FA Youth Cup V Crystal Palace

[Steven]

It was a decent match last night. Can't remember any of our players having a particularly bad game and a few put in very good performances.

Mattock showed that he's a class above in his own age group, just like he did when he was 16 in the under 18s. He should be playing at a higher level than that but not sure reserves is high enough and I wouldn't want to send him away from the club for too long. If we were to loan him out I'd make it a short loan deal, 3-4 months and only to a club where he's likely to be given starts. Preferably a club that is doing well but the chances of a successful club in a lower division loaning a 17 year old and putting him in their first team are slim. A loan deal like Odhiambo had at Southend would be pointless for Mattock imo.

The under 18s don't play the same kind of football as they did last season but they still look a good unit who don't mind doing the dirty work to win matches. Lee Cox was still running his heart out at the end of the 2nd half of extra time to prevent a Palace attack. Good to see!

That brought a little tear to my eye as I remember Lennon doing that at the end of the Athletico Madrid game at Filbo. Players who drive themselves like that will always have a place in the game.

[Jonbluefox9]

That brought a little tear to my eye as I remember Lennon doing that at the end of the Athletico Madrid game at Filbo. Players who drive themselves like that will always have a place in the game.

You soppy sod!!

[Steven]

You soppy sod!!

I don't like going on about the past, but Lenny was good for us.

[Thracian]

It was a decent match last night. Can't remember any of our players having a particularly bad game and a few put in very good performances.

Mattock showed that he's a class above in his own age group, just like he did when he was 16 in the under 18s. He should be playing at a higher level than that but not sure reserves is high enough and I wouldn't want to send him away from the club for too long. If we were to loan him out I'd make it a short loan deal, 3-4 months and only to a club where he's likely to be given starts. Preferably a club that is doing well but the chances of a successful club in a lower division loaning a 17 year old and putting him in their first team are slim. A loan deal like Odhiambo had at Southend would be pointless for Mattock imo.

The under 18s don't play the same kind of football as they did last season but they still look a good unit who don't mind doing the dirty work to win matches. Lee Cox was still running his heart out at the end of the 2nd half of extra time to prevent a Palace attack. Good to see!

I don't think the approach has changed much - they still pass quickly and support in numbers. They just haven't had two wingers like Gradel (on loan) or Beswick (injured) this season and they don't have a multi-purpose midfielder like King either.

Beswick's recovered now which should help and I'm quite sure the second half of the season will see the further emergence of Jorrin John and Elliot Chamberlain so I still see a lot of attacking intent.

Lee Cox looks a real find. While Chambers was wracked by cramp in extra-time Cox, as you say, was still chasing everyone. Rugged too and a bit of a limpet. No matter how skillful, Cox seems to stick in there and is very strong and determined when he does tackle.

Got caught waiting for the ball to come to him once or twice but otherwise very encouraging. I didn't expect too much this season but all of a sudden the sun's shining again.

As for Mattock he, like our other young first teamers just need to play in a decent side. Both defenders and attackers were forever making runs off the ball to help him last night - and really driving runs at that. Joe Cobb was excellent in that way, as was Chambers. Sometimes you get more movement from a cadavar than from our first teamers.

People talk about players like Capaldi. Is he really going to represent an improvement on Mattock? Cos it doesn't sound like it from reports of his performances this season.

I honestly wonder if fear of making mistakes is inhibiting people like Mattock and King. No team is going to succeed if its full of fear.

Last night was a really tough and important game for the Academy. They were under pressure. But no-one showed the slightest signs of fear at any time. There was never the feeling that anyone was going to be crucified for a bad miss, a defensive miskick or anything else.

All For One, One For All couldn't have been better emphasised.

[Boycie]

Billy Kee was awesome aswell last night fought for everything in the air and on the ground. Him n Chambers looked to have a good understanding of each other, and one of them often dropped deeper to link up the play which was nice to see. The young left-back Joe Cobb was very good as well last night, never looked to be in to much trouble. Wasnt very impressed with Craig King last night either, looked out of sorts.