U18s - Manchester United vs Derby

[top1whoisman]

AON Training Complex
Saturday 22 February
12:00 GMT
Live on MUTV 11:45 GMT



United
Last 5: WWWWL
Top goalscorers: Elanga (6), McCann (4), Wellens (4)

Derby
Last 5: WLWWL
Top goalscorers: Jack Stretton (9), Archie Brown (7)

Previous meeting
Derby 5-1 United (September 14th)

 

[Rozay]

Hopefully Mejia is involved tomorrow. Feck knows where Emeran is.

 

[lysglimt]

Anyone else going to the game ? Hope they will let me in

 

[RedMachine03]

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[top1whoisman]

Mastny
Neville Hockenhull Hardley Devine
Svidersky McCann
Wellens Mejbri Stanley
Sotona

Subs: Mee, Hughes, Forson, Haygarth, Shoretire​

Strong team from United (Mejbri & Devine dropping down) as the U23s don’t have an official match until 2 March.

 

[top1whoisman]

Stretton gives Derby the lead.

 

[Mickson]

Have anyone seen Neville play a long ball who goes out for a throw-in?

 

[unplayable]

Terrible performance by United so far.

 

[top1whoisman]

Wellens 1-1 just before the break.

 

[top1whoisman]

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[Utdstar01]

Can't play much worse second half.

 

[top1whoisman]

Stretton scores his second to make it 2-1 Derby.

 

[Mickson]

U18 is a truly awful team this season.

 

[Utdstar01]

Missing some key players.

 

[top1whoisman]

Well that was shite. FT 2-1 for Derby.

 

[Utdstar01]

Not sure i rate Sotona particularly. Technically he's not where he needs to be and his decision making is awful at times.

 

[mattunited1978]

Hockenhull is the worst defender i can ever remember seeing at this level

 

[Utdstar01]

Hockenhull is the worst defender i can ever remember seeing at this level

He doesn't fill you with confidence, along with Neville. Both weak links of that back-line.

 

[Class of 63]

Is nowhere safe from negativity these days?

The team has been suffering from not having a recognised centre-forward all season, that apart there's not much wrong with the team at full strength.

 

[Utdstar01]

Is nowhere safe from negativity these days?

The team has been suffering from not having a recognised centre-forward all season, that apart there's not much wrong with the team at full strength.

Well that's not true. Defensively we're pretty shit at this level.

 

[Class of 63]

Well that's not true. Defensively we're pretty shit at this level.

Are we?

There's not many clubs in England who wouldn't swap Bejger Fish Mengi and Devine for their back four of choice.

The squad players in defence aren't up to that level, but then it's unlikely they would be.

 

[Mark Pawelek]

Well that's not true. Defensively we're pretty shit at this level.

Are we?

Yes. City conceded half as many goals as us (15 vs 30)

 

[JJ12]

Yes. City conceded half as many goals as us (15 vs 30)

Already been explained that we’ve had injuries to our starting back 4. Everyone agrees the replacements aren’t good enough.

 

[top1whoisman]

Are we?

There's not many clubs in England who wouldn't swap Bejger Fish Mengi and Devine for their back four of choice.

The squad players in defence aren't up to that level, but then it's unlikely they would be.

Bejger, Devine and Mengi are with the U23s. They only play (for the U18s) in the FA Youth Cup and in case of an emergency. Our defence in the U18s has been quite poor going back to McKenna days. The current defensive players are not that special but even with players like Mengi, Williams, Laird etc. we somehow looked so vulnerable at the back. Much to do with coaching for sure.

Early days but wouldn’t be surprised if none of the current defense ever made an appearance in the first team. Fish might, Hughes perhaps but he can’t seem to get a game ahead of Neville, which is pretty shocking.

 

[Class of 63]

Yes. City conceded half as many goals as us (15 vs 30)

That's one team, and City are playing by different rules(re. recruitment) at youth level as Chelsea did before them.

 

[Utdstar01]

Are we?

There's not many clubs in England who wouldn't swap Bejger Fish Mengi and Devine for their back four of choice.

The squad players in defence aren't up to that level, but then it's unlikely they would be.

As somebody else already mentioned, those 3 no longer play for the u18s. It's not helped that we have had a couple of injuries but the bizarre decision to keep playing Hockenhull alongside Fish earlier in the season instead of Hardley who's clearly a better defender was a strange one. Neville isn't good enough either. The striker position isnt the only issue but one I think we should be much better equipped for next season when Mejia comes in full time.

 

[Class of 63]

Bejger, Devine and Mengi are with the U23s. They only play (for the U18s) in the FA Youth Cup and in case of an emergency. Our defence in the U18s has been quite poor going back to McKenna days. The current defensive players are not that special but even with players like Mengi, Williams, Laird etc. we somehow looked so vulnerable at the back. Much to do with coaching for sure.

