Blackburn - Man United U18

[lysglimt]

Blackburn - Man United

Line up: Myles - Amass, Munro, Jackson, Devaney - Tyler Fletcher, Curley, Fitzgerald - Musa, Biancheri, Sharpe

Subs: Ogunneye, Missin, Murdock, Nolan and Baumann


We are playing Blackburn who are near the bottom of the table with 7 points in 7 matches. They started the season quite well with 4 points from the first 2 games - but after that it's been a win against Stoke and 5 defeats, including 0-6 against City and 3 goal defeats against Newcastle, Spurs and Derby.

 

[lysglimt]

Penalty United after 2 mins. Musa has his heels clipped - and he takes the penalty himself. Keeper goes the wrong way. 1-0 MUSA (3)

 

[lysglimt]

Amazing start - Blackburn could have scored after 15 seconds - and could have equalized just a minute after United scored, but the ball went just wide

 

[golden_blunder]

Sharpe an off-spring of Lee?

 

[AltiUn]

I always thought keeper handling the ball out the box was an automatic red.

 

[lysglimt]

I always thought keeper handling the ball out the box was an automatic red.

Nope - you have to take away a goalscoring opportunity for it to be red. So if a keeper grabs the ball inside and glides out, it should not be red.

 

[lysglimt]

Blackburn alone with the Myles, goes around the keeper but hits the post

 

[Cathy Ferguson]

Sharpe an off-spring of Lee?

Don't think so but ask Sir Alex.

 

[lysglimt]

After a frantic first 7-8 minutes, the match has turned into a fairly boring affair with both teams just creating one chance each in the last 25 minutes.

 

[lysglimt]

Don't think so but ask Sir Alex.

They are not - but 2 players who look like they could be related are Biancheri and Amass

 

[lysglimt]

1-0 United after 45 minutes....vey dull game so far

 

[lysglimt]

63 minutes - 2 subs for United- Missin and Ogunneye on for Sharpe and Curley

 

[lysglimt]

Musa with a decent chance - but keeper saves for a corner. Musa has been one of our best players today.

 

[lysglimt]

Musa is played through - got a heavy touch but managed to get it past the keeper. And from a tight angle he managed to get it into the goal off the post. 2-0 Musa.

2 defenders both cover the near post and the ball rolls behind them into the goal - very strange

 

[lysglimt]

75 Baumann on for Biancheri

 

[lysglimt]

0-3 Victor Musa (80) - Hat-trick Musa. Poor pass from the keeper, Fitzgerald shoots, the keeper saves but it falls to Musa who has an empty net to aim at.

 

[lysglimt]

Full time 0-3

 

[Demaw]

Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

 

[VDG17]

Its the first I have really seen of Fletcher but he's a really good size with a nice touch. Some obvious promise there for me.

 

[Remember the geese]

Its the first I have really seen of Fletcher but he's a really good size with a nice touch. Some obvious promise there for me.

Jack Fletcher surely must be the bigger talent of the two? He has looked very promising from what I've seen so far. Need to see more of Tyler.

 

[khoazany]

Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

Most of this "team" are first year U18s so probably that's why. The second year group is a bit weird whereby the best players are either missed a lot of actions through injuries (Curley, Ogunneye, McAllister, Moorhouse, Missin, Sharpe) or defenders/GK. Harrison, Williams and Nolan are already with the U21s almost full time, coincidentally are also the players with the cleanest injury bill.

 

[khoazany]

Its the first I have really seen of Fletcher but he's a really good size with a nice touch. Some obvious promise there for me.

Yeah both of the Fletchers have a good physical profile (strong, tall whilst still agile enough) to go along with their technique. Seems we are intentionally not playing them together at the moment. They certainly can though, Jack is left-footed and Tyler is right-footed iirc and Tyler looks more defensive out of the two.

 

[dutchred]

Demaw said:
Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

I think that Amass is already better than any left back we have (Shaw excluded)

 

[VDG17]

Jack Fletcher surely must be the bigger talent of the two? He has looked very promising from what I've seen so far. Need to see more of Tyler.

