Indecisive play led to that penalty. Saliba let his man go a for a split second there. Hillson was poor there aswell.
I'm not convinced by our youth coaching set up and think we may need a revamp like we've had for the senior squad.
The game needs Azeez and Cirjan IMO. Shame we didnt have a player like one of the u18 wingers available for this aswell.Too much route one football...
Pass by Salah-Eddine to set up a near goal for Balogun with his left was pretty though.
It's nice to see Brighton basically playing as a Potter side would. Would be nice to have that kind of continuity but tbh I haven't seen enough of the U23s over the last couple seasons to know if the 20 minutes I've seen of this game with the very direct passing and no real build-up is an exception or a rule.
I think he was trying to play in that grey area between midfield and attack. I don't mind him being higher up the pitch to provide an option for the CB's on the ball.The last 5-10 minutes were much better.
Olayinka clearly the weak link in this team, not really sure what he's doing, he's in the ten zone the whole time when we have the ball, and we've already got Cottrell, a false winger in Salah to cover that space.
I think he was trying to play in that grey area between midfield and attack. I don't mind him being higher up the pitch to provide an option for the CB's on the ball.
Yeah, I think Olayinka was better than Akinola for sure and picked up some really good positions, just inconsistent with the ball. Akinola was pretty deep and moved the ball OK but his passing got a bit erratic at the end. We needed one of them rather than both.I think he was trying to play in that grey area between midfield and attack. I don't mind him being higher up the pitch to provide an option for the CB's on the ball.
Saliba got the ball to him a couple times which allowed Olayinka to turn and unsettle the Brighton defence. Ideally we'd have someone more comfortable on the ball in that position but I get the thinking.
Salah played that beauty of a chipped pass to Balogun who should have scored.We havent carved out enough good chances IMO. Having both Olayinka and Akinola together hasn't worked out and Cottrell has been good but not much seen of Salah and Lewis overall. Cirjan needs to come on IMO.
Yeah, he is, but it doesn't make sense given the other players, it's basically a 4-1-4-1 in the build up, with everyone deferring to Saliba to force a pass in between lines.
He should be in the midfield looking to receive. Basically just what techincally unsure/immature players do when either not receiving proper instruction (Bould) and/or hiding.
Salah Ouhad M'hand M'lady
Olayinka will go on loan soon IMO.
Think it's just Bould forcing the most senior players into the lineup without regard for the balance of the team, which is fair enough, main point of U23 is just to get them football.
That's why I say would be nice to just be rid of Olayinka, the team makes so much more sense with Salah-Eddine in Olayinka's position--a player with the confidence and personality to receive and pass in build-up--and Cirjan in Salah's, or Azeez in Olayinka's and Salah where he is. In short, one of Azeez/Cirjan for Olayinka. Or for Akinola for that matter, but Akinola presumably we've signed him because we feel he offers things to the U23 side Olayinka doesn't.