Nottingham Forest U21 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb U21 (Premier League International Cup Group Stages)
It feels like an age since my last game, eight days have gone since covering Ilkeston v Hereford in the FA Cup, the wife had me dog sitting over the weekend as she took the niece out as we covered for the sister-in-law who took a trip down to Wembley for the Anthony Joshua & Daniel Dubois bout.
Luckily, I still got to watch that, and catch up on some homework, with plenty of football on the box including Man City v Arsenal and the Milan derby, so it wasn’t a completely wasted weekend.
Back at it for a much needed midweek match, I had to give back Barwell v Telford on Monday and watch Fleetwood and Morecambe at home instead but I’m chomping at the bit for my first taste of competitive ‘European’ club action this season as Forest under 21’s take on Dinamo Zagreb in the Premier League International Cup.
What is it? You ask? I’ve mentioned it previously in games I’ve been to, a cup contested by young invitees to basically give Premier League scouts advantage on securing their clubs the best stars from Europe, which in turn will only boost the league further with more quality assured in future years. Savvy? Very, but it also gives chance for overseas stars to showcase themselves in England, and English clubs the opportunity to pit their wits against different styles, systems, languages, for football geeks like me, this is the crem de la crem of future footballers.
The Venue
It’s been raining heavily for a week it seems, a couple of dry days but it’s back lashing it down as I prepare for my trip down the A60 to Loughborough, a half hour drive which is prolonged slightly by roadworks and traffic, the bridge over the River Soar by the Brush factory has dangerously high water levels with fields covered as lakes, I’m concerned that I’ll not be able to get home driving back the same way.
Despite the rain, everyone in Loughborough is wearing shorts. That’s because it’s the home of British sport, as I pass countless young male and female athletes walking around with hot pants, hockey sticks and kit bags, I finally enter the University barriers where I’m let in at the Hollywell Lane entrance.
There’s a car park outside the football ground which always seems full, I always park here when I come to watch games, but I’ve only just noticed it has signs up to pay via app. It’s 6:30pm with kick off in half an hour and it’s pissing down, I’ve no time to download apps as I read worst case scenario, they’ll only fine me £25 if I'm unlucky enough to get caught.
The walk down to the back of the facility is leafy before reaching the entrance where I’m asked again to download an app, this time to buy a ticket, £5 it costs as I waste another five minutes in the rain scanning a QR code but eventually I’m in, up the stairs to the Robert Allison Suite where there’s a bar and plenty of tables in the dry, I order a cuppa and a mars bar and sit down to fill out the two teams.
Once done, I take a seat outside, not before having a chat to the PA man about how he’s going to pronounce the Croatian player names, he’s full of confidence and excited by the task, the rain pouring in from my right I’m hardly covered despite a roof on this impressive elevated structure, a few of the Forest players sit in front of me as one of the players asks “will I get wet here”.
The Game
I’ve not yet finished my cuppa as I’m joined by more scouts for kick off with Zagreb in blue getting us under way, Forest in garibaldi red attacking the goal to my right, they start bright and combine well down the near wing which Jimmy Sinclair operates in front of Fin Back (son of rugby star Neil), passing between the creative Jack Nadin and technical powerhouse Joe Gardner.
Forest hit an early chance straight at the goalkeeper and win a series of corners, all of which are played short, but there’s no other opportunities in a half which passes us by. The scout next to me says “If I fall asleep can you give me a nudge at the end” as nothing happens, Dinamo are well drilled and organised by their most vocal coach in Ivica Banovic… “Bravo, Bravo” he often shouts.
The Score
As half time comes those around me take a wander into the warmth, I stay out and brave the elements as the girlfriend of Shae Cahill, son of former Australian international Tim, has a cup of hot chocolate in her hand, she’s jumping over chairs trying to get to her seat, spilling it everywhere, I offer to hold her cup whilst she hops over the final row towards comfort.
Cahill Jr and a few other young reds all sit in the row in front, cold, wet, covered up and unenthused by the football on show, but it does improve in the second half as Forest do what they should have done in the first period, and go at the opposition that bit more.
It takes 59 minutes and a half time substitute in Connor Brown to break the deadlock, Josh Powell running down the left and firing in a low cross which is prodded home by the stocky youngster who came on for Ben Hammond at the break.
That goal uplifts the reds confidence who by now show their Premier League fitness and start to dictate in the Zagreb defensive third, the Reds are dominant and the Croatian side haven’t had a shot of note, so the writing is on the wall when Jack Nadin curls home a beauty to seal the deal on 81.
That’s the goal of the game as Forest’s number ten plays a neat interchange with Powell before dispatching from just inside the area, and in the final minute a third is added, another short corner is played as one of the unused players in front of me bemoans the coaches predictability, before the ball is played in by Danni Aniskjo which ricochets up for Kyle McAdam to fire home. Perhaps the coach knows best after all?
The Stars
I’m disappointed for the PA man that he didn’t get to announce Toni Majic as a goalscorer for Dinamo Zagreb, but the tall elegant number seven in midfield was one of the best players on show, certainly in name in nature, he had moments, one jinky run of fifty yards, a Zidane style pirouette on half way and a couple of shots which were blocked, he looks like he’s a footballer destined towards the top.
Another player who impressed me was Zagreb’s number four, Leon Jakirovic, just sixteen years old he read the game well, was never phased, comfortable on the ball, reminding me of a young Vedran Corluka with his floppy hair and lanky frame.
But for all the visitors individual promise, Forest were much better collectively and in Joe Gardner they have an exciting player who likes to run at defenders, technically talented, socks rolled down he’s thick set and has power when pushing off to start his forward running journey.
Jack Nadin was another stand out, getting the ball in that number ten slot and caressing it forward, scoring a good goal, whilst Kyle McAdam shown adaptability in centre midfield and at centre half, eventually alongside Zach Abbott who like Gardner, Nadin and McAdam have already made their first team debuts.
The Verdict
In a funny way we might see more players from Dinamo Zagreb go on to have better careers, because that’s how football works, the game competitive in England, where it’s perhaps tougher to break through, will certainly either make or break young egos.
The Forest players are good, but evidently more powerful and strong at this young age, which tells the tale when putting these teams together, Dinamo are superbly coached and I was very impressed by the one who dished out the orders, in Ivica Banovic these players will learn, to defend collectively and play formation football, which is part of the education curve, they also say you learn more from your defeats than you do from your wins, so I wouldn't read too much into this result.
The Teams
Nottingham Forest: Aaron Bott, Fin Back, Josh Powell (Jamie Newton 88), Zach Abbott, Ben Hammond (Connor Brown 46), Ben Perry (Danni Aniskjo 84), Jimmy Sinclair, Kyle McAdam, Joe Gardner (Adam Berry 66), Jack Nadin (Archie Whitehall 83), Jack Perkins.
Dinamo Zagreb: Antonio Rajic, Ante Susak, Leon Jakirovic, Matija Ruskovacki, Toni Majic, Andelo Sutalo (Leo Rimac 59), Petar Andric (Sven Suntra 59), Bruno Putica (Marko Zebic 80), Marko Pavlak, Mark Kerin, Bartol Kunert (Fran Penezic 65).
7:00pm Kick Off. Wednesday 25th September 2024, Loughborough University Stadium, Loughborough (att 200).
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