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Post by Macmoish on Feb 7, 2012 7:53:36 GMT
Have to check/confirm
But believe our FA Youth cup game - away to Newcastle in on Thursday (Feb 9)
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 7, 2012 8:13:07 GMT
Confirming This Thurday www.nufc.com/FAYC: Rovers reward awaits bairns Thursday evening sees United's U18 side look to take advantage of a third successive home draw in the FA Youth Cup this season, when QPR visit St.James' Park. And at stake is yet another home tie, with Blackburn's 4-0 win over Stoke City on Monday night meaning that the Ewood youngsters will now be heading to either Tyneside or West London in the Quarter Finals. Kickoff is at 7pm and the tie will be settled on the night via 30 minutes of extra time and/or penalties if required. Prices are £3 for adults and £1 concessions, payable at the turnstiles, with the East Stand open as usual. Please note that season tickets and memberships do not allow free entry in this competition - everyone pays. The R's made it to this stage courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town and a 1-0 win against Everton - both of which came at Loftus Road. This will be the second time that the two clubs have met in this competition, with United winning 3-1 on the road in a Fourth Round tie during the 2008/09 season. FA Youth Cup Fifth Round: Southampton 1-5 Nottingham Forest Swansea City 1-5 Manchester United Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Stoke City Wed 08.02.2012: WBA v Burnley Thu 09.02.2012: Newcastle v QPR Wed 15.02.2012: Chelsea v West Ham Wed 15.02.2012: Man City v Fulham Thu 16.02.2012: Charlton v Spurs Sixth Round Draw: Newcastle / QPR v Blackburn Rovers Man United v Charlton / Spurs Man City / Fulham v WBA / Burnley Nottingham Forest v Chelsea / West Ham
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 7, 2012 15:33:09 GMT
QPR Official Site YOUTH CUP TIE ON THURSDAY! Posted on: Tue 07 Feb 2012 QPR Under-18's travel to the Sports Direct Arena - home of Newcastle United - for their FA Youth Cup fourth round tie on Thursday. The clash will kick-off at 7.00pm. Ticket prices for the tie are as follows: *£3 Adults *£1 Concessions (Under-16s and Over-75s) The victors of the tie will play host to Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals. www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2601373,00.html
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 9, 2012 9:20:54 GMT
Newcastle Official Site
Campbell Chasing Cup Double Adam Campbell
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Having already lifted one trophy this week, young Adam Campbell is hoping to take another step towards winning the FA Youth Cup when Newcastle host Queens Park Rangers on Thursday night.
Former Wallsend Boys Club forward Campbell returned from Portugal on Tuesday evening after a memorable few days which saw him score on his debut for England under-17s and help the young Lions lift the Algarve Tournament.
And he is set to the lead the line for Dave Watson's Magpies at the Sports Direct Arena (kick-off 7pm), with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs if they can beat the R's.
England won the four-team competition after a win against the hosts Portugal, a draw against Holland and a decisive victory over France, with Campbell on target after just five minutes of the first game.
And, as he reflected on the Algarve Tournament before turning his attention to the Youth Cup clash, United's top scorer at under-18 level told nufc.co.uk: "It was absolutely brilliant.
"The whole thing, from start to finish, was a great experience - from going out with some new lads and meeting new people to going to a country I'd never been to before.
"Obviously the conditions are a lot nicer than what they are in England, so we had to adapt to that as well. I really enjoyed myself.
"To get my goal against Portugal was a great honour and I really enjoyed that. And against France, I nearly scored another. I thought it was in but unfortunately it took a bounce and hit the post.
"That's just the way football is, but to score the goal was amazing.
"You always dream about playing for Newcastle and then playing for England as well, so to actually do both - and to get a goal for both as well - is a dream come true.
"I've been dreaming about it since I was born, really, so it's absolutely brilliant for me personally."
It was also a successful trip for John Peacock's youngsters, who will now be full of confidence ahead of next month's European Under-17 Championships qualification campaign.
