oskarutd said:
they're even bitter about the reservesYouth Reports 05/06 & 06/07 & 07/08 seasons
- Thread starter golden_blunder
- Start date
they're even bitter about the reservesfrom manutd.com
Reds Get Back To Winning Ways
FA Academy Premier League
Manchester United 2
Manchester City 1
Carrington, 1 October, 2005
After their unbeaten run ended last weekend with defeat to Wolves, United's Under-18s got back on track on Saturday by beating Manchester City 2-1 at Carrington.
Second half strikes from Fraizer Campbell and Sean Evans secured the win over United's Manchester neighbours.
Evans' strike came ten minutes into the second half, while Fraizer Campbell completed the scoring in the 73rd minute.
The Reds leapfrog City in Academy League Group C (the North-west England division) and move into second place, just a point behind Liverpool who lost at the weekend in their Derby with Everton. Blackburn continue to lead the way, five points ahead of United.
Academy coach Paul McGuinness has a young group of players to work with this season, but his side had started the campaign with an unbeaten run of five matches.
Last weekend, however, they suffered their first defeat - a 3-2 loss away to Wolves.
McGuinness' young group makes victory over City, a physically strong side, even more pleasing.
United: Zieler; Rose, Shawcross, J. Evans, Lee; Mullan, Gibson, Hewson, Gray; Campbell, S. Evans.
Subs not used: Chester, Crockett (GK), Fagan, Marsh.
Reds Get Back To Winning Ways
FA Academy Premier League
Manchester United 2
Manchester City 1
Carrington, 1 October, 2005
After their unbeaten run ended last weekend with defeat to Wolves, United's Under-18s got back on track on Saturday by beating Manchester City 2-1 at Carrington.
Second half strikes from Fraizer Campbell and Sean Evans secured the win over United's Manchester neighbours.
Evans' strike came ten minutes into the second half, while Fraizer Campbell completed the scoring in the 73rd minute.
The Reds leapfrog City in Academy League Group C (the North-west England division) and move into second place, just a point behind Liverpool who lost at the weekend in their Derby with Everton. Blackburn continue to lead the way, five points ahead of United.
Academy coach Paul McGuinness has a young group of players to work with this season, but his side had started the campaign with an unbeaten run of five matches.
Last weekend, however, they suffered their first defeat - a 3-2 loss away to Wolves.
McGuinness' young group makes victory over City, a physically strong side, even more pleasing.
United: Zieler; Rose, Shawcross, J. Evans, Lee; Mullan, Gibson, Hewson, Gray; Campbell, S. Evans.
Subs not used: Chester, Crockett (GK), Fagan, Marsh.
oskarutd said:
huh!?
oskarutd said:
Stretford Buccaneers?
I thought they were playing Manchester United.
Elliott said:
Mathematics is their strong point.
Corrie Evans is in N.Irish squad for the Victory Shield. Cathcart is the captain for their *17s and scored in a tournement. Gibson is called up for Irish *19s from 13th til 20th of this month. McShane is in the *21s.
Richard Jones is in the English *20s. Campell was replaced from the *19s. Steele is with the *21s.
Puustinen seems not to be for the next game with the Finnish *19s.
Floribert N´Galula-Mbuyi has been playing with the Belgian *19s, but when I don´t know.
Neumayr hasn´t been playing for his country *19s since in oktober last year.
Zieler has been playing with the German *17s and should be with them from the 10th til 19th of this month.
I don´t know about Pique and Rossi.
Can anyone tell me the scorers from the Forest game (*18s) and also the team against Wolves (*-18s). If someone has the squad for the *-16s it will be wonderful to get that info on the forum.
Richard Jones is in the English *20s. Campell was replaced from the *19s. Steele is with the *21s.
Puustinen seems not to be for the next game with the Finnish *19s.
Floribert N´Galula-Mbuyi has been playing with the Belgian *19s, but when I don´t know.
Neumayr hasn´t been playing for his country *19s since in oktober last year.
Zieler has been playing with the German *17s and should be with them from the 10th til 19th of this month.
I don´t know about Pique and Rossi.
Can anyone tell me the scorers from the Forest game (*18s) and also the team against Wolves (*-18s). If someone has the squad for the *-16s it will be wonderful to get that info on the forum.
Rincon
He ssems to be still in Brazil.
From 14.9 2005:
The team São paulo Madrid carried out to first party of the season 2005/06 madrilenha in the last sunday (11), when defeated at home the College El Meadow 'B' by 3x0. The gols were marked by Luis Mayor, Beto Pern and Sylvain.
The Tricolor madrilenho come back to field in the near sunday (18) against the Avenues Park COMPACT DISK, in Madrid.
Technical token
School El Meadow 0x3 São paulo Madrid
College El Meadow: Peral, Bartolomé, Zárate, Yubero, Rincón, Towers, García-Muñoz, Kshucherp, Ortega, Ambite and Mallo.
They are Paulo Madrid: César (Juanma Go), Rubén Fdez, Juan Carlos, Luis Mayor, Alex (Sylvain), Javi Dorado, Luizão, Yago, Roberto, Ricardo, Beto (Luis Calés).
