Ethan Williams | Signs pro contract
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Jamie (@Vault Dweller) get the depressing job of reviewing United's 3-0 loss at Old Trafford to Liverpool. They discuss what went wrong, Casemiro's day to forget, and the pressure now on Erik Ten Hag. They also take some time to give McTominay a proper farewell, and give their overall thoughts on the Summer Transfer Window.
It's the 2 footedness for me, it's why I was so excited about Greenwood at the same age. If you can dribble, pass, cross, shoot and have a decent physique and are that 2 footed then you're always going to be a nightmare to defend against if you've got the right attitude and application.
Being so two footed is rare. Coincidentally our more recent best wide players were all two footed in Ronaldo, Nani and Greenwood. Having that unpredictability as an attacker is so valuable. Having around the team just for his set pieces would be a godsend as well, his delivery is consistently excellent.
Being so two footed is rare. Coincidentally our more recent best wide players were all two footed in Ronaldo, Nani and Greenwood. Having that unpredictability as an attacker is so valuable. Having around the team just for his set pieces would be a godsend as well, his delivery is consistently excellent
Perhaps he can become a really good squad player for us.
Nice finishes! I’ve not been watching our youth football much over the last few years but he looks promising. From first impressions he could be a PL squad player like Chong or something. Hopefully he makes it here. As others have said, being two footed is such a blessing. It really does feel like the average player in our youth set up has gone from ending up randomly down the divisions to being at the very least good championship/decent PL players.
Physique looks like Di Maria. Looks a talent.
Seems to be getting back to his best form again - he seemed completely out of it for a short while, but now he is back to being out best attacking player at this level.
Just saw the highlights of the game against Arsenal in the club's official app and his two footedness is so noticeable. Definitely a player to keep an eye on for the future!
His two footedness is a special boon. I personally hope he specializes on the left if he makes it here. Since Giggs and even Blomqvist, can't remember the last time we had an actually left footed left side attacker/winger.
Kieran Richardson
Also, is he left footed though? I genuinely couldn't say which one he favours.
Because he is so two-footed his overall finishing is better than Garnscho’s but Garnacho had better touch and ball control/manipulation.
The next step for Williams is working on his touch. The slightest loose touch gets punished at the senior level.
Williams seems completely two footed tbfKieran Richardson
Also, is he left footed though? I genuinely couldn't say which one he favours.
It’s not just the two footed-ness but that he seems tactically adept as he can play in a number of positions and is impacting in all. These players multi faceted players will always find a place in a squad and can contribute in different areas. Thinking someone like Park if he goes this route.
Reading today that Forson might be injured, with Williams in the picture to take his place in the team.
Can anyone who’s been following our kids explain why Williams wasn’t already ahead of Forson in the pecking order?
Can anyone who’s been following our kids explain why Williams wasn’t already ahead of Forson in the pecking order?
He's playing for the u-18s today, I don't he is coming up to the first team this week.
Probably wasn't better ?
You watch a lot of our U18 games?
Forson is 1,5 years older and has played quite a lot for the U21s already, whereas Williams hasn’t. While Forson is not a bad footballer, I’d say Williams is probably more talented. But in terms of physique, experience and maturity, Forson is ahead at the moment.
No, but I trust those that do.
Plus, that little highlight reel above doesn't seem anything special.
Same. Hence I was hoping for an answer from one of them.
Ok, cool. Thanks. Makes sense.
Plus Forson hasn't signed a contract extension yet so he might leave this summer so better to see if he's really has something or not
Many things that could influence that decision - as someone pointed out, Forson is older and there is the contract situation. But they are very different as players - Williams is extremely direct and is best when he has a lot of space and can run with the ball and get space to get a shot in. Forson is the opposite. Better with the ball close to his feet, and better at picking a pass. Better close control. But one thing that annoys me with Forson is that he slows the play down - A LOT. He gets the ball - stands still and tries to dummy his opponent using his body. Whereas Williams is much more gung-ho if you like.
Yep, great assessment of both. I've always rated Williams higher, but it depends on what role you were looking for and, as you say, Forson is older and we were looking to tie him down to a new deal.
