Why doesn’t the u21 team play the same system as the first team? I can understand the youth teams play different, it learns the youth players different styles of play and it makes them adaptable, which is good for them. But the u21’s is the final step-up to the first team, with players training with the first team and learning a specific way to play there. To return to the u21’s for games and a different style of play. How can Amass learn the left wing-back position if he doesn’t play games in that position. Or Obi, where his movement is different if he plays in 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1. It is just really strange these teams aren’t connected more. Or Amorim/the club don’t care for youth players coming up to the first team.
Non-televised academy matches
- Thread starter top1whoisman
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3-1 United. Obi, Armer & Ennis with the goals.
3-1 United. Obi, Armer & Ennis with the goals.
How do you know we didn’t?
Because we would have come out and said "We've enquired about Hackney". It's how transfers work, all about transparency.
These things find a way of getting out to press
Brighton have showed some of the PL Cup games before on their youtube channel, but no mention so far.
U18s vs Brighton | Wed 27 Aug | 12:00 BST
U18s vs Brighton | Wed 27 Aug | 12:00 BST
Manchester United's starting eleven to face Brighton's under-18s:
Heath (GK), Hefalu, Mills, Kukonki, Overy, Thwaites, Ibragimov (C), McEvoy, Mantato, Ibrovic-Fletcher.
On the bench: Z. Watson, J. Watson, Nkoto, Gabriel, Rooney
Heath (GK), Hefalu, Mills, Kukonki, Overy, Thwaites, Ibragimov (C), McEvoy, Mantato, Ibrovic-Fletcher.
On the bench: Z. Watson, J. Watson, Nkoto, Gabriel, Rooney
We appear to be winning 1-0 at half time, courtesy of Kukonki
4-0 now, we've just scored 3 goals in 4 minutes. Ibragimov, Mantato & Lusale.
Finished 4-0. 3 games, 3 wins, 10 goals & 0 conceded. Not a bad start.
Shame it could not be televised. Darren Fletcher looks to be doing good. Maybe one day he will inherit his father's position. 
Team v Brighton & Hove Albion in the PL Cup earlier today:
1. Heath 2. Helafu 3. Mills 4. Kukonki 5. Overy 6. Thwaites 7. Mantato 8. Ibragimov (c) 9. Ibrovic-Fletcher 10. McEvoy 11. Lusale
Subs: 12. J. Watson (5). 13. Z. Watson 14. Nkoto (9) 15. Gabriel (7) 16. Rooney (10)
Goals: Kukonki 44 (Thwaites assist), Ibragimov 52 (Mantato assist), Mantato 54 (Ibragimov assist), Lusale 55
Ibragimov and Overy picked up yellow cards.
Middlesbrough defeated Birmingham 2-1 in the other Group G match.
1. Heath 2. Helafu 3. Mills 4. Kukonki 5. Overy 6. Thwaites 7. Mantato 8. Ibragimov (c) 9. Ibrovic-Fletcher 10. McEvoy 11. Lusale
Subs: 12. J. Watson (5). 13. Z. Watson 14. Nkoto (9) 15. Gabriel (7) 16. Rooney (10)
Goals: Kukonki 44 (Thwaites assist), Ibragimov 52 (Mantato assist), Mantato 54 (Ibragimov assist), Lusale 55
Ibragimov and Overy picked up yellow cards.
Middlesbrough defeated Birmingham 2-1 in the other Group G match.
What's your source for the assists? (Not trying to question you).
The United match report by Harry Robinson on the official site. I pooled data from numerous sources to get all the info.
Pisses me off when there is such a glaring lack of information...ce la vie!
Thanks. Hopefully, we'll have some highlights soon anyway. A thing I've noticed is that you can't always trust United's website for information; they screwed up the subs and minutes of their entrance last week.
21s highlights from last Friday against Norwich:
https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/under-21s-highlights-manchester-united-4-2-norwich-city
Couple of very nice assists from Mather.
https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/under-21s-highlights-manchester-united-4-2-norwich-city
Couple of very nice assists from Mather.
I might have the Middlesbrough subs wrong then...can you confirm? Ta
Really find myself not caring anymore, they aren't ever going to be given a fair crack with this chancer in charge.
Don't believe the bullshit narrative.
Pretty much.
The way it's going he's probably be gone before Christmas tbh. Thing is how much behind all of this is INEOS's works... I'm worried.
This is from Man Utd.com, named Brown twice and got the time of the subs wrong:
United: Byrne-Hughes; Overy (Watson, 60), McCormack, Mills, Kukonki; Thwaites (Brown, 70), Bailey, Ibragimov (Shah, 70); Mantato, Gabriel, Lusale (Brown, 60).
Subs not used: Heath.
The correct one, according to my notes...
United: Byrne-Hughes; Overy (Watson, 73), McCormack, Mills, Kukonki; Thwaites (Brown, 80), Bailey, Ibragimov (Shah, 80); Mantato, Gabriel, Lusale (Rooney 73).
Subs not used: Heath.
Only footage from the game so far.
Cheers!
PFA have been uploading highlights of all their games so hopefully we'll get some. Will probably be a very young team given many will be on international duty.
Highlights from the Brighton game:
https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/detail/u18s-highlights-manchester-united-v-brighton-27-august-2025
https://www.manutd.com/en/videos/detail/u18s-highlights-manchester-united-v-brighton-27-august-2025
he could turn out to be one Helufa player that left back
Actually a Helufa right back.
JJ as a false 9 or Douka Nkoto?
JJ's up top.
No Byrne-Hughes, Mantato and Overy. Assuming they'll be with the U21s for tomorrow.
1-0, Gabriel.
2-0, Gabriel again.
that's what, 7 goals in like 280 minutes? Equivalent of 7 goals in 3 full time matches
Unseen output at his age in the academy during my time paying attention
Yeah, like Greenwood was excellent and Lacey's quality is exceptional when he's fit but what JJ's doiing at 14 is obscene.