Academy win 4-1

[lildave3]

I went and watched the academy this morning seeing as their is no first team game. Enjoyed it too, goals from Odihambo (2), McKay and King gave them the win over Villa. King and Odihambo i was most impressed with, was a bit disappointed with Gradel though. Someone got sent off towards the end, i believe it was Mattock (please correct me if i am wrong) Who else went and did they enjoy it?

[Cal]

Odihambo seems to always score

[lildave3]

Odihambo seems to always score

Think he's got 8 goals this season now. Got talking to this guy and he said he only scored 2 all last season!

[davieG]

I went, saw the red card but couldn't tell you it was for, didn't know who the players.

Villa where never really in it, our goalie looked a bit suspect with a couple of crosses in the first half, but there was an awful swirling wind through out the game. We also hit the wood work twice.

Enjoyed it, would liked to have known who was who.

[ithuriel]

we hit the woodwork more than twice and i have no idea why the player was sent off considering a nasty looking two footed challenge by a villa player earlier in the match went unpunished.

who was the number twelve?

i went down after getting up a little late considering it is just a ten minute walk away. i was the one with the hand strapped up in blue and white

[lildave3]

we hit the woodwork more than twice and i have no idea why the player was sent off considering a nasty looking two footed challenge by a villa player earlier in the match went unpunished.

who was the number twelve?

i went down after getting up a little late considering it is just a ten minute walk away. i was the one with the hand strapped up in blue and white

The number 12 for us was Ashley Chambers, shame he didn't get longer i would have liked to have seen what he can do.

[The People's Hero]

Fezzler was giving me updates!

Cheers Fezzy.

Odihambo - told you he was class!

[ithuriel]

The number 12 for us was Ashley Chambers, shame he didn't get longer i would have liked to have seen what he can do.

well , even the short time he was on he looked far to good for them.

[Jonbluefox9]

It was Mattock who was sent off. Defence looked very solid. Mattock, Garner, Lycett and Magunda. Pentney's kicking has improved but I don't rate him. Where has Cisak gone? Biggest thing that stands out is how well we pressurise the opposition. So many unecessary errors by Villa players due to us closing them down quickly. Beswick had a decent game on the left. King's goal was a well worked set piece which he headed home. Tejan-Sie didn't have the greatest of games but still contributed. Mckay worked his socks off and deserved his goal. Odhiambo worked well inside and out of the box. One point I'd like to make, and I've noticed it before, is Gradel's attitude is not really what we need at present imo. At one point today, as we attacked down the left, Gradel was walking about 20 yards behind play. The Academy coaches were screaming for him to push on and support in attack. Eventually he decide he would make a run but it was too late for him to meet the cross. He can be dangerous but he can also be very frustrating.

Gerry Taggart was there today in Leicester City training kit. Might have been taken on board to do his coaching badges and eventually replace Loughlan as an Academy coach?

[Mark]

Magnificent Seven!

Leicester City's under 18 side notched up their seventh win on the bounce with a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

The young Foxes went into the game four points clear at the top of the FA Premier Academy Group B table - with Villa and Watford hot on their heels.

But City's victory over the Villains, coupled with the Hornet's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Bristol City, means that Leicester are now seven points clear of their nearest rivals.

The Foxes took the lead through Eric Odihambo with 20 minutes on the clock, but the visitors grabbed a goal back before half time to make it all square at the break.

But City soon took charge - and goals from Andy King, Billy McKay and a second from Odihambo saw Leicester home.

Speaking to lcfc.com after the game, Academy Manager Jon Rudkin said: "You always know that when you come up against an Aston Villa side it is going to be a tough challenge, and this was no different.

"The first half was pretty evenly balance, but we came out for the second half and took the game by the scruff of the neck.

"It has to go down as our best performance of the season to date and I am very pleased with the way that we have started the campaign."

City: Pentney, Magunda, Lycett, Garner, Mattock, Gradel, King, Tejan-Si, Beswick, McKay, Odihambo.

http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/...~908527,00.html

[lildave3]

One point I'd like to make, and I've noticed it before, is Gradel's attitude is not really what we need at present imo. At one point today, as we attacked down the left, Gradel was walking about 20 yards behind play. The Academy coaches were screaming for him to push on and support in attack. Eventually he decide he would make a run but it was too late for him to meet the cross. He can be dangerous but he can also be very frustrating.

and eventually replace Loughlan as an Academy coach?

He is also a bit temperamental, as he demonstrated in the first hald near the corner flag.

