Shea Lacey
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) chats to author, Dan Williamson, about his new book 'If I Hadnt Seen Such Riches' which chronicles our 1990/91 European Cup Winners Cup victory, which is a trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember it and a vital history lesson for those who don't.
Special player.
Yep, he really grew into the game and by the end he was comfortably our biggest threat.
May also add, Obi is coming along nicely. Seems to be hitting the net regularly.
May also add, Obi is coming along nicely. Seems to be hitting the net regularly.
Reminds me of Amad.
I don’t see it with Obi at all. Happy to be wrong but he looks miles off it.
He's 18 and smashing them in at u-21 now. He looked somewhat raw at 1st team level (at 17 though), but still showed better instincts in positioning and getting his shots off, and even general movement, than Hojlund in his fleeting appearances. A Hojlund with his own flaws and maybe in a mental slump at the time, but still a guy 4/5 years older and who the club paid 60m+ for. Sesko is 'better' right now, being older and tested and trained for years in 1st team environments, but even he looked invisible at times when settling in. And this was for a side already better than the United of last season, that United team that everyone holds against Amorim and one into which Obi was thrown as a sub.
Half the reason these u18 prodigies don't step up is because they lack either the full commitment Or the physical capacity to deal with a senior physical league. Obi is built well, to the extent that he can compete (if not dominate) at 1st team level, and has improved his game by all accounts. He's scored goals for the 1st team in friendlies, where most experienced guys struggled. If you think of him as a potential 'squad option' CF , to be eased into that role next season ( instead of expecting a world-class striker fully formed) but also bear in mind that even Kane was playing league 2 football on loan at the same age and not especially prolific anywhere until he hit 21, that might put things into greater perspective
We must integrate him into first team squad now, he really is a special player and he can play left, right or 10 just like Amad.
We need to be bringing him off the bench next season or sending him out on loan to a club that whille play him each week
Amad and Mbeumo need to do better playing from the right if they want to keep their spots
Amad and Mbeumo need to do better playing from the right if they want to keep their spots
Well said. People want us to bring in youth but then expect too much of them too soon and want to give up on them.
When has he played on the left?
I saw someone say Lacey was "stardust" and I can't think of a more fitting way to describe him. His ability to change direction, body feints and dragbacks are a joy to watch. Watching him for u18s the worry was always what would happen when he came up against quicker and stronger players and would his skills translate but it doesn't seem to phase him. Needs to be a full time first teamer next season.
On Chido, I was critical of the clamour from our fans to get him into the first team when Hoijlund was struggling, because he wasn't ready. I think that opinion was vindicated. In the last few months he has shown a lot more maturity to his game. There was a moment last night, that really pleased me, the ball got played into him and he just first time, side footed it back to Moorhouse or Fletcher. Really simple, but earlier in the season, he would have absolutely took it and tried to turn into two defenders to get a shot away. I don't think he is ready in the same way Lacey is, but maybe next season we give him the "Zirkzee minutes".
On Chido, I was critical of the clamour from our fans to get him into the first team when Hoijlund was struggling, because he wasn't ready. I think that opinion was vindicated. In the last few months he has shown a lot more maturity to his game. There was a moment last night, that really pleased me, the ball got played into him and he just first time, side footed it back to Moorhouse or Fletcher. Really simple, but earlier in the season, he would have absolutely took it and tried to turn into two defenders to get a shot away. I don't think he is ready in the same way Lacey is, but maybe next season we give him the "Zirkzee minutes".
We'll have plenty of games next season so next to buying 5-6 players we should add 3-4 academy players to squad, Lacey included. Even the small sample of games we saw from him this season showed he has potential. Almost scored in one away game towards the end, was it Leeds or Burnley?
He moves around at will he will play on the left if Carrick asks him let’s be clear here Carrick seems to like a left footer on the left and the right which is why he’s used Dorgu snd Amad there already this season.
Burnley woodwork?
Lacey has played there once at youth level - 3 years ago...
Dorgu and Amad have only been used on the LW out of necessity, when Cunha has been injured or had to be subbed, as United literally have no other right-footed wide players at the moment.
By design actually. Shaw is too slow these days to offer any natural balance on our left these days. If Dorgu hadn't had a long injury he'd have been a fixture.
Personally I hope Lacey is just as comfortable on the left. It gives him twice the scope for play time and development with us.
Not true when We beat City and Arsenal , the two most difficult games Cunha started on the bench and Dorgu stared on left wing until his injury!
