My point being we are doing much better at academy level. It’ll be interesting to tell how much keeping good young players impacts on us positively, if we had of course we might currently have competitive forwards and attacking midfielders
Wolves U21 1-2 Sunderland AFC U21 Sunderland AFC Under-21s picked up all three points on the road with victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League 2. Tommy Watson's first half strike from the edge of the area opened the scoring. Tawanda Chiwera's low drive on 70 minutes levelled the contest. Marshall Burke came off the bench to seal the tie at the Aggborough Stadium. A quick start from the Black Cats saw Watson strike after just six minutes. Caden Kelly drove at the heart of the Wolves defence before finding Michael Spellman on the far side, his resulting lay-off was brilliantly dispatched by the 18-year-old. The Lads continued to dominate with chances aplenty. Kelly came close a few moments after the restart with an effort on the edge of the area that Jimmy Storer tipped around the post. Graeme Murty's side went close again just five minutes later as Trey Ogunsuyi's back-post header went narrowly wide. The hosts were level with 20 minutes to play as Chirewa picked up the ball on the edge of the area before striking past Adam Richardson. Victory was confirmed on 83 minutes as the ball bounced around the area before Burke's low-driven effort from 20 yards out found the bottom corner. The Black Cats climb to eighth in the table ahead of next week's home fixture against Middlesbrough. Sunderland AFC: Richardson, Lavery (Jenson Jones 86), Bell, Fieldson, Bainbridge, Middlemas, Jones, Spellman (Burke 76), Kelly (Tutierov 76), Watson, Ogunsuyi (Ryder 90) Unused subs: Metcalf
Really intelligent and informative from Murty there. I don’t think I’ve seen him talk as in depth about bravery with/good use of the ball and what it takes for young players to ‘make it’ as professionals.
I'm surprised he hasn't been involved more at first team level, especially since Beale. You'd think he'd be perfect as a stand in seen as he's got actual managerial experience. Unless he's just turned it down and wanted to concentrate on the u21s
Best and most articulate coach at the club by a country mile imo. His post match interviews are a joy to listen too, win or loose his teams are a joy to watch.
I'm surprised he didn't get a shot at caretaker with us, he managed Rangers for a while with a decent win rate.
That's never a good barometer on how good a manager is. I'm sure he said himself that he is better suited to the role he is doing now, than being the head coach.
I'm just pleased we have him here. He'll be very highly rated with the jobs his done at this level. Pity we lost the U18 coach to Southampton. He was another who was highly rated.
Interesting here that he says the pathway to the first team is a big attraction. This is why we shouldn’t have too many older players despite the clamour. If we’d had fit older players this year and more ‘ready’ younger players that would have sufficed to me.
