Bruno header makes a point

[Thracian]

A thumping header by Bruno N'Gotty rescued a point for Leicester City Reserves in a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield at Hinckley tonight but there were precious few pointers for the first team and a few extra worries by the end.

Ashley Chambers was withdrawn at half-time after 45 minutes action and a problem which required him to go through a series of stretching excercises before the decision to take him off.

Jonathan Hayes was another to go down injured and be replaced five minutes later.

Both incidents made the performance of other potential first teamers more relevent but first the game itself.

Huddersfield blitzed Leicester in the first half, took the lead through Michael Collins who took a one-two and sauntered through the middle of City's defence to score after 15 minutes. Thereafter only goalkeeper Henderson stood between City and a four goal deficit.

First he made a brave block to foil the visitors after a mistake by N'Gotty, then an N'Gotty header went straight to a Huddersfield forward who's snapshot was tipped around a post by the keeper.

Finally a great Huddersfield move brought the save of the season from Henderson whose point-blank save from a close-range header was a masterpiece of anticipation and reaction.

Leicester had barely whimpered in response but, from a corner by Hayes, N'Gotty arrived to head a bullet-like goal past Smithies' despairing dive.

Things improved for Leicester second half with the arrival of McKay and Odhiambo for the injured City men and it was McKay who would have quickly gifted Sappleton a goal had the big man's control not let him down when clean through.

Huddersfield had long range efforts, one of which had to be tipped over by Henderson but Sappleton again had a chance to win it for City but his unhindered header from 16 yards went towards the touchline rather than the goal.

Kaebi had two glorious chances with low balls into the box but, although he made the right runs he failed to get a touch.

Hayes clipped the bar with one effort, Odhiambo had a terrific run and shot which brought a good save and another woefully wayward shot by Sappleton cannoned into Hayes on its way towards the wing stand and so nearly deflected into the net.

Leicester's last chance fell to Maybury with a good turn and shot from the edge of the box but this too was saved and City could hardly complain at the draw overall.

Individually Henderson was Man of the Match with Hayes and King honourable challengers. Odhiambo was lively when he came on second half and Kaebi was basically much promise but, sadly, little return.

He did show enough to suggest he was far more suited to right midfield than full-back. But, some 70% of his serious passes went straight to the opposition.

He did have one excellent first half chance but after good movement he tried to beat the the same man four times on the edge of the box and the chance was lost without a shot.

Kaebi also had spells out of the game. My friend waited eight minutes trying to get a picture of him with the ball at his feet.

However he also made some really dangerous and quite clever runs. Team-mates spotted them too and gave him the ball but he simply failed to deliver a final ball or show the instinct to either get a shot in or a final touch in the case of two excellent passes which were flashed low across the Huddesfield goal.

Being generous it might have been unfamiliarity with the position - it does take time for it all to feel right. But the actual runs would have been extremely threatening with a natural marksman on the end. I look forward to his next effort because all is not quite lost.

Player ratings will appear in a separate thread.

[Manwell Pablo]

Did you note down Huddersfields line up down?

Disgusting result really our reserves should bury their first team.

[Thracian]

Did you note down Huddersfields line up down?

Disgusting result really our reserves should bury their first team.

There was no announcer tonight so no confirmation that the programme was correct but they were numbered as follows:

1. Alex Smithies.

2 Aaron Hardy

3. RobbieWilliams (honest!)

4. Michael Collins

5. Tom Clarke

6. Shane Killock

7. Danni Racchi

8. Jonathan Worthington

9. Matthew Young (good prospect)

10 James Berrett

11 Chris Brandon

subs:

12 Luke Malcher

14 Mitchell Bailey

15 Daniel Broadbent

16 Curtis Roberts

17 Tom Jackson.

[Manwell Pablo]

There was no announcer tonight so no confirmation that the programme was correct but they were numbered as follows:

1. Alex Smithies.

2 Aaron Hardy

3. RobbieWilliams (honest!)

4. Michael Collins

5. Tom Clarke

6. Shane Killock

7. Danni Racchi

8. Jonathan Worthington

9. Matthew Young (good prospect)

10 James Berrett

11 Chris Brandon

subs:

12 Luke Malcher

14 Mitchell Bailey

15 Daniel Broadbent

16 Curtis Roberts

17 Tom Jackson.

yeah I know Robbie Williams he was at Barnsley for quite awhile, seem him play live actually. Surpised he's in the reserves.

Matty Youngs played a bit of first team for Hudds this season, they're making noises about him.

Still we should of battered that team.

[Thracian]

yeah I know Robbie Williams he was at Barnsley for quite awhile, seem him play live actually. Surpised he's in the reserves.

Matty Youngs played a bit of first team for Hudds this season, they're making noises about him.

Still we should of battered that team.

