[Cantonagotmehere]

This is such a dumb statistic. One huge difference is the fact that Grant and 2011 de Gea were like a 16 year difference. The youngest outfield players in that side were Welbeck (20.75), Cleverley (22), Phil Jones (19.5), Smalling (21.75), and Anderson (23.5). We can include subbed in Chicharito (23).

Compare that to
Greenwood (18)
Gomes (19.2)
Levitt (19)
Garner (18.75)
Laird (18.25)
Bernard (19)
Chong (19.9)
Tuanzebe (22)

BTW, that side also had Nani and Rooney. Nani who should have won PL player of the year the season prior, and Rooney a 30 goal a season player. Compare that to Lingard and Shaw just coming back from injury.

Thanks for laying that out. Some like to moan.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

The ultimate no brainer move for a mediocre manager, play a team of 'kids' you win, it's a great move, you lose, fans hate criticizing kids.

Hit the nail on the head

 

[Tom Cato]

Average age of the team 22 years. Gives me pride.

Average age of the 10 players on the pitch beside the goalie was 20,2. We literally fielded a U-23 team. 6 players got their debuts today. The most in any game since world war 1

 

[Tom Cato]

Hit the nail on the head

Which first team starter would you have risked injury on in a meaningless EL game like this?

 

[Vidyoyo]

The world is helpless, people expect wonders from just about everyone. There is pressure from age 6 till you retire. We need to accomplish this before age 12 and that before age 18 and so on. Climate change, apocalyptic predictions, fear mongering. Islamic people are evil, so are the Russians , more fear mongering. Performances must be better both at professional as at private level. Pressure, pressure. No house and kids at 30 what's wrong with me? I need more money, a better car, I need a bucket list, I can't relax, every minute just sitting is wasted time. I must travel, broaden my spectrum, I have to post on social media, brag about what I accomplished, compare and compare, get better, be ambitious, have goals. I have to party, have a social life, have tons of friends but but I can't combine it with my job and my hobbies...Help me, I'm going insane?
Kids of about 18/19 years of age need to wear the famous red shirt in front of 30000 people, perform, entertain...WIN. They must feel at home in a far away country, no time to adapt. We can't accept failure.

Mass suicides, depressed people, burn outs, protests, war, drugs, murder. Humankind at a boiling point. When will it be too much? Pressure builds up till it blows. Sometimes (readften) I just want to be a dog/cat...

You need to make sure all your future posts are this good. No pressure...

 

[Bastian]

No problem with playing the kids. I definitely wouldn't want anyone risked in subzero temperatures in Asia in a game we can afford to draw or lose.

Didn't really see much of the match after Chong's glaring miss at 1-0.

Thought Laird did well going forward, Garner looked the most mature player out there. There is no way he's not better than both Fred and Pereira.

 

[Red Royal]

All the negativity on here is so sad.
Our lads did fine, just tired a bit towards the end and werent clinical enough.

Remember, this was a game that even Phil Jones was not risked for.

With our injury crisis Ole couldnt take many more seniors ( an extra 2 would have been great)... but Villa on the weekend is so much more important!!

Chill guys.

 

[Member 119614]

Remember, this was a game that even Phil Jones was not risked for.

I feel sad for him, I don't think Jones will play a single minute for Utd ever again.

 

[Im red2]

Chong could have killed it with that tap in.

I think he had his Cheech moment right there. Laird looked really good.

 

[Im red2]

Chong cost us the match, so annoying it was harder to miss

But he still managed to show me why Juventus have interest in him.

 

[pocco]

But he still managed to show me why Juventus have interest in him.

Running full speed into an opponent?

 

[Le Red]

Brazilian commentator saying that Lingard hit a powerful shot "despite his young age"

 

[Chicharito_]

Play Man United.
Initially scared of Man United.
Realise Man United aren't very good anymore.
Start playing without fear against Man United.
Beat Man United.

Okay maybe not as relevant in this game as we had the kids out but I feel this is how so many games have gone recently, especially away from home. There's the initial 20 minutes where we have loads of pointless possession, the opposition realise we aren't going to hurt them and we're not that good and they play freely and beat us.

