U21s squad for next season 2016-2017?

khoazany

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With the U21s won the title again, perhaps it's a good time to have some discussion/prediction about how things will pan out for the U21s next season.

From what I hear Rathbone and Dorrington are the only two released from the U21s and both of them are hardly played for the U21s so in terms of personnel available on paper there will be more players in contention due to the U18s stepping up.

Some of the players will (hopefully) leave the U21s behind and challenge for the first team place as we've seen with the likes of Lingard,Fosu-Mensah and Rashford.My personal hope would be Pereira and CBJ to claim a bigger role for the first team and make about 20 appearances each next season.Everything else will be a bonus (though I also have hope for either Williams or Tuanzebe to step it up).

The conundrum will be on the likes of Johnstone,Varela,Januzaj and Keane.All of them are way too good for U21s football obviously but by one reason or another, their future with the first team look uncertain.Big decisions are going to be made about them by the manager (hopefully a new one). Finger crossed they will make some impressions on pre-season if they're still here by then.

As usual we have many players who can really benefit from a loan move unless luck is on their side in terms of breaking into the first team.Rothwell,Joel Pereira,Weir,Love,McNair,Goss,Harrop,El-Fitouri are those players who need to be either with the first team or being loaned out since they are all 20+ and really lack of senior football experience, and I fail to see how U21s football can offer more for their development (might be for El-Fitouri but let's be honest I'm still confused why he was retained).Personally I think Willock and Riley are ready for a loan move too.As usual we will still keep some of them in the U21s to cover for the first team during injury crisis.However we have too many senior midfielders in my opinion so it's unlikely to we're going to be forced to use the likes of Goss,Harrop or Willock.

Which U18s will step up and become U21s regulars next season are also an interesting topic.We have 5 players who will not be eligible for the U18s next season and still hasn't make the step up to the U21s yet: Reid,Kehinde,Osolunde,Scott and Dunne.From those 5 Reid,Kehinde and Osolunde have enough abilities to claim a spot in my opinion, but we have too many other options in their positions (fullback and CM) so it's very hard to predict how things will pan out for them.

Gribbin and Warren are the 2 players I can see being promoted to the U21s ahead of time from the U18s next season.As per the case of Rashford it will depend on when we loan out older players to make way for them or when we will be hit by injuries for them to be played.Joyce seems to be a fan of Warren and I can see him being trusted at CB if 1-2 from Williams/Tuanzebe/Poole are not available.The likes of DJ Buffonge might be promoted at some points as well due to the number of attackers in the U18s next season but I wouldn't hope too much.

All in all I think this will be the core team for the U21s next season:
Henderson/O'Hara
El-Fitouri/Reid - Tuanzebe/Warren - Williams/Poole - Riley/Osolunde
Poole/Scott - Willock - McTominay/Kehinde
Gribbin/Ei-Fitouri - Mitchell/Doughty - Redmond/Riley​

Very unbalanced on paper but that's how the U21s usually is.
 
Are we planning to keep Doughty?

We'll also have Ashley Fletcher back as well.
 
Joel Pereira isn't 20 is he ? I think he should go out on loan to a championship club. Test himself.
What about El-Fitouri ? I think he's likely to be gone, especially if he's not going to get much game time and is down the pecking order.

I think there is also a possibility for Indy Boonen to maybe get the odd appearances here and there. Probably a little too early, but a couple of games might do him good.

It's also interesting to see what will be of Ashley Fletcher. I've never rated him too highly and he's only done reasonably well at Barnsley, so I think he will also get a few games along with Keane. I feel for Keane though :(

Edit: As for the older players, if the manager doesn't think they have much of a future, it's best to move them on. I thought Johnstone might have been a good understudy, but with Romero there, doubt it will ever happen.
Any players who's contract runs out ?
 
Always interesting to think about what the squad will look like next season. In this case I think it's more of a case of what I'd like to happen and what I actually think will happen unfortunately.

I see Tuanzebe and Williams continuing their partnership, although I'd like to see Axel make the step up to the first team at some stage that I think he'd have made this seasom had he not got injured before LVG's mass inclusion of young players. I'd actually prefer seeing that to seeing TFM play centre back as I'd like to see keep him in full back and/or midfield positions to leave room for the CB talents we have coming through.

Joel Pereira, Love, McNair, Riley, Rothwell, Harrop and Weir should all have loan moves. I'm reluctant to include Riley and Rothwell on the list as I think they should be with the first team next season but such is life, if they get a chance during pre season I fancy their chances at impressing whoever our manager is by then. Despite his great season which I actually think Weir might struggle finding a loan club due to his lack of natural position. I also think it'll be hard for Harrop to get a loan as he's missed a lot of games this year and despite his clear ability, may have failed to catch scouts eyes.

