Strong Reserves faces Toffees

[oskarutd]

United's Reserves have an experienced look going into Thursday night's season-opener against Everton at the Victoria Stadium.

Five of the Reds' starting line-up tasted regular competitive action on loan last season, and will aim to demonstrate their improvement to Brian McClair and Jim Ryan.

The caretaker duo will continue to helm the second string this term until further notice, and have a far larger pool of players to use this season.

That strength in depth is immediately apparent through the inclusion of Gerard Pique, Fraizer Campbell, Darron Gibson, Lee Martin and Adam Eckersley.

Pique and Eckersley line up alongside Kieran Lee and James Chester in defence, ahead of regular goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Gibson and Martin form the midfield alongside Michael Barnes and Sam Hewson, while Campbell partners Dong Fangzhuo upfront.

Sean Evans and Michael Lea - two of last season's Reserve Team Player of the Season nominees - are on the bench, alongside Richard Eckersley, Febian Brandy and Ron-Robert Zieler.

United: Heaton; Lee, Chester, Pique, A Eckersley; Barnes, Gibson, Hewson, Martin; Dong, Campbell.
Substitutes: S Evans, Zieler, Lea, R Eckersley, Brandy.

source: manutd.com

 

[greater wall]

I was expecting Saha and Anderson to feature.

 

[oskarutd]

Everton’s Reserves kick-off their Barclays Premier Reserve League North campaign this evening against Manchester United.

Andy Holden has named a young side to travel to the Victoria Stadium, home of Northwich Victoria, in what promises to be a tough test for the Blues.

Lukas Jutkiewicz, John Ruddy, Patrick Boyle and Bjarni Vidarrson are the most senior players on show for the second-string.

New Academy scholars George Krenn and Moses Barnett make the substitutes bench.

Manchester United have named a strong starting 11, boasting five players who tasted regular competitive action last season, notably Gerard Pique and Dong Fangzhuo.

Second string boss Andy Holden told evertonfc.com he is looking forward to the test against Manchester United.

"They don't come much bigger than Manchester United," he said.

"We've had a good bbuild up to the season. We've got a lot of young lads so it will be hard but we have prepared well and will look forward to it."

Everton: John Ruddy, Shaun Densmore, John Irving, Darren Dennehy, Partrick Boyle, Bjarni Vidarsson, Steven Morrison, Ryan Harpur, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Kieran Agard, John Paul Kissock.

Substitutes: Jamie Jones, Scott Spencer, Aidan Downes, George Krenn, Corey Sinnott, Moses Barnett, James McCarten

Manchester United: Heaton, Lee, Chester, Pique, A Eckersley; Barnes, Gibson, Hewson, Martin, Dong, Campbell.

Substitutes: S Evans, Zieler, Lea, R Eckersley, Brandy.

source.

 

[WeWonItTwoTimes]

Anyone know what's happening with Gray, Cleverley and Fagan? Did they just not make the squad or are they injured?

 

[westlife4ever]

I think David Gray is still recovering from the leg injury.

 

[Longlivekeano]

Read from a Singapore local newpaper that United pipped Everton reserves with a goal six minutes from time by Brandy. Pique featured and missed a glorious opportunity to score his first Unite goal when lee Martin's corner found him unmarked but he vollyed the effort wide. Not sure of fullscore though

 

[RedPhil1957]

Read from a Singapore local newpaper that United pipped Everton reserves with a goal six minutes from time by Brandy. Pique featured and missed a glorious opportunity to score his first Unite goal when lee Martin's corner found him unmarked but he vollyed the effort wide. Not sure of fullscore though

1-0 match very much like first team, in the second half especially, Everton defence against United's attack chances came regularly but Everton defended well and nearly always managed to get something in the way of a clear shot, the bounce of the ball definately favoured the defence most of the game.