Gols: Luis Mayor to the 33' of the 1º time
Beto Pern to the 8' and Sylvain (penalty) to the 35' of the 2ª time
source
From the 25th of august:
Of turn, Sub-20 Tricolor defeats the Fluminense by the Copa Culture by klay other (Site Official) Carried out in the night of this Wednesday (24), in the Morumbi, to party finished with the victory are-paulina by 4x1 the team sub-20 of the São paulo Soccer Club initiated the returno of the Copa Culture with a victory about the Fluminense by 4x1, in the night of this Wednesday (24), in Between the two it equip by the Brazilian Championship. With that result, the Tricolor native of são paulo arrives to the 19 points in the general classification and remains in the vice-leadership, behind only of the Saints, with 22 points. The Fluminense is the seventh one put, with 13 points.
The game began enough enlivened with good chances for the two teams, but the Fluminense opened the scoreboard to the 14 minutes of the first time with the attacking one Osmar. Did not it delay very, to the 20 minutes, the Tricolor arrived to the tie with the attacking one Corrêa, that received pair of the left one, the goleiro got around and kicked crossed. To the 23, Vandinho came the marker after an exchange of you pass for the right with Corrêa. To the 27 minutes, in played quick by the lateral left one, the player André crossed the ball for the sock little Leads, inside the area, extend. And still to the 43 minutes of the first time, little Leads crossed, also of the left one, for the attacking Vandinho finalize the scoreboard: 4x1.
The near adversary of the São paulo will be the Botafogo, in the day 04 of September, to the 13h30, in Niterói.
Technical token
They are Paulo 4x1 Fluminense Date: 24/08/05 Hour: 19 Local hours: Stadium of the Morumbi (SP) Arbitrator: Joe
*. Oak
They are Paulo: Weverson, Jackson, Gustavo Cazão, Rincón, Carlinhos, André, Jean, Arthur, Vandinho, little Leads (Kanu) and Corrêa. Technical: Landmarks Vizolli.
Fluminense: Daniel, Renan, Alex, Fernando Souza, Marcelo, Thiaguinho, Luizinho, Marcelo Almeida, Juliano, Osmar and Adenis. Technical: Alexandre Range
Gols: Osmar (FLU) to the 14'; Corrêa (SPFC) to the 20'; Vandinho (SPFC) to the 23' and to the 43'; and little Leads (SPFC) to the 27', of the 1º time.
source
He ssems to be still in Brazil.
From 14.9 2005:
The team São paulo Madrid carried out to first party of the season 2005/06 madrilenha in the last sunday (11), when defeated at home the College El Meadow 'B' by 3x0. The gols were marked by Luis Mayor, Beto Pern and Sylvain.
The Tricolor madrilenho come back to field in the near sunday (18) against the Avenues Park COMPACT DISK, in Madrid.
Technical token
School El Meadow 0x3 São paulo Madrid
College El Meadow: Peral, Bartolomé, Zárate, Yubero, Rincón, Towers, García-Muñoz, Kshucherp, Ortega, Ambite and Mallo.
They are Paulo Madrid: César (Juanma Go), Rubén Fdez, Juan Carlos, Luis Mayor, Alex (Sylvain), Javi Dorado, Luizão, Yago, Roberto, Ricardo, Beto (Luis Calés).
Gols: Luis Mayor to the 33' of the 1º time
Beto Pern to the 8' and Sylvain (penalty) to the 35' of the 2ª time
source
From the 25th of august:
Of turn, Sub-20 Tricolor defeats the Fluminense by the Copa Culture by klay other (Site Official) Carried out in the night of this Wednesday (24), in the Morumbi, to party finished with the victory are-paulina by 4x1 the team sub-20 of the São paulo Soccer Club initiated the returno of the Copa Culture with a victory about the Fluminense by 4x1, in the night of this Wednesday (24), in Between the two it equip by the Brazilian Championship. With that result, the Tricolor native of são paulo arrives to the 19 points in the general classification and remains in the vice-leadership, behind only of the Saints, with 22 points. The Fluminense is the seventh one put, with 13 points.
The game began enough enlivened with good chances for the two teams, but the Fluminense opened the scoreboard to the 14 minutes of the first time with the attacking one Osmar. Did not it delay very, to the 20 minutes, the Tricolor arrived to the tie with the attacking one Corrêa, that received pair of the left one, the goleiro got around and kicked crossed. To the 23, Vandinho came the marker after an exchange of you pass for the right with Corrêa. To the 27 minutes, in played quick by the lateral left one, the player André crossed the ball for the sock little Leads, inside the area, extend. And still to the 43 minutes of the first time, little Leads crossed, also of the left one, for the attacking Vandinho finalize the scoreboard: 4x1.
The near adversary of the São paulo will be the Botafogo, in the day 04 of September, to the 13h30, in Niterói.
Technical token
They are Paulo 4x1 Fluminense Date: 24/08/05 Hour: 19 Local hours: Stadium of the Morumbi (SP) Arbitrator: Joe
*. Oak
They are Paulo: Weverson, Jackson, Gustavo Cazão, Rincón, Carlinhos, André, Jean, Arthur, Vandinho, little Leads (Kanu) and Corrêa. Technical: Landmarks Vizolli.
Fluminense: Daniel, Renan, Alex, Fernando Souza, Marcelo, Thiaguinho, Luizinho, Marcelo Almeida, Juliano, Osmar and Adenis. Technical: Alexandre Range
Gols: Osmar (FLU) to the 14'; Corrêa (SPFC) to the 20'; Vandinho (SPFC) to the 23' and to the 43'; and little Leads (SPFC) to the 27', of the 1º time.
source
cheers, oscar. think tonypark is pretty up-to-date with the *16s, hopefully he'll be promoted soon
Hm, promising that a young bloke like Campbell (recently turned 18) are playing with the *19s. Do you now why he were replaced?
andersj said:
No info on that, most likely injured.
