United Academy Match

[B4YU]

Extended Highlights

Part 1/4


Part 2/4


Part 3/4


Part 4/4

[B4YU]

Manchester United U18s 6-1 Blackburn Rovers U18s
King
Brady (pen)
Cole
Pogba
Hussain
W.Keane

With last month’s humbling FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of today’s visitors still fresh in the memory, United’s U18s were presented with a chance for revenge at Carrington this morning and took it in some style, ending a run of three games without a goal by putting six past a shellshocked Rovers side and seizing top spot in Academy League Group C.

The Reds were the more clinical side in a closely-contested first half, establishing a two goal lead thanks to Joshua King and Robbie Brady, before really cutting loose after the break with further goals from Larnell Cole, Paul Pogba, Etzaz Hussain and Will Keane, with Blackburn’s sole consolation coming from a late and dubious penalty converted by former United schoolboy Michael Potts.

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With the last three games having ended in defeat, Reds boss Paul McGuinness was able to freshen the side up with the introductions of Tom Thorpe and Robbie Brady, both returning from lengthy injury lay-offs to make their first appearances in 2010. A relatively untried strike partnership of Joshua King and Nicky Ajose was chosen to spearhead the Reds attack, while Ryan Tunnicliffe continued his run of having started every competitive game this season at the heart of midfield.

The returning Brady made an instant impact, providing a presence on the left wing that the Reds have been sorely lacking in his absence and playing a pivotal role in his side establishing a 2-0 first half lead. First the young Irishman, sidelined since early November with a broken metatarsal, picked out King with a raking long pass down the left channel. The Norwegian still had plenty to do, but after losing one covering defender with a drop of the shoulder and burst of pace, he cut in from the left and beat goalkeeper Josh Swann from what seemed an almost impossible angle.

Soon after, Brady took centre-stage. Picking up the ball outside the area, the 18 year-old ran at right-back Ajagbe, feigning to cut inside before jinking outside and drawing the foul just inside the box. The referee didn’t hesitate to point to the spot, despite possibly justified complaints from the Blackburn players who felt Ajagbe had got a toe to the ball before felling the United winger. While the penalty award may have been dubious, there was no doubt whatsoever about the threat Brady was posing or the assured way in which he sent Swann the wrong way from the spot.

Blackburn more than played their part in a competitive half and had chances of their own, the most glaring falling to midfielder Micah Evans, who forced a fine low save from Conor Devlin in the United goal. Jason Banton, a thorn in the side in that fateful Youth Cup clash and one of the Academy League’s top scorers this season, was also causing real problems cutting inside from his left wing station. That threat from the visitors continued to cause alarm right from the start of the second 45, Banton going agonisingly close to pulling a goal back within seconds of the restart with a low shot against the post, having scythed through the heart of the United defence with a scintillating run.

United gradually weathered the Rovers storm however, with half-time substitute Paul Pogba – on for the injured Ryan Tunnicliffe, who was later seen on crutches – increasingly influential. The Reds seemed to have drawn the visitors’ sting, and swiftly set about avenging the Ewood Park debacle and filling their goal-starved boots. The killer third goal was all about King, his pace, power and persistence carrying him from wide on the left to the right-hand side of the penalty box without ever really having the ball fully under his control. A Blackburn defender finally nudged the ball away from the rampaging United forward but could only look on aghast as it rolled towards the penalty spot and into the path of the completely unmarked Larnell Cole, who couldn’t miss.

The next goal didn’t take long in coming, and it was a bizarre one. Pogba picked the ball up 25 yards out and let fly as we all know he can, his fierce shot drawing a fine save from Swann… or so it seemed. The Rovers’ stopper got a firm hand to the French youngster’s piledriver, but as it looped high into the air off his glove, Swann completely lost track of the ball’s flight and could only watch in despair as it landed and spun back over the goalline. Unfortunate for the visitors perhaps, but such was United’s dominance at the time that it was hard to have too much sympathy.

Chances came and went to add to the lead, King displaying his full range of attributes in getting himself into some great positions but also showing a little naivety and a slight lack of awareness in going for goal from unlikely angles with teammates better places. There could be no faulting his awareness and effort for the fifth goal however, his pace and willingness to chase a lost cause catching the Rovers’ defence cold. King kept the ball in play wide on the left and cleverly played in Jesse Lingard (on as sub for Brady), who had burst into the box untracked. Lingard got his head up and picked out Etzaz Hussain lurking in the six-yard box, and one nimble turn and one toe-poked finish later, the Reds had a fantastic five.

As if that wasn’t enough punishment for Blackburn, McGuinness then decided to introduce top scorer Will Keane from the bench in place of Ajose. The change almost brought instant reward as well, the predatory Keane drawing a fine save from Swann with his first touch, and there was a certain inevitability about the 17 year-old getting in on the act and reaching double figures for the season. He had to wait while Rovers notched their consolation from the spot – Potts converting with ease after earning something of a joke of a penalty when tumbling under the challenge of Devlin, who had clearly won the ball first – but he wasn’t to be denied for long, and he duly completed the scoring with a simple far post tap-in from Hussain’s low centre, King again playing a key role in the build-up.

