Miscellaneous Reserve/Youth News

Bertie Wooster

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Has a scholarship at Leicester next season.
Oh, I'd been looking forward to seeing Popov when he reached U18 level - having read bits about him. Has he not reached the expected level then or has he opted to leave for some reason?
 

Beaucoup

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Oh, I'd been looking forward to seeing Popov when he reached U18 level - having read bits about him. Has he not reached the expected level then or has he opted to leave for some reason?
I'm not sure if he turned down or was not offered a scholarship, either way I've heard he has 1 year scholar + pro deal at Leicester, so he's done well and I wish him all the best.
 

AltiUn

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Oh, I'd been looking forward to seeing Popov when he reached U18 level - having read bits about him. Has he not reached the expected level then or has he opted to leave for some reason?
If he ends up successful the commentators will have a field day with his name "Popov with the pop off, hat trick!"
 

Bertie Wooster

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Our U23 team might be more weakened than ever this Saturday.

The U18's kick off at 12, the U23's 2 hours later - so they might not promote many from that level (such as McNeill).

Added to Amad, Shoretire and Galbraith being in the first team squad tonight and maybe being needed on Sunday, and all the injuries they're currently coping with (Hannibal and Puigmal the latest).

It was good to see Fish returning from injury. And should still have Fernandez and Hugill to watch. But, really, as often happens at this time with loans, injuries, etc, the teams looking pretty poor at the moment.

The U18's are still good to watch, so I'm looking forward to that one more.
 

Mickson

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Our U23 team might be more weakened than ever this Saturday.

The U18's kick off at 12, the U23's 2 hours later - so they might not promote many from that level (such as McNeill).

Added to Amad, Shoretire and Galbraith being in the first team squad tonight and maybe being needed on Sunday, and all the injuries they're currently coping with (Hannibal and Puigmal the latest).

It was good to see Fish returning from injury. And should still have Fernandez and Hugill to watch. But, really, as often happens at this time with loans, injuries, etc, the teams looking pretty poor at the moment.

The U18's are still good to watch, so I'm looking forward to that one more.
Not sure about Amad, but Shoretire will probably play with the U23. We still lack creativity though, but it will be better than the last game.
 

spenzo

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Seeing a lot of the younger players with the U18s today just reminded me, does anyone have any idea how Charlie Veevers is getting on? Remember seeing some games of his a few years back and being pretty impressed.
 

TwoSheds

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Malachi Sharpe sounds like an avenging angel come to right the wrongs of Lee Sharpe's career.
 

Adnan

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Malachi Sharpe looks a superb talent with a high skill level, electric pace and superb finishing ability with either foot. Video below for anyone that's interested.

 

mazhar13

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I wonder if United will eventually renew him. He's had a decent spell in the U18s. Is it because he has lots of competition at right back?
 

Mickson

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I wonder if United will eventually renew him. He's had a decent spell in the U18s. Is it because he has lots of competition at right back?
He actually hasn't. With that said, I think it's best for him to leave because I don't think he will have a chance of a future at Old Trafford. And if he gets a good offer from a club who believes in him, he should take it. I don't know the context here though, just my thoughts.
 

mazhar13

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He actually hasn't. With that said, I think it's best for him to leave because I don't think he will have a chance of a future at Old Trafford. And if he gets a good offer from a club who believes in him, he should take it. I don't know the context here though, just my thoughts.
He's been our right back at the U18 level alongside Marc Jurado, but above that, he has Harvey Neville, Ethan Laird, and Brandon Williams to compete against. At best, he can hope that both Williams and Neville can leave, and then he might have a chance at breaking into the first team.

Still, given how much he impressed at the underage levels, it'll suck if we lose him this soon. I'd like to see him play for the U23s before letting him go.
 

Mickson

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He's been our right back at the U18 level alongside Marc Jurado, but above that, he has Harvey Neville, Ethan Laird, and Brandon Williams to compete against. At best, he can hope that both Williams and Neville can leave, and then he might have a chance at breaking into the first team.