Anyone heard of this Corey Evans?.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=313602&CPID=14&clid=&lid=2&title=United+target+gets+chance
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=313602&CPID=14&clid=&lid=2&title=United+target+gets+chance
Duo join *20s squad
Thursday, 06 October 2005.
England v Holland
*20s International Friendly
Turf Moor, Burnley
09 October 2005, 2.30pm
Manchester United midfielder Richard Jones has withdrawn from the England *20s squad to face Holland on Sunday 09 October.
Jones (pictured), who was part of the *19s squad that reached the European Championship final in July, pulled out through injury and has been replaced by Rotherham United's Will Hoskins.
England *20s coach John Peacock has also called-up Grant Leadbitter, the Sunderland midfielder on loan to Rotherham, to make the squad up to 18 players.
The changes follow the call-ups handed out to Southampton's Dexter Blackstock, Manchester City midfielder Lee Croft and Matthew Bates of Middlesbrough, who were drafted into the squad earlier this week.
They came into the squad after Ryan Jarvis was lost due to injury and Nedum Onuoha and Aaron Lennon were moved up to Peter Taylor's *21 squad.
Corrie is the yong brother of Johnny Evans. TonyParks has some more insight in the reserve thread in the newbies.
Thursday, 06 October 2005.
England v Holland
*20s International Friendly
Turf Moor, Burnley
09 October 2005, 2.30pm
Manchester United midfielder Richard Jones has withdrawn from the England *20s squad to face Holland on Sunday 09 October.
Jones (pictured), who was part of the *19s squad that reached the European Championship final in July, pulled out through injury and has been replaced by Rotherham United's Will Hoskins.
England *20s coach John Peacock has also called-up Grant Leadbitter, the Sunderland midfielder on loan to Rotherham, to make the squad up to 18 players.
The changes follow the call-ups handed out to Southampton's Dexter Blackstock, Manchester City midfielder Lee Croft and Matthew Bates of Middlesbrough, who were drafted into the squad earlier this week.
They came into the squad after Ryan Jarvis was lost due to injury and Nedum Onuoha and Aaron Lennon were moved up to Peter Taylor's *21 squad.
Corrie is the yong brother of Johnny Evans. TonyParks has some more insight in the reserve thread in the newbies.
oskarutd said:
Thanks for that info TonyParks on the Newbie Forum. I look forward for more info on the u16s when you have them. Does noone have the team against Wolves in u18s and subs?
Thanks for the info on the team in the newbie Forum TonyParks !
we lost 2-0 away to Bolton with the u18s.
Tony Park....
Do you know something about Welbeck (except the fact that he is 14 years old and in the U16 for England)? Where do he play? Strenghts and weakness'?
And this James fellow, where do he play?
Do you know something about Welbeck (except the fact that he is 14 years old and in the U16 for England)? Where do he play? Strenghts and weakness'?
And this James fellow, where do he play?
Thanks, TonyPark, hope you can get promoted soon, this forum needs a fellow like you here.
I fear that Welbeck is just anotherone of those early developers who are great when they are young because of there superior physique. I like talents who has technique as there biggest assets, I find them more likely to be a success (is not Brandy like that?).
It is surely exciting to see that our future looks brighter than in a long time.
I fear that Welbeck is just anotherone of those early developers who are great when they are young because of there superior physique. I like talents who has technique as there biggest assets, I find them more likely to be a success (is not Brandy like that?).
It is surely exciting to see that our future looks brighter than in a long time.
andersj said:
I would agree with you in general, however you'll find that United 99% of the time sign or take a player into the academy purly on ability, and not on size. I think if this lad is big, then it's just an added bonus to his obvious talent.
andersj said:
If you look at the picture (posted in the newbie) of Welbeck and Brandy standing together, you would see that Brandy actually is bigger than Welbeck..
Jepp (and thank you to the fellow who putted that one out), but Brandy is also two years older. But yeah, Welbeck made Brandy look beef.
www.manutd.com should try to hire TonyPark. He would surely have done a better job than some of the people working there now.
andersj said:
Right, but then might hire someone with little interest on the youths and ambition. Even a tiny bit and the will be many times better than now!
I suspect that they do not want to give us much info on the kids. So they don´t get to big for their boots.
"I suspect that they do not want to give us much info on the kids. So they don´t get to big for their boots."
Well, that is surely stupid of them. Dave U has been feeding Liverpool fans on Liverpoolway for several years.
Well, that is surely stupid of them. Dave U has been feeding Liverpool fans on Liverpoolway for several years.
Choccy Takes Temporary Charge At Wolves
The Reserves begin life after Ricky Sbragia with a trip to Telford United tonight to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Brian McClair will take charge for tonight's match and has made just one change to the side that beat Everton last week, with Danny Simpson coming in for Phil Bardsley at right back.
Jonny Evans remains as a makeshift centre-back alongside Gerard Pique, while Simpson and Adam Eckersley occupy the full-back slots.
This is from manutd.com
Evans is usually a cener half. Steele is away on England u21 duty.
