Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 0-1 Valencia U21 (Premier League International Cup Group Stages)
It's been a busy week in the world of Wolves since watching their youngsters play at Molineux last Wednesday. After a 4-0 thumping at Everton on the same night as Ajax beat the under 21's 3-0, the first team were beaten at West Ham on Monday in a match that was dubbed 'El Sackico'. Gary O'Neill however, has been since given a 'vote of confidence' to continue in charge against Ipswich this weekend. Fail to win that and I see no way that he can continue at the helm as Wanderers Head Coach.
Better news on Monday, Wolves U18s came through a tough tie at AFC Wimbledon to progress in the FA Youth Cup, whilst the 21's are back in action tonight, in the town of Kidderminster, as they prepare to take on the kids of Valencia.
Valencia Mestalla are the reserve team to the six time La Liga champions. Los Che as they are nicknamed are known for being one of Spanish footballs greatest brands, and with that, the club have churned out some of Spanish footballs greatest players, including a conveyor belt of homegrown stars through their impressive Academy system.
In recent times, that includes Raul Albiol, David Albelda, David Silva, Nolito, Isco, Ferran Torres, Juan Bernat, Carlos Soler, Paco Alcacar, Jose Gaya, Christian Mosquera and many more.
Whilst players like Gaizka Mendieta, Miguel Angulo and Jordi Alba, have all cut their teeth in the B team, which plays in the lower echelons of the Spanish league system when it isn't touring middle England to play in the Premier League International Cup.
Kidderminster is the other side of Birmingham, a pain in the arse to get to at rush hour, so I'm out the door for 4pm and across the M42, before hopping on to the M5 north for a junction and bouncing west down some country roads towards Aggborough Stadium, on top of the Hoo Road in a largely residential area, pulling into the clubs car park an hour ahead of kick off.
The Venue
There's not many here tonight, so parking spaces are plenty, the skies dark are lit up slightly by the stadium floodlights, it's freezing so I've charged the hand warmers and put on the thickest coat I've got.
Out the car, I walk through the main gates of Aggborough where I notice the lights on of the club shop, a steward pointing me through to the turnstile straight ahead where a pretty young girl scans me in on her iPad.
The stadium is brilliant, four evenly heightened stands, two parallel with the pitch, all seated, two at each ends, for standing, red coloured everywhere, the stand opposite has the word 'Harriers' in white etched into its seating.
With a capacity over 6,000 it is more than adequate to host football league matches, a single burger bar in the corner is sizzling onions tonight, but the Mrs has promised me some left over dinner when I get in so I'll go without, I'm standing in the queue for a cuppa but can't be arsed to wait, it's bloody cold, Aggborough is high up on a hill, the chill runs through the ground on nights like this, so I take a pew at the back of the Main stand as I watch the warm ups ahead of the match.
The Game
The two teams walk out after a bit of Jim Diamond on the PA, Valencia magnificent in white, crisp, as Wolves are in yellow and black, they'll tell you it's gold.
It's a patient start, expected with these La Liga wannabes, Valencia are un-complicated, 4-3-3 they knock it about slowly with their two centre halves and goalkeeper seeing plenty of the early ball.
Wolves are relatively the same shape, their full backs tucked in to defend first and foremost, they rarely attack but sometimes escape down the left where Ethan Sutherland looks leggy and useful.
James Collins side are well drilled, but Valencia have that technical edge, in number eight Martin Tejon in the middle of the park, they have a playmaker, in the slight shape of David Silva, he's a delight, nice, neat touches, he breezes away from players and has an attentive passing ability, on occasion making you gasp aloud with his subtle little nuances.
Tejon actually misses the first half's best chance after Gurendal is brought down inside the box for a penalty, the left sider is a nuisance all night, a direct and persistent threat of good stature out wide, after he is felled inside the area following one of multiple mazy runs at the opposition full back, Tejon hits hard and low but the Wolves goalkeeper Gracey guesses right.
The Score
At half time there's a couple of substitutes but it feels intent is the same again as Valencia have most of the ball without really penetrating the Wolves defence too much. Martialled well by centre backs Bastien Meupiyou and Alfie Pond the game is evenly poised, but late on it opens up after more subs are made, suddenly becoming end to end for a good ten minutes as one side attacks and the other counters, Valencia rattle a post from a corner before late on big sub striker Aimar Blazquez nets the winner, he slots home on 81 after good work by the electric David Otorbi out right.
