I was at the youth cup game yesterday, just thought i'd put in a bit of feedback on some of the players I thought looked good.
Hansen - Looked useful, didn't have a great deal to do but looked solid when he did. Think he's only a first year as well so plenty of time to develop. Problem is even if he does develop, it could be many years before he gets a chance in the first team, we have so many keepers.
Burns - Made a couple of good covering tackles, and stepped out of the defensive line on numerous occasions to make interceptions with united on the counter, looked very good, although didn't really see him cross a ball.
Darby - Didn't have a great deal to do in truth. Seemed to do alright when challenged and good in the air. Didn't offer a great deal going forward.
Spearing - Looked pretty decent on the whole, gave away the penalty and didn't seem very dominating in the air though.
Threlfall - Again solid but the OG was a big misjudgement.
Problem with assessing the defence is that United never really threatened, apart from long range shots, and the goals. So difficult to judge them.
Barnett - Really impressed, made a lot of crunching tackles, as well as a fair few interceptions and passed the ball well. In terms of style closest to Masher I'd say. Could well make it as a squad player/mid level prem player IMO. Will need to really kick on to make our CM, but has the attributes and mentality.
Ryan - Came to life a bit second half. Seemed a solid enough player, combative and passed the ball reasonably well. Seemed to be devoid of ability to go past a player in the first half but improved that aspect in the second. Not sure he has what it takes to make it with us, although looking at him I can't help but think that RM isn't his best position.
Flynn - Didn't really seem to do a great deal. Sees himself as a Xabi style playmaker I think, but didn't make a lot of play. Seemed very slight and didn't really get stuck into challenges. Again, not sure he has what it takes. Might end up as one of those that looks great in division 1 (sidwell, koumas et al) but struggles to reproduce in the prem.
Puterill - The potential is certainly there. Uniteds right back must have twisted blood this morning. Got a bit predictable cutting inside in the first half, but went outside a couple of times early second half, and the full back didn't know what to do with him after that, although he ran straight into the man a couple of times. Can clearly produce a final ball (a la the goal) but needs to learn WHEN to cross. The kind of player that people are always on the look out for these days, tricky and quick, could make it as a squad player in a couple of years IMO if he doesnt stall in his development.
Woodward - Didn't show a great deal for me, wasn't really involved too much and rightly withdrawn in the second half. Probably won't make it with us from what I saw last night.
Lindfield - The star of the show first half. Excellent touch and link up play, ran and worked hard permanently, won a lot of headers, and took his goal well. Not lightning quick, but quick enough to cause problems certainly, and tall without being gangly. Didn't see him have a shot with his feet, but by all accounts he can finish as well. Was more interested in picking a fight than playing after we went 2-1 down I felt though. A real prospect, and could very well handle a few sub appearances in the prem now IMO.
The thing that struck me overall about the game was that there wasn't a lot of individual skill on show bar Puterill, and Brandy from the Mancs (who was less good). I think those two teams are the two best organised units in the competiton, rather than necessarily having the best players. If we hadn't had Puterill to make incisions down the left, I'm not sure where the penetration was coming from TBH. And I'm not sure any bar possibly 3 (Barnett, Lindfield, Puterill) have the potential to be first team players, and then not the ability to change a game in a moment (bar maybe Puterill). Put shortly I'm not sure any of them are SG's in terms of talent, although maybe a couple of Carras in there, hardworkers who could carve themselves out a spot in the squad over years if they get the chance.
Hansen - Looked useful, didn't have a great deal to do but looked solid when he did. Think he's only a first year as well so plenty of time to develop. Problem is even if he does develop, it could be many years before he gets a chance in the first team, we have so many keepers.
Burns - Made a couple of good covering tackles, and stepped out of the defensive line on numerous occasions to make interceptions with united on the counter, looked very good, although didn't really see him cross a ball.
Darby - Didn't have a great deal to do in truth. Seemed to do alright when challenged and good in the air. Didn't offer a great deal going forward.
Spearing - Looked pretty decent on the whole, gave away the penalty and didn't seem very dominating in the air though.
Threlfall - Again solid but the OG was a big misjudgement.
Problem with assessing the defence is that United never really threatened, apart from long range shots, and the goals. So difficult to judge them.
Barnett - Really impressed, made a lot of crunching tackles, as well as a fair few interceptions and passed the ball well. In terms of style closest to Masher I'd say. Could well make it as a squad player/mid level prem player IMO. Will need to really kick on to make our CM, but has the attributes and mentality.
Ryan - Came to life a bit second half. Seemed a solid enough player, combative and passed the ball reasonably well. Seemed to be devoid of ability to go past a player in the first half but improved that aspect in the second. Not sure he has what it takes to make it with us, although looking at him I can't help but think that RM isn't his best position.
Flynn - Didn't really seem to do a great deal. Sees himself as a Xabi style playmaker I think, but didn't make a lot of play. Seemed very slight and didn't really get stuck into challenges. Again, not sure he has what it takes. Might end up as one of those that looks great in division 1 (sidwell, koumas et al) but struggles to reproduce in the prem.
Puterill - The potential is certainly there. Uniteds right back must have twisted blood this morning. Got a bit predictable cutting inside in the first half, but went outside a couple of times early second half, and the full back didn't know what to do with him after that, although he ran straight into the man a couple of times. Can clearly produce a final ball (a la the goal) but needs to learn WHEN to cross. The kind of player that people are always on the look out for these days, tricky and quick, could make it as a squad player in a couple of years IMO if he doesnt stall in his development.
Woodward - Didn't show a great deal for me, wasn't really involved too much and rightly withdrawn in the second half. Probably won't make it with us from what I saw last night.
Lindfield - The star of the show first half. Excellent touch and link up play, ran and worked hard permanently, won a lot of headers, and took his goal well. Not lightning quick, but quick enough to cause problems certainly, and tall without being gangly. Didn't see him have a shot with his feet, but by all accounts he can finish as well. Was more interested in picking a fight than playing after we went 2-1 down I felt though. A real prospect, and could very well handle a few sub appearances in the prem now IMO.
The thing that struck me overall about the game was that there wasn't a lot of individual skill on show bar Puterill, and Brandy from the Mancs (who was less good). I think those two teams are the two best organised units in the competiton, rather than necessarily having the best players. If we hadn't had Puterill to make incisions down the left, I'm not sure where the penetration was coming from TBH. And I'm not sure any bar possibly 3 (Barnett, Lindfield, Puterill) have the potential to be first team players, and then not the ability to change a game in a moment (bar maybe Puterill). Put shortly I'm not sure any of them are SG's in terms of talent, although maybe a couple of Carras in there, hardworkers who could carve themselves out a spot in the squad over years if they get the chance.
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