Darron Gibson continues in midfield after an excellent display against the Toffeemen was capped with his first Reserves goal, and Messrs Neumayr, Martin and Fox retain their places.
Giuseppe Rossi and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake start their third game of the season together upfront, and already have six goals between them from their previous two outings.
United are currently in fourth spot in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North, five points off leaders Middlesbrough with two games in hand.
Wolves, meanwhile, are 11th with seven points from six games.
United: Lee, Simpson, A Eckersley, J Evans, Pique, Fox, Neumayr, Gibson, Ebanks-Blake, Rossi, Martin.
Substitutes: Cooper, Amos, Mullan, Marsh, Shawcross.
The Reserves begin life after Ricky Sbragia with a trip to Telford United tonight to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Brian McClair will take charge for tonight's match and has made just one change to the side that beat Everton last week, with Danny Simpson coming in for Phil Bardsley at right back.
Jonny Evans remains as a makeshift centre-back alongside Gerard Pique, while Simpson and Adam Eckersley occupy the full-back slots.
This is from manutd.com
Evans is usually a cener half. Steele is away on England u21 duty.
Darron Gibson continues in midfield after an excellent display against the Toffeemen was capped with his first Reserves goal, and Messrs Neumayr, Martin and Fox retain their places.
Giuseppe Rossi and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake start their third game of the season together upfront, and already have six goals between them from their previous two outings.
United are currently in fourth spot in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League North, five points off leaders Middlesbrough with two games in hand.
Wolves, meanwhile, are 11th with seven points from six games.
United: Lee, Simpson, A Eckersley, J Evans, Pique, Fox, Neumayr, Gibson, Ebanks-Blake, Rossi, Martin.
Substitutes: Cooper, Amos, Mullan, Marsh, Shawcross.
How did the Reserves get on?
Anyone know the score?
Anyone know the score?
From Red Issue
Rossi, Blake and Martin are well above this level.
Rossi, Blake and Martin are well above this level.
From the telegraph a few weeks ago.
When Manchester United's Academy boys glide from their dressing rooms at the club's magnificent skill factory hidden deep in the Trafford countryside, they run past 10-foot high photographs of David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs and George Best. "We want them to be inspired," said Rene Meulensteen, United's skills development coach.
They are inspired. In the ensuing sessions of drills and small-sided games, the technique, ambition and vision of United's youngsters borders on the breath-taking. "If this generation carries on maturing," confided Meulensteen on Monday night, "they will steamroller everyone at Under-18 level. They'll have skills coming out of their ears."
Sited adjacent to United's senior complex at Carrington, the Academy heaved with 10-year-olds dropping shoulders, rolling the foot over the top of the ball a la Zidane, and executing the type of step-over that Cristiano Ronaldo inflicted on Benfica the following evening.
At the end, as sweat and smiles lit up the young faces, Meulensteen gathered the boys together in a circle. "You all have the ability," he told them. "But do you have the confidence to play in front of 10,000 people, 20,000, 30,000? Use all your time training. Don't waste it. Learn. Train hard, work hard. Take responsibility."
The kids ran off, replacing lost fluids with isotonic drinks, laughing among each other about tricks they had tried out. They all changed, some pulling on the shirts of their home-town clubs like Preston and Burnley, and walked into the coaches' room to shake hands with Meulensteen and his chatty staff.
"Any kid who comes here will leave a better human being, and a better player," said the Academy director, Les Kershaw. "We try to teach them right and wrong things. When they come in, they come and shake hands. 'Hello, how are you.' It's proper. When Sir Alex Ferguson came once, one of the little lads said: 'Hiya, boss. How are you?' Two lads misheard him and said: 'Hiya, Bob. How are you?' Bob!"
Laughter is a constant sound at the Academy. Yet there is a serious issue that United want brought into the open, much as it may antagonise other clubs. United want to revolutionise coaching of the Under-9 to Under-11 age-group, focusing more on developing skills in four-v-four games than contesting blood-and-thunder eight-v-eight club skirmishes.
Sitting next to the famous 1970 photograph of Bobby Moore embracing Pele, Meulensteen called for a fusion of English zeal and Brazilian flair. "In Brazil, if a boy goes on the beach with a nice swimming bottom on but he hasn't got any skill, everyone says 'you just sit down'," Meulensteen said. "Here the football culture is more 'get stuck in'. We are trying to marry the two cultures together. Wayne Rooney has that character of wanting to win, and the skill to beat players.
"Why did Eric Cantona, Pele and Romario make the difference? Why does Ronaldinho? Under pressure, they have the ability to create a better situation. You can be as physically strong as you want, as tactically well-organised as you want, but you can never beat players like Maradona, Cruyff, Best or Zidane. They can unlock defences.
"In the last 15 years, the emphasis has been on physical and tactical development, not conceding goals and getting something from a set-play. That's not entertainment. We have been relying on God-gifted players - Cruyff, Best, Maradona - and once every five years somebody else pops up. Somebody [Rooney] popped up at Everton a couple of years ago. We want a development programme that gives us four or five Rooneys." With United's Academy complex costing a third of the £27 million Ferguson spent on Rooney, it makes sense to groom your own.
"We want players who can do the unpredictable like Rooney," Meulensteen continued. "I see too many one-dimensional players at the top level. We inspire kids to take players on. In the attacking third, it's all guns blazing. Sir Alex has been totally supportive. He came and watched what the little kids can do and said: 'Carry on.' The manager has experience of what it means when local lads come good."
