King crowns cracking night

[Thracian]

An absolute screamer of a second half goal from Andy King sealed a genuinely heartening 2-1 win for Leicester Reserves against Stoke Reserves at Hinckley tonight and avenged a previous defeat at the Britannia Stadium.

Gone were the makeweights and misfits and tonight we saw 11 footballers playing properly as a team for one another and offering brief glimpses of some genuine quality.

Stoke fielded a big, strong, experienced side but Leicester threatened to destroy them at times. Impish striker Billy KcKay gave them an early lead when Matty Fryatt teed him up on the left side of the box and McKay drilled a low shot into the far corner.

It was just reward because City had the ball in the net after two minutes when a near- post Sheehan corner was turned into the net by Scott Garner but Stoke survived courtesy of a foul on the goalkeeper. Sheehan then took a quick and clever throw to Cox whose pinpoint pass found the elusive McKay who somehow missed with his header with the goal gaping.

Next James Chambers fed Fryatt whose fierce shot was turned around a post by the diving Steve Ryan and a Lee Cox/Matt Fryatt move ended with the ball flashing across the Stoke goal with McKay inches from supplying the final touch from close range.

The misses proved costly as Stoke equalised with something of a soft penalty when Nathanial Rowe-Turner was ruled to have tripped Vincent Pericard and giant striker Jon Parker accepted the gift of a penalty. Clumsy miscontrol of the ball by Scott Garner almost let Parkin in for a second Stoke goal but the striker's shot was one he'll want to forget.

There was no let up in Leicester's attacking intent and it was a brilliant six or seven man move involving half the side and some slick first time passing which led to the ball being teed up by Ryan Beswick for Andy King to hit a slightly deflected 30-yard thunderbolt from outside the box which left Ryan clutching thin air.

The goal was in the same League as his debut goal for the first team and the same player so nearly added a duplicate minutes later when a rising drive grazed the crossbar as City ran riot.

The game marked what I think was a reserves debut for Jorrin John some 15 minutes from time and what a memorable start it was. First touch he put James Chambers through into the penalty box and a tackle that felled him resulted in strong Leicester appeals for a penalty.

Next John hurried back to make a vital clearance by the left hand goalpost and finally he played a deftly controlled jewel of a cross to leave Billy McKay wondering how he headed wide of goal when totally unmarked just a few yards out.

City's winning goal had been one of the best of the season and the pity of King and McKay's misses was they too would have been something special as goals as well.

Never mind Leicester, with a side that was entirely ex or current Academy except for Henderson, Chambers and Fryatt looked a treat to behold again and totally wiped out the embarrassment of the visit to Forest Reserves after which so many fringe players were discarded.

No-one settled in easy street tonight.

Man of the Match was almost impossible to decide. Sheehan who had a hand in one goal, had a disallowed assist and was also totally involved and thoughtful in defence and attack was one candidate. If City can really afford to send this lad on I will never understand it. He was pivotal to so much that happened.

Another was Lee Cox. He needs the rough edges polishing but you have to wonder if he's shaping up as a future Neil Lennon. He helped King to totally control midfield but, perhaps most important allowed King to do what he's best at, driving forward into attacking areas from the centre. Cox as first team potential? I'm 100% certain barring injury etc..

King himself with his spectacular goal, a second near thing and his constant probing was also influential and Billy McKay clearly benefitted from having the ability of Fryatt around him. McKay made some marvellous contributions and should really have had a hat-trick.

And others played their part too, make no mistake, because this was 90 minutes of the best the reserves have produced this season against a Stoke side that included Parkin, Pericard and Salif Diao.

Player ratings to follow.

[Unabomber]

You should be a journo

Good report, was a really good game, totally dominated the second half.

I think Cox, King and Mckay had great games.

[ronnup]

Great report Thrac, sounds well positive.

[Flynny]

Cheers Thracian.

Seems to me that even if the standard of the first-team is going up, which should in theory make it harder for younger players to make an impression, a proper structure implemented long-term will mean that those who do make it through do so much better and aren't used as cheap 3rd choice back-up and then discarded.