I'd give Willock and Goss another six months with the under 21s before looking to loan them as I think they'll benefit from that, especially Goss who's been out for a while.

I'd expect Warren, Gribbin and Dearnley (although I'm not his biggest fan) to be the players who are still eligible for the u18s that make the step up to regular u21s involvement. DJ Buffonge and Callum Whelan are the players I'd say have an outside chance of making a few appearances as well. Out of the u18s that have to move up next year and haven't done so already, I'd think Jimmy Dunne will struggle for match time but I expect Reid, Scott and Kehinde to be OK and I've not seen enough of Olosunde to judge and although I've heard good things, our last North American signing (Doughty) has been anonymous this season and not really eye-catching when he has played. I'm excited to see what Kehinde can do at this level.

I don't expect Johnstone, Varela, Januzaj, Fletcher and Keane to feature at all as they'll be either sold permanently or at least loaned out. I had hopes of Keane breaking into the first team finally but I think his injury at Shrewsbury was the nail in the coffin unfortunately. I think Wilson will also be loaned out, especially if he gets promoted with Brighton. Again, I think he should stay at the club but I don't see it happening whoever the manager is. I'd expect Andreas Pereira to be more involved with the first team so hopefully he's limited to one or two appearances with the 21s.

Don't be surprised to see CBJ still getting u21 matches as well. I'd have him second choice to Shaw but that will likely mean he doesn't actually play that much. Regan Poole might actually have problems getting games, at least in his natural CB position but I see Warren Joyce playing him in a holding midfield role.

I think Demetri Mitchell will play a key role in this side in attack and I think if he stays fit this will be a very big season for him as he has all the ability to be a top player.

This would be my side if everything went to plan (after January when more players have been loaned):

4-2-3-1
Henderson (O'Hara)
Reid (Warren, Olosunde)
Tuanzebe (Scott)
Williams (Warren)
CBJ
Poole (Scott, Olosunde)
Kehinde (Whelan)
Gribbin (Buffonge)
Redmond (Buffonge)
Dearnley (Mitchell)
Mitchell (Dearnley)

And I'm not even going to speak about El Fitouri.
 
Sid234 said:
Are we planning to keep Doughty?

We'll also have Ashley Fletcher back as well.
Click to expand...
Yeah Doughty is getting a new 1 year deal. I can't say who it is yet because the deal at his new club isn't completed but 1 of the lads who people expect to move up from the u18s is close to leaving
 
jb8521 said:
Yeah Doughty is getting a new 1 year deal. I can't say who it is yet because the deal at his new club isn't completed but 1 of the lads who people expect to move up from the u18s is close to leaving
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Any clues? Are they still eligible for the u18s next season?
 
pascell said:
Gribbin to Liverpool? Was reported a while back.
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Probably Gribbin, Gomes is a bit too young to be making the step up yet to the U21s, that'll proabably be in the beginning of the 2017 season.
 
It won't be Tuanzebe as he says expecting to step up and Tuanzebe already stepped up this season. Gribbin also just signed a 4 year deal last summer so I'd say the chances of him going anywhere are just about non-existent.
 
limerickcitykid said:
It won't be Tuanzebe as he says expecting to step up and Tuanzebe already stepped up this season. Gribbin also just signed a 4 year deal last summer so I'd say the chances of him going anywhere are just about non-existent.
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Yeah exactly. I'd say it's probably one of the second year scholars that haven't made the step up yet, or Warren.
 
jb8521 said:
Yeah Doughty is getting a new 1 year deal. I can't say who it is yet because the deal at his new club isn't completed but 1 of the lads who people expect to move up from the u18s is close to leaving
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Out of interest what club is un-said player supposed to be joining?
 
Sell
Johnstone (I really rate him but another loan move makes no sense for him and he should leave the club)
Keane
Powell
Blackett
Fletcher
Love
Rothwell

Loan
Wilson (Maybe he can really impress Van Gaal/New manager in pre-season but i reckon another loan move is the best for him)
A.Pereira (If he isn't the plans for "at least 20-30 games" in August then he needs a loan move)
McNair (We should try for him to find a club which will play him in the CDM position)
J.Pereira
Weir
Harrop
El Fitouri (It makes no sense to keep him therefore: Loan move -> He impresses Club X -> We're getting bit money for him in the winter)

Released
Dorrington
Rathbone

Squad
Goalkeepers: Henderson, O'Hara

It's probably pretty clear that Henderson and O'Hara will be the goalkeepers.

Defenders: Reid, Osolunde, Tuanzebe, Williams, Poole, Warren, Borthwick-Jackson, Riley

That position looks really exciting :drool:
I hope CBJ plays a good role in the 1st team but i reckon he'll start with the reserves if Shaw is fit and Blind & Rojo are staying. But if he doesn't play much then he needs a loan move in October/November.
The same should go for Riley.