Campbell said: "Everybody wanted to win it from the start and although Portugal was a tough game, we ground a result out and we deserved to the win the tournament, I thought.
"We had some great players and a great team and we deserved to win.
"We scored a couple of important late goals, and we do the same with the youth team here as well. We've won countless games in the last minute or the last five minutes.
"I think it's just the English mentality, to keep going until the end, and luckily it worked for us."
And the Newcastle striker - who has previously played for his country at under-16 level - is now hoping that he has done enough to be selected for the qualifiers, which will see them face Georgia, Ukraine and Spain next month.
"That was the aim at the start of the season," he said.
"When I started picking up games for Newcastle, that was my first objective but then after that, it was to try to push myself into the England squad again.
"I've done everything I can on a personal level so if the coaches are happy with me and think I can do a job then hopefully I'll go. That's what I'm aiming for."
Until then, however, he will treasure his Algarve Tournament medal and the shirt he wore on his debut.
"They're definitely getting framed and put straight on my wall," he said. "It's a great little reminder to have of what's happened this week and it means a lot to me, so I'm really happy to have them."
And he hopes to have another medal to go with them as Newcastle try to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1985.
"It's been on my mind when we were away - coming back and making sure I was fit and ready to go for the Youth Cup," he said.
"Again, it's a tournament we think we can win and we haven't won it in a while.
"It's a big thing. We got close a couple of years ago when we got through to the semis but just missed out, so hopefully we'll get it this time.
"We're fully confident going into it, so I don't see why not."
Thursday's match at the Sports Direct Arena kicks off at 7pm. Admission to the East Stand is by paying at the turnstiles on the night and season ticket holders and Club Members are not entitled to free admission for this tie. Prices are £3 for adults and £1 concessions.
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 18:57:58 GMT
Do you know where we can get updates on this match? Can't see anything on the official. I assume they will tweet, but nothing concrete mentioned so far.
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 19:04:25 GMT
Nevermind. Seeing Twitter updates now:
#NUFC kick-off the match and force an effort on goal within the opening 60 seconds #QPR
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 9, 2012 19:10:07 GMT
OK... Twitter HomeProfileMessagesWho To FollowNew Tweet QPRReport SettingsHelpSign out What’s happening? Tweet Timeline qprreport Activity Searches Lists » OfficialQPR QPR FC #QPR sporting the red and white third kit this evening, while the Magpies wear the traditional black and white stripes #NUFC 3 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply » OfficialQPR QPR FC #NUFC kick-off the match and force an effort on goal within the opening 60 seconds #QPR 5 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply » OfficialQPR QPR FC #QPR Subs: McDonnell, Lumley, Monthe, Adekunle, Fitzpatrick #NUFC #FAYC 9 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply » OfficialQPR QPR FC #QPR Under-18s (v #NUFC): Deane, Downs, Walker, Champion, Brown, Sendles-White, Hubble, Simmonds, Gibbons, Andrade, Webb #FAYC
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 19:30:13 GMT
1-0 to the Super Hoops after 26m or so. GOAL!!! #QPR open the scoring through Ben Brown, after Bradley Simmonds picked out the R’s defender via his free-kick, allowing Brown to finish from close-range #NUFC 0-1 #QPR If you don't have Twitter you can follow it at: www.facebook.com/OfficialQPRFC?sk=wall
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 19:51:25 GMT
Half-time
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 20:44:26 GMT
Newcastle equalize through a penalty. Looks like the Youth team also knows how to throw a lead away.
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 21:01:26 GMT
FT 1-1. Going in to extra time.
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 21:10:46 GMT
Hooper puts magpies ahead with a close-range header. 2-1
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 21:46:43 GMT
All over FT ET: #NUFC (Campbell 83, Hooper 99) 2-1 #QPR (Brown 24)
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Post by RoryTheRanger on Feb 9, 2012 21:49:56 GMT
Oh well, thought our guys have done great to get that far.
