Manchester United’s U23s started the season after a number of new changes to the age group. Many players, including Callum Gribbin, had been released and the coach, Ricky Sbragia had been sacked. Neil Wood and Quinton Fortune were tasked with managing this level with Nicky Butt also involved after changing his role at the club this summer.
The season actually started on Tuesday 6 August 2019 with a trip to Rotherham United in the EFL Trophy, the first time United have participated in the competition. United won the match 2-0 with goals from Ethan Laird and Largie Ramazani, assisted by Brandon Williams and James Garner respectively.
In their first Premier League 2, Division 2 fixture, United travelled to face West Bromwich Albion, seeking to get out of the tier and return to the top level of this age division, winning 5-0. Garner scored a brace with Ramazani, D’Mani Bughail-Mellor and Dylan Levitt also on the scoresheet. Williams assisted twice with Bughail-Mellor assisting another.
In their first home match at Leigh Sports Village, United welcomed Reading to Manchester. United, on a two match winning run, won 2-0 with Bughail-Mellor opening the scoring with Garner scoring the other goal, which Bughail-Mellor assisted. It was three wins in a row for United in two competitions, super a great start to the season.
Then came an away match against Newcastle United, another high-scoring victory for United with four goals scored without reply. Tahith Chong scored twice, also getting an assist with Ramazani and Garner scoring the other two. Bughail-Mellor, Levitt and Williams assisted the other goals in the game.
At the end of August, United travelled to West Ham United, which was the first match they had dropped points in this season, drawing 2-2. Angel Gomes, assisted by Ramazani opened the scoring in the 19th minute with Ramazani, assisted by Lee O’Connor, playing his last match, levelled the score in the last minute of the match to take a point back to Manchester.
United ended up undefeated in August, which was a good start to the season, and proudly sit at the top of the Premier League 2, Division 2 table, albeit on goal difference with West Ham in the second spot in the league. United play three times this month, at home against Fulham (13/9) and Norwich City (27/9) and away against Aston Villa (23/9).
In August, there were many players in the U23s who have shown their ability. For them now, they will need to show consistency with the team looking to overcome disappointment after that draw away to West Ham at the end of the month. Ramazani and Garner ended the month with four goals each with Bughail-Mellor and Chong on two goals each.
Gomes, Laird, and Levitt had all scored one goal each. In terms of assists, Williams was leading the table with four, Bughail-Mellor with three and Chong, Garner, Levitt, O’Connor and Ramazani with one assist each. United scored a total of 15 goals, conceding two, keeping four clean sheets in the five matches played. If this continues, United will win promotion.
However, it is a long season, which will contain more disappointment, an indicator that will show this team growing in ability and mentality on their way to fighting for a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team. In terms of players showing their abilities for the first team, Gomes, Garner, Ramazani and Williams will be leading the line.
It was a shame that O’Connor left the club with a permanent move to Scottish Premier League champions Celtic and he will be wished all the best of luck in his pursuit of first
Only three players played in each of the five matches last month, two of those played in every minute; O’Connor and Williams. Levitt played in all matches, however only played 66 minutes in the second match of the season. With O’Connor leaving the club, it may give 17-year-old Teden Mengi a route to U23 football, having played the last two matches.
If the likes of Chong, Garner, Gomes are given first team opportunities in the coming months, Wood and Fortune will have players at their disposal with Anthony Elanga doing well at U18 level, playing 105 minutes at U23 level this season already. Ethan Galbraith could also fill in, replacing Garner. Williams should be considered with Luke Shaw injured.
Solskjaer has suggested that when September comes, with United fighting in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and the UEFA Europa League, the need for rotation will be high to keep players fresh. He’s also suggested that Chong will get a first team chance this season after rejecting a loan spell away from the club. Gomes should be in the first team anyway.
