Reserves vs Shrewsbury Town
- Thread starter KM
- Start date
I'm going to this. I can't update from the ground, as my phone's a bit naff, but I can try to get some thoughts down when I get back. (Mostly who scored, and who looked good).
Edit: If you get desperate, you can follow me on Twitter (@Minkaro), then unfollow me immediately after the match. I can tweet via sending texts (although I can't see any other tweets).
Edit: If you get desperate, you can follow me on Twitter (@Minkaro), then unfollow me immediately after the match. I can tweet via sending texts (although I can't see any other tweets).
Nice.
Our lineup:
Fettis, M Keane, Thorpe, Fryers, McGinty, Gibson, Drinkwater, Petrucci, Pogba, W Keane, Cofie.
bench: Cole, Morrison, Massacci, Giverin, Lingard.
Fettis, M Keane, Thorpe, Fryers, McGinty, Gibson, Drinkwater, Petrucci, Pogba, W Keane, Cofie.
bench: Cole, Morrison, Massacci, Giverin, Lingard.
Fettis.. wow
where are the academy keepers?
where are the academy keepers?
Just seen an info on twitter that Morrison is not in the squad.
Johnstones on tour in the us.
Fettis a goalkeeper coach isnt he? 
He's not an Academy keeper any more. I think Prateik was referring to Jacob and Coll who played against Curzon Ashton.
Fettis
Attendance: 2492 (343)
Man United were showing their class in the opening exchanges but Town were showing when they were made of and giving the visitors a real game. Both sides were moving the ball around nicely with some crisp passing. Town had a good chance through James Collins and then United minutes later when Paul Pogba drove in a low shot that Chris Neal had to be alert to get down to and stop.
Town grabbed the lead with just over 10 minutes on the clock and it started with some great persistence on the right from Lionel Ainsworth, he tried to take the ball past Fryer but the United defender managed to get a block, Ainsworth didn't give up and nicked the ball back, he then hit a lovely ball to the back post to find James Collins in space and he made no mistakes with a powerful header past Alan Fettis to make it 1-0 to the Town.
There were chances being created at both ends of the pitch, Darron Gibson should really have levelled when he met a well delivered corner at the back post but he put his header over the bar. At the other end McAllister, Wright and Morgan all have decent efforts that tested the United goal.
Town grabbed a second goal on the half-hour mark following a lovely little move that started with Sean McAllister picking the ball outside the Town box, he moved the ball quickly out wide to Collins who then fed Wright, he cut in on the angle and drove in a low ball, it was half cleared to McAllister who hit a shot which was blocked but the ball came back to him and he looped a header over Fettis to make it 2-0 to Town.
Town looked to be really enjoying themselves and were playing with little pressure and putting on a good show. There were some great little performances out on the pitch and the players looked pleased to be back playing. The chances were racking up for Town who had good efforts from Wright and Collins and Ainsworth was looking dangerous whenever he got the ball and ran at United.
Half-time: 2-0
source.
Man United were showing their class in the opening exchanges but Town were showing when they were made of and giving the visitors a real game. Both sides were moving the ball around nicely with some crisp passing. Town had a good chance through James Collins and then United minutes later when Paul Pogba drove in a low shot that Chris Neal had to be alert to get down to and stop.
Town grabbed the lead with just over 10 minutes on the clock and it started with some great persistence on the right from Lionel Ainsworth, he tried to take the ball past Fryer but the United defender managed to get a block, Ainsworth didn't give up and nicked the ball back, he then hit a lovely ball to the back post to find James Collins in space and he made no mistakes with a powerful header past Alan Fettis to make it 1-0 to the Town.
There were chances being created at both ends of the pitch, Darron Gibson should really have levelled when he met a well delivered corner at the back post but he put his header over the bar. At the other end McAllister, Wright and Morgan all have decent efforts that tested the United goal.
Town grabbed a second goal on the half-hour mark following a lovely little move that started with Sean McAllister picking the ball outside the Town box, he moved the ball quickly out wide to Collins who then fed Wright, he cut in on the angle and drove in a low ball, it was half cleared to McAllister who hit a shot which was blocked but the ball came back to him and he looped a header over Fettis to make it 2-0 to Town.
Town looked to be really enjoying themselves and were playing with little pressure and putting on a good show. There were some great little performances out on the pitch and the players looked pleased to be back playing. The chances were racking up for Town who had good efforts from Wright and Collins and Ainsworth was looking dangerous whenever he got the ball and ran at United.
Half-time: 2-0
source.
surely this quote is just a joke
United get a goal back(drinkwater)
2-1 now.
2-1 now.
Petrucci and Pogba haven't impressed, I take it?
lost the match 2-1.
Final score 2-1.
First half was really poor for United. We lined up more or less like this:
Petrucci playing really deep. There was absolutely nobody to aim for on the wings, so we had to try passing it through midfield. Our only wide outlets were M. Keane (who was pretty poor all game) and Fryers.
Second half was a bit better, as we took off Cofie for Cole, who gave us more of a threat out wide on the right. The other Keane was very quiet all game. I'd have preferred him to hang on the shoulder of the defender, but he kept coming deep, so we effectively had a six or seven man centre midfield team at some points.
In terms of individual performances, I was most impressed by Drinkwater. Looked very comfortable on the ball, passed it around well, and got our goal. Pogba was just as I expected him to be, very composed. Gibson, I would have liked to have had more of an impact on the game, he looked good, but I was expecting him to be pulling the strings more, being the most experienced outfield player there.
