Reserves

[Thracian]

If Hussein Kaebi expected to play for our first team anytime soon he blew it big time in the Pontins Cup at Hinckley tonight.

Kaebi and Leicester City Reserves were taken apart by West Brom to the tune of 6-1 and going off injured was probably the best thing that happened to the little Iranian all night. The worst bit was that Gary Megson was watching.

Leicester were hung out to dry really what with various members of the regular team being held back for the Wolves game tomorrow.

It is hard to think of positives but I'll try.

Cult striker Ricky Sappleton barely won a header throughout the first half but he still managed to score City's only goal in the second half, hit a post, put another shot narrowly wide and at least take credit for never letting his head drop.

No, he gave no indication he was ready for the first team but he did stick to his task.

In fact the only time our team played well was when Adda Djeziri was sent off for retaliation some 25 minutes from time. He'd been awful.

Leicester at last started to do what they clearly forgot in the first half. They played to feet and moved. Jonathan Hayes, returning from long-term injury came on to give Levi Porter, also returning from a lenthy injury some welcome and much needed support in midfield and young Luke O'Neil came on at right back.

From then on a small group comprising O'Neil, Billy McKay, Porter, Hayes, Sappleton and Beswick at last started passing the ball properly and creating some chances.

It was O'Neil and the tireless McKay who combined for Sappleton's goal from a decent turn in the box and low shot to the right corner. The same pair had teamed up earlier for Sappleton to smash his shot against the post. Beswick and Sapplton had further efforts and if that all sounds flattering you're dead right.

City were 4-0 down at half-time, including two goals conceded in injury time, and it could have been 10.

Goalkeeper Carl Pentley was one of the few City players to deserve a decent mark making five or six saves of good-to-brilliant quality and I didn't notice he was particularly at fault for any of the goals.

But Kaebi at right back and fellow defenders Joe Magunda, Scott Garner and Lathaniel-Rowe Turner suffered a collective nightmare being continually ripped apart by West Brom's raking crossfield passes, their speed and strength and their movement off the ball.

Detailing West Brom's goals will only make for depressing reading and many came from fast counter attacks as City looked short of manpower in midfield and absolutely dreadful on the flanks. But, for the record their scorers were Slusarski (2), Labadie, Macdonald, Martis and Nardiello.

Djeziri, mentioned in despatches as potential first team, barely had a kick, showed little willingness to get stuck in or chase lost causes and West Brom took full advantage.

Ashley Chambers and Kaebi were little better on the other flank, both being eventually replaced and Porter, after two early shots, had an awful first half in central midfield on his return from injury although he did pick up second half as he gradually got more assistance and a little less responsibility.

Ryan Beswick was another who finally helped steady the ship at left-back - even going close to picking up his regular goal/assist with a long range effort that went wide.

How midfielder Andy King, drafted into the first team squad for tomorrow's game, must have felt for his team mates as he watched from the side but others were missed as well, people like Hammond, Fryatt, Newton, Kenton and Maybury who have provided so much valuable assistance, stability and know-how of late.

As DavieG said though, what was virtually a part-strength Academy side will have learned more from tonight than from many of their easy victories.

Megson will have wondered why the Academy players have such a high reputation and regular fans among the 278 watchers at the Marston considered it was the worst reserves performance for years.

Truth was though that this was a mishmash of a team. That didn't in any way hide the superior class of WBA but too many players were insufficiently fit, Djeziri I've mentioned and others were way out of their class. Only two or three could reasonably have held their heads up afterwards.

[Milky]

We've said before that Kaebi would be better suited in a more attacking position. Seems like this pushes that even more.

[Thracian]

We've said before that Kaebi would be better suited in a more attacking position. Seems like this pushes that even more.

He wouldn't have furthered his cause at all tonight.

[Milky]

He wouldn't have furthered his cause at all tonight.

He's probably feeling a bit depressed and fed up of having to rot in the reserves.

[Jimmy]

He's probably feeling a bit depressed and fed up of having to rot in the reserves.

Hardly he had a mare and got injure, shit happens ...

[Tevez]

How the fook can you beat them 3-0 and be 5-0 down at half time?

[Monk]

Sounds like we were pretty shocking... Worse than the first half on saturday?

[Milky]

My only hope now it seems is for Stearman to get injured/suspended. I'm sure he 'd do well at wing back.

How the fook can you beat them 3-0 and be 5-0 down at half time?

Both teams were almost completely different.

[Thracian]

He's probably feeling a bit depressed and fed up of having to rot in the reserves.

I don't think that comes into it. Kaebi has improved week on week for th reserves and his attitude towards the team has been excellent.

I'd see no reason why he wouldn't be doing his best tonight but he was up against an excellent opponent (Sherjill Macdonald I think) who won the contest hands down until the home man went off injured.

[potter3]

Supposedly kaebi's had a tight groin recently, or something along those lines anyway

[Thracian]

How the fook can you beat them 3-0 and be 5-0 down at half time?

