[Lord Snooty]

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United under 21s
Bristol Street Motors Trophy - Group F
Tuesday November 12th - 19:45 ko
at the John Smith's Stadium

Huddersfield Town welcome Manchester United under 21s to the John Smith's Stadium on Tuesday evening for our final match in the group stage of this season's EFL Trophy.

It's the last game in the group and the stakes couldn't be higher. Doncaster Rovers have already qualified for the next round by beating Barnsley a fortnight ago. All United's kids have to do is get a draw. Town must win to progress. Even if we draw and then win the resulting penalty shoot out, it won't be enough as we are, as it stands, two points behind them. A shoot out win only gets you one single bonus point. Both teams would receive a point for the draw over 90 minutes.

Michael Duff picked strong teams for both games played so far, with just a couple of young 'uns in the debacle in Doncaster. There are restrictions to how many team changes can be made. No restrictions on goalkeepers, any goalie will do but the restrictions on outfield selections are quite complicated. Basically, four of the outfield players must be genuine first teamers, meaning players from the last team picked or a player who has over 40 first team games behind him. Players on loan from the Premier League, even if they haven't played in the first team are classed in this category. So despite not having 40 games behind him, Callum Marshall would be called into this category. He won't be playing though as he's away on international duty. As are Brodie Spencer and Josh Koroma.

As for United. They need a minimum of six players who were aged under 21 on the 30th of June this year. They may also include a maximum of two players who are aged over 21 and also have more than 40 first team games behind them. So they could have a couple of first teamers in the game who haven't got many minutes in this season, if they wanted.

I think Chris Maxwell will probably get another game. Michal Helik should at least start, see how he gets on. I desperately want to see Tom Iorpenda get a full game and get his first goal in a first team game. Rhys Healy has to start the game as well, hopefully get a full 90 minutes in. Does Freddie Ladapo get a game? Wasn't even on the bench on Saturday. Neither was Danny Ward. No Koroma or Marshall available, so either one of them will line up alongside Healy. I'd love to see Zak Abbott at least on the bench and making his debut. He scored twice for the B team last week. Peter Thomas played against Donny though and maybe he might get another starting place.

Tickets:

Adults - £10
Under 18s - £5



A brief history of Man Utd u21s record in this competition:

2023/24: knocked out in group stage, including an 8-1 defeat at Bolton.
2022/23: knocked out in last 16, 4-0 defeat at Bolton.
2021/22: knocked out in group stage
2020/21: knocked out in round 2, lost 3-2 at Accrington
2019/20: knocked out in round 2 at Tranmere, 3-2.



Man Utd's profiles: The Academy head coach and in charge of the Busby Babes in this game will be Travis Binnion, a 37 year old who started his playing career with the Sheffield Utd Academy, but never made the first team. Before football though, he had a short (one match) career as a cricketer with Nottinghamshire.

After a short spell playing in Finland, he quit playing to become a coach and was offered a job back at Bramall Lane. He moved to Man Utd in 2019 and became Academy head coach in 2021. His team won the FA Youth Cup in 2022, with current first teamers Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the Final.

Another of the coaches is a name that will give many a Town fan shudders down the spine. He's 36 years old and has been playing as one of the over age players. He scored the first goal in a 3-0 defeat of ours in 2011 at Old Trafford. His name is Tommy Rowe.

Seventeen year old twins, Jack and Tyler Fletcher are the sons of former United player, Scottish international and current first team coah, Darren Fletcher. It's Jack who seems to be making a name for himself at this stage of their progression. He came on a a sub in the game at Oakwell and scored twice as United came form 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Barnsley.

Ethan Ennis scored the first goal in that comeback. He's 19 years old and according to his Wikipedia page has been described as having "brilliant quality on the ball", "an eye for a creative pass", and "brilliant instincts in front of goal". He has also been called, 'two-footed, commanding in the air, and jet-heeled'.





Scores in Group F:
Aug 20: Barnsley 2-3 Man Utd u21
Sep 3: Donny 2-1 Town
Sep 24: Donny 3-3 Man Utd u21 (Utd win on pens)
Oct 8: Town 2-0 Barnsley
Oct 29: Barnsley 1-3 Donny


Click here for the Wiki page for this season's competition


Anagrams of players who have come through the Man Utd youth system: First five are all United legends. Six is a current United player and the final four all played for Town at some stage of their careers.

1. Eggs To Beer
   
2. Isiah Wonderment
   
3. Iggys Gran
   
4. Souls Chapel
   
5. Nellie Gravy
   
6. A Nookie Bimbo
   
7. Dinky Tran Andrew
   
8. Ironwood Lover
   
9. Only John Mimics
   
10. Alf Crimper Blaze
    

[jjamez]

Thought about going, then thought again. Would be sat on me todd which wouldnt be fun. Don't think I'll be attending a game until either Lincoln or weegan. Despite our league form, can't say I'm that bothered at the moment.

4- paul scholes
5- Gary neville
6- kobbie mainoo
7- Danny Drinkwater
8- Oliver Norwood

[Lord Snooty]

Kieran Phillips and Scott High are back in Town. Will they be in the squad for tomorrow?

[theo_luddite]

Doesn't look like it. Would have thought that High was signed by The Shay until the end of December, but obviously not. Ironically his only goal was a winner against Tamworth. Go figure. He's injured anyway and Phillips has been given a week or so off. I feel knackered flying back from Toronto for several days after I land, so coming back from California can't be any better. They reckon up to a day for every hours time difference for us old farts. It wasn't much different though when I was younger.

I'd say he'll be ready mid-December, but what do I know? I'm off over the pond too at the weekend and I'll be back in time to miss Charlton and Orient (I'll do the match thread and predictions), anything we rearrange for FA Cup R2 Saturday (don't hold your breath), too jet lagged for Wigan but I wouldn't have driven up anyway, so Mansfield will be my next game.

[jjamez]

Need to win to progress

[Lord Snooty]

13. Jacob Chapman
4. Matty Pearson
5. Michał Helik
8. Ben Wiles
9. Bojan Radulovic
11. Rhys Healey
14. Mickel Miller
16. Herbie Kane
20. Ollie Turton
23. Nigel Lonwijk
28. Tom Iorpenda

SUBSTITUTES

Chris Maxwell, Francis Hurl; Jaheim Headley, David Kasumu, Freddie Ladapo, Danny Ward, Tom Lees

---

Dutch international Tyrell Malaciia, returning from injury and coach Tommy Rowe are the two overage players for United.

[Lord Snooty]

Never doubted the boys for a minute

[Lord Snooty]

So we finish 2nd in the group and will have an away tie against either Stockport, Wrexham, Morecambe, Bolton, Blackpool, Chesterfield or Rotherham.

[jjamez]

Wrexham it is then.

[Lord Snooty]

Strange bench last night. Iorpenda went off early, ill not injured. Kasumu came on.

So when Wiles went down injured, thankfully ok to carry on, there was no midfielder left on the bench. But we had two goalkeepers.