Samsung Pro Contract Final

[Sam9255]

3-0 town

[otanswell]

Like they weren't going to lose

[Berniman]

Did anyone go?  Any decent displays from either side?

[ronnie21]

3-1 final score.  One of the triallists was put into the Town side and scored twice!

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I can't believe he scored, he was poor in the first half, only slightly better in the second, and spent most of his time throwing his arms about when he didn't get the ball despite being in a terrible position.

So you can guarantee he will be one of the three chosen to train with the first team for a week!

[RWB Robin]

I can't believe he scored, he was poor in the first half, only slightly better in the second, and spent most of his time throwing his arms about when he didn't get the ball despite being in a terrible position.

So you can guarantee he will be one of the three chosen to train with the first team for a week!

I think that's a bit unfair!  He did quite well in the 2nd half linking with Kerrouche.  1st half was pretty dreadful from both sides - if Kerrouche was looking to win favour, his 1st half display will have dealt (negatively) with that.  2nd half, however, he hardly put a foot wrong. Esajas was the best town player.  No-one stood out for the Samsung team though Louis was probably the best, and Fallon not bad in the 2nd half.  I would not get excited though - the Town team did not play well.  I quite liked what I saw of No15 CB and No 17 midfield for Town when they came on. Pavett played on both sides and achieved nothing.

[london_red]

Feel a bit for Devera.Was starting to hit a bit of form until McCormack decided he was actually a quality defender.

I'd like to echo this. Had a bit of a deer in the headlights look against Crewe, but when Flint was out (particularly vs Southend and Crawley) thought Devera looked a commanding CB. Imagine he'll get another chance at some point this season, if he carries on like he left off certainly not a bad 3rd choice.

[chrisser]

1st half (r to l)
Town 442: C Thompson; Chapman, Devera, Comazzi, Kennedy; Storey, Stevens (Said), Grant, Esajas; Kerrouche, Pavett
Samsung 451: Taylor; Smith, Miley, Mooney, Amory; Fallon, Hannity, Cashin-Murray, Bate, Hegarty; Louis

Not much action in the opening 45.  Closest we came to a goal was Comazzi's shot after a Kerrouche corner which was cleared off the line.  The Win a Pro team struggled to create anything much, I think Bate had a shot well blocked by Devera.  The left back Amory looked the best athlete of the bunch - quick and strong but his positioning was dodgy and use of the ball wasn't great.  Louis was isolated up front but when he got the ball he gave it away pretty much every time.  Looked the least fit of the bunch too.

2nd half (Win a Pro in CAPS)
'Town' 442: Bedwell; SMITH, Oakley?, MOONEY?, AMORY; Esajas, Said, Grant, FALLON; LOUIS, Kerrouche
Whites 451: TAYLOR; Chapman; MILEY, Murden?, Kennedy; Storey, HANNITY, CASHIN-MURRAY, BATE, HEGARTY; Pavett

Much more difficult to pick out who was who in the 2nd half as players swapped sides, so the team line-ups are my best guess.  Finally a bit of goalmouth action.  LOUIS was allowed to take a penalty after FALLON was tripped.  This, and having a partner alongside seemed to give LOUIS confidence and he played well for the last half hour.  Said then controlled a difficult ball and got a great cross in for Kerrouche to volley a 2nd for the team in red.  LOUIS scored a good third.  The whites had a few chances of their own with Bedwell saving from BATE before the keeper tripped Storey (which would probably have also been a red card in a competitive game), allowing Hegarty to score from the spot.

I'm glad it's not me choosing as frankly none of the 11 trialists made a pressing case.  Agree with RWB that the red 15 looked ok, by process of elimination I think that must have been Mooney from the Samsung team.  Some good news though as Said looked bright in midfield, certainly better than any of the Samsung team could manage.  The young centre half who I assume was Oakley on account of his height looked promising too.  None of the senior players made the kind of impression that suggests a return to the 1st team is imminent, though I maintain my opinion that Kennedy is a better left back than Cibocchi.  Kerrouche was the only senior player to play the full 90 minutes, not sure what that says about his prospects...

[iffy]

Maybe instead of using the game to pick a pro for a full time contract, they'll send one or two of ours down to the Evo-Stik.

[RWB Robin]

I certainly agree about Abdul Said.  Had a bit of aggression as well as skill - and his work to create the (excellent) goal for Kerrouche was very good.

I'm confused by Chrisser's numbering though.  The tall lanky CB who came on was playing 15 - if he is Oakley, I can see why people are talking about him.....had height, good defensive stuff, and a fine shot which hit the top of the crossbar.  No17 also came on at HT, but had been sitting with the Town subs, so assume he was one of ours not a Samsung lad - a lot of hair, and not a little speed and skill to go with it!!

[chrisser]

The one I'm assuming to be Oakley was red 6 in the 2nd half.  Red 15 I think was Mooney - as one of the centre halves for the whites was definitely different after the break.  All very confusing and was not well announcers - the bloke on the tannoy said Pavett scored the first goal, when it was plainly Louis who'd swapped sides!

[Bosey]

Does anyone know who the final 3 are?

[leefer]

http://www.soccerbible.com/news/general/archive/2011/12/23/the-final-win-a-pro-contract.aspx

Early January Bosey....the link does load eventually

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I can see Paolo not bothering with any of them to be honest. He'll want good quality and there is no point in ending up with another Pavett.

[Batch]

I can see Paolo not bothering with any of them to be honest. He'll want good quality and there is no point in ending up with another Pavett.

He may think that, but I don't think he's allowed a "none of the above" vote.