They fielded a much better side tonight and we fielded a one that was collectively inexperienced.

[Geo V]

They fielded a much better side tonight and we fielded a one that was collectively inexperienced.

Thats what happens when you sling in a load of kids. I suppose its character building and will be a wake-up call for those involved in successful academy sides so lets hope they are better for it in the future.

[Thracian]

Thats what happens when you sling in a load of kids. I suppose its character building and will be a wake-up call for those involved in successful academy sides so lets hope they are better for it in the future.

I don't think that at all. This wasn't anything like our full Academy or recent Academy side. Many of our best Academy or former Academy players were missing.

Odhiambo, Dodds, Logan and Gradel are on loan, Stearman, Mattock and Sheehan have moved to the first team squad and King was on the sidelines ready for his step up.

Experienced international Kaebi not only had a mare but went off injured and the supposedly talented Djeziri got sent off. That meant Porter and Hayes were our only experienced players left in the side and they were both returning from fairly lengthy injury lay-offs.

Ashley Chambers is still trying to regain form after knee trouble and in Scott Garner, Joe Magunda and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner we had three defenders who were raw novices at reserve team level. Luke O'Neil was another beginner.

That's the reality.

In attack and midfield our regular/recent Academy side would have been excellent opponents for West Brom, having proved it time and again at such a level. Tonight, resources were stretched in every way.

There wasn't even a few older players around to help out like Hammond, Fryatt, Stearman or Kenton, as in the fixtures so far. It was one of those days when circumstances transpired against us.

[Jimmy]

Porter was playing only just over a week ago so his injury was hardly lengthy

[Geo V]

I don't think that at all. This wasn't anything like our full Academy or recent Academy side. Many of our best Academy or former Academy players were missing.

Odhiambo, Dodds, Logan and Gradel are on loan, Stearman, Mattock and Sheehan have moved to the first team squad and King was on the sidelines ready for his step up.

Experienced international Kaebi not only had a mare but went off injured and the supposedly talented Djeziri got sent off. That meant Porter and Hayes were our only experienced players left in the side and they were both returning from fairly lengthy injury lay-offs.

Ashley Chambers is still trying to regain form after knee trouble and in Scott Garner, Joe Magunda and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner we had three defenders who were raw novices at reserve team level. Luke O'Neil was another beginner.

That's the reality.

In attack and midfield our regular/recent Academy side would have been excellent opponents for West Brom, having proved it time and again at such a level. Tonight, resources were stretched in every way.

There wasn't even a few older players around to help out like Hammond, Fryatt, Stearman or Kenton, as in the fixtures so far. It was one of those days when circumstances transpired against us.

Kaebi has played 50+ Internationals, Magunda, Beswick, Sappleton, O`Neill, Tuttle and Garner played in the 5-0 reserves win over Sheff Weds and most of them also were in the teams who hammered both Derby andPortsmouth, Chambers is an England youth player whop is highly rated, Djeziri excelled at Rangers apparently, Levi Porter has plenty of experience in the first team and was that Jon Hayes who came on at half-time? A lot of the young players have had experience at winning at certain levels and have had relative success but seemingly bombed out last night. Its nothing to get upset about as shite happens in games so dont get all defensive if some academy products have bad games like last night.

[Milky]

I think it's quite obvious what happened tonight.

Beaglehole was taken over by those mysterious phantoms again!

[Thracian]

Porter was playing only just over a week ago so his injury was hardly lengthy

Porter's last game was on September 15 and he'd had just over 100 minutes football in the whole of the rest of the season hardly the sort of involvement to keep him in peak fitness.

[brez]

How the fook can you beat them 3-0 and be 5-0 down at half time?

Two different weeks :-)

[Thracian]

I think it's quite obvious what happened tonight.

Beaglehole was taken over by those mysterious phantoms again!

Beaglehole wasn't dealt the kindest cards last night but he got on with it. He still kept his team positive and after turning round 4-0 down managed to re-organise them well enough to limit the second half to 2-1. Some achievement that in hindsight and given that we went down to 10 men second half and had Kaebi off injured..

[Bareknucklefoxer.]

Beaglehole wasn't dealt the kindest cards last night but he got on with it. He still kept his team positive and after turning round 5-0 down managed to re-organise them well enough to draw the second half 1-1. Some achievement that in hindsight and given that we went down to 10 men second half and had Kaebi off injured..

We were 4-0 down at half time, they scored two quick goals at the start of the second half and then couldn't be bothered.

And no way on this earth will Levi Porter make a good central midfielder, he is far to light weight, got shrugged off the ball far to easily for my liking, Jonny Hayes is a much better player even though he looked over weight ! As for Kaebi, well I hope he was injured before the game cos he got roasted for speed a few times last night.

[Geo V]

Beaglehole wasn't dealt the kindest cards last night but he got on with it. He still kept his team positive and after turning round 5-0 down managed to re-organise them well enough to draw the second half 1-1. Some achievement that in hindsight and given that we went down to 10 men second half and had Kaebi off injured..