Early days but wouldn’t be surprised if none of the current defense ever made an appearance in the first team. Fish might, Hughes perhaps but he can’t seem to get a game ahead of Neville, which is pretty shocking.

So? You have to be under 18 at the start of the season to feature in the FAYC so United could start that four(injuries permitting)every League game if we chose to do so.

We could do with somebody dominant in the air at the level, but then i've been saying that for the last 50 years!

 

[top1whoisman]

So? You have to be under 18 at the start of the season to feature in the FAYC so United could start that four(injuries permitting)every League game if we chose to do so.

We could do with somebody dominant in the air at the level, but then i've been saying that for the last 50 years!

I thought we were discussing the defense that played against Derby and the one that has played for the U18s this season, not the ones who might be eligible but play in the U23s. Sure, if Mengi & Devine played down in the U18s, we’d be stronger. Not sure how that is relevant to this discussion. It’s better for their development to play in the U23s anyway.

 

[Utdstar01]

So? You have to be under 18 at the start of the season to feature in the FAYC so United could start that four(injuries permitting)every League game if we chose to do so.

We could do with somebody dominant in the air at the level, but then i've been saying that for the last 50 years!

Mengi is almost too good for u23 level let alone u18s. Hockenhull should be pretty dominant considering his height but he's not reliable enough imo. I understand what you're saying but just seems like we're lacking the right personnel. We'll have to see what next year's age group brings.

 

[Class of 63]

As somebody else already mentioned, those 3 no longer play for the u18s. It's not helped that we have had a couple of injuries but the bizarre decision to keep playing Hockenhull alongside Fish earlier in the season instead of Hardley who's clearly a better defender was a strange one. Neville isn't good enough either. The striker position isnt the only issue but one I think we should be much better equipped for next season when Mejia comes in full time.

Hardley was being eased in at that level, and rightly so, or was playing left-back or injured so not sure who apart from Hockenhull should have played.

 

[Class of 63]

I thought we were discussing the defense that played against Derby and the one that has played for the U18s this season, not the ones who might be eligible but play in the U23s. Sure, if Mengi & Devine played down in the U18s, we’d be stronger. Not sure how that is relevant to this discussion. It’s better for their development to play in the U23s anyway.

U18 is a truly awful team this season.

Have anyone seen Neville play a long ball who goes out for a throw-in?

Hockenhull is the worst defender i can ever remember seeing at this level

Well that's not true. Defensively we're pretty shit at this level.

That's the kinda stuff I was replying to, anybody that expects the replacements for Bejger, Mengi and Devine, who have all seamlessly stepped up to the 23s, to be anywhere near that level is reading comics, it's comparable to saying our defence is shit in 2008 if three of Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra were missing.

It's just being negative for the sake of it.

How many of the comments above were talking about the Derby match? Answers via email to 3(three).com

 

[top1whoisman]

U18 is a truly awful team this season.

Have anyone seen Neville play a long ball who goes out for a throw-in?

Hockenhull is the worst defender i can ever remember seeing at this level

Well that's not true. Defensively we're pretty shit at this level.

That's the kinda stuff I was replying to, anybody that expects the replacements for Bejger, Mengi and Devine, who have all seamlessly stepped up to the 23s, to be anywhere near that level is reading comics, it's comparable to saying our defence is shit in 2008 if three of Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra were missing.

It's just being negative for the sake of it.

How many of the comments above were talking about the Derby match? Answers via email to 3(three).com

Okay, then we probably disagree with how you access the squads, which is fair enough. As I don’t see the point in saying our attack in the youth cup this season is superb just because Greenwood is eligible. Or that with Rashford & McTominay our U23 team is one of the best in the country.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying our U18 team is awful this year, but apart from a couple of exceptions it’s one of the worst we’ve had for a few years.

As always on the Caf, a lot or comments are overboard, which I try to avoid myself personally. Still stating that Hockenhull and Neville are poor is not far off from what I think. And judging the defense that has played this season as a whole, yeah it’s not good enough.

 

[Class of 63]

Okay, then we probably disagree with how you access the squads, which is fair enough. As I don’t see the point in saying our attack in the youth cup this season is superb just because Greenwood is eligible. Or that with Rashford & McTominay our U23 team is one of the best in the country.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying our U18 team is awful this year, but apart from a couple of exceptions it’s one of the worst we’ve had for a few years.

As always on the Caf, a lot or comments are overboard, which I try to avoid myself personally. Still stating that Hockenhull and Neville are poor is not far off from what I think. And judging the defense that has played this season as a whole, yeah it’s not good enough.

It's just me being stupid I know, but the Reserve/Youth section of the Forum has been my sanctuary from the over the top negativity in those threads dedicated to the first-team long before I registered to post, but it's slowly creeping in here as well, and the one-liners in particular grind my gears, if you think Joe Bloggs is crap say so, try and getting a debate going.