Pictures of the class of 92, of Beckham, Giggs, Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles, line the walls of Carrington. Kershaw worked with them and is passionate about giving tyros time to blossom. "How many clubs would have taken Scholesy on at 16?" mused Kershaw.
"At 16, we could play Scholesy for only 20 minutes a game. He couldn't run. He was a little one. Had asthma. No strength. No power. No athleticism. No endurance. 'You've got a bleeding dwarf,' I remember somebody said to Brian Kidd [the then youth-team coach]. 'You will eat your words,' said Kiddo. If Scholesy had been at a lesser club, they would have got rid of him and he would probably not be in the game now. We stuck with Scholesy, a wonderful technician.
In the 21st century, when street football has largely disappeared, Kershaw asked Meulensteen to come to Carrington and hone the techniques of the heirs to the Scholes generation. The Dutchman put on a coaching demonstration for Ferguson and was appointed immediately. "Rene has spells working with Van Nistelrooy, Chris Eagles and Giuseppi Rossi, who all pick at his brains, but his role is development of young boys," Kershaw said. "He is the best coach in the world for kids."
Raised in the land of Total Football, Meulensteen's obsession with encouraging skills dovetailed perfectly with the creed of Ferguson, Kershaw and enlightened Academy stalwarts like Brian McClair and Tony Whelan. "Seven to 10 is the golden age of learning, so we work on their technique at a young age," Whelan said.
"Rene came in," Kershaw continued, "and said it was not helpful to put Under-9 kids into Premier League eight-a-side football games against other clubs with mums and dads on touchlines shouting 'get stuck in'. When we played some teams it was like World War Three. When we played Man City last year, we had to frogmarch a City parent from the training ground. He was effing and blinding, telling the referee he's an effing cheat. When we play City now, I tell the groundsman to shift the rope away from the pitch so the parents are 20-30 yards back."
United commissioned a report from Manchester Metropolitan University which praised the "number of dribbling skills - step-over, drag-back, Cruyff Turn, feint and others - demonstrated" by the Academy's Under-9 players while involved in four-v-four games on pitches measuring 25 metres by 25 metres.
Armed with this backing from respected sports scientists, United went to the Premier League Academy directors' meeting and argued for a change in the rules, replacing eight-v-eights for the youngest kids with four-v-fours. As one coach present described it, other clubs reacted to Kershaw's request as if he had "thrown a hand-grenade at them".
Kershaw himself said: "The supposed experts at other clubs went: 'Bloody Man Utd, if they don't fancy it, they can pull out of the games programme.' They didn't listen to the argument that what we were doing was good for kids' development."
Evidence that something special was occurring at United could be found at Littleton Road with the merry bands of Under-9s and Under-10s, on Carrington's indoor pitch with Meulensteen and the Under-11s and outside under floodlights with the Under-12s. United have become the Eton College of football.
Practice makes perfect. "Experts reckon it takes 10,000 hours of training to make a top athlete," remarked coach Eamon Mulvey. So United ensure training is fun. "At the start we often put on a five-minute DVD with tricks from Best, Maradona and Ronaldo. We'll say, 'Who wants to be Ronaldo? Hands up.' Then they go off and try the tricks in a game."
All those skills are cultivated and paraded in the four-v-four contests. "We feel like a voice in the wilderness," observed Whelan. "We'd love it if someone else did a four-v-four pilot. We need more allies. We do have some. Derby, Leicester and Liverpool are good collaborators."
Others aren't. "When we play Huddersfield or Stoke, they are so up for it because they are playing against United," Meulensteen said. "They work twice as hard. It's a battle. That cannot develop players. One manager of another Academy said to me: 'I want to see eight v eight and a nice cup of tea afterwards.'
"Being technical director of the FA is almost an impossible job because there are so many narrow-minded people out there. There's a negative coaching culture in England. It's crash, bang, wallop coaching. We are different. If someone makes a mistake, nobody has a go at them."
Kershaw agreed, adding: "Our poorest Under-16s are light-years in front of anything they have at Bury, Rochdale and all those clubs. We are producing very, very skilful young boys, who do the tricks and compete. By the time they are 12, they are ready to enter 11-a-side.
"The Premier League have a set of rules which now need a major revision. But I am stopping going to Academy managers' meetings. They just spout hot-air. We have little Tin-Gods trying to do big jobs. Some clubs are in disarray with their Academies. The Premier League should be saying: 'You out.' But they won't.
"Barnsley's Academy was magnificent when it was built, but unfortunately they have hit the buffers, they don't meet the rules so they should be chucked out. We are continuing to invest. Other clubs aren't. Chelsea were the worst, but in fairness they will be the tops now.
"The FA set up a system with Academies to develop kids to win England the World Cup. I don't care if England don't get in the top 32 in the world. My job is to get a player in United's first team. But he doesn't need to be English. Rossi [the Italian teenager] has a wonderful chance. He's like Jimmy Greaves: left-kicker, tucks the ball away. But not English."
When Manchester United's Academy boys glide from their dressing rooms at the club's magnificent skill factory hidden deep in the Trafford countryside, they run past 10-foot high photographs of David Beckham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs and George Best. "We want them to be inspired," said Rene Meulensteen, United's skills development coach.
