Academy v Stoke 11am

[datura]

Team:

Johnstone, Massacci, Blackett, Fornasier, McGinty, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Pogba, van Velzen, Morrison, Lingard.

Subs: M Keane, Coll, Lawrence, Ekangamene.

As expected Pogba, Morrison and Tunnicliffe involved prior to the Youth Cup match v Liverpool next weekend.

 

[Heffo]

Any idea why Thorpe is absent?

 

[Drainy]

Good workrate from Morrison early on. Tracking back and chasing down.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Wish I could watch this

 

[datura]

Any idea why Thorpe is absent?

He went off with what looked like a back injury in the last game.

Disappointing not to see Will Keane either, he musn't of recovered from the 'dead leg' he was reported to have sustained. It's possible we'll be playing Liverpool without a specialist striker.

 

[Drainy]

Morrison is pure quality. He always has a good idea what to do with the ball. Great vision and accuracy with his passes as well as his famed skills.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Disappointing not to see Will Keane either, he musn't of recovered from the 'dead leg' he was reported to have sustained. It's possible we'll be playing Liverpool without a specialist striker.

Hopefully decided to wrap him in cotton wool with that game in mind.

 

[datura]

Hopefully decided to wrap him in cotton wool with that game in mind.

Possibly, Mr Mujac seems to think that Will Keane may be involved v Blackpool for the reserves on Weds.

 

[Heffo]

Possibly, Mr Mujac seems to think that Will Keane may be involved v Blackpool for the reserves on Weds.

Hopefully, playing Liverpool with Van Velzen up top would be slightly worrying to be honest.

 

[datura]

Hopefully, playing Liverpool with Van Velzen up top would be slightly worrying to be honest.

I wouldn't be worried, we've actually played very well since Cofie and Keane have been out and scored more freely with other players taking the responsibility (Cole, Lingard, Morrison) to get the goals.

 

[datura]

Haha, lovely flick from Morrison in the box to Cole who is crowded out. I like Morrison in the floating midfield role, picks up some intelligent positions and is difficult to mark and can influence the game more.

 

[Heffo]

I wouldn't be worried, we've actually played very well since Cofie and Keane have been out and scored more freely with other players taking the responsibility (Cole, Lingard, Morrison) to get the goals.

True but is that not also down to the fact that Morrison, Pogba, Tunnicliffe and Thorpe have been involved more regularly. Van Velzen still isn't completely settled and we are relying on him as our sole striker which isn't his natural position. Take the Newcastle game as an example, fair enough its very rare that we'd get that many chances in a game but had Keane been playing I reckon we would have scored a few more. Missing even close to that many chance against Liverpool would likely cost us.

I would still be confident we would have a good chance with the other players we have, but I think our chances would increase if W. Keane is involved.

 

[datura]

Daehli is playing for the u16s, from Mr Mujac:

'Mats Moeller Dahli put the U16s 1-0 up with a nice finish after some great team play!'

 

[Heffo]

Good chance for United there as Morrison plays a peach of a pass to Lingard, but unfortunately his shot is straight at the keeper.

 

[Makki]

Apparently Fergie has given the thumbs up to a group of lads who are holding a G&G flag

 

[Heffo]

M. Keane on for Fornasier. Hopefully not another injury before the Liverpool game.

 

[Heffo]

1-0 Stoke after they've started the first half faster. McGinty failed to clear the ball which left him out of position and Stoke exploited.

 

[Heffo]

Pogba displays nice skill at the edge of the box to engineer space before firing a shot just wide.

Then almost immediately after Morrison bamboozles the Stoke defence before his deflected cross fell to Pogba in the box which unfortunately seemed to come off Lingard.

 

[Heffo]

Big test for the lads now, Stoke playing Ultra defensive, 10 men behind the ball.

 

[Heffo]

1-1. Jesse Lingard completes a nice United move, M. Keane who is playing center back found himself with the ball in Stokes box after continuing his run from the back. He squared it to Lingard who swept it into the net.

 

[Heffo]

Lingard off for Lawrence, Lawrence goes up front and Van Velzen moves out to the left.

Blackett gives away a free-kick just outside the box, straight into the wall.

Edit: just seen the replay, hit Pogba's raised elbow. Probably lucky to get away with that one

 

[Heffo]

Penalty United, won by Morrison after a few step over confused the full back who then dived in and went through Morrison to get the ball.

Pogba sends the keeper the wrong way. 2-1

 

[Heffo]

2-2 really poor defending from a free-kick and Stoke are back level.

 

[Robin]

Sloppy play,three unmarked Stoke players at the far post !

 

[Heffo]

Finished 2-2, probably deserved to win but Stoke defended in numbers and took their chances.

Just on a side-note, the Stoke celebrations were hilarious, not hard to tell they don't score very often.

 

[Girish II]

 

[Decotron]

Thanks as usual GII

 

[Fiskey]

I really want to see Morrison in the first team, he looks so good.

 

[Elliott]

Oh, Girish, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey, Girish!

I take it that's the Roberts-Nurse who was on trial at United a year ago?

 

[datura]

I take it that's the Roberts-Nurse who was on trial at United a year ago?

Yep.