Which academy players are likeliest to get (early) chances under Amorim?

Bastian

Full Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
20,293
Supports
Mejbri
There are quite a lot of very knowledgeable posters here with regards to our academy players. I'm curious to know which of the youngsters have a chance to maybe get some first team action under Amorim. Both because they have quality and because Amorim won't have too much depth so if players aren't at a level he's not got a lot of options.

We've seen Ruud name Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, Jayce Fitzgerald, Ethan Wheatley on the bench against Chelsea. So I wonder what those that really are clued up on the academy think.
 
Given LWB is a clear target in the summer I think Amass will be the most likely to get game time from those mentioned. I don’t think we can rely on Shaw and Malacia - assume we’ll sell as least one, sign a LWB, and have Amass for cover at first.
 
It's only Amass id imagine, given we are well covered in other positions and there isn't a clear top talent in the other positions to push an established player, while LB has a bunch of crocks and Amass has bags of talent
 
Ethan Ennis could get a look in as one of the two wide attackers although that is an area where we are fairly well stacked in the first team right now.
 
Jack Fletcher looks like the kind of midfielder we don't have that would be a good squad option.
 
Cheers.

We look pretty decent at centre back and Mazraoui is an absolute fighter, so at least one of those wing back slots is occupied. But I'm mainly thinking about midfield. Casemiro and Eriksen don't have the legs to harry opponents non-stop. I liked the look of Gore in that pre-season before last, feisty, had character.

What type of player is Jack Fletcher? And what's the situation with Gore at the moment, back from injury and playing?
 
bosnian_red said:
It's only Amass id imagine, given we are well covered in other positions and there isn't a clear top talent in the other positions to push an established player, while LB has a bunch of crocks and Amass has bags of talent
Click to expand...

You not having Fletcher?

I think and hope Amorim will look at the U18s.
 
In Absentia said:
You not having Fletcher?

I think and hope Amorim will look at the U18s.
Click to expand...
As a first team player this year? Not a chance. There is a big gap between youth/reserve level and premier league. The shouts to always just trust the youth is usually a bad idea, apart from the somewhat rare occasions where somebody is actually ready...
 
I
bosnian_red said:
As a first team player this year? Not a chance. There is a big gap between youth/reserve level and premier league. The shouts to always just trust the youth is usually a bad idea, apart from the somewhat rare occasions where somebody is actually ready...
Click to expand...
think people forget that a lot of youth players eventually don’t turn professional. This probably applies to other teams maybe more so than ours.

What this also means is that our youth players can look like world-beaters and ready for first team, where in actual fact they are simply far above the level of the youth players they play against. Throw them against established EPL professionals and they’ll get destroyed more often than not.
 
It’s really difficult to assess as there’s some who are technically very good and others who’s temperament make them contenders. I think fringe players like Gore and Collyer will get a chance before the younger guys that have been touted recently. Both are hard workers and have a balanced game which is a quality the new manager seems to value.

I could probably list another 5 who I think have real quality but a left field shout could be Devaney.
 
Firstly, I think only one of the two WB slots will be occupied by a player one would traditionally consider to be a defender, fullback or wingback. I think the other slot will be taken by a player who is more naturally a wide attacker, such as Garnacho or Antony.

Secondly, I think one of the 3 CB slots can and will be intermittently filled by a wide defender like Mazroui or Shaw (when fit). I don’t think it’ll always be three traditional CBs, whether by availability or design.

Thirdly, Amorim essentially plays a box midfield with four central midfielders. Two at the base, two at the top. They are expected to function as a unit and be hardworking and disciplined. From what I’ve also seen they are also expected to be very front foot aggressive, they are also expected to be technically proficient. The best and most likely quartet seems very clear to me, Ugarte, Mainoo, Mount and Fernandes. With Casemiro, Amad and Eriksen (in that order) being the rotational options.

Up front he’s going to want a voracious runner. Someone who looks to get in behind, and will run the channels. Real tip of the spear stuff. With the ability to hold the ball up well to relieve pressure. Hojlund is by far and away the best fit for that system, despite his relative lack of experience and early development stage. The obvious rotational candidate for him would be Rashford, whose proclivity for playing off the shoulder and running in behind, makes him somewhat suitable for how Amorim plays. I can’t see Rashford playing as an AM, he simply doesn’t have the work rate or tactical brain to do so.