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Post by harlowranger on Feb 9, 2012 21:52:01 GMT
Yep , great effort , we just love to go 1 up and lose games dont we , but great experience for the youngsters !
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 21:57:02 GMT
TO be fair in terms of losing the game, it sounded like NUFC were all over our boys from the start. Still, great result to go to a much bigger team in terms of youth setup and take them to extra time.
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 9, 2012 21:59:06 GMT
Brave QPR Under-18s bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at the fifth-round stage after a 2-1 extra-time defeat against Newcastle United at the Sports Direct Arena. Ben Brown put the young R's into a 24th-minute lead, after he tucked a Bradley Simmonds free-kick into an empty net. The hosts - who ply their trade in the Premier Academy League - understandably dominated for large spells, but it was Steve Gallen's men who looked to be heading into the quarter-finals as the clocked ticked towards full-time. Disaster struck on 83 minutes, however, after the Magpies were awarded a disputed penalty, following Jordan Walker's seemingly legal challenge on Marcus Maddison. Adam Campbell sent the tie into extra time with the resultant spot-kick, before substitute Jordan Hooper won it for Newcastle with a header in the 98th minute. Newcastle made an extremely bright start and were almost ahead with under a minute gone, after Maddison saw an effort from inside the box deflected just over the bar. Maddison looked particularly dangerous and it was the Magpies winger who was heavily involved in the home side's next opportunity, seeing his effort eventually blocked into the path of Campbell before the England Under-17 striker's close-range shot was deflected over the bar. The R's - in their changed colours of red and white quarters - made their first notable attack on the quarter-hour mark. Jordan Gibbons turned superbly past Michael Riley, but his teasing cross was gobbled up by Alex Baird. By now, Rangers had weathered the storm and, with that, raced into a first-half lead on 24 minutes. The lively Bruno Andrade was felled by Louis Storey and, after Simmonds' resultant free-kick from the right looped over Baird in the United goal, Brown was on hand to prod home into empty net. Maddison soon went close again for the Magpies, cutting in past two challenges from the right before drilling a shot just past the upright. Newcastle went exceptionally close to drawing level ten minutes from the break, after Dennis Knight saw a 30-yard free-kick strike the right-hand post, before the danger was eventually cleared. The hosts soon went close again. Brandon Miele's delicious effort from the left-hand corner of the box curled just wide of the opposite upright. Rangers were now on the back foot once again but continued to show their resolve, with Gareth Deane pulling off a fine point-blank save to thwart Michael Hoganson. Newcastle could, and probably should, have put themselves on terms on the stroke of half-time, after Knight could only rattle a close-range header against crossbar. Inevitably, the Magpies enjoyed the majority of possession after half-time, but they were unable to create any real clear-cut opportunities in the second period's opening stanza. R's keeper Deane did have to be at his best, however, to produce a fine double save on the hour-mark, blocking Campbell's close-range effort before rising quickly to his feet to push away Maddison's follow-up attempt. And Deane was soon at it again moments later, pulling off a spectacular save to tip Maddison's 18-yard effort wide. QPR had their first chance of the closing half through substitute Emmanuel Monthe, who headed a Simmonds free-kick from deep over the bar. Andrade then warmed the hands of Baird with a shot from distance. But it was Deane who was seeing more of the action and he soon had to be alert once again to fashion a smart save from a Remie Streete header. Streete then dragged a ten-yard effort wide of the right-hand post. Newcastle were handed a lifeline seven minutes from time, after they were awarded a controversial spot-kick. It came after Walker's sliding intervention on Maddison in the box - where the Rangers left-back appeared