Hayes made some comments to the mercury about Holloway telling him that he's still a part of his plans for next season. If thats true, that makes me think Holloway might be our first manager in a while to be looking long (or at least medium) term with our youth and fringe players.

I don't know if you ever found out anything about his previous record, but for someone who wants to see good football right through the academy to the first-team, just about everything Holloway's said, and more importantly, done, would seem encouraging.

[stevie909]

i've never read such an informative post. well done lads

[lavrentis]

whoa nice informative post, do you take notes or something?

[Unabomber]

Only thing I disagree with Thrac is the MOM I personally think Lee Cox should get it hands down, he controlled the midfield making good pass after pass.

[Thracian]

Only thing I disagree with Thrac is the MOM I personally think Lee Cox should get it hands down, he controlled the midfield making good pass after pass.

He perhaps would have got it but for getting caught in possession once and almost costing us a goal. In the end I found it so difficult to separate the separate contributions I decided it wasn't worth trying. I was proud of em all.

[Thracian]

Cheers Thracian.

Seems to me that even if the standard of the first-team is going up, which should in theory make it harder for younger players to make an impression, a proper structure implemented long-term will mean that those who do make it through do so much better and aren't used as cheap 3rd choice back-up and then discarded.

Hayes made some comments to the mercury about Holloway telling him that he's still a part of his plans for next season. If thats true, that makes me think Holloway might be our first manager in a while to be looking long (or at least medium) term with our youth and fringe players.

I don't know if you ever found out anything about his previous record, but for someone who wants to see good football right through the academy to the first-team, just about everything Holloway's said, and more importantly, done, would seem encouraging.

His previous record seemed encouraging enough. The problem for managers is that, when results falter and they start getting pressured, they invariably turn to experience instead of keeping faith in the young players.

It's a real art balancing youth and experience so that you don't have too many relatively raw youngsters at the same time but you keep several involved and you don't risk damaging their confidence and faith by unjustly making them the whipping boys when things go wrong.

The real ingredients for a good football team are having everyone playing together regularly and every team playing in the same style. This was missing first half of the season in the reserves and it disgusted me. Today it was like a major wound had been healed.

I got the impression that all the ex-Academy first team lads were there offering their support to the team tonight - Stearman, Mattock and Wesolowski were certainly there, together with other Academy players, girlfriends, family the lot. It spoke volumes and I just hope Holloway appreciates what he's got.

[Manwell Pablo]

Cheers Thracian.

Seems to me that even if the standard of the first-team is going up, which should in theory make it harder for younger players to make an impression, a proper structure implemented long-term will mean that those who do make it through do so much better and aren't used as cheap 3rd choice back-up and then discarded.

Hayes made some comments to the mercury about Holloway telling him that he's still a part of his plans for next season. If thats true, that makes me think Holloway might be our first manager in a while to be looking long (or at least medium) term with our youth and fringe players.

I don't know if you ever found out anything about his previous record, but for someone who wants to see good football right through the academy to the first-team, just about everything Holloway's said, and more importantly, done, would seem encouraging.

I've typed out about 5 replys to you and Thrac, but my browser keeps crashing after 2 minutes so to keep it short

Craig Levein? Nothing but long term.

Cheers Thracian

Vincent Pericard

[Zingari]

excellent report as ever thracian thanks

[Ric Flair]

I thought Lee Cox was a right back? Also, is that Jorrin John a winger or a striker? They get played all over the shop at this level.

[Zingari]

this thread surely sums up what is wrong with the OS

why is no-one making it known how the youngsters are developing etc

[Thracian]

I thought Lee Cox was a right back? Also, is that Jorrin John a winger or a striker? They get played all over the shop at this level.

Happily Lee Cox can play right back or in midfield with equal authority. Every time I see him he looks more powerful and assured. He's also got a terrific big match temperament and seems to just love a challenge.

At Sunderland in the play-off final he started in midfield but Leicester's right back started struggling against a very fast and tricky opponent and Cox replaced him as a troubleshooter and virtually blotted him out completely, a move which probably earned us the trophy in the end.

