Youth Reports

American40

I beleive he flew back to Manchester in May to sign the contract before those new rules came into effect. If that's true, he's got a signed contract, he's got an EU passport, but there's still a hold up.

Plechazunga

Great performance from the reserves tonight - 4-0 away at Newcastle on a shite pitch. Defense was absolutely superb, Jones, Byrne and Wood great in the middle. Ben Williams had a fantastic game in goal, two goals from Cooper who looked good generally, and a gem from Wood. Only disappointment was Johnson, who was perhaps a bit knackered from Tuseday.

That Wood looks top class actually, I don't know much about him but on tonight's evidence is a Scholesy in the making.

Nico

Did Eagles play or Mads Timm??
And why is Luke Steele not in the goal?
Great win for the reserves!

Johan77

Can someone post the whole team? Need to write an article for the Swedish United-fans, thanks.

American40

From a report on Newcastles site:

ManUtd: Williams, Lynch, Pugh, Bardsley, Tierney, Jones, Byrne, Wood, Cooper, Johnson, M Williams.
Subs (not used): Picken, Jowsey, Calliste, Eckersley, Ebanks-Blake.

That was from a first half report, don't know about subs in the second half.

Plechazunga

Calliste, Blake and Picken came on for Cooper, Johnson and (I think) Byrne.

Eagles and Timm didn't play.

golden_blunder

dont know about him being a new scholesy.. he usually plays quite deep and just keeps the ball moving. He had a good game tonight though, the best ive seen him play in a long time. I thought he was quite disappointing last season.

Cooper looked good, big lump of a lad too. Johnson had an off game.
I really like that guy Bardsley in defence, good player

the lads played some good stuff tonight on an awful rugby pitch

good to see Blake score his first reserve goal, the first of many im sure

MelvinYeo

Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Daniel Nardiello will return to Manchester United an improved player after his loan stint at Swansea City.
Nardiello linked up with the Third Division outfit last week on a month's loan, with Red Devils colleague Alan Tate joining him at Vetch Field.

Young striker Nardiello has struggled to establish himself in the first team squad at Old Trafford but has been a prolific scorer in the reserves.

The 21-year-old is following the well-trodden path of several United players, who have enjoyed loan stints away from the club to boost their experience.

United boss Ferguson believes it is imperative that former Wolves youth Nardiello samples competitive action, rather than continually playing for the Premiership champions' reserves.

"Daniel would have been in the squad for Leeds (in the Carling Cup) but it is important for his development that he gets more competitive football," outlined Ferguson.

"He has gone to Swansea, who are towards the top of their division, so it's the kind of challenge he really needs.

"We are trying to do this all the time, give young players the vital experience that Daniel is getting now.

"We have David Fox and Colin Heath out at Antwerp and Ben Williams has just come back from a month at Altrincham.

"Of course, Luke Chadwick and Michael Stewart are away at the moment, too. It puts them in an environment where they can learn because the Nationwide is a good league.

"It is much better for players of their age to play there than in our reserve team."

Gabe

According to the official site Marcus Neumayr has dislocated his collarbone in training and will be out a few weeks.

MPTutd

A very mixed week for the Academy teams.

the U-17's won 3-1. Goals from Marsh, Mullen and Burns saw them home.

However, the U-19's got stuffed 4-0 by Sheff Weds. The team included Blake, Timm, EAGLES, Callistre, Eckersley, McShane, Simms and Heaton so it was a very strong team. The worst part was some play by Blake when he was one of one with the keeper and passed to Callistre when he was obviously offside. Very poor play.

I am sure Brian McClair had more than a few words!.

MPTutd

We will begin the defence of the FA Youth Cup against either Rushden and Diamonds or Hayes. The tie has to be played by 6th December.

Mozza

Did not think this deserved its own thread in the transfer forum, but heres another lad we look to be getting, sky sports

Gabe

Ferguson ready to launch another class of '92
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floribert N'Galula getting the Fergie commendation.

English Premiership News
Monday 10th November 2003 11:28 | By Mark Needham | Views: 349


Alex Ferguson says he is ready to unleash a new batch of teenagers to match the Paul Scholes and David Beckham class of '92.

Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles have both featured in games this season for the Champions, but Ferguson says there is more talent waiting to break through.

"It is definitely possible from what I have seen. Definitely." he said.

"We have some terrific young players coming through the club together with those we have brought in like Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion. There is Darren Fletcher, Chris Eagles and the boy from Belgium, Floribert N'Galula, who is 17 and an excellent player.

"Hopefully they can mature together and develop together in the way the players who came through with Ryan Giggs did."

DA Bears...

Anybody know much about Jonathan Spector? I saw an article about it in the Chicago Tribune:

Where Beckham's Trod, He's Treading
by Bonnie Desimone

At this time last year, Jonathan Spector thought he would be back home in Arlington Heights, spending his senior year at St. Viator High School.

Instead, still four months shy of his 18th birthday, he has been transported to an enchanted athletic venue outside Manchester, England, called Carrington, where he is paid to play soccer. As he modestly notes, "It's the first real job I've had," other than a short stint as a referee for the Arlington Heights Park District.

Carrington is world headquarters for Manchester United, a global juggernaut.

Spector, who signed a four-year contract with Man U for an undisclosed amount this year, will play and train largely with the club's under-19 and reserve teams, but he already has stepped onto the practice pitch with the first team.

"You know, the guys you've heard of," Spector said without a trace of affectation. "The team David Beckham used to play for. I wasn't as intimidated as I was excited. The guys are pretty supportive. A lot of them came up and introduced themselves … not that I didn't know who they were."

Spector, a defender who began his soccer career as a forward, is one of several young American players scooped up recently by Manchester United, including U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard, who starts for the first team.

The team's spontaneous, heady courtship of Spector began when a scout spotted him playing with the U.S. under-17 team in a tournament in Ireland in April 2002.


Manchester offered Spector a tryout, then a contract, disrupting his regularly scheduled life. He had left St. Viator after his sophomore season with the intention of spending the next two years at the U-17 residency program at the Edison Academy in Bradenton, Fla., playing in last August's U-17 world championship in Finland, returning to Chicago to graduate and then heading off to college.

He began to shift gears when U-17 coach John Ellinger shifted him to the back line and encouraged him and other players to participate in an accelerated high school program.

Then came the proposition from Manchester, which trumped scholarship packages from several Division I schools. Spector doubtless endeared himself to fans when he told British reporters upon signing, "I may be American, but even I know you never say no to Manchester United."

Spector earned his diploma last spring and started for the U.S. team in the worlds. After a two-week rest at home, he left for England in September.

Young players like Spector are placed with local families until they turn 18. He lives with two teammates in the home of Terry and Janet Holden.

A team driver picks up the players each morning and drives them to the lavish Carrington complex. Spector's days are structured around rigorous fitness training, weight lifting and yoga. He and Howard squeezed in a little pickup basketball recently. Spector has that sport in his blood as well; his late grandfather, Art, a charter member of the Boston Celtics, played four years with that franchise.

Manchester's U-19s compete weekly with other teams in that age bracket for the FA Youth Cup. Spector is still waiting for international soccer officials to complete the paperwork to allow him to play in full matches. In his off hours, he is taking history and philosophy correspondence courses through Indiana University.

"I definitely want to get my degree, in case something happens, or I don't make it, which I don't plan on happening," he said.

Spector said he's adjusting to his unusual lifestyle fairly smoothly. He is accustomed to travel and pressure at the international level, and he is confident he belongs. "I don't think they would have signed me if they didn't believe in my ability," he said.

Gabe

Look through the earlier pages for comments on Spector- he plays centre back. He's tall, well built, confident, and good on the ball. Hopefully he can start getting some games soon, and establish himself.

LenSharkey

Bolton 1 United 2

From Wayne @ Red News

United team - Carroll; Lynch, Bardsley, Tierney (capt), Pugh; Eagles, Kleberson, Wood, Richardson; Cooper, Bellion

Subs - Johnson (for Eagles HT), M. Williams (for Cooper 60mins), Jones (for Richardson 62mins).

Subs not used - B. Williams, Eckersley.