to execute an inch-perfect tackle - was, surprisingly to most of the 1,186 crowd inside the Sports Direct Arena, pulled back for a penalty. Campbell stepped up to take the resultant kick and made no mistake, sliding the ball into the bottom left-hand corner to take the tie into extra time. Extra time ... Deane was again the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to be at his best to deny both Maddison and Ben Sayer early on in the first half of extra time. Maddison then saw an effort from 20 yards go just wide of the right-hand post. The decisive goal arrived in the 98th minute - that thanks to the work of two Newcastle substitutes. Will Turton's cross from the right was to a tee for Hooper, who stooped to head the ball into the left-hand corner of the net from close range, leaving Deane with no chance. Newcastle United: Baird, Logan (Turton), Riley, Sayer, Street, Storey, Maddison, Miele, Campbell, Knight (Hooper), Hoganson (Toland). Subs: Mitchell, Smith. Goals: Campbell (pen 83), Hooper (98) Bookings: Riley, Hoganson, Streete QPR: Deane, Downs, Walker, Champion, Brown, Sendles-White, Hubble (Monthe), Simmonds, Gibbons (Fitzpatrick), Andrade, Webb (Adekunle). Subs: McDonnell, Lumley. Goals: Brown (24) Bookings: Downs, Sendles-White, Simmonds Referee: Mr T Harrington Attendance: 1,186 www.qpr.co.uk/page/YouthReports/0,,10373~2603914,00.html
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 10, 2012 8:09:10 GMT
NEWCASTLE NEWS Ticket update: Spurs (a) SOLD OUT Wolves (h) public sale (online) mackems (h) SOLD OUT FAYC: Youth Cup victory Result (after extra-time): Newcastle U18s 2 QPR U18s 1 United's U18 progressed into the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup after an extra-time victory over QPR at a freezing St. James' Park. The visitors went in front against the run of play in the 25th minute when Louis Storey conceded a free-kick down the right and it was swung over and Ben Brown shot through a ruck of players. Ten minutes later United almost got back on level terms when Dennis Knight's free-kick hit the post and just evaded those following in and was cleared. The resultant corner was headed in by Knight but was rightly disallowed for a foul on the 'keeper. And then on the stroke of half-time a great ball from Adam Campbell released Michael Hoganson but the 'keeper won the one on one and when the ball was crossed by in by Steven Logan, Knight headed it off the crossbar. After the break United bombarded the R's goal and finally seven minutes from the end of the 90, the linesman flagged for a soft spot-kick after a challenge on Marcus Maddison. Campbell stepped up to hit the ball coolly down the middle as the 'keeper dived out of the way. A fortunate decision but United deserved to be at least level. Five minutes of added time saw chances at either end but the teams finished level at the end of 90 minutes so the tie went into 30 minutes of extra-time. Eight minutes into the first period, Will Turton's cross from the right hand side was headed home at the near post by substitute JJ Hooper to give Newcastle a slender advantage. Rangers had some late chances to take the tie to penalties, including a shout for a spot-kick and there was also an added time goalline clearance but United hung on to make it into the quarter-finals and another home tie against Blackburn. Team: Baird, Logan (Turton 72), Riley, Sayer, Streete, Storey, Maddison, Miele, Campbell, Knight (Hooper 63), Hoganson (Toland 115). Subs n/u: Mitchell, Smith, Turton. Booked: Riley, Hoganson, Streete. FA Youth Cup Fifth Round: Southampton 1-5 Nottingham Forest Swansea City 1-5 Manchester United Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Stoke City West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Burnley Newcastle 2-1 (aet) QPR Wed 15.02.2012: Chelsea v West Ham Wed 15.02.2012: Man City v Fulham Thu 16.02.2012: Charlton v Spurs Sixth Round Draw: Newcastle v Blackburn Rovers Manchester United v Charlton / Spurs Manchester City / Fulham v Burnley Nottingham Forest v Chelsea / West Ham www.nufc.com/
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 10, 2012 8:10:50 GMT
