Harry Amass

[Lu Tze]

Is Zinchenko a next level creator or particularly quick?

Well he's 99th percentile for progressive passes so he's creative enough.

If Amass turns out to have the right mix of pace and skill, then that will be absolutely terrific. Let's hope so!

 

[Remember the geese]

Well he's 99th percentile for progressive passes so he's creative enough.

He's certainly no Trent Alexander-Arnold. Amass has it in him to be progressive. Very Shaw like.

 

[top1whoisman]

Yeah, even the fast-tracked, elite talents at United usually have to wait until they're 18 before they start seeing first team minutes, which is a sensible approach. He's a really good talent and if he continues on his current path then I see no reason why he can't make it to first team level eventually, especially considering Shaw's age / injury record but there's no rush.

Agree with what a lot have said today.

He looks a very promising player - very good technically, gets forward to link up in attacks well, and seems decent enough defensively for an attacking full back. With a lack of pace being his biggest limitation.

But he only turns 17 next month, and hasn't featured much even for the U21's yet. So stepping up to the first team in crucial matches would be a hugely premature step. Hopefully we'll see him next year at some point. As others have said, it's generally been 18 at the earliest when we've seen other top academy talent getting their chances.

I know often it's squad injuries that give the kids their opportunities, but this one has fallen too early yet for Amass even if there is an opportunity at left back at the moment.

Yeah I agree with this word for word. Mainoo was 18 when promoted to a proper squad player and aging out of the u18s.

Lindelof is more reliable than Amass at this time and we need reliability in such an important run in. It’s too early for Amass. Very happy to see him training with the first team though, I definitely think he has what it takes to make it here.

It will be interesting to see how the club manage him going forward when considering Mantato is also adept in the left back position. I’d be confident in saying that either could be a future first teamer.

Absolutely spot on. People often suggest 16-17 year old players to cover for the first team but it’s worth remembering that it takes a special, Rooney level of talent and physique to make it sensible in any way.

I don’t expect any players out of the current U18s squad to make their debut before perhaps the 2025/26 season. Maybe in an extreme injury crisis, but probably not even then.

The ones who are physically ready to step up to the U21s will play some PL2 matches this spring and hopefully become regulars there next season.

Some of them have a loan or two to go through before getting that 1st team chance, if that ever even comes.

 

[Redivy]

I have only seen highlights but it is a major concern for me that he doesn't have blistering pace. There's levels though - are we saying he doesn't have e.g. pre-leg break Luke Shaw pace, is he on that next level down, that Dalot speed which is good enough at top level but isn't extraordinary? If he's any slower than that I would be really worried.

From what I have seen, he is clearly faster than Alvaro Fernandez, but clearly slower than pre-leg break Luke Shaw. But most young players who break through around 18-19 still tend to get 10% faster as they enter their physical peak, but Amass is still only 16, so I think he could become noticeably quicker by the time he is 21-22. I would be quite surprised if pace was the reason he didn't make it at United.

I can see him on the bench at the end of next season and getting a few cup appearances in the year after (2025/26).

 

[Lash]

As a Watford lad I bet he would bloody love to make his debut against Luton. I assume he'll make the bench, but seems fanciful he'd start. Then again, I doubt anyone called Kambawala starting against West ham, so you never know.

 

[Wrecking ralf]

I wouldn’t have an issue with him starting. Even if he just gets the 45 mins to see how he does, he can be swapped out for Amrabat. If the team is set up to offer him cover to make sure he doesn’t get overloaded then I think it’s worth the risk. He’d only have an issue under sustained pressure, so if we keep it tight, keep possession and play OUR game, then I doubt there would be many issues. The lad has a good football brain and seems pretty press resistant with his movement. That’s a good base to have if he’s to play against fairly beatable opposition. He’s less than 12 months younger than Lewis Miley who starts for Newcastle so his age isn’t the issue. But this would be a very good opportunity to see where he’s at in his development. Even if we take the risk and he needs to come off at half time, at least we’ve given him a valuable lesson and we can see how to progress him.

 

[red woppit]

From what I have seen, he is clearly faster than Alvaro Fernandez, but clearly slower than pre-leg break Luke Shaw. But most young players who break through around 18-19 still tend to get 10% faster as they enter their physical peak, but Amass is still only 16, so I think he could become noticeably quicker by the time he is 21-22. I would be quite surprised if pace was the reason he didn't make it at United.

I can see him on the bench at the end of next season and getting a few cup appearances in the year after (2025/26).