I'd also add the side they're often played on in these days of inverted wingers. While Williams is two footed (even takes set pieces with either), his right looks the more dominant and he's often played from the left. Forson is left footed, and often plays from the right (or central).
And the vacancy was for the right side, with Rashford or Garnacho settled for the left. So maybe another reason to try Forson first? Though with Garnacho now proving himself very competent on the right as well, that role is less vacant now anyway.
So he sounds similar to Elanga.
Is he as quick?
I wouldn't say Williams is similar to Elanga at all tbh, other than being a winger. Elanga much quicker but Williams is more technical and very two footed. Elanga played up front quite a bit too and I don't think Williams ever will as he's more slight.
Yeah, I wouldn't really class Williams and Elanga as too alike. Other than both being at their best as wingers / wide strikers.
But Elanga is much more about raw pace, and getting in behind defendes. Utilising the space with his pace rather than having good technical abilities. And can also fill in as a central striker to an extent. Williams is a more all round wing threat. He is quite quick, but not as quick as Elanga, but has more technical ability and while he also gets in behind defenders, he also runs well with the ball and delivers good shots, crosses and set pieces with either foot, making him less predictable and more of an on the ball threat.
I'd say Elanga's by far main asset is his lightning pace. Whereas Wiiliams has more to his game, and his main asset is his two-footedness, making it harder for defenders to guess whether he's going to shoot or cross.
Although, lightning pace being such an asset, then Elanga has done very well for himself so far to be a Swedish international playing in the PL. I think Williams has more to his game so has a potentially higher ceiling, but then again he'll also be doing very well to be matching Elanga's CV when he gets to the same age.
But Elanga is much more about raw pace, and getting in behind defendes. Utilising the space with his pace rather than having good technical abilities. And can also fill in as a central striker to an extent. Williams is a more all round wing threat. He is quite quick, but not as quick as Elanga, but has more technical ability and while he also gets in behind defenders, he also runs well with the ball and delivers good shots, crosses and set pieces with either foot, making him less predictable and more of an on the ball threat.
I'd say Elanga's by far main asset is his lightning pace. Whereas Wiiliams has more to his game, and his main asset is his two-footedness, making it harder for defenders to guess whether he's going to shoot or cross.
Although, lightning pace being such an asset, then Elanga has done very well for himself so far to be a Swedish international playing in the PL. I think Williams has more to his game so has a potentially higher ceiling, but then again he'll also be doing very well to be matching Elanga's CV when he gets to the same age.
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That's good news.
I still think there's a lot of potential with him, especially with his two footedness. And rate him higher than Forson.
I still think there's a lot of potential with him, especially with his two footedness. And rate him higher than Forson.
It is rather strange he'll be almost 19 before signing a pro deal and what was the point of signing a pre-pro deal at 18? It is the type of thing to happen to a late developer who is amongst the weakest in an age group, but Williams is one of the better players.
Despite still ended up with a very good G/A I think he's a bit of a victim of being back and forth between the U18s and U21s groups (and he's basically our best winger in both group especially when Forson isn't there). Disrupting his flow a bit and sometimes he's on the bench for both teams. Then with Amad and Forson warming the bench for the 1st team means he had no chance there yet to even appear on the squad, despite being probably more ready than some of the youngsters we featured up.
I think he also should try to play with more intensity. He is able to get his G/A stats up so easily that it sometimes feels like he is coasting through matches. One of the major differences between senior football and youth football, apart from the gulf in quality, is the level of intensity.
If you look at his performances in the finals this year, he never stopped running, pressing and tackling. He did so much for the team to get over the line.
He could be a good squad player have on the bench for say a smaller Europa league tie if we have qualified hopefully. We have seen before that under 21 players do get a chance under the current regime and I think he will be in that group. Can play multiple positions and will play tactically safe as well as give 100 per cent.
He sure did and we needed him in those moments. Actually buttresses my point because when you see him do that, it contrasts with some other games where you just don’t see that intensity that you know he has in him.
He is one of my favourite players in the academy. I just want him to play with a bit more consistent aggression and intensity, especially when Isolated 1v1 against a full back.
I think he is our most direct, explosive and relentless 1v1 winger in the academy. Haven’t seen him lacking in intensity but I guess it’s all about perception.