Billy the Kid buries Brum

[Thracian]

From the OS:

==========

Leicester City U18 1-0 Birmingham City U18

Posted on: Sat 15 Dec 2007

A second half Billy Kee strike was enough for Leicester City's academy side to record their second victory in four days as they overcame Birmingham at the Belvoir Drive training ground on Saturday.

Steve Beaglehole's side rode their luck in the early stages as goalkeeper Carl Pentney failed to deal with a long ball and a last ditch goal line clearance from Joe Cobb stopped the Foxes from falling behind.

But the home side responded with a string of chances as Eric Odhiambo and Ryan Beswick both produced fine saves from the Birmingham goalkeeper.

City continued to search for the breakthrough in the second half as a cross from Lee Cox was met by Ryan Beswick inside the penalty area, but his header failed to hit the target.

Moments later Eric Odhimabo forced his way behind the Birmingham defence and picked out Steven Howard 12 yards from goal only for the midfielder to volley over the bar.

The deadlock was broken after 70 minutes. A cross from the right by Ryan Beswick found substitute Billy Kee unmarked at the far post. The striker found room to bring the ball down before firing in the winner.

Leicester City's academy side return to action in the new year when they travel to Bristol City on 5 January.

City: Pentney, Cobb, Garner, Rowe-Turner, Cox, Tuttle, Howard, C King (Kee 55), Beswick, Sappleton (McKay 45), Odhiambo (Burns 72)

=========

Another commendable win. Good to see Beswick back after a longish injury lay-off.

[Father Ted]

From the OS:

==========

Leicester City U18 1-0 Birmingham City U18

Posted on: Sat 15 Dec 2007

A second half Billy Kee strike was enough for Leicester City's academy side to record their second victory in four days as they overcame Birmingham at the Belvoir Drive training ground on Saturday.

Steve Beaglehole's side rode their luck in the early stages as goalkeeper Carl Pentney failed to deal with a long ball and a last ditch goal line clearance from Joe Cobb stopped the Foxes from falling behind.

But the home side responded with a string of chances as Eric Odhiambo and Ryan Beswick both produced fine saves from the Birmingham goalkeeper.

City continued to search for the breakthrough in the second half as a cross from Lee Cox was met by Ryan Beswick inside the penalty area, but his header failed to hit the target.

Moments later Eric Odhimabo forced his way behind the Birmingham defence and picked out Steven Howard 12 yards from goal only for the midfielder to volley over the bar.

The deadlock was broken after 70 minutes. A cross from the right by Ryan Beswick found substitute Billy Kee unmarked at the far post. The striker found room to bring the ball down before firing in the winner.

Leicester City's academy side return to action in the new year when they travel to Bristol City on 5 January.

City: Pentney, Cobb, Garner, Rowe-Turner, Cox, Tuttle, Howard, C King (Kee 55), Beswick, Sappleton (McKay 45), Odhiambo (Burns 72)

=========

Another commendable win. Good to see Beswick back after a longish injury lay-off.

Thrac, this Billy Kee seems to be scoring tons of goals. What do you think of him?

[Thracian]

Thrac, this Billy Kee seems to be scoring tons of goals. What do you think of him?

Billy Kee is hard to assess. Rather like Sappleton and Matty Fryatt.

I'd like to watch him some more but from what I have seen he's an intelligent footballer with good instincts.

He sees the pictures, spots a pass, uses an opening and is very aware that he's paid to score goals and you won't do that by being shy about shooting.

But Billy doesn't look particularly athletic. There's no doubting he's extremely tough but, for a striker, he's a bit on the short side and looks a bit heavy.

He reminds me of a young Arthur Rowley physically, a bit bulky. Rowley prowled the edge of the box and when he gained possession his only thought was to shoot or to manoeuvre a position to shoot.

Billy's seems to be like that but as you progress through the different levels of football the toughness that sets you apart in youth football is negated because most players are tough at top level.

The lack of speed seems to matter more and unless you are a genius like Jimmy Greaves or Teddy Sheringham and other aspects of play likely closing people down become increasingly important.

