Stephens back!

[Uncle C]

I left before the end just too cold. 3-0 when I left.

Bad fan Thanks for the match report.

 

[spence]

I thought 3-0 flattered us if i'm honest. Stephens took two hefty challenges. The second left him limping afterwards.Best won lots of headers and his first touch looks good.

There seems lots of pitches there and the main building looks very impressive.
.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I thought 3-0 flattered us if i'm honest. Stephens took two hefty challenges. The second left him limping afterwards.Best won lots of headers and his first touch looks good.

There seems lots of pitches there and the main building looks very impressive.
.

Yes it did, though Boro didn't do a lot in the first half.

Did you notice the bank with markings on, just wondered if the players are made to do 'doggies', certainly harder running up a bank!

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Bad fan Thanks for the match report.

And there weren't any padded seats!!!

 

[Codner's Wallop]

Delighted to see Stephens making a return. A real quality player who will only complement other decent players around him.

Holla, Ince, Stephens, Kayal, Tex, Inigo

Christ on a bike, that looks a decent midfield selection...any three/four from six...

 

[spence]

Yes it did, though Boro didn't do a lot in the first half.

Did you notice the bank with markings on, just wondered if the players are made to do 'doggies', certainly harder running up a bank!

No i don't think i did.

Nice to see Hughton and Barber there. I expected more buildings if i'm honest. There's the main building and the indoor pitch. I think i saw some large barn/sheds in the distance which i suppose keeps all the tools/equipment.
Not sure what i was expecting but everyone keeps on how wonderful it is. Maybe i was expecting more?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Rea will probably step up into Hughes role in the next season or two.

Rea is now playing a defensive midfielder.

Nobody said anything to me about pictures so I did manage a couple (if I can post them)

 

[Thunder Bolt]

 

[spence]

Did you video aswell?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Rea will probably step up into Hughes role in the next season or two.

Or the Greer role?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Did you video aswell?

No, my hands were getting cold enough when I took my gloves off. I was also beyond the halfway line from where the action was.

 

[spence]

No, my hands were getting cold enough when I took my gloves off. I was also beyond the halfway line from where the action was.

I saw someone filming very briefly before the game started, thought that might be you? You were close to me by the looks of it. I was just passed the halfway line

 

[Stat Brother]

For whatever reason I was never really taken with Mr Stephens.

I seem to remember thinking he was 'just another player', nothing special.
It might be a Team Crofts thing.
We're crying out for quality in his position, hopefully he can deliver some.

 

[Mowgli37]

For whatever reason I was never really taken with Mr Stephens.

I seem to remember thinking he was 'just another player', nothing special.
It might be a Team Crofts thing.
We're crying out for quality in his position, hopefully he can deliver some.

I think for his first few matches he was gently finding his feet in the side. Really started hitting some great form prior to his injury. 3 assists vs Leicester away and goals versus Blackburn and Blackpool.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Mboro are top of u21 league.

Good result.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

View attachment 62294

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Penalty

 

[Moshe Gariani]

A few pics (including the artificial training hill...)

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I went along (it was blooming cold). The wind played a big part in the game, and in the second half Walton had more action, pulling off a brilliant save on one occasion.

Stephens went off after 30 minutes, after a challenge that left him favouring his ankle immediately afterwards. Didn't do a lot, just kept play ticking over.

Best was impressive and was unlucky to hit the post. A real presence - he went off after an hour, I would imagine precautionary after a 'Boro player stood on the top of his foot during a challenge.

Monakana was dangerous throughout, though a little wasteful also.

Was impressed with Starkey, who, when I've watched previously hasn't done a lot. Charlie Harris came on for Dale Stephens, and always impresses me, though didn't track back tremendously well.

Rea was outstanding.

I left before the end just too cold. 3-0 when I left.

Accurate apart from not explaining properly how FREEZING it was...

Glen Rea played as a defensive midfielder and was extremely impressive. Aggressive and assertive style of play. Good on the ball and also a great engine. One remarkable sprinting effort to track back someone else's player and prevent a goal. Followed by issuing a bollocking to his negligent teammate...

Stephens didn't do a lot and must need more time. Best looked a good player - fit, strong, good in the air, skilful touches.

I was lucky to stand next to some Academy lads and ask them a couple of questions. Most interesting reply was about our number 11 (Jason) who is quicker than LuaLua when measured. Also a nice anecdote from one of them - a young Irish lad (c.16 year old) - about how Chris Hughton had said "good morning" to him in the car park and then ended up chatting to him and asking about who he was and where he was from... A small thing but a good sign for me.

Agree with the slightly underwhelmed feeling about the windswept football pitches. I think I was expecting to see 10 x Wembley in May type pitches and some sort of mini-Amex of a complex... More realistically, it is obviously an extremely high quality football training facility.

All in all, an enjoyable afternoon and extremities seem to have recovered from worst of frostbite...

 

[The Fifth Column]

Perhaps there is an showcasing element of 'look what you could have' to other teams U21 players in playing certain games at the new training ground? There must be a desire to publicise the facilities to their target audience.