They are inspired. In the ensuing sessions of drills and small-sided games, the technique, ambition and vision of United's youngsters borders on the breath-taking. "If this generation carries on maturing," confided Meulensteen on Monday night, "they will steamroller everyone at Under-18 level. They'll have skills coming out of their ears."
Sited adjacent to United's senior complex at Carrington, the Academy heaved with 10-year-olds dropping shoulders, rolling the foot over the top of the ball a la Zidane, and executing the type of step-over that Cristiano Ronaldo inflicted on Benfica the following evening.
At the end, as sweat and smiles lit up the young faces, Meulensteen gathered the boys together in a circle. "You all have the ability," he told them. "But do you have the confidence to play in front of 10,000 people, 20,000, 30,000? Use all your time training. Don't waste it. Learn. Train hard, work hard. Take responsibility."
The kids ran off, replacing lost fluids with isotonic drinks, laughing among each other about tricks they had tried out. They all changed, some pulling on the shirts of their home-town clubs like Preston and Burnley, and walked into the coaches' room to shake hands with Meulensteen and his chatty staff.
"Any kid who comes here will leave a better human being, and a better player," said the Academy director, Les Kershaw. "We try to teach them right and wrong things. When they come in, they come and shake hands. 'Hello, how are you.' It's proper. When Sir Alex Ferguson came once, one of the little lads said: 'Hiya, boss. How are you?' Two lads misheard him and said: 'Hiya, Bob. How are you?' Bob!"
Laughter is a constant sound at the Academy. Yet there is a serious issue that United want brought into the open, much as it may antagonise other clubs. United want to revolutionise coaching of the Under-9 to Under-11 age-group, focusing more on developing skills in four-v-four games than contesting blood-and-thunder eight-v-eight club skirmishes.
Sitting next to the famous 1970 photograph of Bobby Moore embracing Pele, Meulensteen called for a fusion of English zeal and Brazilian flair. "In Brazil, if a boy goes on the beach with a nice swimming bottom on but he hasn't got any skill, everyone says 'you just sit down'," Meulensteen said. "Here the football culture is more 'get stuck in'. We are trying to marry the two cultures together. Wayne Rooney has that character of wanting to win, and the skill to beat players.
"Why did Eric Cantona, Pele and Romario make the difference? Why does Ronaldinho? Under pressure, they have the ability to create a better situation. You can be as physically strong as you want, as tactically well-organised as you want, but you can never beat players like Maradona, Cruyff, Best or Zidane. They can unlock defences.
"In the last 15 years, the emphasis has been on physical and tactical development, not conceding goals and getting something from a set-play. That's not entertainment. We have been relying on God-gifted players - Cruyff, Best, Maradona - and once every five years somebody else pops up. Somebody [Rooney] popped up at Everton a couple of years ago. We want a development programme that gives us four or five Rooneys." With United's Academy complex costing a third of the £27 million Ferguson spent on Rooney, it makes sense to groom your own.
"We want players who can do the unpredictable like Rooney," Meulensteen continued. "I see too many one-dimensional players at the top level. We inspire kids to take players on. In the attacking third, it's all guns blazing. Sir Alex has been totally supportive. He came and watched what the little kids can do and said: 'Carry on.' The manager has experience of what it means when local lads come good."
Pictures of the class of 92, of Beckham, Giggs, Butt, Scholes and the Nevilles, line the walls of Carrington. Kershaw worked with them and is passionate about giving tyros time to blossom. "How many clubs would have taken Scholesy on at 16?" mused Kershaw.
"At 16, we could play Scholesy for only 20 minutes a game. He couldn't run. He was a little one. Had asthma. No strength. No power. No athleticism. No endurance. 'You've got a bleeding dwarf,' I remember somebody said to Brian Kidd [the then youth-team coach]. 'You will eat your words,' said Kiddo. If Scholesy had been at a lesser club, they would have got rid of him and he would probably not be in the game now. We stuck with Scholesy, a wonderful technician.
In the 21st century, when street football has largely disappeared, Kershaw asked Meulensteen to come to Carrington and hone the techniques of the heirs to the Scholes generation. The Dutchman put on a coaching demonstration for Ferguson and was appointed immediately. "Rene has spells working with Van Nistelrooy, Chris Eagles and Giuseppi Rossi, who all pick at his brains, but his role is development of young boys," Kershaw said. "He is the best coach in the world for kids."
Raised in the land of Total Football, Meulensteen's obsession with encouraging skills dovetailed perfectly with the creed of Ferguson, Kershaw and enlightened Academy stalwarts like Brian McClair and Tony Whelan. "Seven to 10 is the golden age of learning, so we work on their technique at a young age," Whelan said.
"Rene came in," Kershaw continued, "and said it was not helpful to put Under-9 kids into Premier League eight-a-side football games against other clubs with mums and dads on touchlines shouting 'get stuck in'. When we played some teams it was like World War Three. When we played Man City last year, we had to frogmarch a City parent from the training ground. He was effing and blinding, telling the referee he's an effing cheat. When we play City now, I tell the groundsman to shift the rope away from the pitch so the parents are 20-30 yards back."
United commissioned a report from Manchester Metropolitan University which praised the "number of dribbling skills - step-over, drag-back, Cruyff Turn, feint and others - demonstrated" by the Academy's Under-9 players while involved in four-v-four games on pitches measuring 25 metres by 25 metres.
