U23s v Peterborough at the Lane, 1pm

[EddieColquhoun]

 

[adamawdhali]

Everyone loves a trialist

 

[Champagneblade]

Everyone loves a trialist

Strange way to spell Victor Moses

 

[adamawdhali]

Wonder if it’s coulibaly

 

[nickwr37]

Watching this, made Mum a quick tea. 2-0 up ffs!

 

[Balham]

Wonder if it’s coulibaly

If it's 12 who's just come on it's definitely not Coulibaly.

 

[Lightsoot]

How far is Ayari from making our bench? Is he that far behind where Ndiaye was this time last season?

Looks a raw talent. Good bet for a National League loan next season? Given how many kids we’ve got out on loan, surprised that there have been no takers thus far.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Goal from Lankshear!!

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Goal from Lankshear!!

And another! Fcuk me he's lethal!

 

[Classof85]

4-1 Currently

 

[Groucho Blade]

Finished 4-2. The goal scorers will get all the headlines and plaudits, but I thought Sydie Peck was our MoM and Oliver Arblaster played well.

 

[Sid1978]

Any ideas on who the trialist was?

 

[Oohaah! Bob Bookah!]

Any ideas on who the trialist was?

According to Twitter played right wing back when he came on.

 

[adamawdhali]

Ring any bells?

 

[Champagneblade]

Enjoy watching these lads but quite a few need to play men's football when there is a bit more at stake.

Quite often the attacks fizzle out because they just run into trouble. It's okay at this level almost because it's like basketball; you know the other team will turn the ball over easily too.

Some general thoughts:

Eastwood looks like he's going through the motions at bit. It was a ridiculous challenge for their penalty. Edge of the box, the guy was miles away from being any sort of threat. Not at fault with the second, decent move from a cross on the left.

Defensively I don't mind the look of Luthor Williams given he's a bit younger. He looks fine at this level and does the basics relatively well.

The other two were relatively untroubled too as it was pretty much all United for big parts of it, though there were scrappy periods, especially first half where we struggled to make much headway. Gomis is a bit older so I'd like to see a little more from him.

Not sure where Starbuck is but Sadgev has been stepping up from the U18s to play right wing back and has looked capable. He has a very decent throw. He moved into the right centre back as Williams went off to accommodate the Trialist who looked a bit like Edgar Davids! He was capable but most of what he did was relatively safe; throws backwards, passes to men without too much risk. Nothing wrong with that of course but difficult to get noticed. On the left Buyabu got past his man a bit and wasn't under pressure too much defensively but I wouldn't say stood out. He's one of a few of them who need to work on their crossing when in good areas.

Peck and Arblaster ran the midfield. Both of these you can see kicking on with the way they take responsibility to keep the game moving. I wasn't counting but I think Peck got a couple of assists. I found Brooks to be ok but not much more though I think it was him (or Buyabu) that did well on Lankshear's offside goal.

The first goal for Ayari was a gift. Often at this level what I've seen, the teams pass around at the back and get caught so a bit of a easy one. The second was a very nice bit of skill dragging the ball away from the defender with one foot and scoring with the other. They seemed to keep him on for his hat-trick but it wasn't to be. He had a header that was brilliantly kept out with a superb reaction save from the keeper. On the flip side he was guilty of a Connor Sammon style miss to make it 5-1 and get his third only for them to go straight down the other end and score with an almost identical chance.

Osula toiled away and had an effort excellently saved by the keeper. He has a really good turn of pace and can work the channels really well. He just needs his body to grow a bit more and fill out to make him the handful he can really be. Some gym and men's football would bring him on leaps and bounds.

To say he came on a few minutes before the end and injury time, I was quite taken by young Staniland. He has the look of Stephen Quinn. He looked immediately comfortable on the ball and played a beautifully weighted pass for the crosser of Ayari's hat-trick chance near the end.

I was very impressed with Lankshear. He was on for 20 minutes or so and had the ball in the net 3 times. His anticipation reminds me of someone in the first team! Very unlucky to be just offside, then an instinctive finish followed by a lovely right footed shot into the keeper's top left, not so dissimilar to Billy's vs West Brom (I think).

Great viewing when the first team aren't playing. A highly recommend. Coventry don't play until next week so United are now 5 clear with 4 left to play having played a game more than Coventry in 2nd.

 

[Yogi]

According to Twitter played right wing back when he came on.

He played quite well had a good touch and slotted into the patterns of passing play really well. He was very unlucky not to get an assist after a good cross but Ayari missed a 3 yard tap in

 

[Champagneblade]

He played quite well had a good touch and slotted into the patterns of passing play really well. He was very unlucky not to get an assist after a good cross but Ayari missed a 3 yard tap in

Pity because that was a nice move with Staniland playing him through.

 

[Yogi]

Pity because that was a nice move with Staniland playing him through.

Yeah there were a few really nice one and two touch passing moves this afternoon that just missed the finish.

 

[adamawdhali]

Obviously

 

[10p]

Result. Won 4-2. Atari missed a sitter of Connor Salmons proportions at 4-1! They went straight down the other end and made it 4-2.

 

[Yogi]

Obviously

Lad couldn’t have a broader accent could he. Do you reckon Billy has to translate him for the foreign lads in training?

 

[adamawdhali]

Lad couldn’t have a broader accent could he. Do you reckon Billy has to translate him for the foreign lads in training?

In his own words- obviously yeah

 

[CamelBlade]

Enjoy watching these lads but quite a few need to play men's football when there is a bit more at stake.

