Bristol U21 - Millwall U21 (1-1)

Professionnal Development League - 20th February 2024

A quick synthesis of my notes, lightly edited.

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Kick off at 13:00 at the Robins Performance Centre.

Clevedon Rd, Failand, Bristol BS8 3TN

Take the X6 from Bristol Centre to Beggar Bush Lane.

Bristol 5312, Millwall 442.

• Millwall scoring early around quarter hour mark

• Bristol down to 10 after 30’

• Millwall pushing but rushing decisions in attack (or doing too much)

• Millwall more solutions and variety of actions, but more chaos at both ends

• Bristol not enough thinking outside the box and outstanding ability 1v1 until the subs came in

• Equalizer 10’ from time

  

  

The trialist was seemingly Logan Laird, a Stoke City left back. Intriguing, considering he didn’t came on and was rumoured to be monitored by West Ham as of July 2023, touted as a “prodigy”

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Highlights available here:

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/highlights-bristol-city-u21-1-1-millwall-u21/

1. Ethan WADY

• On the edge when dealing with passes behind the defence

• Quality long play to hit desired areas

• Conceded an indirect free kick as a result of slipping and tipping the ball inside his box.

  

• Good save early in the second half

  

2. George WALKER

• Supporting runs from behind the ball

• One chance first time at 89, with goal on his left from outside the box, missing the top corner for inches.

  

• Willing to be available at correct height, but not overly trusted by team mates he often passes the ball back to

3. Zane MYERS

• Struggling to judge the flight of aerial diagonals

• Decent footwork technique, but lacking dynamism and agility to change gear to then block crosses or time interventions

• Carries to dribble out of pressure, mostly through the inside channel

4. Finley COTTON

• Mostly delaying passes forward, shutting off windows to pass, with team mates offside or not taking the chance to pass forward and recycling sideways

• Winning some headers

• On set pieces duties, hitting the first man or overhit

5. Kyron HORSLEY McKAY, RCB

• Often beaten by long balls in behind

• Eye for an interception from passes across the defence (right wing to centre)

• Keen on emergency interceptions especially on chaotic / successive turnovers situations

6. Oliver EVANS

• A long throw in him

  

• Some nice needle passes (2 per half)

• Lack of pace especially on the turn, to defend wider than the box

7. Nana BOATENG

• Go-to option to isolate 1v1

  

  • But can tend to “tangle” his feet before setting up his receptions (received passes not always perfect to make something of straight away), but driving 1v1 leaving fullbacks guessing even if ends up cutting inside

• Also available inside the pitch to receive, with synchronisation with his fullback as to spaces to occupy

• Efficient to harvest second balls

• Winning over half of aerial duels

• Assisting the first goal with a cross, in an efficient attacking move

  

• Seems to look for the perfect situation and defender beaten, ends up dealing with a double team. Too many “perfect” crosses tried, not enough speculative dangerous crosses like on the opening goal

  

8. Sha’mar LAWSON

• Likes the ball at his feet (I think he’s a good player)

• Struggling to repeat runs between box and halfway line in first half, and repeat closing down runs. Gives opportunities for opponents to find players in pockets around him

• Less freshness to combine and provide support on the wings than vs Bournemouth

• Better in second half

• Vision to pick a quality pass forward

  

  Better at intercepting / picking up second balls on dynamic situations, than finding separation in set possession. Reacts quickly to situations, but a bit too obvious to show for the ball

• Finding solutions to progress and dribble past his marking

  

  Tackled by Kadji and Acey, double contact to go through

• Defending cutbacks in second half

  

• Defensive skills to win headers and standing tackles. Ability to draw a foul with a carry.

• Underhit switches and clips over the top, but the intention is there

9. Henry HEARN

• Makes runs in the channels, closes down defenders and GK to the end

• Works the backline and teases defenders

• Presence back to goal, without drawing fouls or occasionally getting hold of it

• Scored the first goal with good box movement and first time finish

• Couldn’t score the second goal, with alright box movement and throwing himself at deliveries across the box

  

10. Abdul ABDULMALIK

• Third occurence of watching him.

• Ever present, consistent activity over 90

• Commited to screen 6s ball side when off the front defensively

• Especially available in pockets of space just outside of pressure zones to provide an outlet to team mates, all across the field but especially in the channels (in both halves)

• Shot heavy, albeit shot selection get him blocked shots

  

  

  Off target, just wide on a cutback

• Good to retain and link around the box, without overplaying

• Some nice technical problem solving to clip short passes

• Ability to turn and drive powerfully made a difference, even if level of opposition needs to be taken into account

  

11. Raees BANGURA-WILLIAMS

• More runs in behind in second half, spent the first half taking hits when receiving back to goal

• Willing to track back and do the double teams

  

  • Struggling a bit to kick start his defensive footwork when doing the double team (see below) and change pace, allowing the crosser to cut inside

  • But definitely putting the work in

    

    

• Not as much consistency of actions (volume) than Boateng (7) but grew into the game

Kyle SMITH 14

• Brought on for #5 to offer more security, won important headers, got an important block, aerial duels. First 15’ very good, last 15’ alright.

• Good reading of the game, but under 6ft

BRISTOL CITY

1. Harvey WILES-RICHARDS

2. Marley ROSE

• Lacking end product in final third for crosses

3. Harry LEESON

• Good technique in small spaces to turn and find solutions along the touchline

  

  

• A right footed shot early in second half

4. Josh CAMPBELL-SLOWEY

• Better in second half

• Proactive clearances / interceptions

5. Jamie KNIGHT-LEBEL

6. Callum WOOD

• Passing the ball into feet first thing for the CM who just spent a moment on the sideline as a result from a knock on the previous play. Think, McFly, think.

  

7. Omar TAYLOR CLARKE

• Second ball harvesting machine in the middle and attacking third, to sustain pressure and build attacks

• Decent passing range for an “enforcer CM”

• Carries to cross the midway line. Drawing fouls, and kicks

  

8. Ben ACEY

• Mostly playing options he can connect with rather than those the game demands

• Rushing in the box when his counterpart (7) was drawn in the channel to shut off a counter;, leaving him exposed

• Won a couple of headers despite being under 6ft

• Set piece duty

9. Kai CHURCHLEY

• Likes a flick, for himself or team mates, and keeping the ball alive in his path

  

• One nice cut inside, and shot far corner but didn’t find separation nor get more with the space between Millwall’s GK and #5

10. Tommy BLACKWELL

• Sent off early (half hour or so) for a high boot in the chest. “Inlucky”. Yeah.

• off you pop

  

11. Callum HUTTON

• One interesting carry with both feet to progress and get into final third, throwback style.

14. Elijah MORRISON

• Beating the double team and putting a cross in

  

15. Ephraim YEBOAH

• Troubling the defence on the right wing with speed and determination to win the ball off 20 yard runs

• Winning the penalty

  

• Pinned the defence back with his activity on and off the ball

  

  

16. Dylan KADJI

• Possibly on minutes restriction

• Couple of standing tackles and recoveries

• Scoring the equalizing penalty

  

• Bringing presence in midfield, and dynamism against Lawson, clashing and drawing a foul

  

• Presence on crosses at the far post, for early crossing opportunities, not met.