Bolton featured a few experienced 'names' in their eleven. Kevin Poole was in goal, Anthony Barness, Ibrahim Ba, Henrik Pedersen and Mario Jardel all also were starters.

I rolled up to the Lancashire County FA headquarters in good time and was impressed with the set up. Not terribly great for the paying public, admission £3 tonight, but the playing surface looked as good as any I've seen this season. I'm certain that the United boys would be delighted to see a nice flat, grassy pitch after their exertions on Newcastle's rugby pitch a couple of weeks ago in their previous competitive outing. Since then the boys also had a run out against Glenavon in Ireland in a friendly which they won fairly comfortably. They are on a bit of roll now so I am feeling optimistic, particularly with Bolton being mired right at the bottom of the table in the Premier Reserve League North.

Good crowd here to see the match, the only stand was full with lots of Lancs youth football teams on a night out to see what they are all aspiring to. Plenty of excitable young boys looking forward to seeing United, and according to some I heard talking prematch, Ronaldo and Nistelrooy will defo be playing tonight!! Other than the small stand down half the length of one side of the pitch no other real spectator facilities present. Spectators were stood 2 and 3 deep down the other side of the pitch and a very good number congregating behind the goals too.

Bolton kicked off but it was United who made the early inroads. David Bellion and Kieran Richardson linked really well down the left, Richardson slotted Bellion in on the outside and DB was too quick for the Bolton right back who clipped our Frenchman as he was primed to reach the by-line. The foul was awarded just outside of the area, 2 feet or so outside and 4 or 5 yards from the by-line. Chris Eagles looked to fire in but the Wanderers wall blocked well. The rebound fell towards Kleberson who attempted a volley but missed his kick completely under pressure form the advancing Bolton rearguard.

On 5 minutes Mario Jardel hit a venomous shot that stayed out but I am not really sure whether there was woodwork involved or if it was wide and into the advertising hoardings. It was a scare anyway and was followed by 2 more Bolton chances in quite quick succession. Firstly the BW 10, Walters had a clear header after a nice cross from the right but he got too much on it and missed wide of the right post. Then Anthony Barness hit a real rasper that appeared on target for the top corner but Roy Carroll intervened to push it away at the expense of a corner. Roy caught the ensuing corner and quickly launched a punt upfield that Bellion did well to knock into Kenny Cooper's path but the big American could not quite capitalise.

The two United front men were linking really well, with Cooper's size and presence complimenting Bellion blistering speed. This looks an ideal partnership and leaves us with an embarrassing wealth up front with Eddie Johnson sat on the bench and Daniel Nardiello still away at Swansea on loan. Unfortunately none of these four are, in my opinion, yet ready to give SAF a selection headache regarding the first team striking options. Kenny Cooper and Eddie Johnson both have a chance of developing into the 'real thing' but Bellion is probably more of a winger and Nardiello, scorer of many goals this season for the reserves, isn't going to make the grade at Old Trafford, I'm afraid. Would love to be proved wrong but somehow feel he'll leave us for a lower division opportunity somewhere as Danny Webber and others have in the past.

The opening goal came halfway through the first period. Kenny Cooper held the ball up well and laid it off to David Bellion who fashioned a shooting chance which was partially charged down. The ball squirmed through the block and went out for a corner kick. Neil Wood took the corner from the United right and Cooper rose but failed to make contact at the far post, Kleberson scrambled out to the left flank to retrieve the ball and hit a perfect left footed cross that Phil Bardsley headed home from 7 or 8 yards out.

The advantage was doubled on 25 minutes. Danny Pugh won a great tackle on halfway and brought the ball on. Fed to the edge of the box where a neat interchange between Neil Wood and Cooper left Wood in the area and working to make room to pull the trigger. He had just worked the ball onto his favoured left foot but was fouled before he could test Poole. The referee was well positioned and did not hesitate in pointing to the spot. Wood picked himself up and placed the ball, no Nardiello so Woodie it was and he made no mistake, into the bottom left corner with Poole going the other way. 2-0 and cruising.