6-1 was perhaps a little harsh on a very strong Blackburn outfit, but some of the attacking play from the hosts was sensational at times and King in particular was borderline unplayable. The victory sees United leapfrog Rovers at the top of Group C and sets McGuinness’ side up nicely for a tough trip to face third-placed Everton next weekened. The Toffees also climbed ahead of Blackburn with a win of their own today and have a game in hand on the Reds, so a positive result on Merseyside is very much needed if the Reds have aspirations of topping the table at the end of the campaign. In their favour may be the fact that Everton face, funnily enough, Blackburn in a Youth Cup quarter-final just 48 hours later than the scheduled league fixture, and as such may not be at full-strength.

STAR MAN: Joshua King – Blackburn simply couldn’t handle his pace, power and ability on the ball. the young Norwegian is far too good for this level and it showed.

UNITED
1. Conor Devlin
2. Michele Fornasier
3. Zeki Fryers
4. Tom Thorpe
5. Scott Wootton (c)
6. Etzaz Hussain
7. Larnell Cole
8. Ryan Tunnicliffe (12. Paul Pogba 46)
9. Joshua King
10. Nicky Ajose (14. Will Keane)
11. Robbie Brady (15. Jesse Lingard)

Subs not used
13. Sam Johnstone
16. Reece Brown

[B4YU]

Extended highlights

[fredrian.seven]

wih... King mantaps banget. speed, dribel, kekuatan tubuhnya mantep banget. badan gede gitu tapi larinya kenceng banget.

fornasier kok maennya nggak bagus2 amat ya? beberapa kali error.

[B4YU]

Premier Academy League
Carrington, Sat 6 March 2010

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Ajose 4, Keane 83

CREWE ALEXANDRA 2
Koral 17, Oswell 61

United: Johnstone; Roberts-Nurse (King 67), Fornasier, Thorpe, Fryers; Cole, Wootton, Tunnicliffe (Hussain 7), Ajose; Keane, Lingard

U18s: United 2 Crewe 2

William Keane fired a late equaliser to earn a point for United's Under-18s in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Crewe at Carrington.

Keane netted his 11th goal in 18 games seven minutes from time with an inch-perfect first-time shot into the roof of the net after being found by substitute Joshua King.

United had earlier taken the lead through Nick Ajose after just four minutes. The 18-year-old made a fine run down the left before cutting inside and rolling a lovely effort into the far corner.

Crewe drew level on 17 minutes through Michael Koral, but United and Sam Johnstone in particular will be hugely disappointed by the manner in which the goal was conceded. As a Crewe corner came in from the left, Johnstone opted to punch clear but the ball merely spun off his fist into the path of Koral who hooked it in from two yards.

Things got worse for Paul McGuinness' men just after the hour when Jason Oswell headed his third goal of the season against United having already struck twice in Crewe's 2-1 win at Gresty Road back in October. Koral did well to keep possession in the build-up before finding substitute Sean Cooke on the left and he stood a cross up for Oswell who rose highest to put Crewe ahead.

Thankfully, the Reds struck back in the 83rd minute as Keane ensured it finished honours even with a pin-point finish.

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=6647089&page=2

[B4YU]

Extended highlights

[B4YU]

Academy vs Newcastle United

[rondwisan]

Premier Academy League
Carrington, Sat 13 March

MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Pogba 24

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

United: Devlin; Fornasier (Brown 72), Thorpe, McGinty, Fryers; Lingard; Hussain, Pogba, Ajose; King (W.Keane 72), Cofie.
Subs not used: Johnstone, Giverin, Wootton.

14/03/2010 10:00 - ManUtd.com, Ben Hibbs & Mike Shaw
U18s: United 1 N'castle 1



Paul Pogba earned United a point with a glancing first-half header against Newcastle, although it could have been all three points for the Reds had Joshua King not been denied by the woodwork.

Most of the action came in an entertaining first half, despite the blustery conditions at Carrington.

Powerful front pair King and John Cofie caused plenty of early problems for the visitors' defence, but it was Newcastle who took the lead on 11 minutes.

Despite the setback United continued to play some good, attacking football, and Paul McGuinness' youngsters didn't have to wait long for an equaliser.

From a free on the right side of the penalty area 25 yards from goal, Nick Ajose clipped in a precision cross and French teenager Pogba deftly directed his header in at the near post. It was nothing more than United deserved.

Norwegian front man King very nearly put United in front later in the half. Ajose sent his team-mate racing through on goal with a lofted pass into the left channel. King might have opted to cross the ball but instead lashed a shot goalwards, only to see it rattle off the crossbar.

Neither side could add to the scoreline in the second half, but United may rue that after Everton took the opportunity to move above the Reds in the Academy Premier League Group C table.

