I find it slightly (but not massively) concerning that the U21s seem to be playing a completely different style to our first eleven. There’s not much correlation with what we’re doing in the seniors.
It's forward thinking. They're planning ahead for when the young lads are playing in the Champions League and we have a different approach.
I thought exactly the same thing last night watching the game, but listening to Murty's interview indicates the thinking is primarily on individual development rather than a confining structure aimed at winning at all costs. Thats what I think anyway hope it makes sense.
Seems intuitive, tactics are temporary, developing a good, complete footballer is much more important than training them into one style of play, good players will adapt.
Yeah I agree, it's not great. However, my guess is that our end goal with the first team is to be a high possession, high pressing based team which is what the u21s and u18s are. The club should absolutely have a game model that is implemented throughout the club though, just takes time.
I'm no coach but I thought the u21s played the high pressing passing game that our first team tries to do... the only difference seemed to be we scored 6 ! More of that please.
Sunderland Under-21’s cruised to a well-earned 6-0 victory over Derby County Under-21’s in the Premier League 2 at Eppleton Welfare Colliery Ground. A Tommy Watson brace, Aaron Connolly’s first in red and white, alongside a second-half Caden Kelly penalty, Nazariy Rusyn header and a Jenson Jones chip put the game beyond the Rams. Sunderland made six changes to the team that beat Olympique Lyonnais last Tuesday: Connolly, Watson, Rusyn and Zak Johnson all returned to Graeme Murty’s starting XI. The visitors came within a couple of inches of taking an early advantage when Riley Mooney’s curling effort from the edge of the box almost found Daniel Cameron’s top corner. After a cagey opening 18 minutes, the Black Cats took the lead through Watson after Harrison Jones expertly drove forward and put the ball on a plate for the winger to drill his shot from 10 yards past Harley Price. Connolly doubled the home side’s lead on 25 minutes after latching onto the end of Watson’s through ball before cooly steadying himself and slotting past a helpless Price from close range on 25 minutes. A superb pass from Connolly cut open the Rams’ defence and sent Rusyn racing through on goal five minutes before the break, but the Ukrainian’s angled effort could only sting the palm of Price before rolling away for a corner, which came to nothing. Price kept Derby within two goals on the stroke of half time, saving H. Jones’ near post-strike after a well-worked one-two with Rusyn provided the Under-21 captain with a clear-cut opportunity. Sunderland thought they had their third of the evening when Joe Anderson’s riffled volley from 15 yards beat Price but was chalked off seconds later for offside. Murty’s side returned from the break and continued to monopolise possession, deservedly adding their third of the evening from the spot after substitute Caden Kelly was tripped inside the area – Kelly powerfully despatched his penalty on 53 minutes into Price’s bottom right-hand corner. Cameron, who had little to do in the second 45 stayed alert and quickly advanced off his line to deny former Gateshead loanee Dajaune Brown from point-blank range. Rusyn sealed all three points on 87 minutes when he directed Jenson Jones’ cross back across goal with a well-placed header. Jenson Jones completed the rout in stoppage time, delicately chipping the ball over Price from close range after picking up a loose ball inside the area. Rhys Walsh’s defence-splitting pass started off a blistering counter-attack setting Watson free to add his second of the night and Sunderland’s sixth after racing through on goal before cleverly lifting the ball over Price. The young Black Cats are back on the road next week as they visit the John Smith Stadium to face Huddersfield Town in the Premier League 2. SAFC XI: Cameron, Lavery, Johnson (Kindon 68’), Anderson, Jenson Jones, Middlemas, Harrison Jones © (Walsh 86’), Burke (Lenz 61’) Rusyn, Watson, Connolly (Kelly 45’) Substitutes: Metcalf. A very good workout for our U21,s with some top class play, I was particularly impressed with J.Jones who had his best game at this level that I have seen so far some exciting players coming through personally I cant wait for the next game. OaU e
