This season's FA Youth Cup gets underway for our Academy with a tough Third Round fixture with Chelsea tonight and it's live on MUTV from 6:30pm (7pm KO).
FA Youth Cup: Manchester United vs Chelsea
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Q&A: Paul McGuinness
On the eve of the Reds' tantalising FA Youth Cup third round clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford, ManUtd.com caught up with Under-18s manager Paul McGuinness for his thoughts on the game...
What was the reaction within the Academy when the draw was made?
We were all really pleased, because these are the type of games you want. The Youth Cup is like a simulation for first team games, so to get Chelsea and to play at Old Trafford is as close to that as you can get at our age group. It's a game where both teams are going to be attacking. You're not trying to break down a defence which is just sat there holding out, they're two good teams. It's a really good draw in that sense. Last year we had smaller teams, which can make the lads more nervous. We were at a smaller ground in Northwich last year, and the condition of the pitch was not as good as Old Trafford, you're massive favourites and you're on a hiding to nothing really.Anything can happen in a cup tie, as it did last year. This year's tie is a game which is just one we're anticipating, there are no nerves and we're getting ourselves prepared.
In such a big game, how important is it that the lads keep calm?
The ones who've been there before, we'll look to their experience. But we've got the captain of Italy's youth team in our squad, the captain of England's youth team in our squad, Irish youth internationals, and virtually everyone in the squad has had a good international experience and been on tour with us. All this is the preparation you do over years and years, bringing them up since they're eight or nine, taking them abroad so they're ready for these games. So this is a test to see how all these experiences come together. Hopefully it'll come out in the game.
Have you been making the players aware of the club's Youth Cup history?
We don't ram it down their throat, but it's constantly there. They're surrounded by the photos at Carrington, and we do little things to promote the history of the competition. At times we train at the Cliff, and we've had a special training camp there this week to be away from things on our own. The place is steeped in the history of the Youth Cup, we used to play youth Cup games there, the Busby Babes and a lot of prominent former youth players all played there, so the lads know about it all. We've won the trophy more times than anyone else, and it's important that they know they're following in the footsteps of a lot of youth teams and we've got that tradition for it.
More often than not in the youth teams, it's the case that the performance outweighs the result. Is that a different matter with the Youth Cup?
We use a lot of the other games as a big learning experience in terms of trying different bits of the game. You know that you won't always have your best team out, it's not always the same freshness about the group because you're working hard through the week. In the build-up to a game like this it's more like the first team. You want them fresh and do just the right amounts of work and you look to get out the strongest team that you think will be good enough to win the game, and that the subs will be able to make an impact. We focus more on the opposition as well, we've been going to their games and doing more match analysis, whereas normally you just get on with it and don't worry about the opposition.
Do you have a full squad to choose from?
We're hoping to have a virtually full squad. We've got one or two players out with little niggles, but in general we've got a good strong squad. We'll announce that on the day, and the thing about it is that I've got a few problems. There are some players who are in form that I'm going to have to leave out, and the good thing about that is that you've then got players who can come off the bench and make an impact.
Chelsea made it to last year's final, but are you confident of overcoming them?
Chelsea have got a good team and still have a few players who were in their run to last year's final, but also we've got three or four that played in the final two years ago, and that gives us experience. We're coming off the back of winning a big tournament, the Milk Cup, in the summer - so that gives us a lot of confidence. Our play this year has been good, we've had a good run recently and I think a lot of things are coming together at the right time in our team work. We've got a hardcore of players who've come through the system who are Manchester-born players, and we feel that's really important. They know the club and the history of the Youth Cup, and they've grown together so there's a real family feel about it. They spend more time with each other than they do with their own brothers, so that's how close they are and we feel it's something in our favour as we approach the game - the boys can't wait for kick-off.
Tickets for tonight's match, priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions, can be purchased at the Old Trafford turnstiles before the 7pm kick-off.
On the eve of the Reds' tantalising FA Youth Cup third round clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford, ManUtd.com caught up with Under-18s manager Paul McGuinness for his thoughts on the game...
