James Scanlon

holdsteady

Hates Sir Alex Ferguson
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Messages
5,576
Has really come on the last few months. Not going to say he'll be a first team regular tomorrow but he has impressed
 
Some more info:

Position: attacking midfielder (can play out wide)
Joined United: 2021, from Derby County
U18 apps/goals 23/24: 11 apps, 8 goals
U21 apps/goals 23/24: 5 apps, 0 goals

International career:

Gibraltar U17: 4 caps, 3 goals (2022)
Gibraltar U21: 4 caps, 0 goals (2023-present)
Gibraltar: 2 caps, 0 goals

Qualifies for Gibraltar through his mother Gabriella (née Falero), a former athlete who holds the Gibraltar record for 4 × 100m relay, set with her team in 1995. Younger brother Luca plays for United U15s and represents Gibraltar at U16 level.
 
Has really come on the last few months. Not going to say he'll be a first team regular tomorrow but he has impressed

His performance yesterday was one of the better I have seen at this level over the last couple of seasons - especially seeing a lot of his teammates were average at best.
 
His performance yesterday was one of the better I have seen at this level over the last couple of seasons - especially seeing a lot of his teammates were average at best.
That's something that the first team lack at the moment. Even on an off day, you can generally rely on at least one player to step up and make the difference for the U18s (yesterday was Scanlon) in 90% of games this season. The first team don't seem to have that.
 
That's something that the first team lack at the moment. Even on an off day, you can generally rely on at least one player to step up and make the difference for the U18s (yesterday was Scanlon) in 90% of games this season. The first team don't seem to have that.

The first team doesn't understand how to press - so that makes them 3 times wore than they are. They press high with 4 players who ... well suck at it.....and then the rest of the team doesn't follow the press. So Casemiro and Mainoo are usually alone with 3 players - and let's just say they are not great one on one.

I just don't understand why we dont press with the whole team or start the press much lower.....a League 2 side can play through our press
 
and then the rest of the team doesn't follow the press
This does my head in. 2-3 players run their socks off up front trying to create a mistake and the rest of the team are basically walking up the pitch, leaving the opponents with 2-3 available players to pass to at all times.
and it is regardless of players he chooses. So, must be by design. They are fighting teeth and nails to block shots in their own box so it is not about desire or lack of it either. Will never figure out the idea behind it.
 
If he played for the first team would Gibraltar be the lowest ranked country to have a player represent us?
 
Well considering Gibraltar is as close to the bottom as you can possibly get - my guess would be yes

But you never know, suddenly we sign James Gomez from Odense, DK - and we have an international from Guam :)
 
Well considering Gibraltar is as close to the bottom as you can possibly get - my guess would be yes

But you never know, suddenly we sign James Gomez from Odense, DK - and we have an international from Guam :)
Actually he's Gambian
 
Yes. He and Danny Higginbotham have that distinction.

Gibraltar are currently 203/211 in the FIFA rankings.
Expect them to climb the rankings a bit at the end of the year though. With Scanlon assisting the attack Gibraltar should expect some big wins against Liechtenstein and San Marino in the Nations League - they have decent strikers in Tjay De Barr and Jaiden Bartolo, but until March it had always been De Barr up top on his own trying to make things happen - with Scanlon now in to link up midfield and attack Scanlon should run rings around the San Marino defence in particular, which should create chances for both himself and De Barr (as well as other emerging attackers Liam Jessop (of Chesterfield) and Jaiden Bartolo (of Wealdstone, heavily rumoured to be joining Wycombe this summer)). If they win all 4 Nations League games and arrange some favourable friendlies they can win, then they shoud be able to get back into the top 200. Of course the only thing holding them back is their godawful manager Julio Ribas.
 
I must admit he didn’t stand out to me, similar to Williams, I saw a good player but no attribute that marked him out. I’m glad that he has stepped up towards the end of the season and as ever shows development isn’t always a straight course.

Not sure where his best position is either but he seems to have a taste for goals and good composure. It really is difficult to pick a first 11 when everyone is on form.
 
Gibraltar play Scotland and Wales in friendlies in June, they'll be a good test for Scanlon against senior opposition. Might see him going up against McTominay.
 
Signed his first pro contract at the club.
Should he get called up, be good to see how he fares against high level opposition next week. Going up against McTominay would be a good way to see how far he is from the United first team.
 
