U23s - Newcastle vs Manchester United

Assuming we will play with same team that started vs Reading. Maybe if Gomes isnt playing tomorrow then he should play for match fitness.

Newcastle so far look the weakest side in the League. Losing 6-0 to Reading was embarrassing, and then they lost at home to West Ham by 2-1. Not a match for poor Oisin McEntee to remember. He scored an owngoal in the 42nd minute and was sent off in the 84th.

So this is a game we really should win.

I don't think we will see Greenwood, Gomes and Chong in U23 again. Possibly in the Leasing.com Cup, particularly if we reach its later stages. They are listed as 1st team squad players now and played with them on both pre-season and behind closed doors games.

We have Butt directly in charge of their progression, and I like that these behind closed doors games have been organised, basically an extended pre-season for them, not rushing them into the 1st team, allowing them to progress up to a full 90 minutes before getting near a start in 1st team, as well as tactically adjusted without the pressure of the limelight and media. Our squad is massive though, numerically, so its vital that we manage to offload Sanchez, Darmian, Rojo, if the progression of the youth is not to be hampered by them.

It is interesting that Garner has been viewed as needing more time with the U23's, but has also been included in the 1st team squad on the website (although the only one with a white background suggesting a very late promotion). Maybe once he has done some more gym work and added to his upper body strength we will see him properly promoted.

Kinda looking forward to the U23 games as much as the seniors now, they play similar entertaining style now (good job Ole, Quinton and Wood) and have some exciting talent in Garner, Laird, Williams, Levitt, and even seem to have a CF now in Mellor. Plenty of cracking goals too!

Williams, captain. Great to see

Ooh, looks like I was wrong, Chong been demoted back to U23s--now we know why he didn't feature in the midweek 1st team game.

A re-jigged backline makes me a bit nervous for the result.

Gomes and Greenwood firmly first team squad players now.. Definite starters for the League cup/Europa League games.
Chong, Garner, Williams have to be hovering around too.

Traore seems to have fallen down the pecking order this season.

What's this Menge like? Said it was his U23 debut.

OohAahMartial said:

What's this Menge like? Said it was his U23 debut.

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They’ve misspelled his name, it’s Teden Mengi and he’s pretty good. Nothing special though.

United in the ascendancy so far but no real chances.

O'Conner, Garner and Chong all looking good.

Chong is so much better from the left. If he can control his shooting like that more often he could be really dangerous.

His partnership with Williams works well too

Chong giving us the lead out of nothing. Gets the ball from Mellor and hammers it into the far corner from a tight angle.

Nice strike

Great goal by Chong.

Cracking strike from Chong.

That was a quality strike by Chong to put us ahead.

2-0 now

Think we are missing Laird to be honest though, think he is much more influential than O'Connor and Williams.

2-0 Ramazani dancing along the box before finding the same corner where Chong scored. 2 minutes between the goals

Been impressed with Levitt.

2 nice goals. Garner looks so good. Receives the ball under pressure but always composed and keeps moves ticking. Surely he's not far away from first team football.

Did we ever find out how Laird is after his injury last week?

Is this just a patch of good form for Ramazani? Or a progression?

OohAahMartial said:

Ooh, looks like I was wrong, Chong been demoted back to U23s--now we know why he didn't feature in the midweek 1st team game.

A re-jigged backline makes me a bit nervous for the result.

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I think that makes sense. The skill of Chong is clear to see, but I thought the summer games showed he wasn't quite ready for the first team. He looked better than what I saw of him last season, less nerves, but he wasn't quite as comfortable as Greenwood and Gomes out there, didn't seem to recognise which option was best quite often enough. Easy to say with the view you get on tv, of course.

Beans said:

I think that makes sense. The skill of Chong is clear to see, but I thought the summer games showed he wasn't quite ready for the first team. He looked better than what I saw of him last season, less nerves, but he wasn't quite as comfortable as Greenwood and Gomes out there, didn't seem to recognise which option was best quite often enough. Easy to say with the view you get on tv, of course.

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Yeah, think we all see that he needs more experience, still raw. Surprised he turned down that loan interest, heist have been made to feel wanted by Ole and given assurances of some opportunities though.

OohAahMartial said:

Is this just a patch of good form for Ramazani? Or a progression?

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Ramazani is definitely progressing since last season, really seems to have clicked.

Not just his goals either, his decision making has improved drastically and he seems to developed physically.

Some of these kids are golden.

Nickosaur said:

Some of these kids are golden.

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the scary thing is - most of them are. Normally you can look at a team and say 2-3 have a chance. When you look at this side - you are thinking 2-3 of them havent got a chance.

Nickosaur said:

Some of these kids are golden.

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We are playing in division 2 in our under 23's. I think it's important to point out we got relegated.

Nou_Camp99 said:

We are playing in division 2 in our under 23's. I think it's important to point out we got relegated.

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These aren’t the players who got us relegated.

Can't believe Garner didn't score there from that great bit of play.

Incredible misses from us. First Garner Plays a fantastic one-two with Mellor before shooting low straight at the keeper who does really well. 1 minute later Williams heads the ball wide of the post from 5 yards out

Nou_Camp99 said:

We are playing in division 2 in our under 23's. I think it's important to point out we got relegated.

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Two years ago.

I think the point he was making was the opponents arent exactly the best U23s in the land. We are playing poor sides.

Steve Bruce must be really worried. This Newcastle-team is weaker than the other teams we have met this season