News roundup – Winning start for Zieler; Trio turn pro; Burnley keen on Eagles; Mixed fortune for four seeking new clubs

Few snippets of news from the past few days that you may (or indeed may not) have missed…

~ United’s sole representative at the U19 Euros got off to a winning start in Plzen this evening as Ron-Robert Zieler’s Germany side overcame the holders and favourites Spain 2-1 in their opening group match. Zieler was preferred to Energie Cottbus’ Tom Mickel in goal and had little to do as Spain laboured in attack. In contrast, the young Germans built a deserved 2-0 lead with goals early in each half from Richard Sukuta-Pasu and Ömer Toprak, and had enough in the tank to comfortably hold on even after Zieler was beaten by a Jordi Alba strike midway through the second period.

Germany’s shock win will have raised hopes of success in a tournament they have never won, and their next game is on Thursday evening against Bulgaria. News on that (and more specifically RRZ’s involvement) in due course.

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Club confirm the release of seven

United have this afternoon confirmed what we pretty much knew already – a septet of youngsters will be released when their contracts expire on Monday. Although the identity of these players have been known for a while, for the record they are defenders Michael Lea and Kieran Lee, midfielders Ritchie Jones and Conor McCormack, wingers Séan Evans and Michael Barnes, and forward Chris Fagan.

It has been known since early 2008 that Lea, Evans, Barnes and Fagan wouldn’t be offered new contracts this summer, and the quartet have spent a lot of time since then on trial at other clubs. Jones’ contract was also known to be expiring and it was anticipated he would move on, although this hadn’t been confirmed. News of McCormack’s release came in April (initially via United.no) and was confirmed by the player himself in interviews around the time of the Champions League Final, while Kieran Lee’s free transfer to Oldham Athletic – perhaps the biggest surprise of the seven – was announced at around the same time.

Best of luck to all seven in their future careers.

Where next for those moving on?

For most United fans, all the focus now and over the next couple of months will understandably be on players coming in (or potentially coming in), but spare a thought for those leaving Old Trafford – in particular those leaving to an uncertain future. Several players are set to be released or not have their contracts renewed this summer, and while United do everything they can to ensure these players find another club, there are essentially only so many professional contracts up for grabs each year and there are an awful lots of players competing for them.

MSC Final: Late goals see reserves pick up a trophy of their own

Goals in the last ten minutes from Danny Welbeck and Rodrigo Possebon only added to the feelgood factor around Old Trafford this evening, as United’s second string emulated the first-team’s achievement yesterday and picked up their own piece of silverware. The 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers saw the Reds win the Manchester Senior Cup for a record 27th time and finish their season in the perfect way.

Not that the victory was as straightforward as the scoreline might suggest. Bolton dominated the first half, causing United no end of problems with their physicality and noticeable size/strength advantage and not letting the Reds settle into their usual style of play. Only some heroic defending kept the scores level going into half-time, with Richard Eckersley – fresh from having been named Reserve Player of the Year last night – particularly impressive in a less familiar centre-back role, matching his usual total commitment with an extraordinarily competitive performance in the air against significantly taller, stronger opponents.

Whether it was down to tactical readjustments, strong words from the management team or a drop-off in Bolton’s intensity (or quite possibly all three), the second half was a much more even affair and indeed, after a scrappy start it was probably United who looked the better side. Eckersley and co. had to keep on their toes as Bolton were always a threat, but the midfield started to get on the ball more and more as the half wore on, Rodrigo Possebon displaying his full range of passing and seemingly never ceding possession. Danny Welbeck started to offer a significant threat of his own upfront for United, ably supported by Chris Eagles in what could quite possibly be his last game in a United shirt.

United chances came and went – Eagles went close with a freekick, David Gray headed narrowly wide and Welbeck forced a fine save from Bolton keeper Brocklehurst. The newly-crowned Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year wasn’t to be denied much longer though, and it was another player seemingly making his last appearance for the club who set it up. Michael Barnes had been subdued for much of the game, but on 79 minutes the winger worked space on the right and delivered the perfect cross for Welbeck to expertly volley home on the slide from 12 yards out.

That goal was just about deserved on the balance of play, but it would have been hard to begrudge Bolton an equaliser and with five minutes left they went as close as it’s possible to come without scoring. An almighty scramble in the United box gave Bolton not one but three opportunities to fire home and each time they were denied by heroic last-ditch defending, with Séan Evans eventually clearing off the line after brave blocks by Ron-Robert Zieler and James Chester. That close shave seemed to jolt United into a bid to kill the game off, and they were hugely aided by Bolton skipper Rob Sissons picking up a second yellow card with just a couple of minutes remaining. The Reds duly sealed the win in injury-time as Rodrigo Possebon found himself perfectly placed to take advantage of a lucky bounce of the ball and dispatch a classy left-foot volley past Brocklehurst from 15 yards – the Brazilian’s first goal for the reserves since his January arrival, and a decisive one.