Special mention to Lingard, who violently attacked me with a football at half time. If it wasn't for my brilliant reflex save, I'd have a very sore nose right now.
Great support for United too. Noisy all game.
First half was really poor for United. We lined up more or less like this:
Petrucci playing really deep. There was absolutely nobody to aim for on the wings, so we had to try passing it through midfield. Our only wide outlets were M. Keane (who was pretty poor all game) and Fryers.
Second half was a bit better, as we took off Cofie for Cole, who gave us more of a threat out wide on the right. The other Keane was very quiet all game. I'd have preferred him to hang on the shoulder of the defender, but he kept coming deep, so we effectively had a six or seven man centre midfield team at some points.
In terms of individual performances, I was most impressed by Drinkwater. Looked very comfortable on the ball, passed it around well, and got our goal. Pogba was just as I expected him to be, very composed. Gibson, I would have liked to have had more of an impact on the game, he looked good, but I was expecting him to be pulling the strings more, being the most experienced outfield player there.
Special mention to Lingard, who violently attacked me with a football at half time. If it wasn't for my brilliant reflex save, I'd have a very sore nose right now.
Great support for United too. Noisy all game.
Final score 2-1.
First half was really poor for United. We lined up more or less like this:
Petrucci playing really deep. There was absolutely nobody to aim for on the wings, so we had to try passing it through midfield. Our only wide outlets were M. Keane (who was pretty poor all game) and Fryers.
Second half was a bit better, as we took off Cofie for Cole, who gave us more of a threat out wide on the right. The other Keane was very quiet all game. I'd have preferred him to hang on the shoulder of the defender, but he kept coming deep, so we effectively had a six or seven man centre midfield team at some points.
In terms of individual performances, I was most impressed by Drinkwater. Looked very comfortable on the ball, passed it around well, and got our goal. Pogba was just as I expected him to be, very composed. Gibson, I would have liked to have had more of an impact on the game, he looked good, but I was expecting him to be pulling the strings more, being the most experienced outfield player there.
Special mention to Lingard, who violently attacked me with a football at half time. If it wasn't for my brilliant reflex save, I'd have a very sore nose right now.
Great support for United too. Noisy all game.
Great stuff Minkaro.
How did Pogba & Petrucci fare in overall against Gibson? From this one match, was there anything to indicate that either of them could take Gibson's place in the first team squad?
Neither of them were amazing, but they were both just as good as him overall. Petrucci in particular was full of energy during his time on the pitch, passing it about well.
As I said, Pogba was composed. I didn't see him make any silly mistakes, maybe one mistimed challenge, but that was about it. Good short passing, and a few good long balls to the wing. I like his strength too, able to pick up the ball in midfield and look about for his next pass whilst holding players off.
As I said, Pogba was composed. I didn't see him make any silly mistakes, maybe one mistimed challenge, but that was about it. Good short passing, and a few good long balls to the wing. I like his strength too, able to pick up the ball in midfield and look about for his next pass whilst holding players off.
Sounds like either or both might be ready for a step up so.
Thanks for your analysis. Great stuff.
Thanks for your analysis. Great stuff.
There was concern at the end of last season that Petrucci was a bit sluggish in the field. Has the concern been addressed?. Does he move better?.
Information is scare, weso. Not a question aimed at you. But an performance indicator would be nice. Reserve fanboi association et al.
Do you think Pogba is ready to attempt to cover Fletcher and Carrick if the need arises?
As I said, he kept coming very deep, so his movement must have improved for him to be able to move between playing a deep-lying role, and playing just behind Keane so fluidly. He came off fairly early on in the second half though, which could have been because he was tiring, due to the amount of running he was doing.
I'm a bit hesitant to answer this, due to the difference between reserve football and first team, and Shrewsbury Town and most of the Premier League. Whilst he'd be playing with better players, he'd be playing against better players. I think I'll reserve judgement on that one until he (hopefully) plays in the League Cup, which should give us a better indicator of how he plays alongside first team players.
Whilst I think he has an excellent future, if Carrick and Fletcher both got injured, then I'd probably turn to Anderson, Park or Giggs (a combination of them at least) in midfield, rather than throw Pogba in the deep end.
For me he could step in. Based on everything we've seen, he has a great deal of self belief. I think he has the 'game' to make a lot of players look silly. We sometimes are scared to throw a kid in their but it depends how people want to accept things. I wonder how most people felt when we threw Giggs in. We did also obviously consider him for the tour but will it happen? If it did, i'd be pleased because mistakes will happen but the kid is confident and goes about his business. You can expect positional mistakes etc but you could say that about most people.
This is only the second? game of pre season. It's all about fitness. So expect performances to improve. I'm hoping Cofie builds on last season as at times he was brilliant. Also good to see Drinkwater back because he's underrated. He's a very composed player, good on the ball and can spark something.
This is only the second? game of pre season. It's all about fitness. So expect performances to improve. I'm hoping Cofie builds on last season as at times he was brilliant. Also good to see Drinkwater back because he's underrated. He's a very composed player, good on the ball and can spark something.
Thanks
Actually, I wouldn't be adverse to handling Pogba in a similar manner to Welbeck. Maybe bringing him on in PL games against lower opponents that are already won (say if we were 3-0 up against Wigan, for example), and giving him time in the League Cup.
Then next season see about getting him out on loan, if he needs it.
Then next season see about getting him out on loan, if he needs it.