Last competitive game of the season. 14:00 BST, live on MUTV.
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Agree with some of that definitely.I don't think I've ever been so bored by watching our U21. No prospects, no flair, no heart. They just give away cheap goals and stand by watching. No coherence, no individuals. A really, really poor team that is, rightly, one of the worst teams in the league. Where are we going from here? What is the point of this team? Half of our team is over 20 as well.
Our U18s and U21s are deeply concerning, it's hard to see where the next first teamer comes from. We desperately need to modernise the academy.I don't think I've ever been so bored by watching our U21. No prospects, no flair, no heart. They just give away cheap goals and stand by watching. No coherence, no individuals. A really, really poor team that is, rightly, one of the worst teams in the league. Where are we going from here? What is the point of this team? Half of our team is over 20 as well.
on the site you are basically saying Emeran is shitAntony-esque
I don't think I've ever been so bored by watching our U21. No prospects, no flair, no heart. They just give away cheap goals and stand by watching. No coherence, no individuals. A really, really poor team that is, rightly, one of the worst teams in the league. Where are we going from here? What is the point of this team? Half of our team is over 20 as well.
I agree that the U21 team has been poor, and quite depressing, to watch this season. And the ones playing regularly look unlikely to make it here. Though I guess Garnacho and Mainoo are the two from that group that can step up - and have already done so to various degrees so haven't been available to play much for the U21's, which is a good thing in the bigger picture.Our U18s and U21s are deeply concerning, it's hard to see where the next first teamer comes from. We desperately need to modernise the academy.
Then again I think we've done very well in the sense that our best U21s are either in the first team setup or getting a lot of minutes on loan in Championship. Sure the ones that are left are maybe somewhat lacking in talent, but having the names you mentioned playing on a much higher level than the PL2 is also a testament to how well we've done recruitment-wise.I agree that the U21 team has been poor, and quite depressing, to watch this season. And the ones playing regularly look unlikely to make it here. Though I guess Garnacho and Mainoo are the two from that group that can step up - and have already done so to various degrees so haven't been available to play much for the U21's, which is a good thing in the bigger picture.
I've not got great hopes for many of the 17 and 18 year olds in the current U18's. Though 15 year old Shea Lacey has been good to watch and looks a real prospect. And pleased to hear we seem to be doing well at U13 and 14 level so hopefully there's a decent crop coming through.
But, yeah, the gap between the likes of Hannibal, Fernandez, Garnacho and Mainoo to Shea Lacey - so the current U21 and senior U18 players - don't look like producing (m)any first teamers. Though there's some 'solid' players like Gore and Oyedele that could kick on to a decent level.
True.Then again I think we've done very well in the sense that our best U21s are either in the first team setup or getting a lot of minutes on loan in Championship. Sure the ones that are left are maybe somewhat lacking in talent, but having the names you mentioned playing on a much higher level than the PL2 is also a testament to how well we've done recruitment-wise.
No you did, I didn't really mean to argue any of the points you said. I'd say our U18s core is decent with a lot of good 16 and 17-year olds. PL2 is such a pointless competition, don't know what they could do to improve that.True.
I was trying to cover that point, yeah, by saying we've got some talented U21 available players that are either in the first team squad or out on loan. And look to be having some decent success at the younger age groups as well.
But the actual players playing for the U18's and U21's this season havent really impressed or stood out individually. But, yeah, much better to have the likes of Hannibal, Fernandez, Garnacho and Mainoo out on loan or in our first team squad rather than still playing pretty meaningless U21 games.
I can't really see anything major that they can do to change it, tbh. I guess whatever you call it - reserves, PL2, U23, U21's - it's always just going to be a pretty meaningless competition in terms of results, and is just there to help bridge the short term gap between U18's and senior football in a players development.No you did, I didn't really mean to argue any of the points you said. I'd say our U18s core is decent with a lot of good 16 and 17-year olds. PL2 is such a pointless competition, don't know what they could do to improve that.
Yeah kind of agree. Maybe it's a case of memories growing sweeter with time, but I think it was better when it was genuinely a reserves' league. Then again back then maybe the pathway to first team football was even harder.I can't really see anything major that they can do to change it, tbh. I guess whatever you call it - reserves, PL2, U23, U21's - it's always just going to be a pretty meaningless competition in terms of results, and is just there to help bridge the short term gap between U18's and senior football in a players development.
I think that purpose is fine for players when they're aged between 18-20, as some just aren't ready physically for senior football at those ages, while others maybe just aren't ready enough to guarantee regular games out on loan.
The biggest issue is when players are still playing regularly in it at ages 21-23. But I guess that fault lies more with the club / coaches when that happens as it's poor planning for a players development. Unless there's justifiable reasons such as injuries, then players by that age should either have progressed to the first team squad, be out on loan in senior football, or been sold permanently, rather than still playing regularly in PL2 games.
That’s exactly how it is, you’re right. Guess if there was an easy solution to it, the FA would’ve already done it. Then again it’s the FA so not necessarilyB teams are by the far the best solution to giving players at this age meaningful & competitive football that will help them develop. But the idea would simply never run in the English game.
What specifically would you like to see modernised?Our U18s and U21s are deeply concerning, it's hard to see where the next first teamer comes from. We desperately need to modernise the academy.
I wouldn’t take anything MEN writes seriously.Was reading an MEN article about Uniteds tough U21 season which pointed out they had a very young Ave group of 19.1 compared to the rest of the league due to putting priority in development over results. The article also suggested City deliberately held players back prioritising winning over development.
sounds fair enough until you google PL2 teams average ages and find 19.1 made United one of oldest average age groups in the league, and City as league winners had youngest group with Ave age of around 18.2.
i Imagine playing Huddlestone could have distorted the figures, but sounds like press department working with MEN to fool the fans with such releases?
Fed storieI wouldn’t take anything MEN writes seriously.
MUFC also quoted the same, yet 19.1 makes them one of oldest u21 sides according to transfer market. What is clear is United do give opportunities earlier in isolated cases such as Kobbie MainooI wouldn’t take anything MEN writes seriously.
I have been trying to say that here too. The same myth goes around here, that United is so young. In fact, we are not younger than any other team. Almost all other clubs have an average age of around 19.Was reading an MEN article about Uniteds tough U21 season which pointed out they had a very young Ave group of 19.1 compared to the rest of the league due to putting priority in development over results. The article also suggested City deliberately held players back prioritising winning over development.
sounds fair enough until you google PL2 teams average ages and find 19.1 made United one of oldest average age groups in the league, and City as league winners had youngest group with Ave age of around 18.2.
i Imagine playing Huddlestone could have distorted the figures, but sounds like press department working with MEN to fool the fans with such releases?