If it had been a boxing match I'd have probably shaded it to Huddersfield by a point. But for Henderson they'd have wrapped it up by half-time but whatever Beaglehole's said at half-time got through pretty emphatically because Leicester were much more threatening afterwards and might easily have pinched it.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

yeah I know Robbie Williams he was at Barnsley for quite awhile, seem him play live actually. Surpised he's in the reserves.

Matty Youngs played a bit of first team for Hudds this season, they're making noises about him.

Still we should of battered that team.

Can't sing tho

[Manwell Pablo]

Were Kaebi, N'Gotty and Maybury all in our back line?

If so thats a Iranian interntional who's played in a world cup, a former AC Milan and Lyon Central defender, and ex Leeds and Hearts full back whos played Champions League and played UEFA cup football. Against Huddersfield Town, reserves, insane.

[Thracian]

Were Kaebi, N'Gotty and Maybury all in our back line?

If so thats a Iranian interntional who's played in a world cup, a former AC Milan and Lyon Central defender, and ex Leeds and Hearts full back whos played Champions League and played UEFA cup football. Against Huddersfield Town, reserves, insane.

No, Kaebi played right midfield.

[Jimmy]

No, Kaebi played right midfield.

how did he actually do there, besides the missed chances

[Thracian]

how did he actually do there, besides the missed chances

He looked fit and there was no doubting his effort.

He drifted in and out of the game but his movement was good and he contrived some excellent positions.

Sadly his efforts were wasted because his final passes were so poor and he failed to quite get on the end of passes which might easily have given him a goal.

However I saw enough to know he's a far better bet in midfield than at full-back.

Even with the wasted passes he was invariably trying to do the right thing.

He was still too easily pushed off the ball for my liking but in forward positions his speed does enable him to lose his man.

I liked the way he got into the Huddersfiled box on occasions too, something else we miss.

By any sensible yardstick he'd spend two or three weeks in the reserves playing right midfield but with so many injuries he just MIGHT get a place on the bench Saturday. Chambers looked a worry at half-time, as did Hayes later.

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

He looked fit and there was no doubting his effort.

He drifted in and out of the game but his movement was good and he contrived some excellent positions.

Sadly his efforts were wasted because his final passes were so poor and he failed to quite get on the end of passes which might easily have given him a goal.

However I saw enough to know he's a far better bet in midfield than at full-back.

Even with the wasted passes he was invariably trying to do the right thing.

He was still too easily pushed off the ball for my liking but in forward positions his speed does enable him to lose his man.

I liked the way he got into the Huddersfiled box on occasions too, something else we miss.

By any sensible yardstick he'd spend two or three weeks in the reserves playing right midfield but with so many injuries he just MIGHT get a place on the bench Saturday. Chambers looked a worry at half-time, as did Hayes later.

On that do you think he could be a asset as a impact player?Say, coming of the bench with 20 mins to go against a tiring full back.

[Thracian]

On that do you think he could be a asset as a impact player?Say, coming of the bench with 20 mins to go against a tiring full back.

One match is not enough to be definitive.

I do know that:

a) There's no way he's a full-back and I would never dream of risking him there in the first team. Not for any reason.

b) There is far LESS risk playing him as an attacking right midfielder.

c) His movement IS potentially creative.

d) He can get into the box, not something our midfielders often do.

e) He would probably pose more threat than Newton (which is not saying much from this season's evidence)

f) He looks fit which other contenders may not be.

I can't judge what I'd do because I don't know who is available.

Kaebi is more prone to nieve mistakes than leading young players who have been through our Academy but couple his movement with his speed and I would say that yes, he poses a significant threat and that, truly, there is nothing wrong with his technique that would prevent his scoring.

Whether he's brave enough to get into those scoring positions or strong enough to survive there I don't know. He looks so fragile at times.

Replacement on the right for Hume? No.

Substitute for Hume? Yes.

Better bet than Newton? Probably on his recent form (who isn't).

Better than Odhiambo on the right? Questionable.

Better than Chambers on the right? Doubtful but yes if Chambers is unfit. Okay sub otherwise.

Better than Gradel? I'd seriously doubt it.

Everyone seems to be in a rush and really I'd say it would be a month yet before Kaebi might potentially start to look a quality player on the right but that's the way of things nowadays. Everything has to be yesterday and I could as easily see it ending in tears as success if he is used too soon.

At no time in the reserves so far has Kaebi looked masterful and that's a big worry to me.

[ronnup]

cheers Thrac, nice to have genuine and thorough match reports written so well.

[Stuliasz]

I'm sure that Robbie Williams was a youngster who came through our ranks and then left??

[The People's Hero]

I'm sure that Robbie Williams was a youngster who came through our ranks and then left??

No mate, he was a Barnsley youngster I think.

One of their brighter prospects.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'm sure that Robbie Williams was a youngster who came through our ranks and then left??

We did have a Robbie Williams at one time but it was a different one.

Cheers Thrac for the Kaebi stuff. I'm positive. Optimistically, the quicker he gets on the bench for the first team the quicker he can adapt to first team football. The same goes for Chambers et al.