 

[Enigma_87]

Wouldn't make much out of this game. The team sent today was poor, not really the way to introduce young players as someone else mentioned.

The group and opposition were really shite, we should win it with another draw at home to AZ.

 

[Foxbatt]

I thought the young boys played very well. Their movements off the ball was very good. Yes we missed a sitter and they scored on the break.
I know Lingard scored a goal but I was disappointed in him that when he should put Greenwood thru he most of the time tried to dribble thru.
I think Chong should go on loan where he can play without fear and get his confidence back. I also think if Ole had not played Lingard and let Gomes play inside and played the youth team we may have done better.
No criticism of Ole tonight. It was a good game. We were unlucky.

 

[Member 119614]

I thought young boys played very well.

They lost 1-2 vs Porto

 

[morbidsaint]

Loved watching this. We've got some incredible talents these days, and i am sure at least 4-5 of those who played today will end up being a big part of Manchester United in the future. Maybe even more than 4-5.

Laird is awesome. Unlike the fools that has negative shit to say about all of our youth getting first team football in a game nobody cares about far away in freakin.. i can't even spell the name.

 

[Member 119614]

Loved watching this. We've got some incredible talents these days, and i am sure at least 4-5 of those who played today will end up being a big part of Manchester United in the future. Maybe even more than 4-5.

Laird is awesome. Unlike the fools that has negative shit to say about all of our youth getting first team football in a game nobody cares about far away in freakin.. i can't even spell the name.

The problem is Laird will find play time hard to come by with Wan Bissaka at right back for years to come. This makes him one of the first ones who might feel the urge to look for greener pastures.

 

[morbidsaint]

The problem is Laird will find play time hard to come by with Wan Bissaka at right back for years to come. This makes him one of the first ones who might feel the urge to look for greener pastures.

Personally i can see Laird challenging Bissaka for that spot. From what i've seen from Laird, he has the potential. Bissaka has been doing well, but.. he has ways to go if you ask me.

 

[Cheesy]

He has a short memory. That Arsenal game could have finished 8-5. We were very lax in midfield. We had Cleverly and Park. It was freakish and Arsenal were so bad. He also forgets that the same team got taken apart by Cjty 6-1. At home!!!
So much for such a great side eh?

It was still a side that finished 2nd in the league and which would've been crowned champions if not for Aguero's last minute goal or our blunders towards the end of the season. Indeed, the fact there was plenty of discontent that year (when we went out of the CL at the group stages) in spite of the fact we were still competing for the title shows how standards have fallen dramatically when we're now attempting to excuse poor Europa League results as we languish in a mid-table league position with two league wins since mid-September.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Wouldn't make much out of this game. The team sent today was poor, not really the way to introduce young players as someone else mentioned.

The group and opposition were really shite, we should win it with another draw at home to AZ.

I really don't think a lot of people get this point. Said it in my roast thread but imagine being Bernard and losing the match on your debut off an own goal away to a team from Khazakstan.

 

[Class of 63]

Meh.

Have to beat AZ at home to get top spot now.

Only need to not get beat.

 

[Class of 63]

If Chong scores the easiest goal ever, we win.

I promised myself that it's a nothing game and there's no reason to be upset if we lose, but when we blow the game away by missing an open goal, and also scoring an own goal to give the opposition the lead, I just can't help myself. It's just so goddamn irritating.

Hope the he youngsters learn from this. Greenwood is class, unsure about Gomes and all these rumours about Chong joining Juventus wont upset me any more.

Laird and Levitt look class as well.

Do we? It's the hardest lead to hold in football, whatever the level.

 

[Freak]

I think Levitt has huge potential. He controls things in midfield very well and has got a good zip on his passes. In fact both him and Garner did very well in midfield, controlling things and playing the ball between the lines. Lovely to see.

 

[Class of 63]

[/QUOTE]

Bang average players, they should be beating this team with absolute ease. No wonder the U23’s got relegated. The future for this club isn’t looking good whatsoever... we’re a dinosaur club with an old stadium that’s falling apart. What the hell is going on, it’s absolutely pathetic that this shit is still going on since Fergie left, we need to move with modern times. Look at how City and Liverpool are doing things, their youth teams look fantastic from u18’s upwards, I simply cannot believe the state we are in and cannot see a turn around for at least another 10-15 years, everything needs scrapping and starting over, including this crumbling big old stadium.

