U19: Manchester United - Shakhtar Donetsk

Number 6 has been a little bastard all night.
 
feck sake I didn't even realise this was on today. So we're out then?
 
Hope they get knocked out in the youth league and we beat those cnuts tomorrow and it's Leverkusen who's through.

@up yea, we're out.
 
Tankowsky looked a good little player.

To be honest I found their time wasting less annoying than Sociedad's, it was just number 6 who was a cnut. Even at the end when Byrne put the ball on the 6 yard box for the keeper to kick, he didn't waste much time.
 
The refereeing in every game in this has been pathetic. United unlucky again and played well
 
Shame. All in all we've done ourselves proud over the course of these 6 matches. In midfield and attack we easily look as good as any team in the group but the lack of a settled back 4 cost us. They will have learned a lot from the experience and what doesn't kill you etc..
 
Lots of positives to take of course and great experience for the lads etc, but to be fair, even if you could say we arguably have the more talented players, they deserved it because they played with more intelligence than us. Thats partly the players fault and partly the coaches fault. Infact we have played with very little intelligence right throughout this tournament. Maybe its down to our lack of a regular u19s team but nearly all of these players have been playing in sides together for a long enough time.

Also on a low note, its a bit confusing that with our vast resources compared to to other clubs in terms of wealth, scouting and coaching, the central defensive prospects are of such a low standard. Im talking about all four who have played for us recently at this level. Any of them will be lucky to make championship players imo. Harsh I know but for the last 2 and a half seasons they have consistently let down the talented group of players in front of them.
 
Disappointing to wake up and hear that they could only manage a draw but can't be to upset with it. It was a good test for the boys and looked good in a few matches. As said, plenty of positives for both on and off the pitch.

It's very important that the first team make the Champions League so these kids can keep getting this experience.
 
It's all about development, with hopefully one or two players who get to become first team players. Rather then bring in lots of foreigners etc they have used the same group and given them experience in different positions. Sometimes we have a great defensive crop, sometimes the strength is attacking, sometimes it's been a good team with very few 'special' players.
 
SkeppyRed said:
Lots of positives to take of course and great experience for the lads etc, but to be fair, even if you could say we arguably have the more talented players, they deserved it because they played with more intelligence than us. Thats partly the players fault and partly the coaches fault. Infact we have played with very little intelligence right throughout this tournament. Maybe its down to our lack of a regular u19s team but nearly all of these players have been playing in sides together for a long enough time.

Also on a low note, its a bit confusing that with our vast resources compared to to other clubs in terms of wealth, scouting and coaching, the central defensive prospects are of such a low standard. Im talking about all four who have played for us recently at this level. Any of them will be lucky to make championship players imo. Harsh I know but for the last 2 and a half seasons they have consistently let down the talented group of players in front of them.
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Not sure what you're getting at there. Do elaborate.
 
datura said:
It's all about development, with hopefully one or two players who get to become first team players. Rather then bring in lots of foreigners etc they have used the same group and given them experience in different positions. Sometimes we have a great defensive crop, sometimes the strength is attacking, sometimes it's been a good team with very few 'special' players.
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Yeah, not too long ago we had Pique, Evans, Cathcart and Shawcross.
 
Anyone else think Andreas Pereira may be better in the deeper midfield role? Not seen him play there regularly but been very impressed when he does.
 
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Ramshock said:
So are people disappointed by this campaign or was it expected?
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Expected, I'd say.

Although there's a talented bunch of players, notably yesterday's front six players, it's a mixture of players who played U18's last season, U16's last season and a few who might be on the fringes of the U21's this season.

The other teams we faced have actual U19 squads, and as a result understand each other much better. Also, apart from Janko I don't particularly rate any of the defenders in the U19's.
 
Ramshock said:
So are people disappointed by this campaign or was it expected?
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Bit of disappointment because we could have so easily progressed. I didn't see yesterday's match but we at least deserve to draw both Shakhtar away and Leverkusen away. Unfortunately, we waited till 2nd half to get going in those games. For me, defense was a bit of let down. Overall, I think it must have been great learning experience for the kids.
 
The Man Himself said:
Bit of disappointment because we could have so easily progressed. I didn't see yesterday's match but we at least deserve to draw both Shakhtar away and Leverkusen away. Unfortunately, we waited till 2nd half to get going in those games. For me, defense was a bit of let down. Overall, I think it must have been great learning experience for the kids.
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Yeah agree with this. If we defended a bit better we would have progressed . Gave away too many silly goals through individual errors.
 
Ramshock said:
So are people disappointed by this campaign or was it expected?
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Not disappointed at all actually. From what Ive seen I think its been a far more valuable experience than some other competitions we've entered.

Shakhtar are a talented side as well. Some serious firepower in that team.

Overall there has been lots of positives imo.
 
Gerald G said:
Anyone else think Andreas Pereira may be better in the deeper midfield role? Not seen him play there regularly often but been very impressed when he does.
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I thought that could be the ideal position for him after the first couple of games I saw him play for us. A bit uncertain, still.
 
Gerald G said:
Anyone else think Andreas Pereira may be better in the deeper midfield role? Not seen him play there regularly often but been very impressed when he does.
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He was poor against Shaktar until he dropped back into the heart of midfield, at which point he was the best player on the pitch for me.

I think he will end up as an 8, or possibly even a 4 potentially. He lacks the explosiveness to make a real difference in the final third I think, and for a gifted technical player, as has been said before, he can tackle and look after himself well.

Basically, he's very similar to Petrucci at a similar age I think.
 
Rozay said:
He was poor against Shaktar until he dropped back into the heart of midfield, at which point he was the best player on the pitch for me.

I think he will end up as an 8, or possibly even a 4 potentially. He lacks the explosiveness to make a real difference in the final third I think, and for a gifted technical player, as has been said before, he can tackle and look after himself well.

Basically, he's very similar to Petrucci at a similar age I think.
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Yeah definitely agree with this. He was brilliant when he dropped back deeper and I can't remember when but I'm sure I remember him playing a deeper role earlier this season and being impressed by him.
 
Gerald G said:
Yeah definitely agree with this. He was brilliant when he dropped back deeper and I can't remember when but I'm sure I remember him playing a deeper role earlier this season and being impressed by him.
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Played deeper in the Milk Cup and was easily player of the tournament and did well playing deeper for the under 21s against Bury. Hes also played deeper with Belgium and been impressive. I think hes best deeper as well where he can control the game better but it seems the club want him to play further forward and influence the game more in and around the box and thats probably where he'll play in the youth cup as well
 
jb8521 said:
Played deeper in the Milk Cup and was easily player of the tournament and did well playing deeper for the under 21s against Bury. Hes also played deeper with Belgium and been impressive. I think hes best deeper as well where he can control the game better but it seems the club want him to play further forward and influence the game more in and around the box and thats probably where he'll play in the youth cup as well
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Yeah that was it, the milk cup and the U21s match. We should give him a go there but we've got Pearson and Rothwell so it'll be a bit difficult. But yeah I've been very impressed when he's played there. Youth cup, I still think he'll play behind the striker. We've got Willock and Goss so we can probably go 4-3-3 with each alternating. I expect us to do well in the youth cup though.
 
Gerald G said:
Yeah that was it, the milk cup and the U21s match. We should give him a go there but we've got Pearson and Rothwell so it'll be a bit difficult. But yeah I've been very impressed when he's played there. Youth cup, I still think he'll play behind the striker. We've got Willock and Goss so we can probably go 4-3-3 with each alternating. I expect us to do well in the youth cup though.
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If Wilson can keep up the form hes been in so far this season and the defence is any way solid we have a great chance
 
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