Youth Reports

red thru&thru

hey Jacuzzi i read those posts and they were very good.

i would write more but just haven't the time, i'm in my last year of uni and just concentrating on that but once that is done i'll be going to watch youth team alot more and then will have better opinions on them.

i don't really know much about brandy but if you can tell me more then i will appreciate it. also don't know much about lourenco (Rincon)

but i'll write down the names who do have the ptential to make it in the first team, IMO of course. in no particular order.


Jones - has the most potential to make it but what will be difficult for him is that we have so many other quality players in his position in the first team. but even though i think he will have just as good chance of making as anyone.

i would say he is in more mould of steven gerrard but maybe with less bite. jones is a box-to-box player who has an eye for great passes just as gerrard.


Spector - if anyone from defence from the youth set up is going to make it well its going to be him. he's only started to play for united for about 4-5 months (been at the club longer but wasn't able to play cus had to wait fo fifa to clear him to play) and from starting from the u 17, the u19 and now he is playing regularly for the reserves. that just shows the progrees he has made. no doubt he will be going to usa this summer.

i would compare him to maybe the way maldinin now plays at CB. i say this cus he hasn't got the electric pace, such as rio and mick, but like maldini he is no slouch. also like maldini he is composed and is always looking to deliver a good pass to score from. he also likes to be involved with the game and occasionally likes to run with the ball into opponents box. maybe a strong comparison but the only guy i think relates mostly.


Eagles - of course this guy should have what it takes and SAF has already said it BUT maybe not untill another 2 years but might prove me wrong. he is a bit light weight and needs to jsut bulk up a little more to with stand the challenges we see fly on C. Ronaldo. hopefully he should within the next 2 years.

he reminds me of vicente of valencia. like vicente eagles hasn't got pace like giggsy or the trickery of ronaldo so therfore does rely on out thinking his opponent with twist and turns. he has a good free kick and good crosser of the ball.


tommy heaton and steele - have both great ability and is really toss of a coin who will come through between them both. i don't believe they can both make it as we already have two great keepers in howard and carrol and they are bot young. i haven't mentioned mentioned williams as i believe he will not stay as he won't really have a realistic cahnce of the fore mentioned.

i would say they are both similar to carrol as they have good agility but not quite as much as howard.


eddie johnson - my main criticsm, which i don't have many, of uniteds youth set up is that we have not produced a really good striker for a very very long time, not in my life time of being a united fan. but after seeing eddie i think that may just change. also to back this up he has been doing well at antwerp.

he reminds me a bit of sparky, he's physivally strong and has a bite about him. like hughes not great pace but is powerfull when he runs so shruggs of challenges. he has got good technique.

i believe he should be sent out to lisbon or nantes for next season and then we will really have a gpood player.


richardson - has great pottential, pace and technique. he frustates me because he is not positive as i think he should be and sometimes has a laps of concentration and can loose the ball with mis control or giving the ball away. but he is fighter and never lies down.

i don't really know who to compare him with. i wouldn't say giggsy as he hasn't got the trickery of giggs or as positive as giggs. but if he has ever got a chance of breaking into the first team well it would have to be now. as we all know SAF is looking for a winger to replace gigs soona nd if he wants to change SAF's mind he will have to really impress this summer on the tour.

although lately he has been doing very well and has been rewarded by hanging around more with the first team this season. you'll notice he was there at the FA cup. if he works a bit harder no doubt he will make it


lee martin - i was expecting a lot from this guy from all his billing and i got a lot from him. his debut against either norwich or man city in the FA youth cup was brilliant. he impressed everyone even gary nev and he had no doubt he would make it. i really like him because has all the ability and is firey just like scholes.

again he is very difficult to compare to anyone. he is tall, got great touch, great vision, skillfull, firey attitude, great passing long or short, good athlete. if anyone can compare him then please tell me.

but it this way when we signed him in the sun newspaper they wrote that he is scholes, keane, beckham and cantona all in one. and to be fair that comparison is not way off the mark!


so they are all the players i believe have the best chance to make it and the following players are ones i think are maybe just behind them all, but i'm sure i will be proven wrong.

bardsley, n'galula, blake, calliste, cooper, eckersley, puustenin, howard, McShane, lawrence, burns, campbell.