Midfielders: Goss, Kehinde, McTominay, Scott, Redmond, Willock, Gribbin, Dearnley, Mitchell, Buffonge

Goss will hopefully get over his back injury, plays well in the first months and then gets a nice loan move in winter.
Fosu-Mensah will surely support the midfield too.
Because otherwise the central midfield positions doesn't look particularly strong.

If Gribbin stays and Mitchell stays fit then we're looking nice in the attacking midfield area.

Strikers: New striker, Doughty

Rashford will surely play a few times for the team but overall i think we must do something in that positon over the summer. I know you don't actually just sign a player for the reserve team but it would be pretty stupid to play without a natural striker for the most games (Doughty isn't one and is also just poor).

Starting XI: Henderson - Reid, Tuanzebe, Williams, Borthwick-Jackson - Willock, Goss; Mitchell, Gribbin, Riley - New striker
 
Really will be an interesting time for the likes of Varela, Januzaj, Weir, Keane and Johnstone.

Johnstone has ability, and had a good pre-season, although the manager was not feeling as generous at the start of the season, which is a shame, especially when De Gea was out. Varela impressed enough for me, and if he can improve his strength over the next year, I still feel he can challenge for the first team.

Adnan has no business in the U21s, but seems far from claiming an attacking spot at a club like ours just yet. Given what he has shown before, I think he'd still have a last chance, perhaps a more sensible loan will help.

Weir is as average a player you will ever see and has no business in the United first-team, or even the Premier League, so I imagine he'll be loaned and then sold, similarly to El-Fitouri. Keane's time is also up here. I think Riley may also get a PL loan based on his performances this season.

I hope Mitchell can remain fit, because another season like this will possibly seem him surpassed by Chong anyway, depending on how he settled. Will be interesting to see him and Gribbin step up properly, especially as it will give Gomes the 10 spot for the U18s.
 
Is it realistic to expect Gomes & Tahiti Chong to make their U21 debuts already next season, considering they’re only 16?

Edit: Gomes turns 16 in August.
 
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oskarutd said:
James Dunne has confirmed on Instagram that he is leaving.
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He's listed as extended on the list of players being kept on and released on skysports.

Contract Players
Blackett, Tyler Nathan
Blind, Daley
Borthwick-Jackson, Cameron Jake
Carrick, Michael (Offer)
Castro Pereira, Joel Dinis
Darmian, Matteo
De Gea Quintana, David
Dearnley, Zachary Harry
Depay, Memphis
Doughty, Joshua Anders (Offer)
El-Fitouri, Sadik (Offer)
Fellaini-Bakkioui, Marouane
Fletcher, Ashley Michael (Offer)
Fosu-Mensah, Evans Timothy Fosu
Goss, Sean Richard
Gribbin, Callum Anthony
Hamilton, Ethan Billy
Harrop, Joshua Andrew
Henderson, Dean Bradley
Herrera Aguera, Ander
Hoelgebaum Pereira, Andreas Hugo
Januzaj, Adnan
Johnstone, Samuel Luke
Jones, Philip Anthony
Keane, William David
Lingard, Jesse Ellis
Love, Donald Alistair
Martial, Anthony Joran
Mata Garcia, Juan Manuel
McIntosh-Buffonge, Darren Raekwon
McNair, Patrick James Coleman
Mctominay, Scott (Offer)
Mitchell, Demetri Karim (Offer)
O'Hara, Kieran Michael (Offer)
Olosunde, Matthew Olawale
Poole, Regan Leslie
Rashford, Marcus
Reid, Tyler
Riley, Joe (Offer)
Rojo, Faustino Marcos Alberto
Romero, Sergio German
Rooney, Wayne Mark
Rothwell, Joseph Matthew (Offer)
Schneiderlin, Morgan
Schweinsteiger, Bastian
Shaw, Luke Paul Hoare
Smalling, Christopher
Tuanzebe, Axel
Valencia Mosquera, Luis Antonio
Varela Olivera, Guillermo
Warren, Tyrell Nathaniel
Weir, James Michael (Offer)
Williams, Ro-Shaun Oman
Willock, Matthew
Wilson, James Antony
Young, Ashley Simon

Scholars
Boonen, Indy Zeb Pepe
Diedrick-Roberts, Kayne Leevi
Dunne, James Gerard (Extended)
Kehinde, Tosin Samuel
Kenyon, Jake Barry
Makela, Faustin
Moutha-Sebtaoui, Ilias
Redmond, Devonte Vincent (Offer Contract)
Scott, Charlie Thomas (Offer Contract)
Whelan, Callum Tyler

Released
Dorrington, George Edward
Powell, Nicholas Edward
Rathbone, Oliver Michael
Valdes Arribas, Victor
Click to expand...