Armed with this backing from respected sports scientists, United went to the Premier League Academy directors' meeting and argued for a change in the rules, replacing eight-v-eights for the youngest kids with four-v-fours. As one coach present described it, other clubs reacted to Kershaw's request as if he had "thrown a hand-grenade at them".
Kershaw himself said: "The supposed experts at other clubs went: 'Bloody Man Utd, if they don't fancy it, they can pull out of the games programme.' They didn't listen to the argument that what we were doing was good for kids' development."
Evidence that something special was occurring at United could be found at Littleton Road with the merry bands of Under-9s and Under-10s, on Carrington's indoor pitch with Meulensteen and the Under-11s and outside under floodlights with the Under-12s. United have become the Eton College of football.
Practice makes perfect. "Experts reckon it takes 10,000 hours of training to make a top athlete," remarked coach Eamon Mulvey. So United ensure training is fun. "At the start we often put on a five-minute DVD with tricks from Best, Maradona and Ronaldo. We'll say, 'Who wants to be Ronaldo? Hands up.' Then they go off and try the tricks in a game."
All those skills are cultivated and paraded in the four-v-four contests. "We feel like a voice in the wilderness," observed Whelan. "We'd love it if someone else did a four-v-four pilot. We need more allies. We do have some. Derby, Leicester and Liverpool are good collaborators."
Others aren't. "When we play Huddersfield or Stoke, they are so up for it because they are playing against United," Meulensteen said. "They work twice as hard. It's a battle. That cannot develop players. One manager of another Academy said to me: 'I want to see eight v eight and a nice cup of tea afterwards.'
"Being technical director of the FA is almost an impossible job because there are so many narrow-minded people out there. There's a negative coaching culture in England. It's crash, bang, wallop coaching. We are different. If someone makes a mistake, nobody has a go at them."
Kershaw agreed, adding: "Our poorest Under-16s are light-years in front of anything they have at Bury, Rochdale and all those clubs. We are producing very, very skilful young boys, who do the tricks and compete. By the time they are 12, they are ready to enter 11-a-side.
"The Premier League have a set of rules which now need a major revision. But I am stopping going to Academy managers' meetings. They just spout hot-air. We have little Tin-Gods trying to do big jobs. Some clubs are in disarray with their Academies. The Premier League should be saying: 'You out.' But they won't.
"Barnsley's Academy was magnificent when it was built, but unfortunately they have hit the buffers, they don't meet the rules so they should be chucked out. We are continuing to invest. Other clubs aren't. Chelsea were the worst, but in fairness they will be the tops now.
"The FA set up a system with Academies to develop kids to win England the World Cup. I don't care if England don't get in the top 32 in the world. My job is to get a player in United's first team. But he doesn't need to be English. Rossi [the Italian teenager] has a wonderful chance. He's like Jimmy Greaves: left-kicker, tucks the ball away. But not English."
From Wolves official site
Reserves Out Of Luck
Wolves 1 (Gleeson 52)
Manchester United 4 (Rossi 16, Ebanks-Blake 55, Martin 61, Fox 80)
Manchester United's victory over Wolves wasn't quite as comprehensive as the final scoreline, a flattering 4-1, suggests.
Wolves were dealt a double blow before the start of the game with illness forcing the late withdrawal of Kevin O'Connor and Jody Craddock. Their places were taken by Jordan Fitzpatrick and Lee Collins.
Two early Tom Stewart (pictured) corners both came to nothing because of infringements in the United area, and visiting keeper Tommy Lee just managed to divert an excellent Mark Little centre away from Leon Clarke.
Conor Rafferty was inches away with a 20-yard drive after Vio Ganea had backheeled a free-kick into his path, but it was United that took the lead in the 16th minute.
Danny Simpson's cross from the right found Guiseppe Rossi on the edge of the box and the Italian's volley gave Stefan Postma no chance of saving.
Wolves were soon back on the attack and Elliott Bennett's clever strike, with the outside of his foot following a Ganea centre, wasn't far off the mark.
Then Lee got down to block from Clarke who had run in at the far post to connect with a lofted centre from Little, before the keeper saved a bouncing shot from Stewart.
United threatened through Rossi, whose drive was deflected narrowly wide, and Darron Gibson who saw his low shot saved by Postma.
Shortly before the break, Clarke lifted the ball over Simpson but it wouldn't drop quickly enough for the striker to get in a shot and Lee jumped to claim.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 United 1
Postma, who had taken a knock just before the interval, hobbled out for the second-half and his first action was to take a shot from Lee Martin that had the sting taken out of it after the ball had struck Little.
Wolves deservedly pulled level in the 52nd minute thanks to a superb strike from Stephen Gleeson who ran on to Ganea's lay-off and hit a first-time shot past Lee from 25-yards.
But, just three minutes later, United regained the lead. Postma, clearly hampered by his injury, was slow to get to a long through ball and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake blocked the keeper's attempted clearance before going round the Dutchman and stroking the ball into an empty net.
Collins was booked for a late challenge on Simpson before the visitors added a third with 61 minutes gone - Martin converting from eight-yards after Rossi had pulled the ball back to him.
Postma then made a good save from Martin - the ball bouncing off the body of Little and going just wide of the post. From Markus Neumayr's corner, Gibson hit a 25-yard volley that hit the net support at the back of the goal.
David Fox wrapped up the scoring ten minutes from the end after another assist from Rossi.