Jacuzzi

That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear: the way you descriped them as players and compared them to known stars is something you can't read from a singular match report. Hopefully you'll be back after the hard work is done and spread some more of yer thoughts. As a fellow uni student I wish you well for yer last hurdles on yer studying career!

(This might sound a bit daft, but I'm just wondering why there are so many threads concerning our youngsters all around the forums, when there is a sticky one dedicated to the subject?!? At least I'd prefer them being posted in here... Of course it ain't always that straight-forward, but still...)

Out of the interest, it seems that Middlesborough has one hell of an youth setup at the moment as their U18's are playing at the FA Youth Cup final for second year in the row!

Jacuzzi

United sign Gay Meadow youngster (sky)

Shrewsbury Town manager Jimmy Quinn has revealed that Gay Meadow youngster Sean Evans has signed for Premiership giants Manchester United.

The former Northern Ireland international has given his blessing to the move, which is reportedly worth a "substantial" amount to the non-league outfit, after the Under-16 midfielder impressed during a six-week trial stint with The Red Devils.

"We are delighted for Sean and hope that he goes on to have a very successful career with Manchester United," Quinn told Shrewsbury's official website.

"We believe that our youth policy is an important ingredient in the club's future and we are delighted that our faith is being repaid, not only by today's announcement, but by the number of former youth players who are now part of the first team squad."

Evans is a skilful left winger who will be sad to leave Town after joining the club as a nine-year-old.

However, the chance to move to Old Trafford is one he could only have dreamed about, and the prospect of learning from the likes of Ryan Giggs in the future must be thrilling the teen starlet.

mista john

I guess that's true but it's a pity that nowadays players like him get nowhere near the club's first team before they are whisked away to a big club. Especially when it's a small club like Shrewsbury - if he makes it, their fans will never have seen him.

Jacuzzi

Reserve Side Announced For Bolton

Ricky Sbragia has named his reserve side to face Bolton Wanderers in tonight's game at Altrincham's Moss Lane.

There are no real surprises in the side, as United's second string aim to catch second-placed Liverpool in the FA Premier Reserve League North.

Here is the full line-up: Heaton, Lynch, Pugh, Howard, Spector, Fox, Eagles, Jones, Cooper, Heath, Richardson. Substitutes: Ebanks-Blake, Jowsey, Collett, Tierney, Poole.

The game kicks-off at 7pm, so if you fancy seeing some of United's potential future stars in action get down to Moss Lane, Altrincham.

Report by Steve Bartram. (manutddotcom)

----------

Just look at the squad! Full of potential and the lads are mostly teenagers playing against the likes of Javi Moreno!

red thru&thru

i like the look of the team but i just hate heath.

i don't quite know what it is about him but he is never going to play united first team. fox also will not make the grade.

besides that the best line up we can have.

Grom_Hellscream

i agree....i think that heath and fox are given playing time in order to prove themselves, and if they don´t they´re probably gone in the summer....

Neil Thomson

From talkingposh.net (and no its not about sloppy seconds):

Wood Gives Posh A Roasting

By Frank Bell
Date: 8/4/2004

Neil Wood arrived on loan from Manchester United at the start of the season and wasn't very impressed with Barry Fry's side. He's at Burnley at the moment, struggling, but he's got plenty of excuses (as you would imagine). He's from Manchester United after all!


NEIL WOOD: "It has been hard to get used to a completely different style of play at Burnley and I've struggled a little to adapt.

"I was working hard but I always felt on the fringes and in situations like that, you just have to keep the work ethic up.

"At Manchester United they have always said I need to be playing first team football at a good standard. I think I am past reserve team football and United have said that for a couple of years.

"They have tried to get me on loan a couple of times and it's just been a case of finding the right club.