Called up to the squad vs Scotland and Wales next week. Can't post links but will type out full squad later unless a more experienced user posts the tweet.
 
James Scanlon STARTS against Scotland
 
Anyone following the game? how is he doing?
Subbed off after 68 minutes but didn't really get a lot of opportunities to show what he could do as Scotland were constantly missing the target. But this first taste of football against this level of opposition will be good for him.
 
75 minutes for him today in the 0-0 draw against Wales. Much more involved today.
 
Definitely seems to be rated by Ten Hag as he's travelling with the first team to the US. I thought he'd be playing with the U21s in their friendlies for the rest of preseason.
 
Definitely seems to be rated by Ten Hag as he's travelling with the first team to the US. I thought he'd be playing with the U21s in their friendlies for the rest of preseason.

Yeah him getting picked ahead of Williams (and Ennis) are slightly surprising.
 
He is definitely a surprise pick but I think he is a little bit more well rounded than some of the other names mentioned and can play more centrally than the others. Versatility being a trait the manager admires. Similar to Mather in this regard.
 
He is definitely a surprise pick but I think he is a little bit more well rounded than some of the other names mentioned and can play more centrally than the others. Versatility being a trait the manager admires. Similar to Mather in this regard.
Yeah versatility can sometimes be better than excelling in one area, makes a player more malleable for fitting into a system. He's not locked in for Gibraltar yet though until September, should he accept a call-up for the Nations League games, so hopefully he does well but not so well that the English FA start trying to court him. Playing with Gibraltar means a work experience loan with a semi pro team feels a bit redundant but could see a League One or Two loan once he turns 18 in September.
 
Yeah versatility can sometimes be better than excelling in one area, makes a player more malleable for fitting into a system. He's not locked in for Gibraltar yet though until September, should he accept a call-up for the Nations League games, so hopefully he does well but not so well that the English FA start trying to court him. Playing with Gibraltar means a work experience loan with a semi pro team feels a bit redundant but could see a League One or Two loan once he turns 18 in September.
To me it can only be a benefit, especially at a young age to develop positional and thus tactical flexibility. I think United are pretty good at this and James has adapted well in the last 6 months. As much as it’ll be beneficial to play senior international football I think ultimately playing with a higher level of player will develop him more rather than losing regularly. So maybe if England do come calling it might be the way to go. Just my thoughts though.
 
It was different, it was a mixed team and this was the first time they have played together. We had a player playing full-back for the first time in his life [James Scanlon] and then you have to play against experienced Premier League players, that is not easy. I think at the second goal we let him down a little bit and we could help him there by giving him a little bit more support by supporting or covering. Overall I think the team played a good performance and we could have drawn this game."
https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...tv-after-arsenal-v-man-utd-in-la-on-tour-2024

Good to see ETH acknowledge he needed a bit more support. He was hung out to dry by both Antony and Oyedele who did feck all to help him out against Martinelli. Kid's playing his first game at RB and he was left 1v1 against an experienced international winger time and time again. Felt so sorry for the lad while watching the game. Hopefully he doesn't get too affected by it.
 
https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...tv-after-arsenal-v-man-utd-in-la-on-tour-2024

Good to see ETH acknowledge he needed a bit more support. He was hung out to dry by both Antony and Oyedele who did feck all to help him out against Martinelli. Kid's playing his first game at RB and he was left 1v1 against an experienced international winger time and time again. Felt so sorry for the lad while watching the game. Hopefully he doesn't get too affected by it.
Should be fine as long as he gets to play in his preferred position next time.
 
Scanlon has his first international goal, thought it would be a 97th minute winner but 13th minute of added time, his teammate concedes a penalty which is scored.
 
No relation to Albert Scanlon who played for United back in the 1950s?
Not that I'm aware.

By the way the decision to award that penalty to Liechtenstein at the death was an absolute joke. Every neutral who saw it agrees. Ref clearly has money on San Marino winning the group.
 
If he's still going to be with the U18s I'd try to arrange a loan deal for him to League One or League Two once he's 18. Looking at how he at times ran rings around the Liechtenstein players to the point they just started kicking him, I think some EFL experience would be good for him as he's already got experience of that more physical side of the game.
 
I was thinking about his goal and wondering if he is the youngest ever United player to score an international goal.
 
Two goals so far this afternoon to make it eight for the season. A nice assist too.