Under 18's Match Report Youths Lose 3-0 at home to Millwall - 1st May 10

[Shrimperstrust]

Southend United’s faint hopes of retaining the Football League Youth Alliance South-East Conference title were extinguished as Millwall claimed a 3-0 victory at Boots & Laces.

Rob Craven's Match Report can be found here.

 

[Andy_S]

Rob, if you're out there........

Do you know what the situation with Ekim and Abdellah is? Have we brought them in on youth terms?

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

Rob, if you're out there........

Do you know what the situation with Ekim and Abdellah is? Have we brought them in on youth terms?

Coskun Ekim was a second-year scholar with Spurs this season, so he has been in on trial with us with a view to attempting to obtain a permanent or development deal for next season. Not so sure about Hicham Abdellah; he had a trial with QPR earlier this season in their youth and reserve teams - I would imagine that it's a similar situation with him.

Having recently got in from our final reserve team match of the season, I'm pleased that we have a number of impressive midfielders already on our books. I know Steve Tilson rates Julian Okai highly as he's been in the bench a couple of times with the first team, but Marcus Milner and Merrick James-Lewis also continue to improve quickly. George Smith also has an awful lot of potential, as proven by his consistent representation with the Republic of Ireland.

Rob

 

[DTS]

Am I the only one that think Rob should have a weekly SZ colum?

 

[Fiftyone]

Am I the only one that think Rob should have a weekly SZ colum?

No, I'm with you DtS - Robert's thoughts on the up and coming talent at the club deserve a wider audience.:)

 

[Shrimperstrust]

No, I'm with you DtS - Robert's thoughts on the up and coming talent at the club deserve a wider audience.:)

Sorry he's contracted to the Trust :p ;) :)

 

[Andy_S]

Coskun Ekim was a second-year scholar with Spurs this season, so he has been in on trial with us with a view to attempting to obtain a permanent or development deal for next season. Not so sure about Hicham Abdellah; he had a trial with QPR earlier this season in their youth and reserve teams - I would imagine that it's a similar situation with him.

Having recently got in from our final reserve team match of the season, I'm pleased that we have a number of impressive midfielders already on our books. I know Steve Tilson rates Julian Okai highly as he's been in the bench a couple of times with the first team, but Marcus Milner and Merrick James-Lewis also continue to improve quickly. George Smith also has an awful lot of potential, as proven by his consistent representation with the Republic of Ireland.

Rob

Cheers.

Have you seen much of either Ekim or Abdellah? Have they done much to impress?

I am continually hearing good things about those midfielders you mention. Having seen Okai a couple of times, it's obvious he has bundles of talent. Lets just hope he gets it nurtured with us. I'd like to see James-Lewis be pushed into and around the first team next season.

 

[Andy_S]

Am I the only one that think Rob should have a weekly SZ colum?

Rob for Assistant Manager is what I say.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

Cheers.

Have you seen much of either Ekim or Abdellah? Have they done much to impress?

I am continually hearing good things about those midfielders you mention. Having seen Okai a couple of times, it's obvious he has bundles of talent. Lets just hope he gets it nurtured with us. I'd like to see James-Lewis be pushed into and around the first team next season.

I've seen quite a bit of Ekim now. I guess he's what you'd expect from someone who's come through Spurs' Academy - technically very good, spots a pass well, executes those passes more often than not. He showed at Luton reserves last week that he's up for the fight as well, mixing it physically. I think he's a good prospect, but whether he's got the time to pick something up here is more uncertain.

I haven't seen as much of Abdellah. Like Ekim he has largely played just off of Duane Ofon-Acheampong in an advanced midfield position; he looks lively and willing to have a shot from distance, but he's been used more sparingly.

As I said previously, Okai seems very highly-rated, not least by Steve Tilson, and that is obviously pretty key. I know that the financial situation at the Club has played a part, but it's rare for a first-year scholar to have been given such exposure to the first-team (others to have done so include Moussa, who has now become a main figure in our midfield and Justin Hazell, who's injury problems have stunted his progress). He's come right through the ranks here, so he's a good story as well.

Merrick James-Lewis and Jamie Dennis have both massively improved during this season. I think I went on record as saying that Dennis timed his progress perfectly and was a good bet for a development deal, and he deserves that. The captaincy also seems to have brought the best out of James-Lewis, and it'll be important at the start of next season to get them exposure to senior football at a good level.

Marcus Milner, too, is a frightening prospect with his pace. If he can just harness his tendancy to shoot on sight and become more selective, then he can be a really dangerous winger. He's another to have come on leaps and bounds.

Despite the Under-18s falling away results-wise in the second half of 2009/10, I'm actually really optimistic about the individual components of that team, so fingers crossed they can make an impression at first-team level - we may well need them to!

 

[Fiftyone]

Rob for Assistant Manager is what I say.

Hear, hear - he's wasted hanging about with that lot from the Shrimperstrust.;)

 

[Andy_S]

I've seen quite a bit of Ekim now. I guess he's what you'd expect from someone who's come through Spurs' Academy - technically very good, spots a pass well, executes those passes more often than not. He showed at Luton reserves last week that he's up for the fight as well, mixing it physically. I think he's a good prospect, but whether he's got the time to pick something up here is more uncertain.

I haven't seen as much of Abdellah. Like Ekim he has largely played just off of Duane Ofon-Acheampong in an advanced midfield position; he looks lively and willing to have a shot from distance, but he's been used more sparingly.

As I said previously, Okai seems very highly-rated, not least by Steve Tilson, and that is obviously pretty key. I know that the financial situation at the Club has played a part, but it's rare for a first-year scholar to have been given such exposure to the first-team (others to have done so include Moussa, who has now become a main figure in our midfield and Justin Hazell, who's injury problems have stunted his progress). He's come right through the ranks here, so he's a good story as well.

Merrick James-Lewis and Jamie Dennis have both massively improved during this season. I think I went on record as saying that Dennis timed his progress perfectly and was a good bet for a development deal, and he deserves that. The captaincy also seems to have brought the best out of James-Lewis, and it'll be important at the start of next season to get them exposure to senior football at a good level.

Marcus Milner, too, is a frightening prospect with his pace. If he can just harness his tendancy to shoot on sight and become more selective, then he can be a really dangerous winger. He's another to have come on leaps and bounds.

Despite the Under-18s falling away results-wise in the second half of 2009/10, I'm actually really optimistic about the individual components of that team, so fingers crossed they can make an impression at first-team level - we may well need them to!

Cheers. Great to hear your thoughts as always!