Newcastle United Official Site Skipper Streete Salutes Spirit By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter Under-18s captain Remie Streete praised the spirit which saw Newcastle come from behind to reach the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time win over Queens Park Rangers. Time after time this term, Dave Watson's juniors have scored late goals to gain vital points as they continue to set the pace in the Premier Academy League Group D. And on Thursday night, under the floodlights at the Sports Direct Arena, they had to keep on going until the very end against a QPR side who had knocked out Everton in the fourth round. Having seen numerous chances go begging - mainly due to the performance of R's keeper Gareth Deane - Adam Campbell scored from the penalty spot with just seven minutes remaining to force extra-time, after the visitors had taken a first-half lead through Ben Brown. And in extra-time, JJ Hooper headed home the decisive goal to turn the game on its head and set up a last-eight home tie against Blackburn Rovers. Streete spoke exclusively to nufc.co.uk afterwards, and said: "It's a great achievement to get into the quarter-finals. "We've still got a lot of work to do yet, but it was a tough game tonight and we managed to get through it. "We dominated the game and their goal came about due to a couple of wrong decisions from us, but those things happen in football. Even when you're on top, you can always concede but we had to kick back. "I never thought that we wouldn't score. "There's only been one game this season that we've failed to score in, so we knew we were going to get one. And once we did that, we kept on going to get another and that came in extra-time. "We've got a good team spirit around the place. Last year, a few of the lads perhaps didn't get on as well but this year everyone's good mates and that shows on the pitch. "We all get on and help each other out, and when we go behind we've always got the character to come back." Since beating Darlington on Tyneside in the third round, United have gone on to beat Watford and now QPR on home soil, and another date at the Sports Direct Arena now awaits in the quarter-finals. And with several of the side having played in last season's win over Grimsby and turned out for the Reserves at the stadium, they are starting to get a real feel for the hallowed turf. "I think it'll be the sixth or seventh time most of us have played here, so it's almost becoming natural to us," he admitted. "Obviously it's going to be another hard game but hopefully we can play like we have tonight and get another result." www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20120209/skipper-streete-salutes-spirit_2281670_2605895
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 10, 2012 8:32:00 GMT
PRE-MATCH PARDEW INSPIRED FA YOUTH CUP WIN nufcfans.co.uk/slider/pre-match-pardew-inspired-fa-youth-cup-win/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pre-match-pardew-inspired-fa-youth-cup-winFEB 10, 2012No Commentsby NUFCfans Young Scottish international Steven Logan has praised Alan Pardew for visiting the Newcastle team dressing room before their FA Youth Cup 2 -1 win against QPR. The versatile 17 year old who played at right back for the injured Alex Nicholson told the official club website: “He (Pardew) came in and wished us luck, and it’s excellent for the manager to do that. “It’s great for us to know that he’s showing an interest in us. “He came to watch the game today and hopefully he was impressed with us. It would be great if some of us can step up into the Reserves and maybe the first-team.” Logan felt United deserved to win the tie against QPR, whose Northern Ireland international keeper Gareth Deane was arguably man of the match: “We dominated a lot of it. “We had a lot of chances and the keeper did fantastically for them. He kept them in the game, we hit the post, hit the bar, but we won in the end and that was great for us. “We felt it was coming. It came a bit late in the end, but thankfully it did come and we got through to the next round”. Newcastle now face Blackburn Rovers in the last 8, as Toon bid to win the trophy for the first time since 1985, and emulate a team that numbered Paul Gascoigne, Ian Bogie and Gary Kelly in its ranks. “A home tie is good for us. Blackburn are supposed to be a really big, physical side, but hopefully we can get another result against them and get through to the semis.”