Wolves: Postma, Little, Collins, Gleeson, Riley (Askey 66), Rafferty, Stewart, Fitzpatrick (Hughes 77), Ganea (capt) (Taylor 80), Clarke, Bennett.
Unused sub: Salmon.
Booking: Collins (58 - foul).
United: Lee, Simpson, Eckersley, Pique, Evans, Fox, Neumayr, Gibson, Ebanks-Blake (Cooper 72), Rossi, Martin (Mullan 80).
Unused subs: Amos, Marsh, Shawcross.
Referee: R. Shoebridge.
Reserves Out Of Luck
Wolves 1 (Gleeson 52)
Manchester United 4 (Rossi 16, Ebanks-Blake 55, Martin 61, Fox 80)
Manchester United's victory over Wolves wasn't quite as comprehensive as the final scoreline, a flattering 4-1, suggests.
Wolves were dealt a double blow before the start of the game with illness forcing the late withdrawal of Kevin O'Connor and Jody Craddock. Their places were taken by Jordan Fitzpatrick and Lee Collins.
Two early Tom Stewart (pictured) corners both came to nothing because of infringements in the United area, and visiting keeper Tommy Lee just managed to divert an excellent Mark Little centre away from Leon Clarke.
Conor Rafferty was inches away with a 20-yard drive after Vio Ganea had backheeled a free-kick into his path, but it was United that took the lead in the 16th minute.
Danny Simpson's cross from the right found Guiseppe Rossi on the edge of the box and the Italian's volley gave Stefan Postma no chance of saving.
Wolves were soon back on the attack and Elliott Bennett's clever strike, with the outside of his foot following a Ganea centre, wasn't far off the mark.
Then Lee got down to block from Clarke who had run in at the far post to connect with a lofted centre from Little, before the keeper saved a bouncing shot from Stewart.
United threatened through Rossi, whose drive was deflected narrowly wide, and Darron Gibson who saw his low shot saved by Postma.
Shortly before the break, Clarke lifted the ball over Simpson but it wouldn't drop quickly enough for the striker to get in a shot and Lee jumped to claim.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 United 1
Postma, who had taken a knock just before the interval, hobbled out for the second-half and his first action was to take a shot from Lee Martin that had the sting taken out of it after the ball had struck Little.
Wolves deservedly pulled level in the 52nd minute thanks to a superb strike from Stephen Gleeson who ran on to Ganea's lay-off and hit a first-time shot past Lee from 25-yards.
But, just three minutes later, United regained the lead. Postma, clearly hampered by his injury, was slow to get to a long through ball and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake blocked the keeper's attempted clearance before going round the Dutchman and stroking the ball into an empty net.
Collins was booked for a late challenge on Simpson before the visitors added a third with 61 minutes gone - Martin converting from eight-yards after Rossi had pulled the ball back to him.
Postma then made a good save from Martin - the ball bouncing off the body of Little and going just wide of the post. From Markus Neumayr's corner, Gibson hit a 25-yard volley that hit the net support at the back of the goal.
David Fox wrapped up the scoring ten minutes from the end after another assist from Rossi.
Wolves: Postma, Little, Collins, Gleeson, Riley (Askey 66), Rafferty, Stewart, Fitzpatrick (Hughes 77), Ganea (capt) (Taylor 80), Clarke, Bennett.
Unused sub: Salmon.
Booking: Collins (58 - foul).
United: Lee, Simpson, Eckersley, Pique, Evans, Fox, Neumayr, Gibson, Ebanks-Blake (Cooper 72), Rossi, Martin (Mullan 80).
Unused subs: Amos, Marsh, Shawcross.
Referee: R. Shoebridge.
Sounds like Rossi was fantastic...again. This kid needs some first team football soon.
Puustinen
Jami is in the squad for UEFA u19 tournement but he is not playing.
Jami is in the squad for UEFA u19 tournement but he is not playing.
tony; what can you tell me about chris fagan? and do you know how long brandy will be out for?
FFS! THIS IS DUMB! PROMOTE THE feckER!!
FFS! THIS IS DUMB! PROMOTE THE feckER!!
Elliott said:
I heard that brandy will be out for the most part of the season, back perhaps in march?
It is really exciting with Rossi, Blake and Campbell and all the other talents in Man Utd. But then again, I was once excited by Notman, Healy and Webber, what seperates them from the talents we have today?
Unfortunatly I do not have MUTV and are not able to see them for myself.
Unfortunatly I do not have MUTV and are not able to see them for myself.
If rossi doesnt make the grade I'll bash my head in. Blake should make it if we dont sign any new strikers.
It's weird though, we are all really excited about Blake and most people in here definitly held him higher than Campbell, but it is Fraizer Campbell who is playing for the U19, even though he is a year younger.
Who's Amos?oskarutd said:
bangortom said:
Young keeper, plays for the England under16s.
Thanks.Dubai_Devil said:
How's the German keeper getting on?
bangortom said:
Playing for the under18s, from all accounts doing very well.
andersj said:
Yeah, but Blake's playing for the Reserves
They're both excellent, Blake is more developed as you'd expect
By developed, do you mean more developed physical, right? Because I remember when Blake were about 16-17, he looked like a heavyweight boxer compared to some of his team-mates.
It is obvious that England rate them different than Man Utd.
It is obvious that England rate them different than Man Utd.