What was the reaction within the Academy when the draw was made?
We were all really pleased, because these are the type of games you want. The Youth Cup is like a simulation for first team games, so to get Chelsea and to play at Old Trafford is as close to that as you can get at our age group. It's a game where both teams are going to be attacking. You're not trying to break down a defence which is just sat there holding out, they're two good teams. It's a really good draw in that sense. Last year we had smaller teams, which can make the lads more nervous. We were at a smaller ground in Northwich last year, and the condition of the pitch was not as good as Old Trafford, you're massive favourites and you're on a hiding to nothing really.Anything can happen in a cup tie, as it did last year. This year's tie is a game which is just one we're anticipating, there are no nerves and we're getting ourselves prepared.
In such a big game, how important is it that the lads keep calm?
The ones who've been there before, we'll look to their experience. But we've got the captain of Italy's youth team in our squad, the captain of England's youth team in our squad, Irish youth internationals, and virtually everyone in the squad has had a good international experience and been on tour with us. All this is the preparation you do over years and years, bringing them up since they're eight or nine, taking them abroad so they're ready for these games. So this is a test to see how all these experiences come together. Hopefully it'll come out in the game.
Have you been making the players aware of the club's Youth Cup history?
We don't ram it down their throat, but it's constantly there. They're surrounded by the photos at Carrington, and we do little things to promote the history of the competition. At times we train at the Cliff, and we've had a special training camp there this week to be away from things on our own. The place is steeped in the history of the Youth Cup, we used to play youth Cup games there, the Busby Babes and a lot of prominent former youth players all played there, so the lads know about it all. We've won the trophy more times than anyone else, and it's important that they know they're following in the footsteps of a lot of youth teams and we've got that tradition for it.
More often than not in the youth teams, it's the case that the performance outweighs the result. Is that a different matter with the Youth Cup?
We use a lot of the other games as a big learning experience in terms of trying different bits of the game. You know that you won't always have your best team out, it's not always the same freshness about the group because you're working hard through the week. In the build-up to a game like this it's more like the first team. You want them fresh and do just the right amounts of work and you look to get out the strongest team that you think will be good enough to win the game, and that the subs will be able to make an impact. We focus more on the opposition as well, we've been going to their games and doing more match analysis, whereas normally you just get on with it and don't worry about the opposition.
Do you have a full squad to choose from?
We're hoping to have a virtually full squad. We've got one or two players out with little niggles, but in general we've got a good strong squad. We'll announce that on the day, and the thing about it is that I've got a few problems. There are some players who are in form that I'm going to have to leave out, and the good thing about that is that you've then got players who can come off the bench and make an impact.
Chelsea made it to last year's final, but are you confident of overcoming them?
Chelsea have got a good team and still have a few players who were in their run to last year's final, but also we've got three or four that played in the final two years ago, and that gives us experience. We're coming off the back of winning a big tournament, the Milk Cup, in the summer - so that gives us a lot of confidence. Our play this year has been good, we've had a good run recently and I think a lot of things are coming together at the right time in our team work. We've got a hardcore of players who've come through the system who are Manchester-born players, and we feel that's really important. They know the club and the history of the Youth Cup, and they've grown together so there's a real family feel about it. They spend more time with each other than they do with their own brothers, so that's how close they are and we feel it's something in our favour as we approach the game - the boys can't wait for kick-off.
Tickets for tonight's match, priced at £5 for adults and £2 for concessions, can be purchased at the Old Trafford turnstiles before the 7pm kick-off.
Come To See United
U18s manager Paul McGuinness is urging a bumper crowd to pack Old Trafford for Thursday evening's FA Youth Cup clash with Chelsea.
The Reds go up against their Stamford Bridge counterparts in a mouth-watering third round tie, and McGuinness feels that having a sizeable, partisan crowd behind them will help the United youngsters.
"I think it's very important to try and get as good a crowd as we can," he told ManUtd.com. "Two years ago we had a fantastic semi-final with Arsenal, which drew 38,000 at the Emirates and 30,000 at Old Trafford, and they were fantastic occasions.