Please tell me you're on a windy up and forgot the white text.

 

[Class of 63]

3. Even our under-18 players should be able to beat Astana or at least draw.

Are you new to football?

 

[Bondi77]

Nice debut by Laird and looks like he offers plenty in the attacking department and has presence as well.
I thought Garner did well and he keeps the ball ticking over nicely.
I think with Gomes that he has to be close to the penalty area for his tricks to come off as he looks a bit lost when slightly further away and he does give the ball away a lot.
It really was men against boys and it was only really Laird and Shaw that were not getting knocked off the ball in the fifty fifties.
Sad for Chong with missing the sitter but I really think he does not offer much anyway and I think he has got a bit of the Lukaku heavy touch sometimes when running with the ball.

 

[pacifictheme]

Which first team starter would you have risked injury on in a meaningless EL game like this?

Phil jones.

In all seriousness though i'd have liked to see one or two more senior players start, a cb and a cm, just to help the youngsters through the game. I do appreciate though due to squad depth and injuries it wouldn't have been very sensible.

 

[Eire Red United]

Average age that beat Arsenal 8-2 was 23.1. With exception of a couple of players, these guys aren't anywhere up to standard. That's the truth really.

Was it? And where are those boys now...

 

[NewGlory]

Are you new to football?

Do you know anything about Astana or their league of farmers? I do

 

[roonster09]

Phil jones.

In all seriousness though i'd have liked to see one or two more senior players start, a cb and a cm, just to help the youngsters through the game. I do appreciate though due to squad depth and injuries it wouldn't have been very sensible.

Yeah ideally that would have been good but we have only 1 fit CM and it's risky to play him in this game.

 

[muf18]

i get it why chong's getting stick... should have scored.. but i dont understand some of the posters vile abuse and writing off youth products when they were on their own out there.. it was boys against men but they played a good first half... have patience!

imagine ronnie doing that in this day and age... would have been murdered!

 

[Raw]

Only need to not get beat.

I assumed AZ would beat Partizan, phew!

 

[Just shoot me]

I assumed AZ would beat Partizan, phew!

Apparently they had to deal with some horrible refereeing against Partizan.

 

[Nickelodeon]

Chong is really poor. Without counting the miss, he doesn't really do anything. Doesn't take on the players, doesn't cross, doesn't make any decent off the ball run. All he did was turn back and pass to Laird. What is the fuss about?

 

[Eric's Seagull]

Apparently they had to deal with some horrible refereeing against Partizan.

Surprised they got back into it after losing their striker in the 82nd minute.

 

[Judas]

Chong is really poor. Without counting the miss, he doesn't really do anything. Doesn't take on the players, doesn't cross, doesn't make any decent off the ball run. All he did was turn back and pass to Laird. What is the fuss about?

He has looked better at a lower level to be fair. He does everything better there. But he's just looked absolutely terrified and out of his depth every time he's been asked to make the step up.

Some kids just aren't cut out for top level football, maybe its a mental thing, either way the fact people in the summer were pointing to him as a reason not to go for the likes of Sancho is hilarious, and just shows how much ignorant shite is spoken on here.

 

[Ikon]

Dead rubber game, and you don't get too many of those in European competition, so it was a great opportunity to give young lads a taste of European football, also some much needed minutes for Shaw, Tuanzebe & Lingard.

The result is largely immaterial, it's a training exercise and a learning experience.

 

[Multatuli]

Surprised they got back into it after losing their striker in the 82nd minute.

AZ played the worst game of the season, but Ferdy Druijf saved us. He plays most of his matches in the bottom of the 2nd league and he saved AZ against Royal Antwerp and now again. Remember the name Ferdy Druijf . Looking forward to MU - AZ.

 

[Bilbo]

Laird, Garner, Levitt all impressed me, in that order

Greenwood didn't get a lot of the ball but that technique he showed for the shot which was well saved towards the end was another indication of his natural talent. He going to be a hell of a player.