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Post by Macmoish on Feb 10, 2012 8:36:29 GMT
Newcastle Chronicle Geordie young guns fight all the way to seal FA Youth Cup glory By Lee Ryder at St James' ParkFeb 9 2012Comments (2) inShare 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED Under-18s booked their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup in front of a watching Alan Pardew last night to see off Queens Park Rangers in a 2-1 win. The Magpies dominated the game on a freezing night on Tyneside in front of a crowd of just 1196. But those who turned out witnessed an encouraging and battling display. However, the Magpies had to come from behind to achieve it. They went 1-0 down on 24 minutes when a Ben Brown effort from close range found a way past Alex Baird after a right wing cross. United battled to no avail and went in a goal down at the break despite two efforts from Dennis Knight striking the post, then moments later the bar, In the second half United stuck to their task but were denied by a series of top notch saves from Gareth Deane who kept out Adam Campbell, Marcus Maddison and Remie Streete. But with eight minutes left Maddison won a penalty when Jordan Walker upended the Teessider and Campbell rolled it home. United could have won it in normal time, but always looked the more likely in the additional 30 minutes required to find a winner. And after sub Will Turton crossed for JJ Hooper to head home at the Leazes End it was no more than Newcastle deserved eight minutes into extra time. UNITED: Baird, Logan (Turton 72), Riley, Sayer, Streete, Storey, Maddison, Miele, Campbell, Knight (Hooper 63), Hoganson (Toland 115). Attendance: 1196 e www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/02/09/geordie-young-guns-fight-all-the-way-to-seal-fa-youth-cup-glory-72703-30302270/#ixzz1lxxsRuZb
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Post by fraserinbc on Feb 10, 2012 19:31:22 GMT
Loft for Words: Deane's heroics not enough to save QPR Youth from cup exit - full match report Fri 10th Feb 2012 19:05 by Daniel Lister Despite the lack of academy status QPR successfully battled through to a fifth round FA Youth Cup tie at Newcastle by claiming the considerable scalp of Everton in round four. Daniel Lister went to see the boys in action for LFW. Queens Park Rangers hate cups. Particularly those cup competitions preceded by the letters, F and A. Until this season, QPR’s first team had not won an FA Cup match since a third round replay 11 years previously. To put that statistic into a personal perspective, in the time between FA Cup victories, I have had six different jobs, six different houses, one marriage, two children, one divorce and got engaged to the woman of my dreams. The children that weren’t even a twinkling in my onion bag as I listened to that Luton replay on the radio were closing in on their eighth and sixth birthdays when we finally put the cup hoodoo to rest against MK Dons earlier this year. QPR hate cups. It seems that this malaise also applies to the Under 18’s team which hasn't progressed into the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup in a similar timeframe to that of their first team colleagues. Because a Rangers side had reached such dizzying heights, I decided, as the self-proclaimed Loft for Words resident North East correspondent (not a salaried position), to steal a notebook from the stationary cupboard and make the 0.2 mile walk from my cosy office to the Sports Direct Arena (formerly known as St. James’ Park) and see the boys in action and report back. The first thing to report back is that it was cold, very cold. Colder even than the away fixture at The Sports Direct Arena (I just can’t help it) last month. Luckily, I didn’t have to establish base camp on the way to the summit of the great edifice that is the away end at The Sports Direct Arena, as all the fans, of which I was the only ‘away’ one to my knowledge, were housed in the East Stand. That’s the one that used to proudly sport the name of the ground, but now has an advert for a rather tatty sports and chav clothing retail outlet. You know the one… I had the opportunity to watch the lads warm up and Steve Gallen was certainly putting them through their paces, a game of four on four being played at great pace and competitiveness that left me wondering if the boys would actually have the energy to come out for the first half. A drill involving goalkeeper Gareth Deane and every single shot hitting the back of the net, didn’t exactly inspire confidence in our young stopper, but overall the boys looked sharp and up for it. Gallen had spoken pre-match about the team’s nervousness at playing at Loftus Road in the previous rounds, so I was interested to see how they started at the far larger Sports Direct Arena. As it turned out, not very well. From the kick off, Newcastle winger Maddison was played in on goal following a sloppy pass by Rangers left back Walker and cut in on his left foot to send a low shot that was well parried for a corner by Deane. This was a really smart save and effectively neutered my pre match pessimism concerning Deane, who went on to have a terrific match. The resulting corner was hit straight out, but Newcastle continued to dominate the early