Also, El-Fitouri has a contract offer from us?
 
I am not sure if it has been mentioned here but next year 16 Premier League u-21 teams will be entered into the EFL Trophy (formerly Johnstone's Paint Trophy) against League one and two sides.

Personally I think this is a good idea, it will give the younger players of Premier League clubs some experience of competitive football and will hopefully add a little interest back to the competition. Certainly for my club almost every season we play a weakened team in this competition, maybe the new format will change that. The club was also strongly in favour as they see it as a good chance to attract Premier League fans to the ground.

What do people here think? Surely more competitive football can only be seen as a good thing.
 
goatkrusher said:
I am not sure if it has been mentioned here but next year 16 Premier League u-21 teams will be entered into the EFL Trophy (formerly Johnstone's Paint Trophy) against League one and two sides.

Personally I think this is a good idea, it will give the younger players of Premier League clubs some experience of competitive football and will hopefully add a little interest back to the competition. Certainly for my club almost every season we play a weakened team in this competition, maybe the new format will change that. The club was also strongly in favour as they see it as a good chance to attract Premier League fans to the ground.

What do people here think? Surely more competitive football can only be seen as a good thing.
Click to expand...




Great idea imo - the quality in the lower leagues is consistently underestimated by premier league team fans and I am sure a few of those so called journeyman pros will want to show our kids they are no mugs. Win - Win for everyone[/QUOTE]
 
Yeah, I think it's a really good idea. I'm in the camp that would like to see a similar systems in UK like the on in Spain, were the U21 teams play in the same league system as the first teams.
 
I'm really looking forward to this - it will be excellent for our under 21's to play against proper pro teams with a competitive edge to boot.
 
Contract Players
Blackett, Tyler Nathan
Blind, Daley
Borthwick-Jackson, Cameron Jake
Carrick, Michael (Offer)
Castro Pereira, Joel Dinis
Darmian, Matteo
De Gea Quintana, David
Dearnley, Zachary Harry
Depay, Memphis
Doughty, Joshua Anders (Offer)
El-Fitouri, Sadik (Offer)
Fellaini-Bakkioui, Marouane
Fletcher, Ashley Michael (Offer)
Fosu-Mensah, Evans Timothy Fosu
Goss, Sean Richard
Gribbin, Callum Anthony
Hamilton, Ethan Billy
Harrop, Joshua Andrew
Henderson, Dean Bradley
Herrera Aguera, Ander
Hoelgebaum Pereira, Andreas Hugo
Januzaj, Adnan
Johnstone, Samuel Luke
Jones, Philip Anthony
Keane, William David
Lingard, Jesse Ellis
Love, Donald Alistair
Martial, Anthony Joran
Mata Garcia, Juan Manuel
McIntosh-Buffonge, Darren Raekwon
McNair, Patrick James Coleman
Mctominay, Scott (Offer)
Mitchell, Demetri Karim (Offer)
O'Hara, Kieran Michael (Offer)
Olosunde, Matthew Olawale
Poole, Regan Leslie
Rashford, Marcus
Reid, Tyler
Riley, Joe (Offer)
Rojo, Faustino Marcos Alberto
Romero, Sergio German
Rooney, Wayne Mark
Rothwell, Joseph Matthew (Offer)
Schneiderlin, Morgan
Schweinsteiger, Bastian
Shaw, Luke Paul Hoare
Smalling, Christopher
Tuanzebe, Axel
Valencia Mosquera, Luis Antonio
Varela Olivera, Guillermo
Warren, Tyrell Nathaniel
Weir, James Michael (Offer)
Williams, Ro-Shaun Oman
Willock, Matthew
Wilson, James Antony
Young, Ashley Simon

Scholars
Boonen, Indy Zeb Pepe
Diedrick-Roberts, Kayne Leevi
Dunne, James Gerard (Extended)
Kehinde, Tosin Samuel
Kenyon, Jake Barry
Makela, Faustin
Moutha-Sebtaoui, Ilias
Redmond, Devonte Vincent (Offer Contract)
Scott, Charlie Thomas (Offer Contract)
Whelan, Callum Tyler

Released
Dorrington, George Edward
Powell, Nicholas Edward
Rathbone, Oliver Michael
Valdes Arribas, Victor

With regard to the list above, what's the status of Thomas Sang, Travis Johnson and DJ Buffonge? I don't see their names?
 
eitoof said:
With regard to the list above, what's the status of Thomas Sang, Travis Johnson and DJ Buffonge? I don't see their names?
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DJ Buffonge already signed a pro deal so he's on the pro list under the name "McIntosh-Buffonge, Darren Raekwon".

Sang is an academy student not scholar.Travis Johnson was released (in fact he didn't play football anymore).
 
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