Did you even go to the game? According to WBA it was 4-0 at HT and the game ended 6-1 so we lost the second half 2-1 and they had a shed load of chances to win by more. It seemingly was that the opposition thought they had done enough more than Beaglehole masterminding some amazing tactical repost to limit the scoreline. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0...1125092,00.html

[Thracian]

Did you even go to the game? According to WBA it was 4-0 at HT and the game ended 6-1 so we lost the second half 2-1 and they had a shed load of chances to win by more. It seemingly was that the opposition thought they had done enough more than Beaglehole masterminding some amazing tactical repost to limit the scoreline. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0...1125092,00.html

As I said in my report I didn't bother going through the detail of WBA's goals because there was so many of them and it was 4-0 at half-time with two goals in the last three minutes or so. We were all pretty fed up at the time and not over inclined to keep adding the visitors goals up cos it really was a slaughter for the most part.

Beaglehole clearly readjusted things and got us playing some better stuff second half. It was a token gesture really and if WBA easing off was a factor I wouldn't argue with that. I stated early in the write up that WBA could have scored 10.

[Geo V]

As I said in my report I didn't bother going through the detail of WBA's goals because there was so many of them and it was 4-0 at half-time with two goals in the last three minutes or so. We were all pretty fed up at the time and not over inclined to keep adding the visitors goals up cos it really was a slaughter for the most part.

Beaglehole clearly readjusted things and got us playing some better stuff second half. It was a token gesture really and if WBA easing off was a factor I wouldn't argue with that. I stated early in the write up that WBA could have scored 10.

So why do you come out with incorrect stuff like this....

Beaglehole wasn't dealt the kindest cards last night but he got on with it. He still kept his team positive and after turning round 5-0 down managed to re-organise them well enough to draw the second half 1-1. Some achievement that in hindsight and given that we went down to 10 men second half and had Kaebi off injured..

Just because you like Beaglehole and rate the job he has done at the academy level for the club, you don't have to brown nose him to the extreme and almost tell us what a fine job he did even in a 6-1 defeat by saying we drew 1-1 in the second half and that it was his decisions in the second-half were "Some achievement". Thats the type of post that annoys from you as you are doing all you can in your posts on players and managers to make the sun shines out of their backsides without really giving a fair view on the game mainly because you are one of the few who turns up for the reserves or academy.

Maybe be critical of Beagleholes team selection for the game and his failing to motivate the side when we had 11 men on the pitch and going 4-0 up??? Give praise when its due and the same with critism instead of this almost sickly pro-academy/Beaglehole stuff and anti whoever gets on your nerves that week from GM, Fryatt or even MM.

[Thracian]

So why do you come out with incorrect stuff like this....

Just because you like Beaglehole and rate the job he has done at the academy level for the club, you don't have to brown nose him to the extreme and almost tell us what a fine job he did even in a 6-1 defeat by saying we drew 1-1 in the second half and that it was his decisions in the second-half were "Some achievement". Thats the type of post that annoys from you as you are doing all you can in your posts on players and managers to make the sun shines out of their backsides without really giving a fair view on the game mainly because you are one of the few who turns up for the reserves or academy.

Maybe be critical of Beagleholes team selection for the game and his failing to motivate the side when we had 11 men on the pitch and going 4-0 up??? Give praise when its due and the same with critism instead of this almost sickly pro-academy/Beaglehole stuff and anti whoever gets on your nerves that week from GM, Fryatt or even MM.

a) I am no less vulnerable to making a mistake than anyone else.

b) It would be totally wrong to be "critical" of SB's selection. Beaglehole didn't "select" that side. He was allocated certain players and had to do the best he could.

c) If any of the 278 people who went to the game think I've been unfair on anyone I've not read it.

[Bareknucklefoxer.]

So why do you come out with incorrect stuff like this....

Just because you like Beaglehole and rate the job he has done at the academy level for the club, you don't have to brown nose him to the extreme and almost tell us what a fine job he did even in a 6-1 defeat by saying we drew 1-1 in the second half and that it was his decisions in the second-half were "Some achievement". Thats the type of post that annoys from you as you are doing all you can in your posts on players and managers to make the sun shines out of their backsides without really giving a fair view on the game mainly because you are one of the few who turns up for the reserves or academy.

Maybe be critical of Beagleholes team selection for the game and his failing to motivate the side when we had 11 men on the pitch and going 4-0 up??? Give praise when its due and the same with critism instead of this almost sickly pro-academy/Beaglehole stuff and anti whoever gets on your nerves that week from GM, Fryatt or even MM.

It was a complete mismatch last night, we were 2nd best all over the pitch, only good thing to come out of it was Hayes getting a run out.

I noticed the guy who bangs the drum at the Walkers was there, nearly didn't recognise him cos he was fully clothed and minus a big bass drum.