U23s away at Blackburn

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

We're on the Swansea to Manchester "every station in Wales" train to the Under 23s away at Blackburn Rovers this evening. 7pm in the Premier League Cup. To be played at the Lancashire FA ground in Leyland. We're still at the group stage. Eight groups of four. All play all. Home & away. Top two in each group qualify for the last 16 knock out. We're in a group with Cat 1 Academies Everton & Blackburn. And Doncaster (who are below us in the Academy Pyramid). Utd are P3, W2, L1 to sit in second behind Everton (P3, W3). A win tonight would put us in a very strong qualifying position. A loss would put us level on points with Blackburn & leave it all in the balance for our last two group games. To cap it all, the Manchester Brewery I had targeted is closed today for the staff Xmas party.....
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[BerksBlade]

Impressive dedication Phil.
There's a joke here somewhere about organising a piss-up in a brewery...

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[Silent Blade]

Looks like Callum Semple is going on loan to an English club?

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[Redhead]

Looks like Callum Semple is going on loan to an English club?

Looks like it yes .....

 

[Silent Blade]

Looks like it yes .....

L1 or L2?

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Have they kicked off without us?

 

[Redhead]

L1 or L2?

Where ever he gets first team football I would think, either north or south of the border.

 

[JackSUFC]

What’s Zac Brunt been like when you’ve seen him? I remember he came here with a bit of a ‘reputation’ having already been with Man City, Athletico Madrid, Derby and having a £150k price tag as a 15 year old.

 

[robbiez666]

I do wonder why the likes of Stearman and Washington don't get a run out in these games.

 

[Redhead]

Stearman has a vast career behind him in the Premiership and Championship. I would think he would feel an u23 game is way below him.

Not saying it’s right but he ain’t going to play in one of these games.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

What’s Zac Brunt been like when you’ve seen him? I remember he came here with a bit of a ‘reputation’ having already been with Man City, Athletico Madrid, Derby and having a £150k price tag as a 15 year old.

Worryingly, just recently, he's been very anonymous in a few games. I've seen him do OK. Remember, like others, he's U18 qualified, playing U23 football. He needs to settle down & find his way. A long time yet...

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Stearman has a vast career behind him in the Premiership and Championship. I would think he would feel an u23 game is way below him.

Not saying it’s right but he ain’t going to play in one of these games.

Yep
Like it, or lump it, (and I like it), Utd play Development players in their development teams. That's the policy. Occasionally, a first teamer when coming back from injury (Coutts). Occasionally, to put someone in a shop window. But, nearly always Development players. For eg, even Kean Bryan is not getting an U23 Shirt at the moment.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

FFS - don't read the post above this one.
Because, in my Blog from last night's somewhat disappointing 3-0 hiding for the U23s, I now question whether a Coutts, or a Bryan, or a Lundstram could sometimes be drafted in to shore up the U23s. Good players develop better if they play with good players - I think. Getting a hiding week in week out (nb - it's not as bad as that), isn't really going to help players develop.
AnyRoadUp - there is that sort of reasoning & something of a match report & some beers in Manchester - so, not all bad. In case you feel like reading

https://ball-sup.blogspot.com/2019/01/academy-inconvenient-truth.html

 

[robbiez666]

FFS - don't read the post above this one.
Because, in my Blog from last night's somewhat disappointing 3-0 hiding for the U23s, I now question whether a Coutts, or a Bryan, or a Lundstram could sometimes be drafted in to shore up the U23s. Good players develop better if they play with good players - I think. Getting a hiding week in week out (nb - it's not as bad as that), isn't really going to help players develop.
AnyRoadUp - there is that sort of reasoning & something of a match report & some beers in Manchester - so, not all bad. In case you feel like reading

https://ball-sup.blogspot.com/2019/01/academy-inconvenient-truth.html

Since we don't have a reserve team it seems odd that we don't try and keep some of the squad who don't feature regularly fit. Lundstram, for instance. An injury and suspension and he might have to play. With hardly any match action.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Since we don't have a reserve team it seems odd that we don't try and keep some of the squad who don't feature regularly fit. Lundstram, for instance. An injury and suspension and he might have to play. With hardly any match action.

robbiez666
My postings & Blogs have been all over the shop on this issue. You make a point, someone like Lundstram might benefit from playing the odd U23 game to maintain fitness & sharpness. I recognise that. But, I'm actually making a different point. Occasionally playing someone like Lundstram in the U23s may actually be beneficial to the development of the U23 players. Particularly when they're a bit light on personnel & playing a team above us on the Pyramid.

 

[robbiez666]

robbiez666
My postings & Blogs have been all over the shop on this issue. You make a point, someone like Lundstram might benefit from playing the odd U23 game to maintain fitness & sharpness. I recognise that. But, I'm actually making a different point. Occasionally playing someone like Lundstram in the U23s may actually be beneficial to the development of the U23 players. Particularly when they're a bit light on personnel & playing a team above us on the Pyramid.

I don't think it particularly benefits young players to play in the U-23s if the team isn't doing well. I also think the likes of Washington, Lundstram, Stearman and Coutts would benefit from playing some form of competitive football. As it is, they train and don't play. Unsurprisingly, none of our players who don't regularly get game time do well when called upon.

There should be a reserve league and a U-23 league.