So young players? I don’t think there are many great options immediately available. But at a push I would say Amass maybe, but I think we’d play a winger there before an inexperienced defender; and Gore. Gore has the natural game to play as one of the base two in midfield. Collyer is more static and defensive minded, and I think Gore will leapfrog him now he’s back to fitness.
 
More than likely Kone as the coaches have raved about him according to media and hes the right age 18. I think the other two bought in are slightly younger than this. As for the youth there are quite few good ones being talked about and from the bits I have seen on Youtube.
 
I have only seen a few Youtube videos, so it's worth what it's worth, but I've noticed a few players whose characteristics might fit in Ruben's system (which I know very well). Just not sure if they also have the quality, or only the characteristics.

Harry Amass - Looks like a left-footed full/wing-back that can compete with Garnacho with that offensive spot down the left flank.

Jayce Fitzgerald - Interesting-looking midlefield. Might take him some time to get there, though.

Jack Fletcher - Ruben seems to have a particular interest in left-footed players, so you never know if he doesn't get his chance

Dan Gore - The videos seem to show a kind of british Pote (Pedro Gonçalves). If he's all that, he'll surely get his chance - guy pretty much seems to sum up Ruben's favorite player roleplay for that offensive middlefield/interior creative role.

Ethan Williams - A kind of striker who I wouldn't be surprised Ruben would bet on.
 
I watched 4 of our U21 and U18 matches this season, and a few other games at the end of the last season. From these games, I think only Ethan Ennis, Habeeb Ogunneye and of coure Toby Collyer are ready to play professional football regularly this season. If they won't be promoted to the first team this season, they should be loaned in Jan.

Ennis is an electric winger who could play across all attacking roles. Ogunneye is able to play RB and quite fast and strong but lack of technical attributes, a bit like Collyer in the midfield.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cheimoon
simonhch said:
Firstly, I think only one of the two WB slots will be occupied by a player one would traditionally consider to be a defender, fullback or wingback. I think the other slot will be taken by a player who is more naturally a wide attacker, such as Garnacho or Antony.

Secondly, I think one of the 3 CB slots can and will be intermittently filled by a wide defender like Mazroui or Shaw (when fit). I don’t think it’ll always be three traditional CBs, whether by availability or design.

Thirdly, Amorim essentially plays a box midfield with four central midfielders. Two at the base, two at the top. They are expected to function as a unit and be hardworking and disciplined. From what I’ve also seen they are also expected to be very front foot aggressive, they are also expected to be technically proficient. The best and most likely quartet seems very clear to me, Ugarte, Mainoo, Mount and Fernandes. With Casemiro, Amad and Eriksen (in that order) being the rotational options.

Up front he’s going to want a voracious runner. Someone who looks to get in behind, and will run the channels. Real tip of the spear stuff. With the ability to hold the ball up well to relieve pressure. Hojlund is by far and away the best fit for that system, despite his relative lack of experience and early development stage. The obvious rotational candidate for him would be Rashford, whose proclivity for playing off the shoulder and running in behind, makes him somewhat suitable for how Amorim plays. I can’t see Rashford playing as an AM, he simply doesn’t have the work rate or tactical brain to do so.

So young players? I don’t think there are many great options immediately available. But at a push I would say Amass maybe, but I think we’d play a winger there before an inexperienced defender; and Gore. Gore has the natural game to play as one of the base two in midfield. Collyer is more static and defensive minded, and I think Gore will leapfrog him now he’s back to fitness.
Click to expand...
Good take.
 
Jack Fletcher will get a chance, he’s good enough to step up
 
Ennis - RWB, has all the hallmarks of an Amorim WB imo.
Scanlon - Amorim will love his versatility and work rate.
Gore - Work rate and can play, again Amorim will value his attitude.
Ethan Williams - His two footedness speaks to his versatility, again, Amorim will love him imo.
 