Otorbi has been dribbling at pace all night, he went quiet for half an hour in the second half but re-appeared for the final run in with plenty of smoke left in his boots, he hits a post as Valencia go closest for the games second goal before Blazquez when sent through forces a good save from Gracey, he should really have scored, it ends 1-0 to Valencia who's coaching staff seem extremely happy, they have won all three of their matches against English opposition this season (including Spurs 3-1 & Forest 1-0) and with a match spare (v Reading next month) have already qualified for the competitions Quarter Finals.
The Stars
I had a good look at Wolves after being disappointed in their performance v Ajax, and on second viewing I at least felt more impressed with some of the players on show, at centre back I really liked Bastien Meupiyou last week, and this week I like him just as much, a defender who reads things but has strength and pace, and a touch of class on the ball, his side kick Alfie Pond who was captain reminding me of a young Joe Worrall, not as eloquent as Meupiyou to his left but a good tall defender who puts his body on the line, if he's anything like Burnley defender Worrall he'll have a decent career without setting the world alight, and there's no shame in that.
My jury's out about Wolves full backs, whilst Temple Ojinnaka has the tools of an Aaron Wan-Bissaka style defender at right back, he's strong as an ox and technically not bad, I wonder if his laid back persona might hinder his progression?
In midfield I did like the small tigerish number 8 Luke Crundle, he worked well with Fin Ashworth and Matty Whittingham in a hard working trio, whilst I was left again expecting more from their attackers, Leon Chiwome was relatively quiet and replaced at half time, Ethan Sutherland out left had moments, Leo Lopes on the right, not enough moments, but the tall Fletcher Holman who came on at the break looks to be an awkward handful up top.
Valencia have an array of talent and some soon to be stars to keep an eye on. I liked right back Ismael Santana who was tiny but gritty and keen to get forward, captain Alex Serradell accomplished at centre half, he only played 45 minutes but gave me John Stones vibes, Carlos Alos next to him steady, whilst in midfield, number 6 Ali Fadal was everywhere, breaking down the opponents play, snapping at heels, he certainly looks like one with a big future at CDM.
As does Martin Tejon in a more attacking midfield role, not the games best player, but the best player on the pitch from what I saw, he looks to be a level up from those around him and is one that certainly fits the traditional 'tiki-taka' stereotype of superb Spanish midfield baller.
The actual games best player was a toss up between electric right sider David Otorbi or Valencia's classic left winger Alexander Gurendal, both exciting forward players to watch, both love running at full backs, whilst the big target man Aimar Blazquez who came on to score the winner, he's only 18, and certainly offers a varied physical threat, remember John Carew? Blazquez has good feet for a big man, ah that old saying, you say.
The Verdict
Wolves need a centre half, and in Bastien Meupiyou they have one ready-made in their Academy, whilst it may be a gigantic leap of faith for Gary O'Neill to turn to him during a relegation fight, trusting him may provide answers for now, at least, until they can dip into the January transfer window and invest in finding a proper solution to them shipping goals against.
Valencia like Wolves, are really struggling in La Liga under Ruben Baraja, their club legend who is also head coach is currently fighting for survival with Los Che in the bottom two, whilst they probably won't look towards youth to save them just yet, they might turn to it should they fall into the Segunda Division? Unthinkable perhaps? Valencia have only had one season outside the top flight since 1931.
The Teams
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Josh Gracey, Temple Ojinnaka, Ethan Sutherland, Bastien Meupiyou, Alfie Pond, Justin Hubner, Fin Ashworth, Luke Cundle, Leon Chiwome (Fletcher Holman 46), Matty Whittingham, Leo Lopes (Fabian Reynolds 80).
Valencia: Vincent Abril, Diego Moreno (Rodrigo Abajas 46), Alex Serradell (Andres Caro 46), Carlos Alos, Ali Fadal, Martin Tejon (Aimar Blazquez 60), Ismael Santana, Jose Luis Perez (Pablo Lopez 68), Alexander Gurendal (Alejandro Cerda 76), David Otorbi, Lucas Nunez.
7:00pm Kick Off. Tuesday 10th December 2024, Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster (att 300).
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