Millwall U21 – Watford U21s / Professional Development League – March 11
Attackers who slip through the academy scouting net are always intriguing to follow, when they eventually earn their ticket into the train. It’s as much a challenge revolving around refining raw skills and ability, than it is one to maintain that different thinking and perspective that brought them here in the first place.
Ra’ees Bangura-Williams has been featuring as a left winger at Bristol and vs Ipswich, but also as central midfielder against Swansea and again vs Watford in early 2024.
Photo credits: MillwallFC.
Two match reports of Millwall U21s
Ra’ees Bangura-Williams joined Millwall permanently in December 2023 after a lengthy player trial
He was also on trial at Middlesbrough in 2022, hoping to follow the path of Isaiah Jones, also playing in Tooting and Mitcham
Some notes on Ra’ees Bangura-Williams’ display against Watford, in chronological order.
Half volley, cat and mouse
Roller beyblade, cat and mouse
Close down and deceleration
Matic or Carrick’s back foot
Square touch
Broken line when carrying (and diagonally) will always change the picture more than a flat / square carry.
Sequence unfolds in a predictable U shape then clip first time.
Separation movement to open pockets
Shuffling without squeezing the space
Good job to stay whithin technical reach, without squeezing the space too much. Allowing room for the pass to the CB to go through
Exiting the field of vision
Got to escape 8 and 9’s field of vision
Box-to-box support and bumper cars
Unlucky that the layoff doesn’t come through
Square carry
Flat carry + square pass doesn’t disrupt the opposition enough. End game is to create space between the two lines, ideally with W passes so that you gamble on one player getting drawn out (but not getting back in position)
Decoy run to release a CB
Clip over the top
Safety net
Movement off the ball is good, to stay between the ball and the goal at times.
Man said Nemanja?
Good job to hold off pressure, use the arm to keep the ball far away from the defending player. Ideally, grab the shirt on the chest and pull it away laterally (to put off balance), but not “off” him (that’d be called)
Pole dancing
Long legs to snatch the ball
Excellent piece of skill to reach the ball, “chop” it to make it bounce
Get over the ball, draw a foul
Whoever lets the ball drop first loses the upper hand, ideally the ball is under control before it bounces (or killed on the half volley). Technical solutions are nice
Double team!
Tracking back to do the double team is good and valuable
Technical distance not quite maintained (too close), because “dwelling” for a second
The same situation Ugochukwu faced (article below). Kalimuendo retains and spins, take a few steps back to open an angle to receive and play
Clip a cross at the far post
Good idea, unlucky to not find a runner. Goalkeepers hate it
(just to post Sha’mar Lawson’s separation movement)
Finding good angles forward
Pass forward is good, good readaptation to reach the objective (no matter how it looks like). Good job covering and filling in for the fullback.
Transition and breakthrough
Final third entry
Connecting with attackers
TAKEAWAYS
Don’t be too obvious when showing for the ball inside your half. Cat and mouse creates indecision for the defending team, and some more space to show for the ball (with a turn of pace)
Coverage of defensive spaces is good, to anticipate possible turnovers
Some more gamemanship to retain under pressure and draw fouls, using the arms, same as for winning takles whilst standing up (put the upper body off balance)
Change of direction can do with improvement, with shorter, more accurate footwork to always push with the farthest leg (and point toes on the other feet where you want to go)
Angles forwards are interesting, more zipped passes (with better balance) will help them reach quicker the intended recipient
Performance worth building on, especially for the solution making to take the ball and attack space with carries when options are shut off. The potential looks worth pursuing there; coupled with a quality passing range and vision.
Out wide, possible to foresee a functional “Willian” type of ball retention / difference maker role with little risks taken; but that will require an even better appreciation of changes of pace, shoulder drops and gamemanship.
Sébastien Chapuis 