Struggled a bit today but it is what it is, I still think he made some fairly good runs and provided some good defensive contributions. He's a real runner too. If he bulks up a bit I think he's about as "Mourinho" an academy prospect as can be, there's some real talent there.
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He's not ready physically IMO, I think another year at least before he's in the first team.
Another exciting cameo, you can see he physically has a path that he will develop on and off the ball and he is a serious talent, I agree with people saying he is very far from ready. This would be the scenario where Van Gaal just threw him to to the wolves but I don't see Mourinho doing that.
Funny how much shit Mourinho got for the quotes after CA match from our youth specialists here just for his point to be proven the next match.
Time will be on Chong's side, he's fun to watch and seems to have the needed traits apart from the obvious missing one that will come with time.
Time will be on Chong's side, he's fun to watch and seems to have the needed traits apart from the obvious missing one that will come with time.
Giggs was a little skinny lad when he came on the scene. He won't be long building up if he stays with the squad. McTominay turned into a Giant in just 1 year.
The media took a different view of the quotes too and I think quite widely reported Mourinho's praise for Chong.
Dont know about others but for me he has shown more than just being capable for couple of cup games already. And he will grow pretty quickly as a player now and evwn physically as the height growth will stop.
Btw on basis of these friendlies if Chong is to play couple of cup games then martial should probably play u23's only.
No expert but from my own experience, the transition from boys to men's game is more a mental one than a physical one. You have boys who are built like men that still struggle with the transition and some boys mentally struggle with men physically imposing themselves on them and this for me is more it than his size.
Lots of 'slight' players in the Prem in forward positions and the young slight lad at Fulham as proved he can physically play in a very robust league.
Lots of 'slight' players in the Prem in forward positions and the young slight lad at Fulham as proved he can physically play in a very robust league.
Clearly got a lot of talent, hope this coming season he gets games in the cup matches and gets to train with the first-team often while at the same time hitting the gym more regularly to bulk up as you can see he does get knocked off the ball quite easily. Maybe even get the odd game or two in the Premier League by coming off the bench in the last few minutes would help. Then maybe this time next year he may become physically and mentally ready to challenge for a first-team spot. Will still only be 19 this time next year!
He could be our solution to fix our RW issues which have been painfully obvious for the past few years!
He could be our solution to fix our RW issues which have been painfully obvious for the past few years!
I'm not sure it was the physical side, but more the fact he was getting double teamed most of the first half.
No surprise he was looking really good while Valencia was on the pitch, he did some lovely pass / moving with Sanchez.
Once Valencia got injured and Darmian came on he just got isolated, and he did struggle with being crowded out, something he's probably not used to in kids football.
Playing in matches like that'll be good for him.
No surprise he was looking really good while Valencia was on the pitch, he did some lovely pass / moving with Sanchez.
Once Valencia got injured and Darmian came on he just got isolated, and he did struggle with being crowded out, something he's probably not used to in kids football.
Playing in matches like that'll be good for him.
Some of the times he gets "outmuscled" should be fouls anyway. He was blatantly pushed at one point and the match thread all called him weak.
He still has little u23s experience which is a lot more physical and rough than the u18s so he'll start to get used to it there too.
He still has little u23s experience which is a lot more physical and rough than the u18s so he'll start to get used to it there too.
On a related note, it's the main reason behind all the SAF quotes that some people call 'ridiculous' i.e. Phil Jones could become the greatest United player ever, Dong has the attributes to become the next Batistuta, etc. They're motivational tricks designed to try and get players over psychological humps.
Didn't know that. Sigh. Okay. One more year.
I thought he was a bit disappointing. Every time he received the ball he immediately ran inside and then 99% of the time played a simple pass backwards (I can only recall him once passing it forwards to Darmian who had made an overlap). Even when there were good options for him to either try and run forwards with the ball, or make a pass down the right channel, he immediately just did the same thing again. Also, isn't he meant to be very good with either foot? He never used his right.
He plays in a rush all the time, even when he doesn't need to be. He also has his head down too much.