United created a few more opportunities before the break but none were converted. Kleberson fashioned one for Cooper that illustrated the Brazilian's supreme vision. Kleberson may have been caught in possession a few times and he may have misplaced a couple of passes but this single moment in the first half and another similar one in the second half convinced me that he does indeed have a part to play for United. I can foresee a situation where United are playing against a dour defensive set up and are unable to break through. I always thought that Veron was brought in to 'unlock' the door in those circumstances but it never really came off did it? But this South American might be 'The One.' Superb flicked pass with the outside of his left foot, it completely wrong footed the defence and had me standing in awe. How had he seen it? How did he manage to execute it? He was too clever for Cooper who looked as surprised as I was and failed to make up the ground to pounce.

Phil Bardsley ought to have doubled his personal tally on the night in 40 minutes. Another cross from our left leaving him with a free header in a very similar position from where he'd scored earlier. This time he failed to connect and was as unhappy as he had been happy a quarter of an hour earlier - the agony and the ecstasy.

Bolton were awarded a penalty just before half-time. Jardel converted low into the right corner with Roy well beaten. Mark Lynch conceded the spot kick after a tussle just inside our area. The attacker seemed to go down quite easily but I was 100 yards away so won't even begin to emulate our 'friends' at the wrong end of the East Lancs road and accuse the official of getting a penalty call wrong. So 1-2 at half-time and United well worth the lead.

Eddie Johnson came on for Chris Eagles at the beginning of the second period. The change paired Johnson with Cooper at the spearhead of our attack with David Bellion now moving to a right wing position. Bellion gave the home left back a torrid time and eventually had the number 3 cautioned near the end of the contest after a series of increasingly desperate tackles. On one of the occasions when DB managed to get away from the leftback without being felled he pulled an inviting low cross to Johnson who hit a first time shot from near the penalty spot that Kevin Poole did very well to push past the post.

Kleberson unlocked the Wanderers defence again, this time the beneficiary of his vision was Johnson who was on the same wavelength as the Brazilian. EJ really ought to have buried this one. Clean through, one on one. Cue a world class stop by Poole. Keepers in those situations have to gamble and some times it comes off for them and this was one of those. Poole dived to his right just as Eddie attempted to power his shot the same way...

LenSharkey

pt 2 ...
On 70 minutes Bellion latched onto another long Carroll punt and deftly cut inside onto his left foot. He hit his shot accurately, from outside and to the right of the penalty area, but without power and Poole made the routine stop low to his right. Shortly after this Kieran Richardson had a free header from a Wood corner but failed to trouble Poole as his effort was back across goal but also beyond the post. Might have hoped for a bit better.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes Bellion went on a great run. He picked the ball up near halfway and teased his route through towards the area. He slotted a through ball that Kenny Cooper did well to take around the sprawling Poole but his left footed effort from an acute angle was not powerful enough to beat the now retreating home keeper who gratefully pushed the goalbound effort behind for another United corner. The American was subbed off now as was Kieran Richardson moments later. The replacements being Matt Williams and David Jones, Jones probably feeling somewhat disappointed having lost his starting place to Kleberson. Williams went up front and 1DJ went wide left.

Bellion again excelled and created another shooting opportunity for the Reds. A great run down the right, collision with a defender that was deemed not to be a foul, a tumble, a rapid recovery and then a composed pull back to Neil Wood who hit the volley from the edge of the area but missed the target. Bellion really was on fire tonight. My man of the match by a good margin. Good control, vision, distribution and blinding pace. Hope he continues to progress, maybe that £2 million won't look so expensive in a year or two?

Matt Williams was mixing it from his first minute on the pitch. The corner came over that Cooper had won before being replaced by Williams and all I heard was a stream of expletives from Kevin Poole after he'd been somehow 'impeded' by the United number 12. Matt then got involved in another bit of rough and tumble before he finally managed to get himself booked for a crude lunge on the BW number 12 on the edge of their area. A case of trying to impress a bit too much in too short of a period of time maybe? In the closing minutes Danny Pugh also saw the yellow card after foolishly flicking the ball away over the advertising hoardings after a decision went against him. Three or four of the Boltonians also managed to find their way into the official's bad books. Wasn't really a dirty game but seemed like a few cards were dished out. The two United boys certainly can have no complaints about their bookings anyway.