That's not to say Billy doesn't work hard. He does. But he's not lightning quick in doing it and he doesn't have the long-life batteries of Billy McKay. Who does?

Like Riccy Sappleton, my worry is that, as he goes higher in the game, he won't have the instant or general speed to get enough chances and if players like Kee and Sappleton are not scoring then, if they're not careful, they might not offer enough reasons to put them in a team.

Modern football is so much about pace, elusivity, stamina, fast recovery, organisational discipline. I just wonder if Kee and Sappleton belong to a different era. But we'll see. Depends if they can work hard enough on their strengths to make them indispensible and negate their limitations enough so that managers will tolerate them.

All the Reserves/Academy strikers are promising enough in their much different ways but the one I'm most optimistic about, in the modern game, is Billy McKay.

His problems are that he's not very tall and not especially strong or physical. His strength needs to improve but what is so valuable is that he's a natural athlete.

He can and will chase people down for 90 minutes. He makes good runs, has good control, plays team-mates into the game, is a calm finisher from all sorts of ranges, seems to stay fit most of the time, a good passer and can usually be relied on to do his bit.

Sadly he doesn't pose much threat in the air.

McKay will need to be so single minded to make his shooting lethal, to make his runs and check-outs more intelligent, to develop exceptional and consistent close control and to observe opponents weaknesses. But given that willingness to improve, which I think he has, McKay can eventually be a professional if people have faith in him and help him focus on those aims.

The intensity of work is needed to make up for what I doubt he'll ever have, like height and brute strength.

There is such a fine line between the winners and losers and so much of it is down to attitude and the sheeer bloody minded determination to keep improving every single day.

[Bert]

After 10 games he scored a lot of goals.

Should be on the first team on that basis. Especially after judging someone else after 10 games, and coming to the conclusion he's not first team standard.

[Staf]

After 10 games he scored a lot of goals.

Should be on the first team on that basis. Especially after judging someone else after 10 games, and coming to the conclusion he's not first team standard.

I agree would love to see him given a chance btw where was A.Chambers on saturday

[Thracian]

After 10 games he scored a lot of goals.

Should be on the first team on that basis. Especially after judging someone else after 10 games, and coming to the conclusion he's not first team standard.

Let's not do a Kaebi with him.

Billy needs time to even be considered as a first team prospect. He's barely played for the reserves and when he has was not especially prominent.

Let the guy learn his trade. He a nougat at the moment. Not an 18ct finished article.

[Zingari]

Billy Kee is hard to assess. Rather like Sappleton and Matty Fryatt.

I'd like to watch him some more but from what I have seen he's an intelligent footballer with good instincts.

He sees the pictures, spots a pass, uses an opening and is very aware that he's paid to score goals and you won't do that by being shy about shooting.

But Billy is no athlete - certainly not to look at. There's no doubting he's extremely tough but, for a striker, he's a bit on the short side and looks a bit slow and heavy.

He reminds me of Arthur Rowley really. He was no athlete but he prowled the edge of the box and when he gained possession his only thought was to shoot or to manoeuvre a position to shoot.

Billy's seems to be like that but as you progress through the different levels of football the toughness that sets you apart in youth football is negated because most players are tough at top level.

The lack of speed seems to matter more and unless you are a genius like Jimmy Greaves or Teddy Sheringham and other aspects of play likely closing people down become increasingly important.

That's not to say Billy doesn't work hard. He does. But he's not lightning quick in doing it and he doesn't have the long-life batteries of Billy McKay. Who does?

Like Riccy Sappleton, my worry is that, as he goes higher in the game, he won't have the instant or general speed to get enough chances and if players like Kee and Sappleton are not scoring then, if they're not careful, they might not offer enough reasons to put them in a team.

Modern football is so much about pace, elusivity, stamina, fast recovery, organisational discipline. I just wonder if Kee and Sappleton belong to a different era. But we'll see. Depends if they can work hard enough on their strengths to make them indispensible and negate their limitations enough so that managers will tolerate them.