"Then we had two more big crowds for the final with Liverpool. So Chelsea's the only one we've not played of the other members of the 'Big Four', and it'd be great to get a good crowd into Old Trafford because it does spur the lads on."
As well as coming to urge on the club's youngsters, supporters can visit Old Trafford assured of an entertaining evening, according to McGuinness.
"Anybody who was at the Arsenal game, where we came from behind twice, forced extra-time and then won it late on will remember how entertaining a game it was," he recalled. "They were two high-class sets of players, and we're hoping for that kind of quality again on Thursday.
"It's a game you wouldn't want to miss, whether you're a United fan or a Chelsea fan. There are players there who have a real chance of being first team players of the future at both clubs."
U18s manager Paul McGuinness is urging a bumper crowd to pack Old Trafford for Thursday evening's FA Youth Cup clash with Chelsea.
The Reds go up against their Stamford Bridge counterparts in a mouth-watering third round tie, and McGuinness feels that having a sizeable, partisan crowd behind them will help the United youngsters.
"I think it's very important to try and get as good a crowd as we can," he told ManUtd.com. "Two years ago we had a fantastic semi-final with Arsenal, which drew 38,000 at the Emirates and 30,000 at Old Trafford, and they were fantastic occasions.
"Then we had two more big crowds for the final with Liverpool. So Chelsea's the only one we've not played of the other members of the 'Big Four', and it'd be great to get a good crowd into Old Trafford because it does spur the lads on."
As well as coming to urge on the club's youngsters, supporters can visit Old Trafford assured of an entertaining evening, according to McGuinness.
"Anybody who was at the Arsenal game, where we came from behind twice, forced extra-time and then won it late on will remember how entertaining a game it was," he recalled. "They were two high-class sets of players, and we're hoping for that kind of quality again on Thursday.
"It's a game you wouldn't want to miss, whether you're a United fan or a Chelsea fan. There are players there who have a real chance of being first team players of the future at both clubs."
Excellent news, wasnt aware it was on MUTV. Hopefully they'll get by this difficult opening tie. Alot of players on form in the academy right now. Any of our resident experts know if Morrison is likely to play? I take it James and Petrucci are eligible for this?
Yeah they are. So is Macheda who I expect will start. Welbeck's supposed to be eligible as well, I wonder if he will start.
Forgive me for whoring my blog out but here's a Chelsea perspective on the game and their side:
http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/youth-cup-a-chelsea-perspective/
http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/youth-cup-a-chelsea-perspective/
So they seem to rate that Nouble kid then. Interesting to see him.
I want to go but I have so much work to do, decisions decisions 
I reckon it will be a Welbeck and Macheda partnership up front, I expect Davide Petrucci to start as well but I'm not completely sure whether that will be in the centre of midfield because the management may think that will leave us a little exposed defensively - so perhaps he may get an opportunity to play cutting in from the left wing as he did for Roma's youth team.
I'm looking forward to this a lot, we have a lot of talented youngsters (especially going forward) and let's hope they do themselves justice tonight because it would be a real shame to go out on the first hurdle.
I'm looking forward to this a lot, we have a lot of talented youngsters (especially going forward) and let's hope they do themselves justice tonight because it would be a real shame to go out on the first hurdle.
Any streams for this one?
Its deserves more attention if anything mate! Great resource for info on the academy and reserves. Personally I think we should shade this tonight. We've been v unlucky in the last 3 years in youth cup. Some v frustrating games against inferior opposition. I think weve a better mix of brain and brawn this year. Didnt know Wellbeck is still eligible, sometimes I forget how young he is.