proceedings, looking to get Maddison on the ball in the wide right area as much as possible. I couldn’t decide whether he was being utilised in that footballing anomaly as a left-footer in a wide right role or was genuinely two footed, but his constant tactic of cutting in on his left foot from wide areas was posing Walker a few problems to the extent that we started doubling up on him. It took until the fifth minute for QPR, resplendent in their red and white away kit, to register a foray into the Newcastle half, earning a corner in the process. This came to nothing. My notes at this point simply state; ‘Just as bad as the first team’ which is disappointing considering the quality of the set pieces delivered in the previous round against Everton. Following this it was concerted Newcastle pressure with Bruno Andrade clearing a corner off the line and Deane making a series of impressive claims and central defender and captain Sendles-White a number of last ditch blocks in the area. Indeed the only respite QPR could gain was by breaking through the pacey Andrade and buying free kicks just inside the Newcastle half. It was therefore somewhat against the run of play when Rangers actually scored and took the lead. Andrade finally got the ball in an attacking area and following a smart turn on the right hand line, was hacked down. Simmonds’ resultant free kick should have been an easy claim for the Newcastle ‘keeper but he mistimed his jump and the ball dropped over him to Ben Brown who bundled the ball into the net. Even at a youth match, it would have been suicidal to celebrate at this point, surrounded as I was by a number of chavs and some girls who were caked in so much slap they resembled Oompa-Loompas - the type of girls who get Newcastle lasses a bad name and allow away fans to spend an extra night in the city knowing full well they will get some action. I therefore had to content myself with writing, ‘You R’s’ in big letters in my notebook. Rangers followed the example set by their first team counterparts and sat back, allowing Newcastle further opportunities to attack, again mainly through Maddison who proved his right footedness by slicing a left foot effort into the empty stand behind the goal. A fantastic free kick from Newcastle’s Knight from a central position 23 yards out finally beat Deane but the ball struck the inside of the post and was cleared for a corner. This allowed Newcastle to finally get the ball in the net but the high pitched celebrations of the Oompa-Loompas were cut short but the linesman correctly ruling that a foul on Deane had occurred in the melee. Maddison swapped wings to the left hand side and had another effort which went narrowly wide before the referee mercifully blew for half time, giving me a chance to try and restore some feeling to my frost bitten toes. The main purpose of my report was to see if any of the current crop of youth team players looked anywhere close to first team standards and my stand out man of the half was goalkeeper Deane. He made some very smart saves, his handling was exemplary in slippery conditions and he even possessed a decent kick. The defence was willing to put in last ditch blocks and tackles, but Deane was the outstanding man of the half and so much pressure had been put on the defence that the sole tactic seemed to be to launch it clear at every opportunity, which gave the forwards very little chance to show their worth. We kicked off the second half in the tried and tested method of hitting the ball into the right channel for a throw in by the corner flag, this is a technique that really pisses me off in first team football and it’s pretty sad to see youngsters being developed in this outdated tactic, where there is greater room for freedom and less pressure on making mistakes. Newcastle started much the way they had in the first half, lots of pressure being eased by the odd break away by Gibbons for QPR who earned a few fouls for his efforts and needed treatment as a result. In the fifty fifth minute Deane made his best save(s) of the night, firstly smothering a low shot one-on-one and then showing great agility to bounce up and block the follow up with his legs for a corner. He later punched a long range effort from Maddison over the bar and was again the stand out QPR performer of the second half. Gallen made a substitution in sixty fifth minute, taking off Hubble and bringing on the imposing figure of Emmanuel Monthe to add some much needed presence up front. Shortly after, we registered our second shot on target when Bruno Andrade hit a long-range effort that was palmed down by the Newcastle keeper. Deane continued to be the busier of the two stoppers though, making a series of good saves and again showing his excellent handling when any spills would have resulted in a goal, but he was finally beaten with seven minutes to go following the move of the match. A tremendous through ball sent Maddison one on one with Deane but a fine covering tackle from Walker won the ball and sent it out for a corner. Except that the referee had pointed to the spot for a penalty. Shortly before this incident I had been thinking of pithy headlines for this piece and the one that came to mind was that Steve Gallen should lend his lucky rabbit’s