All the Reserves/Academy strikers are promising enough in their much different ways but the one I'm most optimistic about, in the modern game, is Billy McKay.

His problems are that he's not very tall and not especially strong or physical. His strength needs to improve but what is so valuable is that he's a natural athlete.

He can and will chase people down for 90 minutes. He makes good runs, has good control, plays team-mates into the game, is a calm finisher from all sorts of ranges, seems to stay fit most of the time, a good passer and can usually be relied on to do his bit.

Sadly he doesn't pose much threat in the air.

McKay will need to be so single minded to make his shooting lethal, to make his runs and check-outs more intelligent, to develop exceptional and consistent close control and to observe opponents weaknesses. But given that willingness to improve, which I think he has, McKay can eventually be a professional if people have faith in him and help him focus on those aims.

The intensity of work is needed to make up for what I doubt he'll ever have, like height and brute strength.

There is such a fine line between the winners and losers and so much of it is down to attitude and the sheeer bloody minded determination to keep improving every single day.

get him in then

[Wezleylowski]

I thought i was pretty quick until i raced Billy in the 100 metres. He absoloutely bum raped me by about 15 meres

[Bert]

Let's not do a Kaebi with him.

Billy needs time to even be considered as a first team prospect. He's barely played for the reserves and when he has was not especially prominent.

Let the guy learn his trade. He a nougat at the moment. Not an 18ct finished article.

Was clearly being sarcastic.

[Webbo]

Thrac, this Billy Kee seems to be scoring tons of goals. What do you think of him?

Billy Kee is hard to assess. Rather like Sappleton and Matty Fryatt.

I'd like to watch him some more but from what I have seen he's an intelligent footballer with good instincts.

He sees the pictures, spots a pass, uses an opening and is very aware that he's paid to score goals and you won't do that by being shy about shooting.

But Billy is no athlete - certainly not to look at. There's no doubting he's extremely tough but, for a striker, he's a bit on the short side and looks a bit slow and heavy.

He reminds me of Arthur Rowley really. He was no athlete but he prowled the edge of the box and when he gained possession his only thought was to shoot or to manoeuvre a position to shoot.

Billy's seems to be like that but as you progress through the different levels of football the toughness that sets you apart in youth football is negated because most players are tough at top level.

The lack of speed seems to matter more and unless you are a genius like Jimmy Greaves or Teddy Sheringham and other aspects of play likely closing people down become increasingly important.

That's not to say Billy doesn't work hard. He does. But he's not lightning quick in doing it and he doesn't have the long-life batteries of Billy McKay. Who does?

Like Riccy Sappleton, my worry is that, as he goes higher in the game, he won't have the instant or general speed to get enough chances and if players like Kee and Sappleton are not scoring then, if they're not careful, they might not offer enough reasons to put them in a team.

Modern football is so much about pace, elusivity, stamina, fast recovery, organisational discipline. I just wonder if Kee and Sappleton belong to a different era. But we'll see. Depends if they can work hard enough on their strengths to make them indispensible and negate their limitations enough so that managers will tolerate them.

All the Reserves/Academy strikers are promising enough in their much different ways but the one I'm most optimistic about, in the modern game, is Billy McKay.

His problems are that he's not very tall and not especially strong or physical. His strength needs to improve but what is so valuable is that he's a natural athlete.

He can and will chase people down for 90 minutes. He makes good runs, has good control, plays team-mates into the game, is a calm finisher from all sorts of ranges, seems to stay fit most of the time, a good passer and can usually be relied on to do his bit.

Sadly he doesn't pose much threat in the air.

McKay will need to be so single minded to make his shooting lethal, to make his runs and check-outs more intelligent, to develop exceptional and consistent close control and to observe opponents weaknesses. But given that willingness to improve, which I think he has, McKay can eventually be a professional if people have faith in him and help him focus on those aims.

The intensity of work is needed to make up for what I doubt he'll ever have, like height and brute strength.