[davieG]

we hit the woodwork more than twice and i have no idea why the player was sent off considering a nasty looking two footed challenge by a villa player earlier in the match went unpunished.

who was the number twelve?

i went down after getting up a little late considering it is just a ten minute walk away. i was the one with the hand strapped up in blue and white

I know but the third time we scored from the rebound so I didn't include that, of course I also missed the first 10/15 minutes so could have it the woodwork then.

[Jonbluefox9]

He is also a bit temperamental, as he demonstrated in the first hald near the corner flag.

It's all part of the package you get with Gradel. You can guarantee he will require treatment at least once every 45 minutes he plays too. There's no doubting he's a good little player but I think he needs to grow up a bit and realise that if things aren't going his way he's got to get his head down and try to change his luck instead of sulking around the pitch.

[jet-plane]

I was there, with my 3 girls and was impressed.

Liked the captain, don't know his name but thought he had a cracking attitude and looked the right type. No 4 i think was Tejan Sie. Looked very composed, good on the ball and had a good engine. He and King held the middle of the [park well and look good together. Gradel did look a bit arrogant but did seem to have ability. McKay looked quite quick and clever, good control but maybe a little lightweight at present. Odihambo looked a handful, whilst the lad playing left wing, (wes they called him) looked an awful mover in his slower paces but had a lot of quality when in possesion and moving at pace.

The team worked hard at closing down and had fair pace about them when attacking.

Must say the whole thing quite cheered me up - on top of seeing Taggs there in City kit when we arrived

[lildave3]

I was there, with my 3 girls and was impressed.

Liked the captain, don't know his name but thought he had a cracking attitude and looked the right type. No 4 i think was Tejan Sie. Looked very composed, good on the ball and had a good engine. He and King held the middle of the [park well and look good together. Gradel did look a bit arrogant but did seem to have ability. McKay looked quite quick and clever, good control but maybe a little lightweight at present. Odihambo looked a handful, whilst the lad playing left wing, (wes they called him) looked an awful mover in his slower paces but had a lot of quality when in possesion and moving at pace.

The team worked hard at closing down and had fair pace about them when attacking.

Must say the whole thing quite cheered me up - on top of seeing Taggs there in City kit when we arrived

It was either Scott Garner or Scott Lycett, Lycett is the older of the two, so maybe it's him

[Thracian]

Think he's got 8 goals this season now. Got talking to this guy and he said he only scored 2 all last season!

He was just coming into the side last season and was often a short-time substitute. He's a much improved player since those days and scored hat-trick in his two previous games.

But his brace today was especially commendable because Villa won the League last season. They'd led by a distance only to be pegged back dramatically in the second hal;f of the season as Leicester went on a prolonged unbeaten run.

I missed today's game after all, having been caught up with some extended work in Stratford which annoyed me no-end.

But it was obviously an excellent show and it was good to see Billy McKay continuing his ever-longer goal-a-game sequence and to hear that Andy King clearly seemed to justify my praise of him.

[lildave3]

Andy King clearly seemed to justify my praise of him.

I was very impressed with him, his header for the goal was brilliant and looked very clever on the ball. I would say he is close to the first team than anyone else on that pitch today.

[Thracian]

It was Mattock who was sent off. Defence looked very solid. Mattock, Garner, Lycett and Magunda. Pentney's kicking has improved but I don't rate him. Where has Cisak gone? Biggest thing that stands out is how well we pressurise the opposition. So many unecessary errors by Villa players due to us closing them down quickly. Beswick had a decent game on the left. King's goal was a well worked set piece which he headed home. Tejan-Sie didn't have the greatest of games but still contributed. Mckay worked his socks off and deserved his goal. Odhiambo worked well inside and out of the box. One point I'd like to make, and I've noticed it before, is Gradel's attitude is not really what we need at present imo. At one point today, as we attacked down the left, Gradel was walking about 20 yards behind play. The Academy coaches were screaming for him to push on and support in attack. Eventually he decide he would make a run but it was too late for him to meet the cross. He can be dangerous but he can also be very frustrating.

Gerry Taggart was there today in Leicester City training kit. Might have been taken on board to do his coaching badges and eventually replace Loughlan as an Academy coach?

Garner's new to this side this season - Scott is his first name I believe - and seems to have made a considerable difference to the defensive effeciency of the team following the departure of Liam Norvall.

Your comment about Gradel doesn't surprise me. He was a bit indifferent against Cardiff too, despite his goal, and was substituted that day. It's been mentioned before that, if anything lets him down, it's his temperament.