"I went on loan to Peterborough earlier this season, but that was mainly just long ball stuff with no midfield contribution at all.

"It was a nightmare. If it was down to me, I would have liked to have been playing first team football a few years ago, but it didn't work out that way.

"Now I'm just trying to get as many games in as I can.

"It's just my knee bothering me at the moment, but hopefully I can jeep that in the back of my mind.

"I'm having a bit of trouble with both knees after a few knocks, and the midfield is like the walking wounded at the moment, with Tony and I both having suffering.

"But with treatment I'm sure we can both hang in there."



I actually think the lad raises a good quesiton here. One which has a relevance regarding Antwerp. Our reserve kids do need to play first team foot ball, but not just anywhere, but at sides where the style, and level, of football is advantageous to becoming a United player. I'd rather see players at Sporting Lisbon than at Antwerp. It would be good if we could tie up some better deals, and its a real shame we missed out on a partnership with PSV when they've been our feeder club for a while.

Number7

Reserve game with Bolton finished 2-0 to United. Richardson and Cooper the scorers.

Wahoo

Anyone here actually see the match ... and can give an account of how the players did?

As an American, I'm particularly interested in how Specter and Cooper performed (I am smart enough to know that just because you score a goal doesn't mean you played well)...

but any decent info would be appreciated... thanks

Grom_Hellscream

I saw the game ....cooper did very well (as did the whole team)...he showed good composure and great technique (unbelievable for such a big lad)....his goal capped a fine move by united wich ended in a shot from richardson and cooper tucking in the rebound......Richarsons goal started with a great shot from 30 yards by cooper witch forced a save from Boltons goalie. Poole snapped up the rebound and pulled it back for Richardson who hammered it home from close range.

As for spector he had a quiet afternoon, with little or nothing to do....tho what he had to do he did well....

Magnificent performance this from our reserves.....as usual we fielded a young side with only Lynch past his 20´s (i think).
Richardson has been on fire lately and David Jones looks a cool customer indeed in midfield....

Its hard not gettin too exited about this crop of youngsters when they play like today, and i must force myself to remember that they´re only playing v Boltons second string and still have to prove themselves at the highest level.
The team are currently second in the Reserves league, and if they continue to show the enthusiasm and skill of late, many of them will surely earn a chance in the first team.

Btw..Fergie and Walter was in the stands for this game, and must have left with a good feeling

mista john

Well they failed at Antwerp. Heath started one game (a 4-0 defeat) and came on as sub 12 times. He scored once in the cup. Antwerp did try to keep him though. But now they are much happier with Johnson of course.

Fox managed to be at the club for 5 months without getting on the pitch in a league game. I believe his work rate was not appreciated.

mista john

I think that's great in theory but in practice, United have sent approx 12-15 players to Antwerp so far. Several did OK in the second division (Higgingbotham, Chadwick, Kirk Hilton until his injury and to a certain extent Wallwork) but the rest have done nothing in the first division. Players like Alan Tate, Neil Wood, George Clegg (played in 2nd div), Colin Heath, David Fox and Jamie Wood (2nd div) have not been ready for first team football at Antwerp. John O'Shea did OK but was not a star.
So who would United send to Sporting Lisbon or PSV? PSV at least is a top club in Europe and unless United send squad players who have already appered in the MU first team, the youngsters would be lost. That's always been the problem with Antwerp, MU want to keep the squad players in the squad and just release the ones who need experience. Unfortunatley they have not been good enough.

Jacuzzi

Quite active discussions here lately, and I like it.
Great result for the lads as well! Though it was only Bolton, there were some experienced player taking part in the match.
And about that feeder club talk, I must say I'm a bit confused with the way we've used them so far. I mean, we've got co-operation deals with more than ten clubs around the world and still rather few of our prospects do actually get sent out there. That Norwegian side, Oslo Ost allready decided to cancel to deal, because of no or very little use. Of course the staff knows what they're doing and I guess it's just a question of time before the system gets on its way.

mista john

Is it really 10? I know about Antwerp, Sporting Lisbon and maybe Gothenberg. Who are the rest?