There's a few in here, and I won't embarrass them by naming them again who post stuff those of us who don't user twitter would never be aware of and provide an invaluable service to the forum, but they seem to be posting less and less of late, and i'm guessing it's got something to do with what I mentioned above.

 

[top1whoisman]

It's just me being stupid I know, but the Reserve/Youth section of the Forum has been my sanctuary from the over the top negativity in those threads dedicated to the first-team long before I registered to post, but it's slowly creeping in here as well, and the one-liners in particular grind my gears, if you think Joe Bloggs is crap say so, try and getting a debate going.

There's a few in here, and I won't embarrass them by naming them again who post stuff those of us who don't user twitter would never be aware of and provide an invaluable service to the forum, but they seem to be posting less and less of late, and i'm guessing it's got something to do with what I mentioned above.

Couldn’t agree more with you, 100% feel the same. Was logged off for a few years and said a similar thing when I came back.

 

[Class of 63]

Couldn’t agree more with you, 100% feel the same. Was logged off for a few years and said a similar thing when I came back.

It's a shame, and I don't know what the answer is, if you put a suggestion forward you will no doubt get replies saying if you're not happy feel free to post elsewhere.

 

[top1whoisman]

It's a shame, and I don't know what the answer is, if you put a suggestion forward you will no doubt get replies saying if you're not happy feel free to post elsewhere.

Yeap. Unfortunately can’t see the mood in here changing radically until our first team is back challenging for trophies again. And probably not even that is enough, so we need to win some trophies before that can happen.

 

[Stobzilla]

As time moves on I think people will have too start looking at picking out individual performances that shine when it comes too the u-18's. There seems like a fairly deliberate strategy of moving those that can play at U-23's into that level as quickly as possible.

It will probably mean very few players who would traditionally be in their last year's staying around that long. Or the ones that do probably won't be of the a particularly high standard.

 

[top1whoisman]

It's a shame, and I don't know what the answer is, if you put a suggestion forward you will no doubt get replies saying if you're not happy feel free to post elsewhere.

It is pretty frustrating that when you post something positive or question someone’s ”constructive” negative comment, it automatically means ”oh you’re happy with us being midtable, exactly what’s wrong with our club and fans” blah blah blah.

 

[jb8521]

Okay, then we probably disagree with how you access the squads, which is fair enough. As I don’t see the point in saying our attack in the youth cup this season is superb just because Greenwood is eligible. Or that with Rashford & McTominay our U23 team is one of the best in the country.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying our U18 team is awful this year, but apart from a couple of exceptions it’s one of the worst we’ve had for a few years.

As always on the Caf, a lot or comments are overboard, which I try to avoid myself personally. Still stating that Hockenhull and Neville are poor is not far off from what I think. And judging the defense that has played this season as a whole, yeah it’s not good enough.

I wouldn't even say it's a poor team, more a case of only being set up to play a certain way & plagued by injuries in defensive & attacking areas & lacking leadership when Mengi hasn't played. In the 6 games where Mengi was involved they only conceded 3 goals but when he's unavailable & there have also been injuries to Bejger, Fish, Hardley, Denham, Gallagher, Dodgson & Hughes it means having a make shift defence for most games with a style of play which isn't set up to protect the defence. I think the injuries to important attackers has been just as much of an issue since in most games we get big chances but don't take them & the other team ends up taking theirs, it's small margins but you'd have to think we'd be in a far better position if even 2/3 of Hoogewerf, Haygarth, Elanga, Emeran & Mejia had managed to get a run of games but the only one who has is Hoogewerf & he took a bit of time to get up to speed & even he has had some injury problems.

 

[top1whoisman]

I wouldn't even say it's a poor team, more a case of only being set up to play a certain way & plagued by injuries in defensive & attacking areas & lacking leadership when Mengi hasn't played. In the 6 games where Mengi was involved they only conceded 3 goals but when he's unavailable & there have also been injuries to Bejger, Fish, Hardley, Denham, Gallagher, Dodgson & Hughes it means having a make shift defence for most games with a style of play which isn't set up to protect the defence. I think the injuries to important attackers has been just as much of an issue since in most games we get big chances but don't take them & the other team ends up taking theirs, it's small margins but you'd have to think we'd be in a far better position if even 2/3 of Hoogewerf, Haygarth, Elanga, Emeran & Mejia had managed to get a run of games but the only one who has is Hoogewerf & he took a bit of time to get up to speed & even he has had some injury problems.

Fair enough, and yeah of course if we had Elanga, Emeran, Mejia etc. playing it would be a much, much better team. But the team that has played most of the season, haven’t been too impressed. Coaching has a lot to do with it too, for sure.