It's easy to underestimate his talent because of it and I even wonder , from what you say, if he's not sulking, or at least a bit dispirited cos he's not had a chance with the first team. Kids can be like that because some of his end of the season and pre-season football was blistering.

It must be quite difficult believing you're in line for a senior chance and finding instead you're playing below reserves level where, of course, he scored a cracking goal last week.

[Thracian]

I went, saw the red card but couldn't tell you it was for, didn't know who the players.

Villa where never really in it, our goalie looked a bit suspect with a couple of crosses in the first half, but there was an awful swirling wind through out the game. We also hit the wood work twice.

Enjoyed it, would liked to have known who was who.

Next time they're at home and you want to go give me a yell and I'll meet you there and I'll keep you informed of who's who.

PS:

From the OS:

It was City 7th win on the trot and Jon Rudkin considered it their best performance of the season:

"Speaking to lcfc.com after the game, Walkers Youth Academy Manager Jon Rudkin said: "You always know that when you come up against an Aston Villa side it is going to be a tough challenge, and this was no different.

"The first half was pretty evenly balance, but we came out for the second half and took the game by the scruff of the neck.

"It has to go down as our best performance of the season to date and I am very pleased with the way that we have started the campaign."

City: Pentney, Magunda, Lycett, Garner, Mattock, Gradel, King, Tejan-Si, Beswick, McKay, Odihambo.

[davieG]

Next time they're at home and you want to go give me a yell and I'll meet you there and I'll keep you informed of who's who.

Spoke to your son on the phone, he explained where you were - no problem still enjoyed the game

[Thracian]

At least you saw some home goals!!!!

[davieG]

At least you saw some home goals!!!!

Yes I had to ask some guy what it meant when the ball when between the posts and made the net move, some people were even clapping, made me feel like an alien.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Very impressive, I must say.

First time I've been along to watch the Academy and I can see what the fuss is all about. The biggest difference is the physicality some of our players have. The two centre-backs wouldn't look out of place physically in the Championship. I thought they both had cracking commanding games. Mattock's red card was a joke, I was right next to the second tackle and it was just a bit physical. There was lots of verbals between him and the Villa right winger during the second half cos Mattock thought the Villa player used his elbow in one challenge. He looks very promising though. Magunda stood out for me in the first half, he looks physically strong and looked good defensively. Not too sure about some of his hoofs down the flank but I wasn't impressed with Gradel at all. On that showing he'd be one of the furthest from the first team, particularly on attitude and workrate. Seems to win a lot of headers though. King looks a decent player if a little slow for my liking. Good in the air though obviously and took his goal well.

On attitude and workrate I'd have to say Odihambo and MacKay look the business. Both constantly wanting the ball, both giving 100% and with that bit of class too. I wouldn't be surprised if Odihambo makes it onto the bench soon if he plays like that most weeks for the Academy.

It was quite a poor game technically, lots of hoofs into the swirling wind but I think that was mainly the weather conditions. We used them to our advantage second half and coped well in the first too.

EDIT: Ha ha, how many times did I use the word physical in that? I think that shows the difference though. There are still question marks over whether players like Stearman (centre back) and Porter (centre midfield) are up to playing in the middle of the park but a lot of those players today looked like they would be up to it physically, particularly the whole back four, King and Odihambo. And they've got the touch too.

It was nice to see a Leicester City team control a game so convincingly from start to finish and there is obviously a great team spirit also. Constantly shouting encouragement at each other (apart from Gradel who spent most of the game telling his team-mates, the ref and at one point the bloke stood next to me to fock off...)

[Thracian]

Sounds to me like today was a good lesson for Gradel in giving 100% in attitude and comitment for every game - and in putting the nees of the team first. Cos he's capable of far better than you've described, I promise.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Sounds to me like today was a good lesson for Gradel in giving 100% in attitude and comitment for every game - and in putting the nees of the team first. Cos he's capable of far better than you've described, I promise.

He definitely stood out from the rest today, but not for the reasons I was expecting. When Mattock went down injured and got some treatment in the first half, every single player on the pitch went to the sidelines and had a teamtalk with their respective managers while taking on drinks apart from Gradel who stood with his hands on his hips on the other side of the pitch. The team spent the whole time yelling at him to either track back or make supporting runs when he wasn't doing so. I can appreciate his goals record but his attitude seems a bit suspect and there are other players with 100% attitudes in that team who might get towards the first team quicker for this reason, I would imagine.

And telling a member of the crowd to fock off was just ridiculous.

Of course this is just one game and I'll be trying to get along to more in future to get a proper reflection of him.