It's a lot about quality and maturity - but it's probably more about possibility and luck. There are a few players who are good enough to get chances regardless - Mainoo, Garnacho etc - but most other players need a bit of luck to be given a chance. If we ignore keepers - who basically never get a chance unless they have impressed during loans, lets look at the different positions

So I would say - you can start by removing all central defenders - they aren't good enough and we have too many blocking their way. I would also remove right wing-backs because we have Dalot who is rarely injured and Mazraoui. There could be a possibility as a left wing-back simply because both our normal regular players rarely are fit. But chances will be few simply because I think Amorim would use someone like Garnacho or even Antony over the ones we have a U21 or U18 level. Amass would normally be an option because he is mature for his age, but he is at the moment so far away from where he was last season. Scanlon could actually be an option if required - but he is at best a 3rd choice - but probably more a 5th choice.

In central midfield we only need 2 - we at present have Ugarte, Collyer, Casemiro, Eriksen and Mainoo. So any central midfielder from our youth ranks would at best be a 6th choice, maybe even 7th behind Gore. None of the players we have are anywhere near the level of Ugarte, Mainoo, Casemiro, Eriksen etc - some have the talent to get there, but they lack the physicality, experience and maturity to replace them. The one who has impressed me the most is Devaney - he is probably more developed in the football-maturity area than many of the others he is playing with every week. Both Fletchers can get there - but I occationally question if Jack is quick enough to work in a system that requires a lot of pressing and covering areas.

As for the front 3 - this is where the biggest chance might come - simply because our most talented players are there at U18-level at least. Ennis is perhaps the one who is closest (together with Scanlon) - he is older than many of the others and more physical so he can cope with first-team football better. But is he suited for a 3-4-3 as he is more a traditional winger - now that is another question. Wheatley should manage a 3-4-3 role nicely - but he is a bit of the same as Amass - he doesn't look the same player as he did at the end of last season. Lacey is probably one of those who could benefit most from the shift from 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 to 3-4-3 because he might possibly be more efficient in a 3-4-3. He is defensively poor and he lacks pace - but that wont be exposed as much in a 3-4-3. Williams also could do well in a 3-4-3 - but as much as I like him, he is not as talented as some of our other attacking midfielders/wingers. But he picks up a fair amount of goals and assists, which gives him a small chance.

As for people talking about 16 and 17 year olds being given a chance - they might get the odd minutes but ask yourself how many 16 or 17 year old United-players over the last 30 years have been given more than odd minutes because of injuries ? It wont happen with this lot either.
 
Kone and Amass are the two obvious candidates but both need to develop physically. Believe Kone also doesn't speak much English, so they'll be working on that.

Gabriele Bianchieri is probably due 10-mins in a Europa League game soon as a reward for his good form...or maybe we might see Chi Obi Martin for a few minutes.
 


We could do with some CB depth. Probably a bit too young though, surely?
 
Anyone feel that Amorim has hit a brick wall with the first team? He has rotated players and he knows the lack of quality in the first team, especially in the wingback and attacking positions.

He should really think about promoting from the academy.
 
We really need goal scorers. Chido Obi-Martin seems to find the net in every match he plays. I’d like us to give him some minutes.
 
There's lots of top-quality players in the academy but most aren't ready to contribute to the first team sadly, be it because of physicality or just being too inexperienced/young. It would be very risky to try bedding them in.

But if we are really desperate, Amass- probably the most likely to make the step because Dalot/Malacia are just so underwhelming at the moment. Good ball carrier, good at wriggling out of tight spaces, iffy crossing ability.

Ethan Ennis- has been a consistent goal scorer for the u21s, could be used as an impact sub if we need a goal. Perhaps one of the best ball strikers at the club.

Chido-Obi- You basically be chucking him in and hopes he's able to replicate his goal scoring in the 18s, bit of a Hail Mary this.

There's still Dan Gore, Ibragimov, Mantato, Armer, Lacey, Kukonki, Fletchers,Thwaites. Most are too small, and perhaps 1-2 years away from making any impact for the 1st team.
 
Amass & Ennis. Amass probably fits into the left sided wingback role pretty easily.

I'd still give Malacia some time, He's back after a while from a serious injury. But we've only bought Malacia as a backup left back.

Ennis, Liked what i've seen of him. Think he can make the step up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.