Against Palace in the FA Youth Cup he stuck like a limpet to some pretty outstanding individuals and, even when beaten occasionally, he was back at em in an instant and still winning possession. Okay people like Tiatto could stick in there but Cox can play a bit too. He does the simple things effortlessly and his partnership with King last night looked made in Heaven they so complemented one another.

King functions better with someone around him to play off. Tom Tejan-Sie always covered his runs and often acted as the other man in a quick one-two.

Cox did much the same last night and, for the first time since last season, Kingy was back in the role he plays best, orchestrating the attacking side of our midfield although there was always stacks of competent support around him.

Jorrin John played right wing last night and straight the way you could see he was a proper player. I just wish McKay had taken the goal chance Jorrin put on his plate cos it would have been the perfect start for the lad, who's still only 15/16 I think.

He didn't have chance to run at people but I saw him chase back 2/3rds the length of the field and he was like a greyhound out of a trap.

There's not much of him. He's a bit Ryan Smith-like in build.

But what impressed in his short cameo was how he saw the right pass and delivered it immediately. When given his chance to cross to McKay he was in space and many players would have taken a touch or two. Jorrin passed with his first touch. And a cleverly flighted touch at that. As a result McKay was totally free at the far post. Sheer class.

[Staf]

Thanks for the report was Andy Kings goal better than the one he scored for the first team ?

[Thracian]

Thanks for the report was Andy Kings goal better than the one he scored for the first team ?

Quite similar really except it was central and the ball was pushed out to him. Same sort of range and went like a bullet. The second effort was almost equally spectacular and when I say it grazed the bar it really was close and, again, from fairly long range.

[Bryn]

Has Jorris John even featured much for the Academy? Sounds like he's being fasttracked if not, perhaps he is as good as is being whispered.

[Thracian]

Has Jorris John even featured much for the Academy? Sounds like he's being fasttracked if not, perhaps he is as good as is being whispered.

I don't know about the younger age groups but he's not played a lot for the under 18's.

He seems to have been eased into the set up sensibly. He was an unused sub in the FA Youth Cup, and I know the club have got him into a different school and done other things to make sure he's soundly set up off the field.

Last night was my first opportunity to see him play at all - he was mentioned to me last May - and he looked fit, fast, an intelligent footballer and one who was willing to listen.

[Calum McDermott]

John's cross was perfect, very promising. I can't get over how much billy McKay has improved since the first few reserve games this season, he looks like he has all attributes needed. Lee cox could be pushing first team appearances soon hes very promising. I went to the norwich game and he got off the coach. Probably as a reserve incase of any injuries in the warm up.

[Thracian]

John's cross was perfect, very promising. I can't get over how much billy McKay has improved since the first few reserve games this season, he looks like he has all attributes needed. Lee cox could be pushing first team appearances soon hes very promising. I went to the norwich game and he got off the coach. Probably as a reserve incase of any injuries in the warm up.

It's impossible to be sure but I wonder if someone has had a word with him about being more selective about his chasing back and closing down when we've lost the ball.

He's such a willing worker is Billy and one of the few who can run all day. Seemed to me in Novembr/December he was almost trying to hard and literally chasing everyone in sight.

Trouble was, it blunted his sharpness in the box. I watched him closely last night. He and Fryatt still worked hard defensively but in a much more selective and shared out way. Consequently McKay still had the speed of movement left in him to get away from markers in and around the penalty box and the benefits showed.

There were other benefits too. Sappleton, his partner on many occasions, was a big target but not a great mover. Odhiambo had moved on. He never had anyone of Fryatt's class and with Fryatt's movement to work off.

Then there's was the return of Beswick who provides width and gives the early passes that strikers love, together with precision passes from quality midfielders and someone like Sheehan who could spot his runs and deliver a long pass accurately.

I am quite sure McKay will continue to shine in that sort of company, one where he'll get plenty of passes where he wants them.

[woznotwos]

Thanks for report mate, great reading!

[A fox for life]

bloody hell Thriac u should contact the OS and get that posted. well done on the report keep it up

guessing that its virtually inpossible to view that goal

anyone have his one from the first team i managed to miss that too?