That might be true although both times we've had twins so far I think the lesser rated of the two has gone on to be the better player(Rafael and Michael Keane).

 

[Sea-Cow]

Demaw said:
Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

I think that Amass is already better than any left back we have (Shaw excluded)

Would you say he's a better leftback than Alvaro Fernandez? I thought he was doing ok this season in Spain, but I could be wrong.

 

[dutchred]

Would you say he's a better leftback than Alvaro Fernandez? I thought he was doing ok this season in Spain, but I could be wrong.

I think Fernandez lacks pace to be a full back. His best position may eventually be as a Left Center Back

 

[Borninthe80ts]

Didn’t watch the game but glad that Musa got the goals. Feel it’ll boost his confidence an the type of goals scored are what he needed more of for me.

I wouldn’t say this group has any visual indications that they will struggle to progress. As was stated there are two groups and the second years are finally getting a chance to show their worth. The first years have a lot of interesting players who could jump to the under 21s before the end of the season.

I would say previous years crops have had one or two who stood out against maybe lesser teammates where as this years under 18s all round level is higher. It’s only been 3 months though so to soon to be definitive.

 

[AltiUn]

Think it’ll be the same story as pretty much any group we’ve ever had in the academy, maybe 1 or 2 will make it with a few more making it in the PL and most having relatively respectable careers in the football leagues.

 

[lysglimt]

Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

First of all, the team that started against Blackburn was close to a B-side at this level - and second of all - many of the ones who played are really young. Munro, Amass, Devaney, Fletcher, Baumann and Fitzgerald are only 16, and a few others recently turned 17

The following players did not start against Blackburn - Harrison, Moorhouse, McAllister, Missin, Lacey, Kingdon, Nolan, Scanlon, Jack Fletcher, Williams and Wheatley - 7-8 of those players would normally start if we field our strongest team. When did we last play something close to a B-side at this level, and win convincingly ?

And yes, this is a great team - but there are some potentially great players here as well. Amass, Lacey, Missin, McAllister, Williams, both Fletchers, Harrison to name some of them

 

[lysglimt]

And this must be a new record:

U18 12.8: Middlesbrough 4-0 (A) Nolan (pen), Munro, Williams, Jackson
U18 26.8: Stoke 4-1 (H) Moorhouse, Scanlon 2, Biancheri (pen)
U18 16.9: Nottingham Forest 2-1 (H) Kingdon, Musa
U18 23.9: Sunderland 3-2 (A) Musa, Missin, McAllister
U18 30.9: Newcastle 5-1 (H) Curley 2, Lacey 2, Wheatley (pen)
U18 7.10: Derby 3-1 (H) Wheatley (pen), McAllister, Sharpe
U18 28.10: Leeds 6-0 (A) Fitzgerald, Sharpe 2, Fletcher, Wheatley, Amass
U18 11.11, Blackburn 3-0 (A) Musa 3

17 different goalscorers in the league, in just 8 matches.

 

[trevor newnham]

Everyone knows that not everyone will make it, but I am really optimistic about this group. In fact, I look forward to watching them as much as the Senior side. And in 5 years time, I look forward to seeing who will be in the 1st team from this group. And there's always a " bolter" who comes from nowhere - like Rashford and McTominay. Neither of those looked likely in the Youth sides. (Although there will be someone on here who always knew they'd make it !!)

 

[Ekeke]

Demaw said:
Is it me or do you get the feeling this is a great "team" but don't see hardly anyone progressing? Maybe Lacey and Amass? Other years we haven't been as good as a team but you could see a few of them too good for this age group.

I think that Amass is already better than any left back we have (Shaw excluded)

Severely disagree

 

[AltiUn]

Everyone knows that not everyone will make it, but I am really optimistic about this group. In fact, I look forward to watching them as much as the Senior side. And in 5 years time, I look forward to seeing who will be in the 1st team from this group. And there's always a " bolter" who comes from nowhere - like Rashford and McTominay. Neither of those looked likely in the Youth sides. (Although there will be someone on here who always knew they'd make it !!)

