U23's Vs Everton (23rd October)

bushyzor

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We played really well and deserved the win. Final ball was lacking, but build up play was great.

Galbraith always looks so good when I watch him. Very composed and gets all the forward momentum going.

Pellistri had a good game. A little lacking in cutting edge but he’s young and you can see he has talent.

Overall it was a good watch.

Edit: Typo
 

Amarsdd

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Deserved win that! Galbraith looks really really accomplished at this level, almost too comfortable on the pitch there.
 

PTSTSL

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Fully deserved the win. We've got some serious talent coming through. Its looking very promising.
 

JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo

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Deserved win. So many of the lads were fantastic today. Williams was outstanding on the right. Can definitely see him playing there for first team.

Mengi and Fish are a great CB combo. I wondered how they would be without Bernard.

Fernandez has fit in like a glove, he could very well be seeing first team action himself this time next year.

Pellistri looks a bit timid but had some lovely touches and passes.

Galbraith has really stepped it up. Im happy for him (being Norn Irish myself) he was absolutely everywhere and his passes were great.

Necessary win for the boys
 

TwoSheds

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Well I only watched the last 40 mins but what a great performance. Great attitude and belief, dominated the play, didn't get frustrated by the shit refereeing, stayed patient to the end and got the last minute goal. Fantastic. Impressed with Brandon driving through to win the pen as he's done before in the first team but Galbraith, Fish, Mengi, Fernandez, Elanga, Hugill, Shoretire, Helm, everyone contributed. Nice to see Pellistri as well, clearly a great dribbler but not as lightning fast as I thought. Will improve with more games I'm sure, definite talent. Congratulations to them all.
 

Gordon S

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Whats the point with all the wreckless fouling at this level? Just feels like there is more of it at this level than in senior football.

Great to finally get a win!
 

eltigreFalcao

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It is considering neither Pellistri or Elanga is a striker.
Elanga is regarded as a forward that can play all over the front three, he was given Nº 9 today. Also Pellistri played centrally so I think Shola was higher up the pitch. Pellistri was then substitued with Hugill to play front two with Elanga
 

Mark Pawelek

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That booking for Pellstri is pathetic. Referees at this level let reckless tackles off, persistent fouls off and then book someone for that :lol: :houllier:
What was it actually for? Never saw the replay. This incident didn't seem to be anything. Was he holding off the Everton player with his hand and managed to brush his face?
 

Mylock

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Its not his job. He is the defensive midfielder, the playmaker. And he has done that brilliantly.
Gallbraith looks a good prospect, not sure he will get his chance with the 1st team, a lot of players ahead of him. Probably needs to go out on loan and get some experience. The question is can he move up to the next level and establish himself, he differently need and tidy and keep the game ticking over.
 

siw2007

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First time I have watched the u23's in a while. Pretty good for what I imagine is a 'new team'. Very impressed with Elanga, Galbraith and Mengi. Pellistri grew into the game and liked the look of him, he was direct and positive on the ball and at times glided across the pitch.
 

Adnan

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Fernandez was superb along with Galbraith. But it was really pleasing to see Fernandez display his strong technical ability passing and nous in his role which really helped us in the attacking phase. A proper fullback performance which was great to see.
 

limerickcitykid

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What an ending, fantastic and great to be capped off by Galbraith who was easily MotM. Fantastic defensively and controlled the match from deep. Was superb today.

Fernandez was really good too. Really liked what I saw from him today. Seems to silky and intelligent on the ball.

Fish and Mengi as solid as ever.

Williams showed glimpses of his old fantastic performances at youth level.

Mejbri poor again, offered very little outside one bit of nice play. Kept just standing in the middle of their compact midfield at the edge of the box hopping up and down as if he had any chance of getting the ball in there. Was nice to see him hauled, might give him a kick up the backside. He’s capable of way more

Elanga anonymous in the first. Had moments after pushing wide and took the goal well. Not as threatening as his usual self though.

Pellistri looked good. Must have drawn about 6-7 fouls. Very good technique, just maybe lacking that final cutting edge. Nice first showing though.

Hugill just has it doesn’t he? Awkward looking but He’s so clever and composed on the ball in the area, he just comes alive in there. Always does fantastically well to hold the ball and work himself an inch of space for a pass or a shot. He seems to have all the subtle intricacies you see in a top striker.
 

bushyzor

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Gallbraith looks a good prospect, not sure he will get his chance with the 1st team, a lot of players ahead of him. Probably needs to go out on loan and get some experience. The question is can he move up to the next level and establish himself, he differently need and tidy.
I would be very interested to see how he manages with less time on the ball. Not sure if it’s the low quality of opposition or if he is really good at making space for himself, be he always seems to have so much time on the ball to find a pass.
 

Adam-Utd

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Whats the point with all the wreckless fouling at this level? Just feels like there is more of it at this level than in senior football.

Great to finally get a win!
It's a bit bonkers isn't it? tackles like the one in the first half on Pellestri are pretty much every game, they dive in 2 footed and only get a yellow because they're younger? it doesn't make sense or teach them how to tackle better.
 