[Candidcamera]

Really enjoyed reading this thread. Good to hear about the players coming through -entertaining footie that's what we want.

[Trumpet]

An absolute screamer of a second half goal from Andy King sealed a genuinely heartening 2-1 win for Leicester Reserves against Stoke Reserves at Hinckley tonight and avenged a previous defeat at the Britannia Stadium.

Gone were the makeweights and misfits and tonight we saw 11 footballers playing properly as a team for one another and offering brief glimpses of some genuine quality.

Stoke fielded a big, strong, experienced side but Leicester threatened to destroy them at times. Impish striker Billy KcKay gave them an early lead when Matty Fryatt teed him up on the left side of the box and McKay drilled a low shot into the far corner.

It was just reward because City had the ball in the net after two minutes when a near- post Sheehan corner was turned into the net by Scott Garner but Stoke survived courtesy of a foul on the goalkeeper. Sheehan then took a quick and clever throw to Cox whose pinpoint pass found the elusive McKay who somehow missed with his header with the goal gaping.

Next James Chambers fed Fryatt whose fierce shot was turned around a post by the diving Steve Ryan and a Lee Cox/Matt Fryatt move ended with the ball flashing across the Stoke goal with McKay inches from supplying the final touch from close range.

The misses proved costly as Stoke equalised with something of a soft penalty when Nathanial Rowe-Turner was ruled to have tripped Vincent Pericard and giant striker Jon Parker accepted the gift of a penalty. Clumsy miscontrol of the ball by Scott Garner almost let Parkin in for a second Stoke goal but the striker's shot was one he'll want to forget.

There was no let up in Leicester's attacking intent and it was a brilliant six or seven man move involving half the side and some slick first time passing which led to the ball being teed up by Ryan Beswick for Andy King to hit a slightly deflected 30-yard thunderbolt from outside the box which left Ryan clutching thin air.

The goal was in the same League as his debut goal for the first team and the same player so nearly added a duplicate minutes later when a rising drive grazed the crossbar as City ran riot.

The game marked what I think was a reserves debut for Jorrin John some 15 minutes from time and what a memorable start it was. First touch he put James Chambers through into the penalty box and a tackle that felled him resulted in strong Leicester appeals for a penalty.

Next John hurried back to make a vital clearance by the left hand goalpost and finally he played a deftly controlled jewel of a cross to leave Billy McKay wondering how he headed wide of goal when totally unmarked just a few yards out.

City's winning goal had been one of the best of the season and the pity of King and McKay's misses was they too would have been something special as goals as well.

Never mind Leicester, with a side that was entirely ex or current Academy except for Henderson, Chambers and Fryatt looked a treat to behold again and totally wiped out the embarrassment of the visit to Forest Reserves after which so many fringe players were discarded.

No-one settled in easy street tonight.

Man of the Match was almost impossible to decide. Sheehan who had a hand in one goal, had a disallowed assist and was also totally involved and thoughtful in defence and attack was one candidate. If City can really afford to send this lad on I will never understand it. He was pivotal to so much that happened.

Another was Lee Cox. He needs the rough edges polishing but you have to wonder if he's shaping up as a future Neil Lennon. He helped King to totally control midfield but, perhaps most important allowed King to do what he's best at, driving forward into attacking areas from the centre. Cox as first team potential? I'm 100% certain barring injury etc..

King himself with his spectacular goal, a second near thing and his constant probing was also influential and Billy McKay clearly benefitted from having the ability of Fryatt around him. McKay made some marvellous contributions and should really have had a hat-trick.

And others played their part too, make no mistake, because this was 90 minutes of the best the reserves have produced this season against a Stoke side that included Parkin, Pericard and Salif Diao.

Player ratings to follow.

Thank fook for that! We now have a prooper reserve team. Thanks Milan and co.

[Thracian]

bloody hell Thriac u should contact the OS and get that posted. well done on the report keep it up

guessing that its virtually inpossible to view that goal

anyone have his one from the first team i managed to miss that too?

Somehow I don't think the OS would welcome input from me! :D