A lot depends on how his body evolves over the next three to four years. He could have a sudden growth spurt, which would set him back, but he would emerge bigger and stronger, and possibly much faster. There is no rhyme or reason to how a young person develops physically, but, like with Mainoo, we need to not overplay them whilst still teenagers, but the odd appearance here and there would be very beneficial I believe.

 

[GueRed]

I have only seen highlights but it is a major concern for me that he doesn't have blistering pace. There's levels though - are we saying he doesn't have e.g. pre-leg break Luke Shaw pace, is he on that next level down, that Dalot speed which is good enough at top level but isn't extraordinary? If he's any slower than that I would be really worried.

From what I have seen of him this season his acceleration is very good. Quick off the mark...Razor sharp.

His top speed in straight out races with the opposition I haven't seen enough of to make a good enough judgment yet

 

[Gordon S]

From what I have seen, he is clearly faster than Alvaro Fernandez, but clearly slower than pre-leg break Luke Shaw. But most young players who break through around 18-19 still tend to get 10% faster as they enter their physical peak, but Amass is still only 16, so I think he could become noticeably quicker by the time he is 21-22. I would be quite surprised if pace was the reason he didn't make it at United.

I can see him on the bench at the end of next season and getting a few cup appearances in the year after (2025/26).

Shaw was electric before his big injury. One of the fastest players we`ve had. It is a very high bar that.
Would be fantastic if Harry had that elite level pace on top of everything else, but i am sure the tier below is just fine. As you mentioned, pace will most probably not be an issue for him.

 

[GueRed]

He's been having an excellent season.

With so many injuries in defence I wouldn't be surprised if he is at least called up to be part of the travelling squads from now till the end of the season.

 

[Rossa]

He's quick once he gets to speed but he doesn't have explosive pace in my view. Struggles to keep up the very fastest wingers from a standing start. Whereas Shaw pre injury or someone like Alphonso Davies is keeping up with anyone.

Not really the issue of this thread though. Will Amass be a viable top level LB without top end pace? It's sort of a pre-requisite for all but the absolutely next level creators from FB.

Lot of re-writing here. Shaw was never that fast from a standstill. He was always top speed > acceleration. Dalot has shown more pace than Shaw ever did, and Dalot is also top speed > acceleration. So is Walker, btw.

Genereally speaking though, I do think the best fullbacks in the league tend to be quite fast. There are exceptions, however.

 

[Rossa]

Shaw was electric before his big injury. One of the fastest players we`ve had. It is a very high bar that.
Would be fantastic if Harry had that elite level pace on top of everything else, but i am sure the tier below is just fine. As you mentioned, pace will most probably not be an issue for him.

Where do you get that Shaw is one of our fastest players ever? Fast as Giggs, Ronaldo, Valencia, James, Rashford, Kanschelskis etc? He's not even on prime Evra level. So he's not even our fastest left back.

When talking about our fastest players, it has since 2010 been Valencia, Rooney, James, Smalling, Rashford, Lukaku, Dalot who's been mentioned as the fastest players in the squad. I imagine Højlund being up there now. Shaw was mentioned as having one of the highest top speeds at one point, but he has never been that quick. It has been asked many times, but I've never heard Shaw mentioned much in these discussions. He probably does have the best first touch though - and that matters just as much. He's always struggled against very quick players.

 

[Gordon S]

Where do you get that Shaw is one of our fastest players ever? Fast as Giggs, Ronaldo, Valencia, James, Rashford, Kanschelskis etc? He's not even on prime Evra level. So he's not even our fastest left back.

When talking about our fastest players, it has since 2010 been Valencia, Rooney, James, Smalling, Rashford, Lukaku, Dalot who's been mentioned as the fastest players in the squad. I imagine Højlund being up there now. Shaw was mentioned as having one of the highest top speeds at one point, but he has never been that quick. It has been asked many times, but I've never heard Shaw mentioned much in these discussions. He probably does have the best first touch though - and that matters just as much. He's always struggled against very quick players.

By watching him play? I really think he was up there. But it was only for a short while before his legbreak which really took it`s toll with him.

 

[Bastian]

Desperate times eh?

 

[Thiagoal]

He’s 17 in a few weeks, been playing wonderfully for the youth teams and trained with the first team. Give him a shot if he’s mentally ready I’d say!

 

[Solius]

He might need to start ageing quicker.

 

[horsechoker]

He might need to start ageing quicker.

He ages annually

 

[pascell]

He ages annually

Every 4th quarter too

 

[Solius]

He ages annually

Prove it.

 

[berbasloth4]

Fire him in. The league is nearly a dead rubber as it is. The experience can only be good for him.

 

[VP89]

Fire him in. The league is nearly a dead rubber as it is. The experience can only be good for him.