Jacuzzi

Maybe it was a bit over the tops figure but let's think of it. From what I've heard, the co-operating teams are an Australian team, Fortune FC from SA, Sao Paolo, NY/NJ Metrostars, Atalanta, Sporting, Nantes, Antwerp, the Swedish team and quite a few teams from GB and Ireland. I'm not sure whether all of them are still there nor whether the deals ever got tied at all, but those are ones I've heard of.

numlock

didnt know about atalanta. They got 2 clubs in wales, livingston and i think walshall (there was atleast talk bout it). An australian club and then of course antwerp, nantes, lisbon and sao paolo.

I dont get why they loan every player to antwerp and if they loan a player to scandinavia for instance they dont go to oslo but to viking and the danish club djordjic was at. Clearly not all of the players loaned to antwerp are good enough so why not use the "lesser" partnership clubs? From the outside i understand why oslo ost arent that happy

Jacuzzi

Not sure about that Atalanta thing either, just recall that there was some talk a few years ago...

mista john

Are any MU players at the other clubs?

numlock

not that i know of. The sao paolo defender that utd bought will join sporting in the next year or two

RedPhil1957

I think the most encouraging things about the bolton match was they were up against a team who were in the main older and physically stronger also in the last 2/3 matches the player who has so often been one of our stars, Eagles, is just off his game but it has made no difference to the team performance.

Gabe

The ones I'm sure of.

Sporting and Antwerp are the main two.

The aussie team for sure, they send a few on trial each Summer.

Shelbourne in Dublin.

The relationships with english clubs around the country are important because of the 90min rule.

The academy director stated after we signed the Sao Paolo youngster that it was not an official link up like the one we have with Sporting. BUT we do now have a full time scout in Brazil, so what does that tell you.

BTW new FIFA rule, a player may no move to a foreign country(this does not apply with the EU, which is treated as one) before he's 18, so any of 'United's brazillians' would not play for Sporting before they are 18, as in the case of Rincon.

Plechazunga

Can anyone tell me about Howard? I've seen a fair amount of Spector, Bardsley, McShane (all look the business!) and a bit of Tierney, but I seem to have missed Howard...

Dubai_Devil

AFAIK he has only recently broken into the first team but his performances have been so good that he is keeping McShane out of the team. With him, McShane and Spector it looks like we may have three quality CBs coming through which is why I dont think we need to buy one in the summer.

Jacuzzi

Timm spots the difference
by Jostein Jensen

Viking Stavanger forward Mads Timm admits he is noticing the big differences between English and Norwegian football during his loan spell from Manchester United.

The Denmark Under-21 international is spending a few months with Viking to accrue first-team experience.

He is highly rated by The Red Devils and is due to return to Old Trafford in July, with the aim of impressing Sir Alex Ferguson.

Analysing the contrasting styles between England and Norway, the youngster admits the discipline of The Premiership is not matched in Scandinavia.

"Viking have got a good team and I need some more time to learn the playing style and my team-mates," Timm told Stavanger Aftenblad.

"But there is no doubt that the play is faster and the tackles are harder in England. The mentality in Viking is very friendly - that can be positive and negative.

"It's more free in Scandinavian clubs and that is pleasant. But the hard discipline in England has got its advantages.

"At United they give us much less choice. We have only got the football to concentrate on and that suits me well.

"Perhaps the football leaders in England are too hard while in Norway they are too kind!"

Timm also compared the merits of United boss Ferguson and Viking coach Kjell Inge Olsen.

He added: "He (Ferguson) is strict but fair. We must always call him the boss.

"There is always a point in what he says and does even if I don't understand it at first.

"Kjell is serious and doesn't tolerate any mess in training but he allows humour in the locker room. That is the way it should be."

(sky)

Penny

you beat me for posting this just 5-min faster mate

Jacuzzi

umair

anyone got match report on viking.they lost 4-0 and how did timm play?