the last of Siopis. We really need better.

The size thing has been a recurring theme in this thread and it's going to be an issue again with some of our lads if they don't have a growth spurt soon. George looks like a quality player but there's nothing of him, Twose, Barton, Beecher and Thomas the same. Mafico looks a bit stockier but is short too. Lads like James Waite and Kieron Evans before them. It's not the be all and end all but I don't get how so many of our Academy lads are vertically challenged. Is it a South Wales thing? Surely the area has produced plenty of rugby players over the years?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: The Bluebirds Academy and DVP thread...

The size thing has been a recurring theme in this thread and it's going to be an issue again with some of our lads if they don't have a growth spurt soon. George looks like a quality player but there's nothing of him, Twose, Barton, Beecher and Thomas the same. Mafico looks a bit stockier but is short too. Lads like James Waite and Kieron Evans before them. It's not the be all and end all but I don't get how so many of our Academy lads are vertically challenged. Is it a South Wales thing? Surely the area has produced plenty of rugby players over the years?

And yet the players widely recognised as among the best ever are, more often than not, less than six foot tall.