foot, four leaf clover and other mystical charms to Mark Hughes and the first team for Saturday’s game at Blackburn. We really had been battered but were looking as if we would go through thanks to a flukey goal and some inspired goalkeeping. I guess shit luck just runs through our entire club at the moment. Surely it’s time for Tony Fernandes to have a piss in the four corners of Loftus Road a la Barry Fry to exorcise whatever curse has befallen us this season? The much maligned Match of the Day and Sky Sports pundits talk about the direction the ball goes in penalty incidents like this one, when the ball goes out away from the attacking player for a corner, it’s usually indicative of the defender winning the ball and then clearing out the attacking player. So it was here, and Campbell added insult to injury by finally beating Deane, sending him the wrong way in the process. For all the Newcastle pressure, it was QPR who had the chances to win the match before full time with both Monthe and especially Andrade missing decent opportunities. Andrade’s was especially disappointing, sliding to meet a flick on in the box, he simply didn’t connect enough and Baird gratefully smothered the ball. Any connection of note would have resulted in a goal and showed just how far our one player with any expectations on his shoulders, is from playing in the first team. The worst case scenario for my now dead toes, extra time for 30 minutes. Actually, the worst case scenario was for Newcastle to score in extra time, something that happened in the ninth minute and involved three of the substitutes. QPR’s Fitzpatrick (a hybrid lookalike of Adel and Hogan) was roasted down the right flank by Turton who crossed for Hooper to glance a header past Deane, who had no chance of making a save. Again, QPR came back strongly and the powerful Monthe went clear of his man and rather than crossing for Andrade to tap in, executed a heavy touch that took him and the ball into a collision with the keeper. The ball spilled free and Monthe stuck it away but the effort was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. There were a few bodies around and I didn’t get a great view but there didn’t seem to be a great deal wrong with this as it was a genuine coming together of two people watching the ball, one of those where the keeper gets the benefit of the doubt nowadays. It was all QPR in the second half of extra time without really mustering a proper effort. Newcastle ’s keeper was definitely the weak link, looking nervous under high balls and we really should have put more into the box, especially with Monthe, Sendles-White and substitute Adekunle being the type of lads who weren’t frightened to get showered after games lessons when they were 11 years old. It was from such ball that we got our best chance of the added time when a corner was gain dropped by Baird but the headed goal bound effort was cleared off the line. Shortly after, the referee blew for full time and the 1196 fans in attendance warmed some feeling back into their bodies by applauding the efforts of both teams. My opinion is that this was a missed opportunity, we only really attacked following both Newcastle goals and actually looked quite promising in doing so. Their keeper was there for the taking as he was a nervous wreck whenever the ball went in the air, but for most of the time we sat back and let them come onto us. For those present for the recent first team games against Villa and Wolves this will seem worryingly familiar. This tactic did allow, however, me to see man of the match Deane in action. He looks a very promising keeper, nowhere near the standards of the first team just yet but very promising. Of the rest, Andrade was the most disappointing as he is the one that is nearest the first team thoughts, although recent signings have probably put paid to any further involvement, Simmonds was combative in the middle and Sendles-White was a decent centre-back albeit against smaller opposition. One of those ones where as other kids grow and develop he’ll get left behind. All in all, a good effort but not quite good enough although it has to be put in the context of the academy status and catchment area of the opposition. Oh, and I never got round to thinking of that pithy headline. www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15990
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Post by qprian on Feb 11, 2012 15:55:28 GMT
Only half time and we are clueless. Whatever you want to say and whatever excuses we want to make we are CLEARLY not good enough.
We entered a crucial period of games and to be honest other teams look more up for it than us. This is really scary stuff. Hope the players feel guilty picking up their wages right now.
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Post by RoryTheRanger on Feb 11, 2012 18:02:36 GMT
Only half time and we are clueless. Whatever you want to say and whatever excuses we want to make we are CLEARLY not good enough. We entered a crucial period of games and to be honest other teams look more up for it than us. This is really scary stuff. Hope the players feel guilty picking up their wages right now. Wrong thread mate, this is about the FA Youth cup.
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