U23s - Manchester United vs Liverpool

DiShon Bernard showing his ability on the ball there.

One thing I've noticed is how often Mejbri wants to go forward on the ball. He needs to develop his vision and be okay with slowing the pace down in order to maintain possession. Forcing things won't always work out for him.
 
Our midfielders are a joke - they leave the defenders exposed time and time again. Bejger is left 1 against 2 - and one of our players are standing 5 meters away and looking at him.
 
That was a bit tough to watch. Liverpool doing their usual high press and we gifted them two really. Hopefully can get back into it second half.
 
Wellens has been terrible on the right flank. He's barely contributed anything from there both on the attack and defensively. McCann is also struggling to defend against this Liverpool team, and he's barely gotten on the ball to really play a part.

Overall, it feels like our U23 squad has been forced to make do with limited resources, and it shows. Svidersky, a DM, is playing at left back. Wellens, a central midfielder, is playing on the right flank after Helm went off. Mark Helm before him was also playing on the right flank even though he's a more central player. Our U23s team is also very young; our only player above the age of 18 is DiShon Bernard. Liverpool, in contrast, have more experienced players in their lineup: Millar and Woodburn are two players with a bunch of first-team football (domestically and/or internationally) whilst we have no players with first-team experience.

I guess, in this context, this is to be expected. Our U23s has had a ton of turnover, and they're struggling to assert themselves against more mature players.
 
That midfield needs changing. Who can we even bring on?
No one, really. Connor Stanley is a right winger, so that's the closest we can get to a midfielder.

To shore up the right side, we can probably bring on Ercolani, put Bejger on the left, and move Svidersky to the midfield. That'll mean McCann having to come off, however, but at least we'd have more protection at the back. Maybe we can go with a back 3 and have Stanley come on for Wellens.
 
Wow watching those goals again is infuriating. It’s basic shit. Mejbri on the second, who turns like that? You want to go left, you open up left. You don’t turn into the defender right, and then try take it across him. Just completely exposing the ball and inviting a tackle.

The fourth with the throw in. Who lines up a throw in like that. How is the taker just free to create a 2 on 1 so easily. I can’t believe they haven’t been taught this shit.
 
Wellens defended terribly for the 4th goal, and I think the 1st goal where he was the 2nd defender on the crosser, and yet the crosser got a free cross in after just standing still.

Midfield as a whole has been terrible and our attack disjointed
 
No one, really. Connor Stanley is a right winger, so that's the closest we can get to a midfielder.

To shore up the right side, we can probably bring on Ercolani, put Bejger on the left, and move Svidersky to the midfield. That'll mean McCann having to come off, however, but at least we'd have more protection at the back. Maybe we can go with a back 3 and have Stanley come on for Wellens.
Ercolani should help a bit, the midfield lads are just going to have to learn quickly if they don't want this to be a cricket score
 
Ercolani should help a bit, the midfield lads are just going to have to learn quickly if they don't want this to be a cricket score
Unfortunately, not much has changed. McCann's still struggling to get going, and as a result, Shoretire's getting under more pressure as he drops deeper to collect the ball. These will be hard lessons for these players to learn. Hopefully Wood and the coaching staff help out and impart some advice, too.
 
They've played very well for the last 5 mins. Of course they gave away a ridiculously bad goal in the middle of it....
 
Jack Bearne with an attempt at kicking DiShon Bernard. Talk about rubbing salt into the wounds...
 
I think that was the first time that United beat Liverpool's press. At least the players aren't hanging their heads and are trying to play through the adversity.
 
Ratty little Scouse bastard. He was giving it in the Bernard incident as well.
 
Oh boy, when it rains, it pours, and it's definitely pouring now at Leigh Sports Village.
 
Pity he got himself sent off. We've been better in the second half.
 
Red card for Clarkson after a bad foul on Bernard. Then one for Shoretire for decking Clarkson. Mejbri lucky to stay on, more interested in scrapping with Scousers in this match.
 
Shoretire absolutely decked a motherfecker.

Ridiculous red though. You can’t allow 10 other pushes and then give a red for a push.

Incredibly identical push to Shoretire's, didn't result in a red last week for Leicester's player and he went on to score.

That tackle from the Liverpool lad is pure dirt, should be a harsher bans for stuff like that 10 gamer like in France. Bernard incredibly lucky there.
 
Mejbri's looking much better in the midfield now. He's keeping his passes and touches more simple, and it's making us better as a result. Yeah, we're down to 10, but overall, in the 2nd half, he's looked better.

Unfortunately, McCann's still a little too slow for this level. He takes one too many touches in the midfield to really play at a quick-enough pace.
 
By the way, Liam Millar needs to leave Liverpool and join another side for more first-team football. He needs to in order to stand any chance at entering the Canadian national team.
 
Mejbri gets another consolation goal with a shot from the edge of the arc.
 
Liverpool now know what it feels to play without a defensive midfielder. :lol:
 
By the way, Liam Millar needs to leave Liverpool and join another side for more first-team football. He needs to in order to stand any chance at entering the Canadian national team.
Unfortunately I’m not sure he’s all that good and with our attacking pool getting a lot better he likely won’t ever be a regular. Although I’ll happily be wrong if he can kick on as I’ll always favour a Brampton lad.