Poborsky's hair

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You knew that Brandon's gonna take it on himself and go for a penalty. That's why I think he will make it and will go a long way, he's got that winning, never say die attitude and skill to succeed. Head and shoulders above everyone else.

Fernandez is very mature for his age, looks strong, great dribbler, can'tget the ball from him. Interesting profile for a fullback. We found a gem here I reckon

Galbraith surprised me a lot, looked like late scholes in the end but with good workrate to win the ball as well. Who knows maybe he will be the one of Garner, Levitt to make it. Our very own Frankie de Jong.

And we certainly found our new Will Keane in Hugill

Hope Mastny is okay, made a fantastic save before conceding and coming out his cage very well paradoxically that was what cost him a nasty injury, needs to talk, learnt a lesson.

Shame about Elanga and Shoretire, looked like kids always loosing the ball to much phisycally stronger players. Pellistri showed better close dribbling and acceleration but he's also a project.

However it's sometimes hard to say, some players might not look exceptional amongother kids but can play very well thrown into deep end eventually.

Good to see our academy in a long while.
 
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Dudu

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Elanga 1-1,

Galbraithe, 2-1

Good win. Lots of good performances and potential :devil:
 

limerickcitykid

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I would be very interested to see how he manages with less time on the ball. Not sure if it’s the low quality of opposition or if he is really good at making space for himself, be he always seems to have so much time on the ball to find a pass.
Leicester pressed well in the opening match of the season and Garner and himself completely crumbled under it. Seemed to have no answer to someone pressing their back and not giving them an easy turn.

Thats really the only time I can think of him facing a tough press. It’s only one match though so who really knows. Garner was terrible on the day too and he seems to be doing fine in the Championship now on loan.

Liverpool pressed well too but Galbraith didn’t play that match
 

Ubik

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It's a bit bonkers isn't it? tackles like the one in the first half on Pellestri are pretty much every game, they dive in 2 footed and only get a yellow because they're younger? it doesn't make sense or teach them how to tackle better.
That didn't even get a yellow I think, absurd. Then Pellistri got one for... something.

Nice to see us pushing for it at the end and got what we deserved.
 

Okey

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Nice to hear Williams did well on the right. And stood out as one that's now a senior player. And it would appear the YouTube videos of Pellistri repeatedly getting fouls were rather accurate, not just highlights. Good win!
 

Dve

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Well deserved win, and evident why Mengi, Williams and Pellistri are the ones training with the first team. Galbraith and Hugill looked good as well.

The worst performer on the pitch: the ref.
 

Kearnkoff69

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Galbraith was very impressive, as was Fernandez. Pellistri has a silky touch and great close control, but obviously it feels like it will be a little while before we really know what we have with him. Seconding the comments in here about the refereeing - it has been awful all season and I would be shocked if it does not lead to some bad injuries. Completely baffling that the league would not want to protect its bright young talents more.
 

AltiUn

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Fernandez is looking like a class signing, looks great on the ball and he likes to takes risks high up the pitch, Williams did quite well too, got the beating of the Everton LB a few times. Galbraith did well and I felt Mejbri had a good game too. Special mention to Shoretire, easy to forget he's only 16, he's a very talented lad. Simm managed to get in behind Mengi once and Fish once but apart from that I think our back 3 were fine. If we're going to be playing a back 3 from now on it might have been useful to keep Bernard around (although I get why he's been loaned out).

Elanga doesn't suit the striker role but he improved in the second half when he went winder, took his goal superbly as he often does. Pellistri with a very promising debut, I like his dribbling style and his technique is very easy on the eye, I think he'll end up developing into a wide playmaker rather than a traditional winger. He'll draw a lot of fouls, he's very clever with the use of his body.

Also how good is Hugill? He's been a great signing so far, another one who's only 16. He's got very good game awareness, his positioning is usually spot on, he'll score a bucketload in his time here. Hope Mastny's alright, looked a bad collision.
Elanga is regarded as a forward that can play all over the front three, he was given Nº 9 today. Also Pellistri played centrally so I think Shola was higher up the pitch. Pellistri was then substitued with Hugill to play front two with Elanga
I know what he's regarded as and I'm saying I don't think he looks good in that role, hence why he was so anonymous in the first half. He's capable of playing a few positions, someone that talented usually can slot into a few positions, but he's definitely at his best on the wing where he can run at his full back.
 

Adnan

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Fernandez is looking like a class signing, looks great on the ball and he likes to takes risks high up the pitch, Williams did quite well too, got the beating of the Everton LB a few times. Galbraith did well and I felt Mejbri had a good game too. Special mention to Shoretire, easy to forget he's only 16, he's a very talented lad. Simm managed to get in behind Mengi once and Fish once but apart from that I think our back 3 were fine. If we're going to be playing a back 3 from now on it might have been useful to keep Bernard around (although I get why he's been loaned out).

Elanga doesn't suit the striker role but he improved in the second half when he went winder, took his goal superbly as he often does. Pellistri with a very promising debut, I like his dribbling style and his technique is very easy on the eye, I think he'll end up developing into a wide playmaker rather than a traditional winger. He'll draw a lot of fouls, he's very clever with the use of his body.

