U23s: Manchester United vs Derby

RedMachine03

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Kick off at 7pm
Live on MUTV

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My internet is bring slow as hell tonight so mutv keeps freezing, guess I won't be watching this then.
 
Wilson had a good shot against the post early on, Riley did brilliantly to clear a scrappy one off the line a bit later (he's been up against Ikechi Anya btw who is proving a very good test for him). Not much else to report other than the referee getting injured and also Olosunde looks like he's had a nasty one, possibly out for a while. Kenyon on, Mitchell to RB, Riley to CB. Half time.
 
how did the ref get injured?

And what is with playing fullbacks at CB? Is Williams injured? I haven't been able to catch all the games so far this season and can't remember seeing him.
 
how did the ref get injured?

And what is with playing fullbacks at CB? Is Williams injured? I haven't been able to catch all the games so far this season and can't remember seeing him.
I think Williams is also injured. I'm guessing we only had one fit CB coming into the match today, which is weird.
 
Another loss. This time against bottom of the league Derby. The decision to rehire Sbragia is looking increasingly questionable.
 
Whilst that's true, he is suffering badly from a lack of decent defenders atm. Maybe we should allow O'Connor or someone to move up.
 
I'm incredibly worried about our current U23s setup and the coaching staffs "mindset". Nothing seems to be right for me. Playing style not good. Player development questionable. Still letting some older players rotten in the Reserves for too long. Best U18s not promoted early (while every other clubs did). Gomes is gonna lost his place in the England U18s soon at this rate, every of his other competitors are playing U23s or first team football. Little exaggeration with that one but literally we have no reason to complain about the lack of England call-ups with the way we do.

Then we have the likes of Kehinde constantly playing out of position despite we can easily get Boonen on for Whelan and moves Kehinde centrally for example. Last year we have too many CMs but this year Kehinde should be the first name on central midfield when McTominay's not there IMO.

The only excuse they have is the injuries of some of the best players in the group (Gribbin, Williams, Tuanzebe) but realistically the current group is capable of doing better. The likes of Boonen, Dearnley, Buffonge, Hamilton and Kenyon were flying for the U18s last season.
 
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Still too early but the early signs doesn't look good under Sbragia losing to a relegation team not playing well. we had a full year to make the right appointment and i guess we did make the wrong choice.

U23 manager is a very critical job to develop the players and get them in the mix to be ready for first team, we have some really good players who can make it to our first team squad with right development.
 
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It doesn't look good at all and something needs to change. Sbragia hasn't made a good first impression at all for me and I'm not buying the excuse of the players or team not being any good. I think it was a fair enough excuse last season but not anymore. There is a good chunk of talented players in the group now. Looking at the team, Olosunde is probably the weakest and tbh I've seen worse out there in recent years. Sure its unlucky Axel and Williams are missing so our CBs are a bit makeshift but our whole general play as lacked any sort of style and cohesion. As I say, Wilson, Demi, and Riley are 3 older lads who have dominated this level in previous times. Boonen and Buffonge were fantastic for the u18s and are certainly talented players, as are Dearnley and Bohui. Hamilton was excellent in the u23s outings last season and a very solid player. Whelan is also good and a part of the very impressive u18s side last season. Kehinde doesn't do enough for me most of the time but he is clearly very technical and its up to the coach to get something out of him. I don't rate McTominay but he is fine. Something needs to be done and I know the players are capable of good stuff so I'm not buying that.