Still, given how much he impressed at the underage levels, it'll suck if we lose him this soon. I'd like to see him play for the U23s before letting him go.
Laird is out on loan and Williams has barely played RB, so you never know. Harvey Neville is not much of a competition, if he isn't better than Harvey then he is screwed at United. I haven't watched Hughes at a younger age but he has never looked that special to me. A good versatile player but not much more than that. Right-back overall is a pretty "easy" position at United, pretty much only AWB in front of you, and his standard and ability are questioned often.
 

FromTheBench

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If we felt he had a chance to make it we would have renewed by now.

What he has above him or not is irrelevant at this stage.
 

lysglimt

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Hughes will have a decent career - but there is nothing to suggest he has the talent to make it at United - the guy turns 19 in september so he is just a year younger than Laird. He is a good, reliable defender and I wish him all the best, but there is no way releasing him will come back to haunt us
 

lenny_1248

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Will U-23's play all this postponed games?
In the official website there are only 2 games left. In total it's 19/24 games.
 

red woppit

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Shame about Puigmal, he'd shown good form before his injury
Yes, he'd looked pretty good from what I'd seen, but I guess the academy people are in the best position to make the judgements.
 

Based Adnan

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Yes, he'd looked pretty good from what I'd seen, but I guess the academy people are in the best position to make the judgements.
Find it hard to believe he wasn't offered a new contract. Even if it was for purely profit reasons. He probably turned it down.
 

red woppit

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Find it hard to believe he wasn't offered a new contract. Even if it was for purely profit reasons. He probably turned it down.
Maybe he was, but he wanted to return to Spain, so the club have not decided to push him into signing, who knows, we certainly don't, but I wish him well in the future.
 

mazhar13

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He is 20 years old. I think he's expecting first-team football at this age and is expecting that to come from another team rather than United. It does suck that we're losing him, but I don't think that he'll get into our first team next season, so we're better off letting him leave especially if he doesn't want to stay.
 

AltiUn

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Puigmal's having a good season and he might well end up being a very good player, we've lost better players than him over the years, it's just how it goes sometimes. He probably knows he's not viewed as highly as some other midfield talents and I can only wish him the best of luck.
 

Mickson

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I would be surprised if United didn't offer him a contract. However, I had a feeling he wouldn't renew his contract. As has been said, he's 20 years old, he doesn't really have a future in a United team as there is too many in front of him and I understand him to 100%. He will have a good career in Spain and he can get a decent club in La Liga now and fight for a place in the team right away. Best of luck to him. Other than that, no surprises.
 

Lash

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Puigmal's having a good season and he might well end up being a very good player, we've lost better players than him over the years, it's just how it goes sometimes. He probably knows he's not viewed as highly as some other midfield talents and I can only wish him the best of luck.
Yep, he's making the correct decision probably as well. It's not like he didn't give it a good crack with us.
 

LovelyLittlePanda

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I think the fact that a good player like Puigmal can fill out the youth squads and make other players (who will make it) better is often understated. He's a bit unlucky that we have quite a few talents in his position currently. This seems like the best decision for his career and I have not seen any indications that it's done with money on his mind as some have suggested.

Best of luck to him.
 

Bertie Wooster

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The next two U23 games are on Fridays as usual - the 12th and 19th - but they seem to kick off at 3pm and then 12pm, rather than the usual evening matches.
 

limerickcitykid

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Any word of sotana at Nice?
He was out injured for a while in the first half of the season but he’s back and been training with the first team. Hasn’t featured yet. Unfortunately, their reserves league has been halted so he hasn’t had a chance to get any game time for the 2s.
 

Conrad

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Does anyone know if the FA Youth Cup game tomorrow against Salford is going to be on MUTV? It doesn't seem like it, but it was arranged with fairly short notice. It would be fun to see them take on Salford City.

Also, does anyone with a bit more knowledge think we have a shot this year? If we can get past Salford and in later rounds have Hugill, Shoretire and Hannibal drop down to their age level, plus the u18s are already doing well in the league with just McNeill and the rest, it seems like we've got a fair bit of talent, but I've no idea what Chelsea and City are like this year.