Bolton did press for the equaliser but happily it never came despite a couple of freekicks in promising positions for them. Another win, this takes the boys above Everton (on goal difference) into third place in the table. Villa are flying at the top, the draw with United in the first match of the season being their only dropped points to date. Newcastle sit in second.

Next match is a charity benefit on Thursday in memory of one of the families killed in the M56 accident earlier this year. It's at Ledbury Town and kicks off at 1930 but it is sold out. apparently. Next league match is at Altrincham on Thursday 20th at 1900 vs. Leeds United (presuming they are still in business then).

MelvinYeo

Manchester United's American starlet Jonathan Spector has admitted that he is growing frustrated at the red-tape preventing him from playing for his club.
The 17-year-old holds an EU passport, but a Fifa rule that stops under-18s being registered outside of their own nation has prevented him getting his chance.

"I don't really understand whey they're keeping me from playing," said Spector.

"Legally I could have any other job here. It's a fairly new rule and I signed before it went into effect."

Spector admitted that he is annoyed to miss out on the FA Youth Cup, which would have given him a chance to make an impact.

"I want to play in matches anyway, but I'd really like to be part of that," added the youngster - who paid testament to manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He really looks after people well. He knows everyone's name at the club, even if you just meet him one time."

American40

Gazza

We're signing a Chinese lad!

Dong Fangzhuo. Don't laugh.

1 million quid - better move a few shirts...

reelworld

hehehe, I just want to ask about it Gaz..
btw, it says that he scored for the reserve on the trial. anybody see how that match went?

Gabe

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/NextS...111082524/view

Spector has been cleared to play by FIFA. Should be an excellent pairing with McShane and Spector defending for the U19's.

Gabe

According to a scouse report the U19's drew at home to Liverpool.
0-0 United were dominant in the second half but the scousers held on.

RedPhil1957

reserves 2 leeds reserves 1
cooper
wood
bridges,domi and wilcox played in leeds team but a persistent united scored 2 goals in 4 minutes late in game to grab a deserved win.

mfkow

Formal Man Utd younster Alex Notman has hang up his boot.. what a sad news...

rOnaldo[7]

Manchester United Reserves 2 Leeds Reserves 1
Friday, November 21, 2003

United - Carroll; Lynch, Bardsley, Tierney (capt), Pugh; Byrne, Jones, Wood, Richardson; Johnson; Cooper

Subs - Poole (for Byrne 66mins). Subs not used - B. Williams, M. Williams, Sims

Despite their perilous financial state Leeds managed to bring over a full 11 starters and a full complement of substitutes (whereas we clearly decided that 4 available subs would be plenty tonight). The famous five in the Leeds eleven were Wilcox, Domi, Lennon, Bridges and Chapuis.

Quite a heavy looking pitch at Alty, it cut up badly in the goalmouth where Roy Carroll had warmed up but was otherwise still looking in good nick with plenty of grass and no real signs of the mud that will become more prevalent in the coming couple of months.

The Leeds keeper, Scott Carson, demonstrated just how soft the ground was as he was on his arse after 2 out of his first 3 kicked clearances. Did it one more time in the second half just to entertain those behind the other goal too.

First opportunity fell to Cyril Chapuis on 5 minutes who was played through but in trying to lob the ball over the rapidly advancing Carroll only succeeded in lobbing over Roy, over the bar and over the stand ......... new ball please. This was the first of many scares down our right hand side tonight. One minute later United's first effort was a long range right footer from David Jones which sliced well wide.

An offside flag helped to prevent embarrassment as Carroll had to rush out of his area to challenge Bridges who was through. Roy got a bit of a block in but the ball fell to Lennon who attempted to lob the ball goalwards. Not sure if it was on target but the United defence was scrambling back to the goal with some purpose to intercept only for the referee to (finally) notice that the flag was up.

United were also caught offside a few times early on. Looked as though Eddie Johnson was sitting a bit deeper than Kenny Cooper up front leaving us with a 4-4-1-1 formation. Ajax have been doing it for years, in that all of their teams from the earliest of ages right through to the first team play exactly the same system. The reserves have been pretty exclusively 4-4-2 this season but tonight, first half anyway, we looked a little different with EJ playing just off the big American.