Skipper Sam Hewson – a Bolton lad himself – duly lifted the Manchester Senior Cup, and told MUTV “That’s what we aim for all season, to win trophies, and it’s come true at the end. The first team set the standard. They win things, so it’s good for us to win trophies too to back that up”.

UNITED

Zieler
Gray – Chester – Eckersley – Cleverley
Barnes – Hewson – Possebon – S Evans
Eagles
Welbeck

Subs: Amos, James, Drinkwater, Macheda, Fagan (all unused)
ScorersM: Welbeck 79, Possebon 90

Reserves defeated by USA U20 side

The USA U20 national team travelled to Carrington on Thursday to face the reserves in the second leg of their three-game tour of England, and faced a strong, relatively experienced United lineup warming up for Monday’s Manchester Senior Cup final. The tourists ran out 2-1 winners via a late Perica Marosevic goal, his second of the game – Chris Eagles had cancelled out the Chicago Fire forward’s opener midway through the second half.

No full match report as details are scarcer than a very scarce thing, but there’s a very American match report here, and we do know the United lineup was as follows:

UNITED

Zieler
Gray – Chester – Cathcart – Eckersley
Eagles – Cleverley – Possebon – Hewson – S Evans
Triallist

Subs: Fagan (for Possebon 45), Barnes (for Evans 45), Evans (for Triallist 73)
Scorer: Eagles 72

Thanks to Mr. MUJAC on the redcafe youth/reserves forum for that lineup. No word on who the triallist was yet unfortunately, one to keep an eye on. That isn’t a mistake in the subs list – Séan Evans did come back on for the triallist after having been replaced by Michael Barnes at half-time. Interesting to see Barnes back after Shrewsbury chose not to sign him permanently – more on that (as promised in the last loan roundup) over the weekend.

Loan and International Roundup – May 3-4

As Febian Brandy crowns his League One title-winning loan spell with the winning goal in Swansea’s final game at Brighton, it’s disappointment all round on final day for United’s Championship contingent…

Loan Roundup – April 26-27

With three having helped steer their sides clear of the threat of relegation and another having already celebrated clinching the League One title, this past weekend was all about our other four loanees’ continuing pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

Loan Roundup – April 19-22

Irish midfield powerhouse Darron Gibson was the only one of United’s loanees to taste victory this week…

Loan Roundup – April 12-15

An extended loan roundup this week as two of our Championship loanees play Saturday-Tuesday after their week off due to the FA Cup Semis…

Loan Roundup – April 5-6

Michael Barnes had a point to prove this weekend as his Shrewsbury side travelled to Chesterfield, where Barnes of course spent an unsuccessful and prematurely terminated loan spell earlier in the year. Having made a bright start to his career with The Shrews he was given a start at Saltergate, but it wasn’t to prove a happy return – having reached half-time at 0-0, Shrewsbury collapsed to lose 4-1, with Barnes being replaced on the hour mark after a largely ineffective display. Shrewsbury are now in real danger of relegation from League Two, quite a test for the 19 year old given he’s also very much playing for a permanent contract.

Sunderland notched up a third straight win and climbed even further away from the Premier League drop zone, thanks in no small part to Jonny Evans once more. The Ulsterman was unlucky to have what would have been a first Premier League goal chalked off, but otherwise starred as the Black Cats were only denied another clean sheet by a great strike from United Academy graduate David Healy. That goal did little to affect the final result, with Sunderland running out convincing 3-1 winners at Craven Cottage.

Danny Simpson played the full ninety as Ipswich’s playoff hopes took a severe dent at the hands of local rivals Colchester. The unexpected 2-0 defeat leaves the Tractor Boys two points outside the top six, and while Danny still thinks a playoff place is well with reach, dropping three points against the bottom side in the division was a major setback.

Febian Brandy returned from suspension as a 59th minute substitute with Swansea seemingly in control of their home game against lowly Bournemouth. The Swans had just taken the lead and at that point looked set to clinch not just promotion but also the League One title, only for a Doncaster equaliser in their game at Huddersfield to put the title party on hold. Worse news was to follow as Bournemouth then produced a comeback United would be proud of, scoring two goals in injury time to ensure the Liberty Stadium faithful had nothing to celebrate just yet. Febian will be in contention for a starting place as Swansea travel to second placed Carlisle in midweek, and he will be fully aware that Sir Alex is keeping an eye on his progress.

The remaining quartet of United loanees all had the weekend off for various reasons. Kieran Lee was named in the matchday squad but was an unused substitute as QPR were held to a home draw by Preston, Lee Martin was again missing through injury as Sheffield United beat Leicester 3-0 to give themselves an outside shot of making the playoffs, while the strong Championship involvement in the FA Cup Semi-finals meant Fraizer Campbell‘s Hull and Darron Gibson‘s Wolves were without a fixture.