Quite often the attacks fizzle out because they just run into trouble. It's okay at this level almost because it's like basketball; you know the other team will turn the ball over easily too.

Some general thoughts:

Eastwood looks like he's going through the motions at bit. It was a ridiculous challenge for their penalty. Edge of the box, the guy was miles away from being any sort of threat. Not at fault with the second, decent move from a cross on the left.

Defensively I don't mind the look of Luthor Williams given he's a bit younger. He looks fine at this level and does the basics relatively well.

The other two were relatively untroubled too as it was pretty much all United for big parts of it, though there were scrappy periods, especially first half where we struggled to make much headway. Gomis is a bit older so I'd like to see a little more from him.

Not sure where Starbuck is but Sadgev has been stepping up from the U18s to play right wing back and has looked capable. He has a very decent throw. He moved into the right centre back as Williams went off to accommodate the Trialist who looked a bit like Edgar Davids! He was capable but most of what he did was relatively safe; throws backwards, passes to men without too much risk. Nothing wrong with that of course but difficult to get noticed. On the left Buyabu got past his man a bit and wasn't under pressure too much defensively but I wouldn't say stood out. He's one of a few of them who need to work on their crossing when in good areas.

Peck and Arblaster ran the midfield. Both of these you can see kicking on with the way they take responsibility to keep the game moving. I wasn't counting but I think Peck got a couple of assists. I found Brooks to be ok but not much more though I think it was him (or Buyabu) that did well on Lankshear's offside goal.

The first goal for Ayari was a gift. Often at this level what I've seen, the teams pass around at the back and get caught so a bit of a easy one. The second was a very nice bit of skill dragging the ball away from the defender with one foot and scoring with the other. They seemed to keep him on for his hat-trick but it wasn't to be. He had a header that was brilliantly kept out with a superb reaction save from the keeper. On the flip side he was guilty of a Connor Sammon style miss to make it 5-1 and get his third only for them to go straight down the other end and score with an almost identical chance.

Osula toiled away and had an effort excellently saved by the keeper. He has a really good turn of pace and can work the channels really well. He just needs his body to grow a bit more and fill out to make him the handful he can really be. Some gym and men's football would bring him on leaps and bounds.

To say he came on a few minutes before the end and injury time, I was quite taken by young Staniland. He has the look of Stephen Quinn. He looked immediately comfortable on the ball and played a beautifully weighted pass for the crosser of Ayari's hat-trick chance near the end.

I was very impressed with Lankshear. He was on for 20 minutes or so and had the ball in the net 3 times. His anticipation reminds me of someone in the first team! Very unlucky to be just offside, then an instinctive finish followed by a lovely right footed shot into the keeper's top left, not so dissimilar to Billy's vs West Brom (I think).

Great viewing when the first team aren't playing. A highly recommend. Coventry don't play until next week so United are now 5 clear with 4 left to play having played a game more than Coventry in 2nd.

Good summary Champagne.

I would add a couple of points. You didn't mention Frecklington. I thought he had a cracking game. He seems confident with both feet.

Midfield two as you mention superb.

Brooks and Ayari lost the ball too many times for my liking.

Final point. I hope we have Peck and Lankshear tied up in a contract? Anyone know that? They are both going to be quality!!

 

[EddieColquhoun]

I found Brooks to be ok but not much more though I think it was him (or Buyabu) that did well on Lankshear's offside goal.

Brooks' cross:

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Any ideas on who the trialist was?

He played quite well had a good touch and slotted into the patterns of passing play really well. He was very unlucky not to get an assist after a good cross but Ayari missed a 3 yard tap in

I only caught the last 10 minutes or so but I thought he did well. Lankshear looked monstrous!

 

[Yogi]

I only caught the last 10 minutes or so but I thought he did well. Lankshear looked monstrous!

For 16 playing 23’s yeah physically the lad doesn’t look like a boy.

 

[Champagneblade]

Good summary Champagne.

I would add a couple of points. You didn't mention Frecklington. I thought he had a cracking game. He seems confident with both feet.

Midfield two as you mention superb.

Brooks and Ayari lost the ball too many times for my liking.

Final point. I hope we have Peck and Lankshear tied up in a contract? Anyone know that? They are both going to be quality!!

You're right he was 'one of the other two' but then I went on to mention Gomis. You're right Frecklington is a big lad and never looked troubled. Would like to see him against more stern opposition. It's actually a little disappointing to have chucked away 2 goals because United were dominant even when we weren't playing all that fluently.

Totally agree with your other comments too.

It is a step up to first team level. You can see some looking at the score and thinking "get Ayari in" but he still has much to learn in decision making bad ball retention. He could do with studying how careful Duffy was with the ball.

You could see Peck featuring in the matchday XI at a point in time next season. He's got that swagger about him.

 

[adamawdhali]

Imagine being on for 20 minutes in an u23 game at 16 and scoring 3 goals- albeit one was ruled out through offside but even that finish was unreal

 

[Breakingblade]

Arblaster stood out for me- always in space and has the vision to make some great first time passes. His threaded ball through to put Ayari through on goal (missed, sadly) was a thing of beauty.

He's 17? Looked really mature and was the one player you could hear shouting and motivating his teammates

 

[CamelBlade]

Lankshear still looks like he is growing. He is raw but what a prospect. Instinctive finishes as well. I liked they way he was pushing and shoving their centre half's before the ball came. He looks like he can look after himself.