U21s: Manchester United vs Middlesbrough

Joemo

whistling in the wind
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
8,342
Monday 20 January, 19:00 GMT​
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Manchester United's Under-21's entertain Middlesbrough on Monday night with the league game switched from Old Trafford to the AJ Bell Stadium.

Boro currently sit in 17th place in the table, eight places below United, but defeated Arsenal 3-1 in their last outing.

United's official site says that this is listed on MUTV.
 
We'll probably see the returning loanees keep Pearson and Rothwell out of the starting XI again. There just aren't enough games to go around these days and even if there were, the likes of Lingard, Petrucci and Macheda are done with this level anyways.
 
Macheda...surely there is very little benefit to us in starting him, can't see him staying with us past this season. Not sure why he's still here, really.

Would much rather see Wilson.
 
Yeah absolutely no reason why macheda doesn't just go back out on loan.
 
Don't get me wrong, he's a decent player, and would certainly score goals for us at U21 level. He just hasn't developed as hoped, obviously, and I'd rather see that development opportunity given to another.

35 minutes to kick off! A stream exists, I'm off to report it to my congressman...
 
MUFC U21 XI: Johnstone, Fabio, Thorpe, Ekangamene, Blackett Petrucci, James, Lingard, Macheda, W Keane, Cole

Bench: Zaha, Gollini, A Pereira, Janko, Rothwell
 
Johnstone​
Fabio Thorpe Ekangamene Blackett​
James​
Petrucci Lingard​
Macheda Keane Cole​
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is what MUTV listed. Could easily be a 442 though.​
 
gooDevil said:
Johnstone​
Fabio Thorpe Ekangamene Blackett​
James​
Petrucci Lingard​
Macheda Keane Cole​
​
is what MUTV listed. Could easily be a 442 though.​
Click to expand...

I suspect you need to put Blackett in the centre of defence, put James in the left of defence and then put Charni where you've placed James.

Edit, and then have Cole in the middle or right hand side, he won't be up front.
 
@goodevil just out in mutv and yeah they're showing the formation as you posted, bit weird that.
 
Does anyone else really like James? I can't wait to see him at first team level on loan.
 
Genius Me! said:
Does anyone else really like James? I can't wait to see him at first team level on loan.
Click to expand...

He's a very tidy, versatile little player. Reminds me quite a bit of Corry Evans. Should go on to have a decent career.
 
I had great hopes for Petrucci, but he doesn't look much now. Two years out through injury at a critical point in his development, I guess.
 
Has looked like a true out and out winger so far. Always trying to beat his man and cross it. Has succeeded maybe 50% of the time, and looked dangerous, but the other 50% has lost us possession.
 
Fabio had a good game. I feel sad that his United career is pretty much over.
 
To be fair to Wilf, he does look a step above this level.
 
We're wasting a couple of good chances today.
 
Middlesbrough were poor. If that's the way they're teaching young players to play up there then what a boring club they truly are.
 
Zaha for a good ten minutes was electrifying. He kept making a fool of his marker and was whipping in some decent crosses that needed to be attacked. He clearly has the license to take defenders on the Zaha way but I hope at first team level he knows when to keep it simple.

I said before the match that I like James but I didn't realise how good he is in the centre of the park. His passing was pin perfect and he played with quick speed of thought, slight resemblance of Carrick I think.
 
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