It really isnt

 

[berbasloth4]

It really isnt

We have an out side chance, yes villa and spurs are on a blip but they won’t be for rest of season and we near enough have to win about 10/13 of our remaining games to stand any chance, still have city arsenal Liverpool to play, and recent history shows we can’t stay consistent enough.

We are in a position where we can play some youngster with some but no major pressure on them all while preparing for the rebuild and “the new era”

 

[Ali Dia]

We have an out side chance, yes villa and spurs are on a blip but they won’t be for rest of season and we near enough have to win about 10/13 of our remaining games to stand any chance, still have city arsenal Liverpool to play, and recent history shows we can’t stay consistent enough.

We are in a position where we can play some youngster with some but no major pressure on them all while preparing for the rebuild and “the new era”

He’ll play Dalot or Lindelof at LB and go all guns blazing for the CL spots, as he should.

 

[Remember the geese]

The league is nearly a dead rubber as it is.

No it isn't. We want Champions League football.

 

[berbasloth4]

No it isn't. We want Champions League football.

we all want it but it’s a long shot

 

[Remember the geese]

we all want it but it’s a long shot

Not really. We are right in the mix. Especially if 5th gets Champions League.

 

[berbasloth4]

Not really. We are right in the mix. Especially if 5th gets Champions League.

Don’t we need city or arsenal basically to win it for us to get 5th thru the league rankings?

 

[Stobzilla]

He will get a game or two between now and the end of the season, can see him on the bench Vs. Fulham, left out against Forest and City and probably minutes against Sheffield United and Everton at home.

 

[Remember the geese]

Don’t we need city or arsenal basically to win it for us to get 5th thru the league rankings?

City and/or Arsenal going far would help. The other English sides advancing to the latter stages in the lesser European competitions improves our chances too.

 

[JB7]

we all want it but it’s a long shot

You think it's a long shot that United could get 5 points more than Villa and 3 more than Spurs over the next 13 games? Baring in mind just over the last 5 games we've taken 5 more than Spurs and 6 more than Villa.

 

[berbasloth4]

You think it's a long shot that United could get 5 points more than Villa and 3 more than Spurs over the next 13 games? Baring in mind just over the last 5 games we've taken 5 more than Spurs and 6 more than Villa.

I have just over the last few years too not get to excited and not expect too much so I don’t get let down. I know it’s not that long of a shot, just me crying some luck.

but I do believe their is less expectancy on us to get top 4/5 because how bad the season has been and how unlucky we have been with injuries which would allow amass to play with less pressure

 

[Redivy]

Ideally he would spend another year in the reserves but we dont live in an ideal world, he should be good enough to throw into our games against Fulham, Forest, Sheffield and Burnley. Yes there are some experienced wingers, but he I cant see these teams having the ball enough throughout the game to make it so difficult for young Harry.

 

[BabySinclair]

Cubarisi is 17 and plays currently as CB some matches for Barca.

Lindelöf is a terrible option there.....Dalot must play as RB.

Amass should get a chance.

 

[Nicoseth]

Too early for this lad. We'll probably see Dalot move to LB and Lindelof play at RB.

 

[lex talionis]

Putting aside that the boy had the kind of name that pranksters might sneak into a high school yearbook, we actually have a great shot at landing fourth place.

 

[Adisa]

Can't see us starting a 16-year-old at LB in the premier league.

 

[gajender]

Can't see us starting a 16-year-old at LB in the premier league.

Not that it matters but He will be 17 in a month could get few minutes now and again and take it from there .

 

[We need an rvn]

Maldini started his first match at 16 - all be it played only one match that season. But next season at 17 became a regular for Milan.

Just saying that if you’re good enough, age doesn’t matter.

saying that, for a defender who is 16/17 to be starting for a club like Milan / United etc is exceptional

 

[pascell]

Fire him in. The league is nearly a dead rubber as it is. The experience can only be good for him.

SJR didn't seem to think so in his interview, he rightly wants us getting CL football for next season and I expect ten Hag to push for it.

 

[VP89]

We have an out side chance, yes villa and spurs are on a blip but they won’t be for rest of season and we near enough have to win about 10/13 of our remaining games to stand any chance, still have city arsenal Liverpool to play, and recent history shows we can’t stay consistent enough.

We are in a position where we can play some youngster with some but no major pressure on them all while preparing for the rebuild and “the new era”

We don't just have an outside chance. We have a real chance, a proper one. We've played all our tough away games and we are 3 pts off spurs. Villa are capable of losing easy points, now have quite a few injuries and are juggling Europe.

We are very much in the race for top 4, and we are in the FA cup. We have plenty to play for yet.