Strangely, the only thing which I thought he did well at was tracking back and winning tackles.
It's clear he has some talent, but it looks like it will be a while before he'll be contributing too much in an attacking sense.
He plays in a rush all the time, even when he doesn't need to be. He also has his head down too much.
Strangely, the only thing which I thought he did well at was tracking back and winning tackles.
It's clear he has some talent, but it looks like it will be a while before he'll be contributing too much in an attacking sense.
Yeah it is, but Salah, like Chong was weak when he first arrived on the scene, now however he is clearly a lot stronger and that has helped his game. It's a question of injuries as well. Chong has had a serious knee problem already so its only right to be cautious. His time will come and I for one would love to see him given opportunities next season.
Not surprised at that, loads here basically parrot whatever mourinho says.
The problem is that he wasn´t getting enough balls and very few to his strengths, so with the little he had in the first 20 minutes when it didn´t work out he then tried to play it simple but then didn´t touch the ball for another 5 minutes and it is hard to impress then. Especially with Darmian who is really pissing me off as he can´t do anything just pass back
Shoud be a regular starter, one of the best players we have.
Too soon for that! He is definitely one of the better youth prospects we have, but "one of the best players we have"? Way too soon and just too much pressure for him. He's slight and does need to bulk up. That's no slight on him - that's also something that CR7 needed when he'd just joined. If he continues to develop well, his time will come and he will definitely get chances (helps to be playing in a position where we literally don't have a proper first-XI player either, yet). That said, all of us will need to be very patient. Several talents have shone at this level and just flattered to deceive. The step up is massive and will require mental as well as physical conditioning.
I remain hopeful that he will get a gradual introduction starting this season with the odd sub appearance in Cup games to start with. Let's see if that does occur and if so, how he takes his chances. Next season is when I think we'll (hopefully) start seeing him a bit more regularly if he keeps up his progression!
Travelling with the first team to Munich according to the pics posted by our official twitter account which is quite interesting.
Jose said on tour that he wants Chong training with the first team as often as possible if I’m not wrong. Will be very happy if that does prove to be the case.
Goddam we could do with this kid right now.
Few cheeky steroids here and there?
Few cheeky steroids here and there?
Agree with you and Chong is for sure as strong as mata,lingard,Martial. He would be able to do the right wing a whole lot better than Mata. Why not give him a chance?
He wouldn't do anything and very unlikely he is stronger than any of them. His legs are twigs. He was poor against Fulham u23s and average against Villa u23s let alone playing in the PL. He isn't ready.
The desperate hunt for a messiah continues. It won't change anything. We are currently less than the sum of our parts.
Vs Valencia U-19
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Chong training with the first team before Juventus match alongside Zach Dearnley and Tom Sang
Tom Sang 
feck is he shite
feck is he shiteWould be wonderful if he would be given some mins this season. Really good prospect
Probably only making up numbers with so many players out injured.
We seem to only have four available attacking players (Lukaku, Martial, Rashford and Mata) so he might just find himself on the bench. Very unlikely to actually get on the field of course, but it'd still be a good experience.
Does his inclusion kind of hint at a shift towards a 4-2-3-1 kind of formation? There's no real back up for Mata if neither Alexis nor Lingard are fit.
I'd imagine Mourinho would use him as an emergency LW to replace Sanchez, wouldn't read too much it.
Will be really happy if he makes it on the bench.
Not sure if he has the level to compete against a Juventus side, but just for being on the bench and perhaps having a few minutes would be really good for the kid.
Not sure if he has the level to compete against a Juventus side, but just for being on the bench and perhaps having a few minutes would be really good for the kid.
Can't see him in the 18.
Wonder if he'll end up as the star of Mourinho's Nick Powell moment?
If we play the same team vs Chelsea we won't have any attackers left on the bench without Chong?
He'll be on the bench, don't have any attacking options on the bench since Alexis is injured.
Should get 30 minutes, he deserves it.
He must be really buzzing just now! Deserves it not just because he is a very good player but also that nasty injury he suffered in the U18’s two seasons ago.
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