United lineup:
1. Gary Woods
2. Ryan Tunnicliffe
3. Joe Dudgeon
4. Scott Wootton
5. Oliver Gill
6. Matt James
7. Ra'vel Morrison
8. Oliver Norwood
9. Kiko Macheda
10. Danny Welbeck
11. Robbie Brady
12. Kenny Strickland
13. Conor Devlin
14. Davide Petrucci
15. Cameron Stewart
16. Nicky Ajose
1. Gary Woods
2. Ryan Tunnicliffe
3. Joe Dudgeon
4. Scott Wootton
5. Oliver Gill
6. Matt James
7. Ra'vel Morrison
8. Oliver Norwood
9. Kiko Macheda
10. Danny Welbeck
11. Robbie Brady
12. Kenny Strickland
13. Conor Devlin
14. Davide Petrucci
15. Cameron Stewart
16. Nicky Ajose
Chelsea's:
1. Niclas Heimann
2. Nikki Ahmed
3. Rohan Ince
4. Jeffrey Bruma
5. Ben Gordon
6. Daniel Philliskirk
7. Jacopo Sala
8. Jacob Mellis
9. Fabio Borini
10. Gael Kakuta
11. Frank Nouble
12. Billie Joe King
13. Jan Sebek
14. Conor Clifford
15. Billy Knott
16. Josh MacEachran
1. Niclas Heimann
2. Nikki Ahmed
3. Rohan Ince
4. Jeffrey Bruma
5. Ben Gordon
6. Daniel Philliskirk
7. Jacopo Sala
8. Jacob Mellis
9. Fabio Borini
10. Gael Kakuta
11. Frank Nouble
12. Billie Joe King
13. Jan Sebek
14. Conor Clifford
15. Billy Knott
16. Josh MacEachran
Elliott try pasting this link into FLV applian player.
rtmp://87.21.36.252/live/manutdtv
rtmp://87.21.36.252/live/manutdtv
I know nikki Ahmed!!!
Using that right now, absolutely hate using it. Either keep refreshing it or it just keeps going stop/start and then the sound just goes. Anyone got a stream would be much appreciated?
Welbeck just missed a one on one opportunity.
By the way does anyone have a Sopcast MUTV stream?
By the way does anyone have a Sopcast MUTV stream?
Yeah should have taken the shot earlier on. Chelsea star man Borini is down on the floor.
Scholes is there!
Scholes is there!
Morrison! Quality finish
1-0 to United, can't believe he's just 15. I was surprised he started ahead of Stewart but Gaz just was comparing him Giggs, P.Neville and Wes Brown.
1-0 to United, can't believe he's just 15. I was surprised he started ahead of Stewart but Gaz just was comparing him Giggs, P.Neville and Wes Brown.
Morrison
Ra'vel Morrison very nice goal.
1-0.
I didnt see it
I didnt see it
Ravel morrison;s just 15.HE must be highly rated.
Ha ha great play.
Just missed an open goal though. Seemed like he tried to walk that in though
Lots of ability that kid, eh?
Morrison looks like a good prospect.
Brady off injured, Stewart on 33mins
Which team's attacking more?Any players other than Ravel Morrison performing well?
In terms of possesion it's probably even. Chelsea have looked good without really creating anything. If the score was currently 3-0 to United and not 1-0 it wouldn't flatter us as we have looked like we've got more cutting edge up front. Been impressed by James in the middle as usual, Macheda is also doing pretty good as the target man. My streams not so good so I can't give a great response.
Kakuta scores with Chelsea's first chance 1-1
Great first half from United other than their finishing. SHould be 3-0. They're playing well as a team which is good to see. Chelsea are talented and good in possession but we've kept them quiet so far.
BOLLOCKS chelsea just scored!
BOLLOCKS chelsea just scored!
feck, Chelsea are now 2-1 up. Nouble scores. Great strike but we've only got ourselves to blame.
Blooming Chelsea - only created two chances and scored two goals. We've effectively dominated the game and now we're down 2-1.
Blooming Chelsea - only created two chances and scored two goals. We've effectively dominated the game and now we're down 2-1.
2-1 Chelsea...
I have heard about James and Macheda having a great future ahead.Thanks for the info
Poor defending for both goals IMO. Sometimes you just need to hoof it lads.
Really sloppy from Gill with half-time imminent, what a way to throw away 42/43 minutes of impressive work.
Jinx.
we've been very impressive but passing it the way we do from the back to the midfield is asking for trouble and we paid big time. Having said that their second was some strike