There is such a fine line between the winners and losers and so much of it is down to attitude and the sheeer bloody minded determination to keep improving every single day.

Not bad would have sufficed.

[Wezleylowski]

Billy Kee is hard to assess. Rather like Sappleton and Matty Fryatt.

I'd like to watch him some more but from what I have seen he's an intelligent footballer with good instincts.

He sees the pictures, spots a pass, uses an opening and is very aware that he's paid to score goals and you won't do that by being shy about shooting.

But Billy is no athlete - certainly not to look at. There's no doubting he's extremely tough but, for a striker, he's a bit on the short side and looks a bit slow and heavy.

He reminds me of Arthur Rowley really. He was no athlete but he prowled the edge of the box and when he gained possession his only thought was to shoot or to manoeuvre a position to shoot.

Billy's seems to be like that but as you progress through the different levels of football the toughness that sets you apart in youth football is negated because most players are tough at top level.

The lack of speed seems to matter more and unless you are a genius like Jimmy Greaves or Teddy Sheringham and other aspects of play likely closing people down become increasingly important.

That's not to say Billy doesn't work hard. He does. But he's not lightning quick in doing it and he doesn't have the long-life batteries of Billy McKay. Who does?

Like Riccy Sappleton, my worry is that, as he goes higher in the game, he won't have the instant or general speed to get enough chances and if players like Kee and Sappleton are not scoring then, if they're not careful, they might not offer enough reasons to put them in a team.

Modern football is so much about pace, elusivity, stamina, fast recovery, organisational discipline. I just wonder if Kee and Sappleton belong to a different era. But we'll see. Depends if they can work hard enough on their strengths to make them indispensible and negate their limitations enough so that managers will tolerate them.

All the Reserves/Academy strikers are promising enough in their much different ways but the one I'm most optimistic about, in the modern game, is Billy McKay.

His problems are that he's not very tall and not especially strong or physical. His strength needs to improve but what is so valuable is that he's a natural athlete.

He can and will chase people down for 90 minutes. He makes good runs, has good control, plays team-mates into the game, is a calm finisher from all sorts of ranges, seems to stay fit most of the time, a good passer and can usually be relied on to do his bit.

Sadly he doesn't pose much threat in the air.

McKay will need to be so single minded to make his shooting lethal, to make his runs and check-outs more intelligent, to develop exceptional and consistent close control and to observe opponents weaknesses. But given that willingness to improve, which I think he has, McKay can eventually be a professional if people have faith in him and help him focus on those aims.

The intensity of work is needed to make up for what I doubt he'll ever have, like height and brute strength.

There is such a fine line between the winners and losers and so much of it is down to attitude and the sheeer bloody minded determination to keep improving every single day.

When did this mutate into a discussion about Billy Mckay?

[Thracian]

When did this mutate into a discussion about Billy Mckay?

If you want to answer the question as you see fit, go ahead.

[Thracian]

Not bad would have sufficed.

It might - but it would have been a bit John Barber.

[Wezleylowski]

If you want to answer the question as you see fit, go ahead.

I thought your analysis of Kee was alright, pace slateing aside. But then you went on a rant about McKay from Knowhere Just found it odd that you wrote about 4/5 paragraphs and about 1 was focussed on Kee, the player in question, and the rest was about McKay.

[Thracian]

I thought your analysis of Kee was alright, pace slateing aside. But then you went on a rant about McKay from Knowhere Just found it odd that you wrote about 4/5 paragraphs and about 1 was focussed on Kee, the player in question, and the rest was about McKay.

No idea where you learned to do your counting.

[Asha]

I thought your analysis of Kee was alright, pace slateing aside. But then you went on a rant about McKay from Knowhere Just found it odd that you wrote about 4/5 paragraphs and about 1 was focussed on Kee, the player in question, and the rest was about McKay.

About 1...

Surely you can tell whether its less or more than 1.

[Wezleylowski]

About 1...

Surely you can tell whether its less or more than 1.

