Academy Briefing: Wisdom from the Mainoos

Monday 30 September 2024 14:30

With three highly entertaining performances, a unique event at Old Trafford and more exciting fixtures approaching, here’s everything you need to know from the last seven days at United’s Academy…

MAINOO ATTENDS PARENTS’ CONFERENCE

The fourth annual Academy Parents’ Conference took place at Old Trafford recently. The event sees parents and guardians welcomed to the famous ground for talks, Q&As and workshops all designed to help them understand how best to support their child through the Academy journey.

This year’s highlight was a talk from Kobbie Mainoo’s father, Felix, on how his family approached the journey. Felix’s main advice to parents was to trust the process and the staff responsible for the players’ development. He explained his view that the Academy is a learning environment just like a school, that it’s a place aiming to develop the individual over a long period, not immediately.

Nick Cox, Director of Academy, said: “Given that players’ support systems plays such a key role in their development, we always take the time to educate parents and guardians on how best to support their child throughout their Academy journey.

“This year we had the privilege of welcoming Felix Mainoo, Kobbie’s father, to speak to the group about his family’s experiences of supporting their son from an 8-year-old in our pre-Academy all the way through to the first team.

“The workshops, talks and informal connections made on the day will stand the families in great stead to get the maximum out of our system, working alongside our elite coaches and staff to support their child to maximise their development on and off the pitch.”

United’s staff believe they are the only top-tier Academy in England to host an annual ‘Parents’ Conference’. It’s part of a firm belief that it takes a village to raise a young Red, as the latest instalment of MUTV’s ‘Lifeblood’ film series demonstrates. Focusing on how the Academy develops the person as well as the player, the third episode shows what it’s like to be the parent of an aspiring footballer, how they’re schooled, what trips they’re taken on and viewers hear from Kobbie Mainoo himself on the experience.

‘Lifeblood’ is a new story-driven documentary series utilising exclusive behind-the-scenes access to explore what drives the achievements and the philosophy of youth development at Manchester United. MUTV subscribers can watch the first three episodes now.

UNDER-18s DEFEAT BLACKBURN

A four-goal haul from in-form winger James Scanlon headlined a remarkable 9-0 victory for our Under-18s at home to Blackburn Rovers. The other goals in an excellent team display came from Gabriele Biancheri (2), Zach Baumann, Dante Plunkett and Godwill Kukonko.

Victory maintains a 100% league record for Adam Lawrence’s side, who have conceded only once in their opening five games and scored 22 times.

You can watch all nine goals in MUTV’s highlights below.

United: Murdock; Devaney, Armer, Kukonki, Plunkett (Munro, 61); T.Fletcher, Baumann (Ibragimov, 52); Mantato (Thwaites, 52), Fitzgerald (Lacey, 77), Scanlon; Biancheri.

Subs not used: Heath.

Goals: Scanlon 36, 63, 76, 84, Biancheri 5, 31, Baumann 30, Plunkett 44, Kukonki 66.

UNDER-21s WIN AT CARROW ROAD

Our Under-21s benefitted from the opportunity to play at a former Premier League stadium on Friday night when they met Norwich City at Carrow Road in PL2.

In a thrilling game befitting of the setting, United recovered from conceding early to lead 4-1 going into the closing stages, only for the hosting Canaries to get two back late on. As they pushed for an equaliser, Ethan Wheatley confirmed United’s win with his third of the day and United’s fifth.

United: Graczyk; Kamason, Fredrikson, Jackson, Amass; Curley, McAllister (Rowe, 79); Sharpe (Missin, 72), Gore (Moorhouse, 66), Williams; Ennis (Wheatley, 46).

Subs not used: Kingdon.

Goals: Williams 21, Wheatley 48, 71, 90+9, Sharpe 50.

U21s highlights: Norwich v United Video

U21S HIGHLIGHTS | Ethan Wheatley scored a hat-trick in this entertaining 5-3 win at Norwich City...

EFL TROPHY SHOOT-OUT FOR YOUNG REDS

Three days before their impressive win at Norwich, United’s Under-21s entertained in the EFL Trophy at Doncaster Rovers.

The young Reds went ahead through Sam Mather’s clinical finish but Travis Binnion’s side were pegged back in the first half by Joe Sbarra’s equaliser and conceded a further two after the break.

But United didn’t stop believing and, captained by Dan Gore on his return from injury, mounted another fantastic comeback. Ethan Ennis’ fine finish kept the chase up and Louis Jackson scrambled in an equaliser in the dying seconds of injury time.

A penalty shoot-out followed to determine the recipient of a bonus point and Dermot Mee saved from George Broadbent to help United to a 5-3 win on spot-kicks.

United now sit top of Group F and next play Huddersfield Town, on 12 November (19:45 GMT).

United: Mee; Ogunneye (McAllister 64), Kingdon, Rowe, Amass; Gore (c) (Jackson 61), Devaney (Missin 85); Ennis (Biancheri 85), J.Fletcher, Mather; Wheatley.

Subs not used: Graczyk, Curley,  Sharpe.

Scorers: Mather 11, Ennis 73, Jackson 90+6.

Penalty scorers: Mather, Wheatley, J. Fletcher, Amass. Biancheri.

THIS WEEK'S FIXTURES AND COVERAGE

U21s v Hertha Berlin, 1 Oct: Our Under-21s will travel the short distance to Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium to take on historic Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin in the Premier League International Cup.

Tickets are available for the 7pm kick-off, priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children. The players and staff will greatly appreciate the support of any travelling Reds.

The match will also be broadcast live on MUTV in the UK and Ireland, with coverage starting at 18:55 BST. It is not available internationally due to broadcast rights. 

U18s v Tottenham Hotspur, 5 Oct: Our young Reds will travel to Spurs in the first U18 Premier League Cup game of the season. Saturday's 11:00 BST kick-off will be shown live on MUTV around the world.

U21s v Liverpool, 6 Oct: Tickets are still available for the 12:00 BST kick-off at Leigh Sports Village, priced at £3 for adults and £1 for children.

The game will not be shown live on MUTV as it clashes with Match Day Live beginning at 12:55 for the men's match at Aston Villa.

Highlights of all three Academy fixtures will be available.

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