Manchester United vs Norwich City (Academy)

[Virtuoso]

Our first home Academy match of the season, it will be shown live on MUTV at 11am tomorrow morning (30th August). Looking forward to this one, especially after such a disappointing night for the first team.

Here's the squad that was chosen against West Ham last week, the team tomorrow will probably be chosen from more or less the same group of players -

Woods, Strickland, Gill, Brown, Wootton, Norwood, James, Petrucci, Brady, Stewart, Tunnicliffe, Brandao, Ajose, Macheda, Curran, Devlin.

I'm looking forward to hopefully watching Davide Petrucci play for a large chunk of the match.

 

[PS18]

Tunnicliffe's away with England U17's (as is Zeki Fryers) so he won't be part of the squad.

Petrucci and Macheda are in the Italian U18 squad who convene for a training camp on Sunday, hopefully they'll play tomorrow and then fly out afterwards.

 

[Virtuoso]

Starting line-up:

1.Devlin
2.Strickland
3.Gill
4.Brown
5.Wooton
6.Norwood
7.Curran
8.James
9.Macheda
10.Petrucci
11.Stewart

Subs:

12.Brady
13.Woods
14.Ajose
15.Brandao
16.Dean

Just kicked off now.

 

[Virtuoso]

0-0 HT.

Decent performance by us, we've gradually grown into the game. Started off slowly but after the first 20 or so minutes we passed it a lot better and showed a much better tempo going forward. Davide Petrucci is the main reason for this, he was very quiet to begin with but when he began finding more space he became instumental in our attacks. Linking play with midfield and Macheda upfront. Federico Macheda's had 3 attempts at goal, two left footed attempts from acute angles - well struck but simple enough saves. Cameron Stewart made a good run down the left, playing the ball inside for Petrucci who toe-poked it in for Macheda and he falied to capitalise with an outside of the right-foot flick at the keeper, he's been lively and looked dangerous. Norwich haven't done much with the ball, we look the better side and definitely finished the half stonger with Matt James rattling the cross bar with a 25 yard strike.

 

[PS18]

Could do with getting another forward on help Macheda sooner rather than later.

 

[Virtuoso]

Yeah definitely, I'm sure we will try to avoid ending up with two goaless draws in a row.

 

[PS18]

1-0 United after 51 minutes, Petrucci with a simple header from a great Macheda cross.

 

[Virtuoso]

Manchester United 1-0 Norwich City

Petrucci 50'

James squared it to Stewart who played in Macheda, he knocks it past his man on the left hand side and chips a super ball in with his left foot - in comes Petrucci who heads it into the far corner. Quality goal, the Italian connection working a treat.

Cameron Stewart has been brilliant so far, great skill on the left and cut inside just missing the far corner. James had a great effort blocked by the keeper just now too. We're playing some good stuff so far in this half.

 

[PS18]

2-0 United in the 77th minute, brilliant diagonal ball into the box from Strickland, brought down brilliantly by the onrushing Matty James and coolly guided into the far corner.

 

[Virtuoso]

2-0

Matt James with 15 mins to go, Strickland with a good ball in. Well controlled and finished by James.

 

[Decotron]

2-0 James 76 min. Great goal, great control and a tidy finish.

 

[Decotron]

james hits the crossbar from a corner

 

[Decotron]

2-0 Full Time. only caught the last 30mins looked a decent match. Norwich look a useful team so a good result for them. Wooton looks a good defender, Brady has come on a bit from last season physically. Macheda has great feet. hopefully this team can go all the way in the FA youth cup

 

[Elliott]

Thanks, guys. Some ratings would be great

 

[charleysurf]

brief highlights.

 

[samabachan]

brief highlights.

Thanks. Nice goals.

 

[Striker10]

how highly rated is Norwood? did well in the milk cup and today looked to have a good technique. Maybe one for the future

 

[umair]

How good is matt james? looks class

 

[RedPhil1957]

Thanks, guys. Some ratings would be great

1.Devlin 6---- little to do
2.Strickland 6 ---- not a fb and it shows but one superb pass for James goal
3.Gill 6--- again not a fb but I thought looked more at home there today than I have seen before
4.Brown 6 --- ok
5.Wooton 7--- very determined defender
6.Norwood 8 --- great with dead ball and superb long passes
7.Curran 6--- one fantastic bit of skill on the goal line
8.James 9 --- quality
9.Macheda 8 --- quality but frustrating
10.Petrucci 9 --- quality
11.Stewart 7 --- very lively

Subs:

12.Brady 6 --- ok

 

[westlife4ever]

Starting line-up:
Subs:

16.Dean

Who's this lad?

 

[PS18]

Jack Dean, U16 midfield player (was part of the Milk Cup-winning squad).

 

[Name Changed]

How come Brady isn't getting into the team considering he was doing really well last season? Was he injured at the start of the season or something?

 

[WeWonItTwoTimes]

brief highlights.

That building at the Carrington training ground looks bloody huge.

 

[julesee]

Matt James looked particularly good here - looks like a leader too....