Thracians paragraphs dont count. They are miniscule It defeats the point anyway that Thracian wrote very little about Kee and an absoloute monster essay about McKay. Favouritism of his "select" few academy lads.

[Wezleylowski]

No idea where you learned to do your counting.

How old is Mckay by the way?

[Thracian]

I thought i was pretty quick until i raced Billy in the 100 metres. He absoloutely bum raped me by about 15 meres

I'm amazed. He's never looked particularly quick to me. Turns nippily and gets a shot off but I'd never have thought him especially fast.

[Thracian]

How old is Mckay by the way?

It'll be on the OS - 18 I think.

[Wezleylowski]

I'm amazed. He's never looked particularly quick to me. Turns nippily and gets a shot off but I'd never have thought him especially fast.

Not sure about his acceleration but once he gets going he is like a train

[Thracian]

Not sure about his acceleration but once he gets going he is like a train

I've seen the train bit demonstrated.

He hit one kid with a 50-50 tackle against Blackburn which must have registered on the Richter Scale.

I'd think you'd want him on your side in a bundle.

[Wezleylowski]

It'll be on the OS - 18 I think.

If he is the player you claim, how come he hasn't featured for the 1st team?

[Wezleylowski]

I've seen the train bit demonstrated.

He hit one kid with a 50-50 tackle against Blackburn which must have registered on the Richter Scale.

I'd think you'd want him on your side in a bundle.

Oh most definitely

[MPH]

Billy Kee is hard to assess. Rather like Sappleton and Matty Fryatt.

I'd like to watch him some more but from what I have seen he's an intelligent footballer with good instincts.

He sees the pictures, spots a pass, uses an opening and is very aware that he's paid to score goals and you won't do that by being shy about shooting.

But Billy doesn't look particularly athletic. There's no doubting he's extremely tough but, for a striker, he's a bit on the short side and looks a bit heavy.

He reminds me of a young Arthur Rowley physically, a bit bulky. Rowley prowled the edge of the box and when he gained possession his only thought was to shoot or to manoeuvre a position to shoot.

Billy's seems to be like that but as you progress through the different levels of football the toughness that sets you apart in youth football is negated because most players are tough at top level.

The lack of speed seems to matter more and unless you are a genius like Jimmy Greaves or Teddy Sheringham and other aspects of play likely closing people down become increasingly important.

That's not to say Billy doesn't work hard. He does. But he's not lightning quick in doing it and he doesn't have the long-life batteries of Billy McKay. Who does?

Like Riccy Sappleton, my worry is that, as he goes higher in the game, he won't have the instant or general speed to get enough chances and if players like Kee and Sappleton are not scoring then, if they're not careful, they might not offer enough reasons to put them in a team.

Modern football is so much about pace, elusivity, stamina, fast recovery, organisational discipline. I just wonder if Kee and Sappleton belong to a different era. But we'll see. Depends if they can work hard enough on their strengths to make them indispensible and negate their limitations enough so that managers will tolerate them.

All the Reserves/Academy strikers are promising enough in their much different ways but the one I'm most optimistic about, in the modern game, is Billy McKay.

His problems are that he's not very tall and not especially strong or physical. His strength needs to improve but what is so valuable is that he's a natural athlete.

He can and will chase people down for 90 minutes. He makes good runs, has good control, plays team-mates into the game, is a calm finisher from all sorts of ranges, seems to stay fit most of the time, a good passer and can usually be relied on to do his bit.

Sadly he doesn't pose much threat in the air.

McKay will need to be so single minded to make his shooting lethal, to make his runs and check-outs more intelligent, to develop exceptional and consistent close control and to observe opponents weaknesses. But given that willingness to improve, which I think he has, McKay can eventually be a professional if people have faith in him and help him focus on those aims.

The intensity of work is needed to make up for what I doubt he'll ever have, like height and brute strength.

There is such a fine line between the winners and losers and so much of it is down to attitude and the sheeer bloody minded determination to keep improving every single day.

Rooney!!!!!!!