At any rate, in the form Mbeumo and Amad are right now, he should be given a chance
Lacey is not good on the left. He is a RWF who can use his trickery to go either way.
A left footed LW only works if he has pace and power to beat RBs and leave them for dead like Dorgu does. Lacey does not have that skillset.
Lacey simply does not have the pace to play LW. He would struggle more than Dorgu to beat his man round the outside. I don't understand why this keeps needing to be repeated.
Correct.
With 3rd place secured, and nothing really at stake next week, we should give some of the kids a run out against Forest.
Technically not secured, although realistically it is.
If we were to lose both remaining games and Liverpool win both, they'd finish ahead of us on goal difference (even if all four results were just 1-0).
I would really hope there's a chance that Lacey, Thwaites, Obi, and JJ Gabriel can get on the pitch against Forest for the closing minutes. It would be nice to be able to do that at Old Trafford for them.
Then if we are guaranteed third in the final game, I'd want to see some more younger players given a chance. Probably even start with Yoro & Heaven at CB.
Too bad then.
Gabriel wouldn't be eligible to play even if it were a good idea I don't think.
Ah okay, wasn't aware of that? Don't want to derail a thread on Lacey too much with other players though of course.
I definitely think Lacey should get at least two sub appearances, if not one start as well in the final match.
Yeah Burnley I think. Possibly took a shot at Leeds as well but it was comfortable save from their GK or something. Either way he was decent in those cameos.
JJ is legally not allowed to play PL football until next season. He has only turned 15
Absolutely…..under Fletcher he looked amazing until he got sent off…..direct and shoots - a skill set that has unfortunately been lost in recent times.
Why would you not throw him in ahead of out of form Amad and Mbuemo?
Well - because out of form Amad and Mbuemo works hard defensively most of the time - Lacey frequently doesn't. And that is something he really has to work hard to correct if he wants to be a United-regular.
I do worry Lacey lacks the pace to be a wide attacker at the highest level - might he better suited to the number 10 role longer-term with his skillset?
Very valid concern. Pace enables a player get away with faulty technique or even bad decision making.
And their teammates being incapable of accurate passing
I was really worried for Lacey getting a pathway into the squad given at different times over the last few years, Amad and Mbeumo have been our best forwards (admittedly low bar at times) but with both their drop offs in form since Amorim's departure, its absolutely achievable for him to break into this team if given an opportunity. Would love to see him get a start in the last game of the season.
Lacey hasn't really been tearing things up in the u21s lately either though.
Of it wasn't for the game last night, he probably would have received some minutes today.
It was rather Incredible that our tactics at the end of the game yesterday was "get the ball to Lacey and let's see what happens". It almost worked too ..
It was rather Incredible that our tactics at the end of the game yesterday was "get the ball to Lacey and let's see what happens". It almost worked too ..
Not sure what you mean by "it almost worked", Lacey received the ball plenty of times and did nothing with it besides trying to dribble past 2-3 players every time. The only clear goal chance came from Biancheri's pass inside the box to Obi who failed to shoot.
Sorry to say it, but from that game at least Lacey is not even close to being ready for the first team.
It wasn't Lacey's best game, to say the least, as it wasn't of the other players.
However, in extra time, when the team suddenly became urgent, they went again and again to Lacey and we did look dangerous. That is what I mean it almost worked.
You can't judge a player from one game. He is definitely ready.
However, in extra time, when the team suddenly became urgent, they went again and again to Lacey and we did look dangerous. That is what I mean it almost worked.
You can't judge a player from one game. He is definitely ready.
I think he's ready to at least play in a professional setting, I want him to go out on loan for like half a season somewhere. I think he's ready to take that chance, preferably somewhere where he'll play games consistently. But if he does well I want him to return and possibly be part of the team if we make deep cup runs and need to get the team rotated.
I just think injuries, red card when he played, off field dramas....timing of all these things been unfortunate and slowed down opportunities that were there for him.
Think hed already have made quite a breakthrough otherwise..hopefully next season with more games and staying fit he gets more opportunities. Personally not worried about lack of pace at all
Think hed already have made quite a breakthrough otherwise..hopefully next season with more games and staying fit he gets more opportunities. Personally not worried about lack of pace at all
Think it's his temperament more than anything.
I think he's got fantastic potential, they've been raving about him coming through for years now, but so far in the first team all hes really done is go for glory and shoot nonstop (some of them have been cracking efforts tbf), and get a needless, pointless redcard (in a game I think we were losing to iirc?). He needs to grow up a little. He's not had a sniff since but I think the clubs protecting him a little as mentally he's not quite there yet.