The Toffees, on 33 points, lead second-placed United by a point, while Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers keep up the chase in third and fourth on 30 points. In fact, the entire league has become extremely closely contested, with only six points separating leaders Everton and second-from-bottom Crewe Alexandra.

[B4YU]

U18s: Wednesday 0 United 0 – Reds held scoreless in Sheffield

STAR MAN: Sam Johnstone – Not a great deal of competition, with only schoolboys Barmby and Blackett otherwise catching the eye, but the England U17 keeper bounced back from a calamitous mistake on his last outing to put in a solid display, dealing with everything thrown at him aerially, showing impressive distribution and pulling off one terrific stop late on.


UNITED
1. Sam Johnstone
2. Scott Moffatt
3. Tyler Blackett
4. Michele Fornasier
5. Tom Thorpe (c)
6. Etzaz Hussain
7. Jack Barmby
8. Paul Pogba
9. John Cofie
10. Larnell Cole
11. Jesse Lingard

Subs not used
12. Scott Wootton
13. Conor Devlin
14. Reece Brown

Booked: Moffatt

Ref: A Wood

http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/u18s-wednesday-0-united-0-reds-held-scoreless-in-sheffield/

[sir_otz]

Reds to defend the Memorial Claudio Sassi, but won’t play in the Blue Stars
Posted by nickogs20 on March 24, 2010



United’s U18s will return to northern Italy early next month to defend the Torneo di Calcio Memorial Claudio Sassi, but the club won’t be taking part in the annual FIFA Blue Stars Youth Cup in Switzerland this May.


The Memorial Claudio Sassi is held in the Northern Italian province of Modena and was originally established in 1991 as the Torneo Internazionale di Calcio Giovanile Enzo Ferrari, in honour of the legendary racing driver and founder of Ferrari, who hailed from the city of Modena. When the Ferrari family decided to withdraw permission to name the tournament after the late Enzo in 1998, the tournament was renamed as a tribute to local entrepeneur Claudio Sassi, who had passed away the previous year. Sassi was heavily involved in football throughout his life, both as a promising player in his youth and as president of U.S. Sassuolo, one of the tournament’s host sides (the other being Modena F.C.).

Now in it’s twentieth year, the tournament spans four days (this year between the 2nd and 5th of April) and features 72 teams playing across five age groups – Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18. Nearly 1300 players will participate in 114 games held in 25 venues throughout the province of Modena, with the opening three days featuring group games and semi-finals and the last day featuring all five finals. The blue-riband Under 18 competition regular features some of the biggest names from Italy and across Europe, with last year’s final – when United pipped Dutch giants Ajax to the title thanks to a last minute goal from Ryan Tunnicliffe – providing a handy example.



The Reds will compete in the U18 category again this season, with presumably both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul McGuinness sharing managerial responsibilities, if last year is anything to go on anyway. They will be able to name a squad of 18, for which players must be at least 16 years old AND born after the 1st January 1991 to be eligible to play – although teams are allowed to include three ‘over-age’ players born in 1989 or 1990. Each game is 70 minutes long, with 35 minute halves and a ten minute interval. Coaches are allowed to use all seven available substitutes in matches, which offers a great opportunity to involve the whole squad in the proceedings and get all 18 players some match practice and tournament experience.

Eight teams will compete for the U18 title, initially divided into two groups of four. The top two in each group proceed to the semi-finals, with the winners of those matches obviously meeting in the final. United have been drawn in Group B, alongside Danish side OB Odense, co-hosts Modena and local outfit Virtus Castelfranco, while Group A features Serie A superpower Juventus, along with fellow top tier side Bologna, other co-hosts Sassuolo and Swiss representation from FC Chiasso.

United’s group schedule looks like this:

vs OB Odense (2/4/10, 20:45) at Ferrari G., Fiorano
vs U.S. Sassuolo (3/4/10, 16:45) at Ricci, Sassuolo
vs Virtus Castelfranco (4/4/10, 10:45) at Ferrarini, Castelfranco

If the Reds finish in the top two and progress to the semi-finals, they will play again at 17:30 on the 4th – either at the Ricci in Sassuolo if they win the group or back at the Ferrarini in Castelfranco if they finish second. Should we reach the final, that will be held at 17:30 on the 5th at the Dino Ferrari in Maranello.

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On the flip side, United won’t this year be competing at the FIFA Blue Stars Youth Cup this May. The Reds have participated in the event for five of the last six years (2007 being the exception) but won’t be returning to Switzerland for the 2010 tournament. The lineup for this year’s competition features Boca Juniors, Kaizer Chiefs, Mallorca, FC Basel, Grasshoppers, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund, Club America, FC Zurich and hosts FC Blue Stars.

A couple of other pieces of tournament-related news: unsurprisingly, United are confirmed entrants for the 2010 Northern Ireland Milk Cup, which this year sees the finals move from Coleraine to Ballymena. Meanwhile, the club’s U12s will later this month be competing at the Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona.

http://manunitedyouth.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/reds-to-defend-the-memorial-claudio-sassi-but-wont-play-in-the-blue-stars/?