Also how good is Hugill? He's been a great signing so far, another one who's only 16. He's got very good game awareness, his positioning is usually spot on, he'll score a bucketload in his time here. Hope Mastny's alright, looked a bad collision.

I know what he's regarded as and I'm saying I don't think he looks good in that role, hence why he was so anonymous in the first half. He's capable of playing a few positions, someone that talented usually can slot into a few positions, but he's definitely at his best on the wing where he can run at his full back.
Agree with this assessment and I thought Mejbri did well too. In the first half I felt he was too far forward in the half space between the wingback and forward which was quite perplexing. Maybe it was space that he was asked to occupy by the coach but it really seemed odd but it benefitted Galbraith who had the freedom and space to play his game.
 

Dve

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How did Pellistri, Mejbri and Rojo play?
Pellistri: 7 (excellent close technics and always looks a treat with his dribbling skills. Cool to watch).
Rojo: 6 (only played 45 min, but dealt well with everything that came his way. I think he can still do a job for e.g in a back 3).
Majbri: 5 (a bit disappointed with him as I expected more. Subbed early in the second half)
 

dalriada

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Interesting game and good to see the U23s get their first win. Would agree with the match commentators that Galbraith was MOTM, but Williams was great to watch - I think no coincidence that he was played at right back in an attacking wing-back role, with Telles arriving and Dalot gone this is surely the plan for him. Usual never-say-die attitude and great run to prevent an almost certain goal, even it was to recover from his own error giving the ball away.

Encouraging start from Pellistri given he's only just arrived from Uruguay. He must have been as baffled as we were by the referee.

A pity we didn't get a better idea of how Rojo's shaping up, but the initial formation seemed to have been designed to accommodate him and Williams rather than for the game itself, so at least he got 45 minutes.

At a purely U23 level, Hugill, Fernandez and Elanga look like the real deal so far (I know that's been said before about a good number of youth players though). I can see why some people say send Galbraith out on loan, but we have so many already out and need some stability in the U23s, so I'm happy to see him stay, at least for this season.
 

cj_sparky

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What was it actually for? Never saw the replay. This incident didn't seem to be anything. Was he holding off the Everton player with his hand and managed to brush his face?
Not a clue tbh. I couldn't see anything to warrant a foul, god knows what the card was for?
 

Dve

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Not a clue tbh. I couldn't see anything to warrant a foul, god knows what the card was for?
Never a foul, and neither did it look like anything that could possible be mistaken for a foul. But hey, yellow card it was.
 

Alemar

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Pellistri: 7 (excellent close technics and always looks a treat with his dribbling skills. Cool to watch).
Rojo: 6 (only played 45 min, but dealt well with everything that came his way. I think he can still do a job for e.g in a back 3).
Majbri: 5 (a bit disappointed with him as I expected more. Subbed early in the second half)
Thank you for detailed feedback!
Its sad to hear that Mejbri disappointed today :(
 

Dve

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Thank you for detailed feedback!
Its sad to hear that Mejbri disappointed today :(
Well, there seems to be mixed options on Mejbri, but I felt he was never able to take control of that midfield and he was not very constructive with the ball. A bit weak in duels as well. Sure didn´t live up the the hype, but of course, this is only one game.
 

BR7

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Some great potential in that team. What was the keeper doing though? Hope the lad’s well but it was a serious wtf moment
 

Number32

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Why Hugill didn't start? His connection with Elanga was the only way we score from open play in this October. Elanga-Hugill-Pellestri would be a nightmare for any defender at this level.

Hannibal should be dropped back to U18s, he has been poor for a month, and easy target for the opposition team. It's not just one game, his only goal/assist was against Liverpool, and that was just a consolation goal. Maybe playing at lower level would restore his confidence. Sorry Hannibal's fans, he is not ready yet.

Overall this is a good game from the lads, just need a better end products.
 

Lj82

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Just saw a video of all touches Pellestri made in the game. He seemed to get very involved in the dying minutes as we were chasing a winner. Always showing and asking for the ball.good trait to have.

Also, what a ridiculous yellow card he received.!
 

Mark Pawelek

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Some of the comments are a bit silly. Expecting miracles from players who've never played together. For instance: "Mejbri cannot take control of the midfield" - 2 man United midfield playing against a packed Everton defence staying well back - giving no opportunity for through balls to exploit Elanga's pace. Give him time. Look how good U23s were last season with smaller core of players who could trust each other's game having played together in U18s. This season's U23s all strangers to each other. Give them time.
 

khoazany

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It's just reality check. Gomes also struggled in the U23s a bit at first when he's Hannibal's age so that's normal. Just that the call for him to get some 1st team game times this season was really knee-jerking. As things stand Galbraith is ahead of him in the pecking order any day of the week if we need a midfielder. Same with Puigmal.

Would like to see Pellistri to get more times with the U23s and build him up before we throw him to senior football. He will be eaten alive if he plays this way. Some encouraging signs though.
 
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