Our best move of the half came on 18 minutes. 3 great triangles worked down the left, with super slick 1-2's, before Kenny Cooper cut in and hit a shot from 25 yards that again sliced wide off of his right boot. The yellow shirted Yorkshiremen took the lead, on 25 minutes, a little bit fortuitously. A cross was hit in from their right that took a slight deflection off of Danny Pugh. The deviation sent the ball perfectly to Aaron Lennon who calmly controlled before hitting his shot into the bottom left corner of the goal from 12 yards. 0-1.

They could have doubled their lead a minute later when Chapuis again found himself 1 on 1 with Roy, who was, at least, forced to make a save this time. Leeds then contrived to give away a series of freekicks within shooting range which we contrived to largely waste. The best was a 25 yarder struck just wide by Neil Wood that Carson looked very pleased to see pass by the post.

On 33 minutes Simon Johnson, the Leeds 11, did well to make a bit of room for himself and struck a nice right footer that was curling towards the far post but Roy Carroll caught it at a comfortable height without too much drama. On the resulting counterattack David Jones picked the ball up in a tight spot just on halfway. He twisted and turned, this way and that, with a couple of Leeds boys snapping away at him but he worked a little bit of space and enough time to lay the ball off to Danny Byrne who hit a nice early cross from near the right touchline, angled towards the area, where Eddie Johnson rose and flicked his header goalwards. The ball looped up and Carson had to palm it over the bar as it had been destined for the net. No-one would expect to beat a keeper from 18 yards, with a header, but it was a great effort.

Two more good United efforts before half-time. Danny Byrne cut in from the right flank and hit a testing shot with his left that Carson had to push away for a corner. Neil Wood took the left footed, inswinging, corner which fell to Eddie Johnson just beyond the far post. His shot was on target, and beat Carson but hit a defender on the line.

Leeds then fashioned two more openings of their own to close the first half. A corner from their right fell to Domi who hit his shot well enough but found it to be too close to Carroll who gathered well in a crowded goal mouth. Cyril Chapuis then had another really good chance but rushed his shot and therefore missed the target when he ought to have doubled the lead.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time and we really couldn't complain too much about it. On balance Leeds created more, and better, opportunities and on another day could have been 2 or 3 up.

Spent the half-time interval trying to figure out the rules of the 'game' that our subs were playing. They were warming up on the pitch, nothing unusual there then but generally the sub keeper stands between the sticks and the others take pot-shots. Not tonight though, tonight it was a simple game of keepie-uppie with the 4 subs in a loose square formation. I think I worked out that after a certain number of successful passes, maybe 10 (?), whoever caused the chain to break, either with a crap pass or a miss-control got punished. The punishment was that the other three could each take a flick at the ear of the guilty one!

Second half started a bit slowly. First 10 minutes were a bit sterile with neither team making much happen. Kieran Richardson lit things up with a nice run from just inside his own half. Took the ball to the edge of the Leeds area at pace. First one defender tried to bring him down then a second fouled him right at the edge and the freekick was awarded and a yellow card offered to the 2nd tackler whose effort was deemed to have been the more deserving of the 2 attempted hacks. Danny Byrne hit the freekick, from near the right angle of the penalty area, but his right footed effort was dipping a bit too late to trouble Carson.

Just before the hour mark 2 more United chances went begging. Kieran Richardson was really unlucky when his volley, from a Mark Lynch cross, was blocked by Carson. A great save. Soon afterwards Eddie Johnson hit a right footer that was deflected just past the post. At this stage I admit to thinking that it was going to be one of those nights. We were certainly getting the better of them in the 2nd period but would the goal ever come? Carson seemed to be getting in the way of everything and Domi and McStay, their centrebacks, were both dealing well with Cooper and Johnson, who were now both pushing on to the Leeds back line.

Coming up to three quarters through the match and Eddie Johnson had 2 more opportunities. The first created superbly by Danny Pugh who dinked a great cross back towards the penalty spot where EJ met it with a right footed volley well wide. EJ then created another chanc