I Believe The Children Are Our Future - Academy, Reserves and Loans News 2011/12 [R]

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

The reserves played a youth team muppet's dream front 6 of Pogba, Petrucci, Morrison, Cole, Cofie and Keane (for the second half) in their first friendly outing for the season

Keane and Morrison scored. Leao and Drinkwater scored in the first half.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Larnel Cole is an interesting prospect, how did Petrucci do, hopefully his career isnt ruined by injuries.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Ahh so he's still with us. Did we play him as a striker again?

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

I saw the team sheet earlier on twitter. It looks like he played in central midfield with norwood and drinkwater in the first half. Brady, Verminator and Lingard upfront.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Good, thanks.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

The kid is putting on muscle/weight. Nice...

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Manutdyouth on twitter earlier said that Pogba looked more bulkier and filled out after the summer and bigger too.

Hopefully he now learns to use his physique better too for such a big guy.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

I dunno, I think on the ball he uses it just fine. Defensively he probably doesn't throw himself into challenges but for a player of his skill and the fact that he's a good tackler anyway, that isn't a big deal. I wonder if part of it is mental and him always being bigger than boys and not wanting to hurt anyone so that it just became part of his game?

Regardless, I want to see more of him and more from him too. Time to become more of a force, more consistent throughout the 90 and to become recognized as the man in midfield. He does those things, he'll get his shot at United for sure. Even if he doesn't, his size and shot alone will probably dictate that he will get a proper shot (see Gibson).

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Think he can use his strength better both on the ball and off it.
He needs to learn to sometimes shield the ball better using his strength and size when he is on it and not avoid physical contact when he is defending ,infact use it to his advantage.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Scholes: United's new generation can be the best since class of '92

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...an-be-the-best-since-class-of-92-2312155.html

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

I think part of the reason he doesn't use his body quite so much when trying to keep possession is down to his ability to manipulate the ball. If I had a say I'd like him to develop both that ability to move the ball in small increments to avoid challenges but maintain control AND the ability to put his shoulder into his man to stop the challenge from getting near the ball but if he could only be great at one, I think his close control and shifting of the ball is more important.

The combination of both would be sweet though. It is a thing to behold when someone with a big frame can do that. See Berba/Zlatan/Zidane

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

I havent seen much of Pogba, but someone said he drifts out of games defensively, is this true?

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Yes. As a result, because a fair few of our moves are quick counters, he'll often be left out of those moves too. But the appearance of him drifting out of games defensively is enhanced by being paired with Tunnicliffe who is a search and destroy bot.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

As it stands, if he were to play a Carling Cup match, would you guys see him playing in a MF 3 as the most attacking of the bunch?

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Personally I dont think so. But I also do not think he will see more than 15 minutes of first team action this season.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Don't think so either. I'm not positive that his skill-set favors that right now. He'd be the biggest goal threat, but his movement off the ball isn't of the required level.

Right now his strengths:

Shooting
Dribbling/Holding the ball
Long passing

Other aspects of his game need work to get a look in, but he's ridiculously good at those three things.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

Do you think he can become a Ballack type player in the future?

Minus the cúntiness, of course.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

He'd have to develop an appetite for the ball, more consistent heading and much better movement off the ball. Right now he's closer to Viera but with a cannon (still lacking CM basics like getting on the ball and needs to improve retention).

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

It is not just defensively but in both directions where he lets the game drift by.

He still has a long way to go just in terms of controlling a match consistently from a 2-man cm even at his current level.

Re: Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - youth, loans and ressers 2010/11 Pt. 2

What we are hoping is that he gets it all together, he can be properly scary if he can do that.

Hopefully Petrucci can stay healthy. The boy has a bright future is he can stay off the treatment table.

Agreed. The one good sign I see from him is his willingness to do the ugly stuff like track back, tackle etc.

He hasn't shied away from that side of the game and that's good. I hope we can find a use for him in the future.

What sort of a player is Petrucci??..