Rashford doesn't really belong with McTominay, he was well rated but not considered a sure thing, McTominay on the other hand had absolutely no business getting promoted.

 

[stealthy]

Everyone knows that not everyone will make it, but I am really optimistic about this group. In fact, I look forward to watching them as much as the Senior side. And in 5 years time, I look forward to seeing who will be in the 1st team from this group. And there's always a " bolter" who comes from nowhere - like Rashford and McTominay. Neither of those looked likely in the Youth sides. (Although there will be someone on here who always knew they'd make it !!)

I think you have to be careful assuming players excelling currently within a strong group have the potential to be first team regulars at a club hopefully back amongst Europe’s elite. Often the early developers excel at U18 and even U21, however the gap is huge and if they are 90% plus up their development curve it’s going to be a tough transition. This group is more mature and experienced than previous groups and It’s those with lots of development left in them that are often the ones to watch, I think that’s what makes Lacey an interesting project. PL North also looks to have only United and City out front and racking up huge goal differences, with Liverpool possibly thereabouts and then a big gap in quality, often due to clubs promoting early to U21.

I think FA youth cup and UYL will be a better benchmark when other big clubs put out their best U18 sides and we will really see the level

 

[Sea-Cow]

Severely disagree

Who do you reckon is better? Not in an argumentative way, but actually curious your thoughts!

I like Alvaro Fernandez but I agree that he might be a little too Daly Blind to make it in the Prem as a left-back isolated in 1v1s against extremely quick wingers. But he's a very good footballer!

 

[dutchred]

Who do you reckon is better? Not in an argumentative way, but actually curious your thoughts!

I like Alvaro Fernandez but I agree that he might be a little too Daly Blind to make it in the Prem as a left-back isolated in 1v1s against extremely quick wingers. But he's a very good footballer!

I am also curious to know whom he thinks is better, like you I think Alvarez will be better at LCB not left back due to lack of pace not ability

 

[Ekeke]

Who do you reckon is better? Not in an argumentative way, but actually curious your thoughts!

I like Alvaro Fernandez but I agree that he might be a little too Daly Blind to make it in the Prem as a left-back isolated in 1v1s against extremely quick wingers. But he's a very good footballer!

We'll be extremely lucky if Amass is better than Reguilon when he's 26 let alone now and Malacia started well last season. Pretty sure he'd struggle against men in the first team. I think he's fine at his current level but may not be good enough for the premier league. As for Alvaro he's currently being used as a left winger at Granada for his last 2 starts and left back the match before that starting against Barcelona. Defending is not his strong point so it doesnt surprise me that he gets pushed further forward than playing as a CB.

 

[trevor newnham]

We'll be extremely lucky if Amass is better than Reguilon when he's 26 let alone now and Malacia started well last season. Pretty sure he'd struggle against men in the first team. I think he's fine at his current level but may not be good enough for the premier league. As for Alvaro he's currently being used as a left winger at Granada for his last 2 starts and left back the match before that starting against Barcelona. Defending is not his strong point so it doesnt surprise me that he gets pushed further forward than playing as a CB.

Apparently he has been called up for the Senior Spanish squad.

 

[Ekeke]

Apparently he has been called up for the Senior Spanish squad.

Very good news for him

 

[Sea-Cow]

We'll be extremely lucky if Amass is better than Reguilon when he's 26 let alone now and Malacia started well last season. Pretty sure he'd struggle against men in the first team. I think he's fine at his current level but may not be good enough for the premier league. As for Alvaro he's currently being used as a left winger at Granada for his last 2 starts and left back the match before that starting against Barcelona. Defending is not his strong point so it doesnt surprise me that he gets pushed further forward than playing as a CB.

Fair enough. I think Reguilon can be a really good player and I would be happy if we made his loan permanent. I would much rather have Reguilon as a back-up to Shaw than Malacia.

I have nothing against Malacia, I just don't think he is that great. And hopefully Amass can progress and fulfill his potential to the fullest!