All played for the U23s in the 2-1 defeat of Newcastle United this evening.
Bailly played at CB alongside Bernard, and TFM in central midfield with Garner. Both Bailly and TFM got 60 minutes under their belts, with TFM looking particularly comfortable. They left the pitch with United sitting on a deserved 2-0 lead.
JAMES GARNER played 90 mins and scored yet again. That’s something like six or seven in his last eight starts from central midfield for the U23s this season. He’s just too good for that level and needs to be playing more regularly for the seniors or head out on loan for six months.
Levitt also featured, so I doubt he’ll be on the bench for Norwich. No sign of Gomes or Chong though, so they may play a part, particularly with Lingard reportedly out.
United U23s remain second in the Div 2 table, a point behind West Ham.
Bailly, TFM, Garner injury updates
posted on 11/1/20
Could Garner go to Sporting Rosso? It'd be a great experience for him.
posted on 11/1/20
How has Hannibal Mejbri been looking at under 23 level Rosso? Still only 16 i think
-----------------------------------------------
Yeah he's still only 16. Turns 17 later this month.
I've been surprised by him given his age even though he already had a big reputation before he came to United and given we paid a pretty big fee for him (expected to be around £9-10 million including add-ons).
He's made a big impression so far and taken to English football really well, already looking a cut above in the U23s.
Technically gifted, wiry and smooth and creative in possession but he's shown good determination and he can handle himself physically, shrugging off challenges from bigger opponents and he has a bit of a nasty streak about him and plays on the edge at times which is good to see but he'll have to learn to curb that side of his game slightly.
He's quite a complete midfielder, more than I was expecting from what I read about him before he signed.
Exciting prospect.
posted on 11/1/20
comment by Shugs (U14253)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
How has Hannibal Mejbri been looking at under 23 level Rosso? Still only 16 i think
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’d just add to TRS’s excellent summary above that he’s technically very good, seems to have *very* quick feet, and is tenacious as fack.
Came on against Reading and got an assist, and assisted Garner’s goal last night with a good cutback after stealing the ball back (something we’ll see him do a lot). He’ll stick with the U23s now IMO. He looks as comfortable as Greenwood did when he stepped up, and that’s saying something.
Just want to add that we should be absolutely lauding the work of our scouts and the Academy management in acquisitions at this level.
Mejbri, Hoogewerf, Kovar, Ramazani, Puigmal, Traore, Bernard, Chong... they’ve found some absolute gems from across Europe in the last 36 months.
posted on 11/1/20
comment by The Red Side™ (U11275)
posted 12 minutes ago
How has Hannibal Mejbri been looking at under 23 level Rosso? Still only 16 i think
-----------------------------------------------
Yeah he's still only 16. Turns 17 later this month.
I've been surprised by him given his age even though he already had a big reputation before he came to United and given we paid a pretty big fee for him (expected to be around £9-10 million including add-ons).
He's made a big impression so far and taken to English football really well, already looking a cut above in the U23s.
Technically gifted, wiry and smooth and creative in possession but he's shown good determination and he can handle himself physically, shrugging off challenges from bigger opponents and he has a bit of a nasty streak about him and plays on the edge at times which is good to see but he'll have to learn to curb that side of his game slightly.
He's quite a complete midfielder, more than I was expecting from what I read about him before he signed.
Exciting prospect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks TRS
I've only seen short clips and some showed him receiving the ball quite deep... For some reason I thought he only really played as a 10
posted on 11/1/20
Just want to add that we should be absolutely lauding the work of our scouts and the Academy management in acquisitions at this level.
-----------------------------------------------
Absolutely.
Whoever's responsible for scouting this boy and actually bringing him to United deserve great credit. There was a lot of competition for him.
Now if they could top it off and bring in Rayan Cherki from Lyon, that would be quite the coup.
posted on 11/1/20
Great to read these glowing reports of the youngsters. Thanks TRS and Rosso.
It seems like we could be in for some exciting times if they can stick together and progress in the way we'd like.
