Reserves v Liverpool

FT: Manchester United Reserves 1-0 Liverpool Reserves

Advantage Manchester United in the Reserves title race.

Scrappy game overall, we controlled the first half, Liverpool the second, but only we had the real chances.

Obertan with a deserved winner and probably Man of the Match.
 
3 players stood out - Obertan, De Laet and Gill - all excellent tonight. Cameron Stewart had an off-day to put it mildly. Everything he tried went wrong
 
So next door to the DW, interesting, might try go to that if getting there in time for k/o is feasible.
 
Atmosphere was better than most first team home games.
 
Reserves: United 1 Liverpool 0

13/04/2010 18:58, Report by Steve Bartram

United are on the brink of a first Barclays Premier Reserve League title in four seasons, after Gabriel Obertan's scorching drive overcame Liverpool.

The Frenchman arrowed home an unstoppable 25-yard drive on the cusp of half-time in a tense, top-of-the-table clash at Moss Lane, the result of which leaves United nine points clear of the Merseysiders, who have two games in hand. Four points from games against Burnley and Wigan will guarantee the title for United.

In a customarily tight encounter between the sides, livewire winger Obertan provided the one moment of outstanding quality, and was the liveliest threat on show in a match dominated by two sturdy defences.

It took half an hour for the first attack of note, and only breathtaking defending from Liverpool's Victor Palsson kept the scoresheet blank. Obertan's surge to the byline and cross caused havoc in the away area, in which Febian Brandy spun and shot goalwards, only for Palsson to somehow keep the ball from crossing the line with an heroic lunge.

Soon afterwards, Brandy's speculative lob into the danger zone forced back-pedalling goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to tip over his crossbar, before Francisco Duran's free-kick prompted a fine full-length catch from Ben Foster.

Just as the half seemed to be meandering to a close, however, Obertan broke the deadlock in devastating fashion. In keeping with the game, the goal's build-up was scrappy as the Frenchman jostled with Damien Plessis for possession, but his subsequent shot tore into the top corner.

Within seconds of the start of the second half, Obertan almost grabbed a second. Latching onto a through-ball from Will Keane, on as a substitute for Brandy, the winger could only toe-poke just wide of Gulacsi's upright.

As the half wore on, Liverpool enjoyed greater possession and carried much menace in their play, but a resolute United backline refused to concede a clear chance for an equaliser. David Amoo's glanced header into the side netting provided a scare, but otherwise the Reds' defence stuck to the task manfully.

At the other end, the visitors were similarly steadfast - although Chris Mavinga almost sealed his side's misery with a spectacular near-miss, stabbing just past his own top corner in a desperate attempt to clear a loose ball.

Obertan and Rodrigo Possebon both attempted pot-shots from outside the area without success, while Gerardo Bruna fired over from a half-cleared corner with his side's final chance.

With that opportunity went the visitors' hopes of salvaging anything tangible from the game, and perhaps from the title race. With a massively superior goal difference and a six point lead, United need a maximum of four more points to clinch the coveted crown.

United: Foster; Wootton, De Laet, Gill, Dudgeon; Stewart (Pogba 86), C Evans, Possebon, Norwood, Obertan; Brandy (W Keane 46).
Subs not used: Devlin, Moffatt, Thorpe.

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6648130
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Match report.
 
You can hear it hit the back of the net. This lad's quality, I remember his dead ball delivery being outstanding as well. Long shots, close control, and dead balls are now all areas he's shown great promise in. Once he starts linking it all together we could have a real player on our hands.

 
Obertan looks too good for the Reserves in some ways, he's ridiculous on the ball, fleet-footed and disturbingly quick. At his best nobody can take the ball off him at this level. Good dribbler and you can see what he's trying to do on the pitch. Really overcomplicates things at times though, like Alex Hleb or Arsenal when prompted with an open goal but there's a good pass begging to be played just for kicks. He's not going to get that much time on the ball outside the Reserves so some of his tricks do need to be ironed out. He's not privy to closing-down himself too which is good.
 
x42bn6 said:
Great first half, sort of vanished in the second but it was unbelievably scrappy and crowded with no room whatsoever so it's no surprise really. Personally thought Corry Evans did pretty much the reverse - average first half, good second half.
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Aye, that first 45 minutes was the best he's played all season. That's not saying much because he's generally been poor but watching that first half, I was reminded why he used to be rated so highly.
 
The Taurean said:
How did Possebon fare in this match?
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I think he had a solid game. Showed glimpses of the Possebon that we knew before Braga and certainly before that injury in the C.Cup. Did well to weave himself out of tight areas a few times. Shame that the games have ran out really, it was one of those performances that he could look as a step to build on. He's 21 now, so not too sure what the club will have installed for him next season.
 
prateik said:
loan at preston next season ?
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What kind of football do Preston play? With a player like Possebon, any loan must be with a side that plays along the floor, rather than the typical hit-and-hope Championship style that bypasses the midfield. It's too bad that West Brom weren't in the division next season as that would be a good place to go, IMO.
 
So what is this Liverpool reserves team like? Anyone likely to get in to their first time anytime soon?
My mate goes on and on about the revamp Benitez has made in the youth setup and they can expect to have loads of players coming up in the near future. I'd love for him to be wrong.
That said my fellow countryman, Palsson, plays in their defense (I think) and I wish him all the best.
 
I'd imagine most of that squad won't make it. Fulham have been sniffing around arguably the most talented of the bunch, Dalla Valle, and this is after they also signed Butchmann in January from them too.

Duran has been injured worse than Hargreaves it appears, he's 22 soon and I'd imagine he'll be released at the end of this season.

RAWK poster said:
to get a feel of how long Duran has been at the club:

He was here before the Yanks

He came in the same window that Stephen Warnock left.

That winter we also brought in :
Brouwer
Ajdarevic
Arbeloa


According to wiki his fee was £66,000.


Arrived in January 2007.

Fit for 2 months (actually arrived injured due to a knock he received while training with Spain U19, debut on 22 Feb 07 "Spanish youth international Duran played in the midfield holding role and made a pleasing contribution in the hour that he was given. He is very comfortable in possession, is two footed and has a good eye for an opening." came off after an hour. Next match he started and "The Spanish youth international picked up what appeared to be a knee injury when he twisted it while attempting to make a tackle and limped off after 17 minutes.")

Out for 9 months

Fit for 1 month (2 sub appearances, 1 start (in a friendly) came off after 20 min. "The only downside to the night was Francisco Duran picked up a knock and he had to leave the field after 20 minutes, but we are hoping it won't be serious and we'll assess it on Tuesday."

Out for 9 months

Fit for 3 months (sub against Port Vale assist to Pacheco, 3 league sub appearces, 1 start)

Out for 15 months

2 starts, subbed off after an hour, 1 sub




13 total appearances in a little over 3 years.
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RAWK has high hopes for Mavinga.

Their "best" talents were in the first-team squad last week anyway, Pacheco and Ayala. RAWK ejaculated upon seeing Pacheco take to the pitch.

That said they do have a good Reserves team (they're title challengers after all) although I'd imagine that's down to the level of talent they've poached more than anything, and it's probably not going to produce that many players for the first-team.
 
redfromcanada said:
What kind of football do Preston play? With a player like Possebon, any loan must be with a side that plays along the floor, rather than the typical hit-and-hope Championship style that bypasses the midfield. It's too bad that West Brom weren't in the division next season as that would be a good place to go, IMO.
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Preston should plan their team and their style around whichever youngsters we give them next season!
 
Lovely. Basically in the bag already, nine points ahead and 16 goals better off.

Could be all over before we play again, Liverpool play Everton on Tuesday.
 
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