With this in mind what do you think of Ole's comments on short term fixes. Do you think it'd be better to get some short term fixes in so that these youngsters can be introduced into a team that is doing better. There'd be less pressure I'd imagine coming into the team and not be hailed 'the saviour'. Players around the 27 mark would be old heads in their 30s when these players are truly ready I'd imagine and having hardened campaigners with them when they're integrated would be of benefit.
Having said all of the above I am willing to give it a few years yet. A few fallow seasons would be more than worth it if we could see a United team with a lot of academy products playing with swagger and style. What a pay off that would be!
posted on 11/1/20
How's Traore progressing? what type of player is he?
posted on 11/1/20
comment by Josunited (U8584)
posted 21 minutes ago
How's Traore progressing? what type of player is he?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mercurial, in a word.
Has just about everything in his toolbox: athleticism, strength, power, excellent close control, good short (particularly) and long passing, tackles well, strikes the ball well, has an eye for goal. Way ahead of most of his peers in terms of raw ability. Just a natural footballer.
He’s reminiscent of Pogba in many, many ways, but has a knack of drifting in and out of games. If he was more consistently imposing in the way that Garner is, he’d look frightening IMO.
I’m not sure whether it’s a confidence thing or a game intelligence thing (although his positioning is normally OK), but it needs sorting out. Crack that and he could be a real player.
posted on 11/1/20
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Great to read these glowing reports of the youngsters. Thanks TRS and Rosso.
It seems like we could be in for some exciting times if they can stick together and progress in the way we'd like.
With this in mind what do you think of Ole's comments on short term fixes. Do you think it'd be better to get some short term fixes in so that these youngsters can be introduced into a team that is doing better. There'd be less pressure I'd imagine coming into the team and not be hailed 'the saviour'. Players around the 27 mark would be old heads in their 30s when these players are truly ready I'd imagine and having hardened campaigners with them when they're integrated would be of benefit.
Having said all of the above I am willing to give it a few years yet. A few fallow seasons would be more than worth it if we could see a United team with a lot of academy products playing with swagger and style. What a pay off that would be!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we’d be very wise to remember that the likes of James, Rashford, Martial, McT and Tuanzebe should be years and years away from their primes.
Then you have Greenwood, Williams, Garner, Levitt, Chong and Gomes (granted, the last two look like they’re off) who are still babies. They’ll slowly make their ways through over the next few seasons if they can cut it.
Some of the others aren’t even born yet. Mejbri is 16, as is Hoogewerf. Shoretire I think is still 15. Some of them, and their classmates, won’t be making debuts for three or four seasons yet.
There’s no doubting the fact that we’ll need more experienced heads in the squad to help guide all of these guys through. You don’t want the likes of Rashford and McT doing that; in most squads, they’d be the fresh apprentices under close tutelage.
posted on 11/1/20
comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Great to read these glowing reports of the youngsters. Thanks TRS and Rosso.
It seems like we could be in for some exciting times if they can stick together and progress in the way we'd like.
With this in mind what do you think of Ole's comments on short term fixes. Do you think it'd be better to get some short term fixes in so that these youngsters can be introduced into a team that is doing better. There'd be less pressure I'd imagine coming into the team and not be hailed 'the saviour'. Players around the 27 mark would be old heads in their 30s when these players are truly ready I'd imagine and having hardened campaigners with them when they're integrated would be of benefit.
Having said all of the above I am willing to give it a few years yet. A few fallow seasons would be more than worth it if we could see a United team with a lot of academy products playing with swagger and style. What a pay off that would be!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we’d be very wise to remember that the likes of James, Rashford, Martial, McT and Tuanzebe should be years and years away from their primes.
Then you have Greenwood, Williams, Garner, Levitt, Chong and Gomes (granted, the last two look like they’re off) who are still babies. They’ll slowly make their ways through over the next few seasons if they can cut it.
Some of the others aren’t even born yet. Mejbri is 16, as is Hoogewerf. Shoretire I think is still 15. Some of them, and their classmates, won’t be making debuts for three or four seasons yet.
There’s no doubting the fact that we’ll need more experienced heads in the squad to help guide all of these guys through. You don’t want the likes of Rashford and McT doing that; in most squads, they’d be the fresh apprentices under close tutelage.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
An exciting future if all goes well then.