FAYC Final: Sheffield United v MUFC – Preview

It’s here, and it’s not going unnoticed despite being surrounded by other events and achievements gained by the club’s more illustrious and decorated first team squad. There’s a certain hype about this year’s FA Youth Cup final, nothing emphasised this more than the 24,000 tickets that had already been sold by Wednesday last week, Bramall Lane holds just shy of 33,000. People, fans and pundits alike, are talking about this United squad and daring to compare it to the class of ’92. Of course only time will tell if they’re words of wisdom or merely buoyant foolishness.

United go into the game with some injury worries and a suspension but have found themselves in far worse situations during this cup run. The timely return of Will Keane helped brush Chelsea aside in the semi-final and Keane is now showing signs of returning to full match fitness and form. John Cofie also returned last week against Leeds United and has trained hard to make himself available for the final. Tyler Blackett is suspended due to his sending off for dissent by a very fussy, authoritarian referee at Barnsley. Sheffield United were dealt a huge blow when skipper Elliot Whitehouse, inexcusably gave the referee no choice but to send him off in the last round against Aston Villa when, in the last few minutes, with the game already won, he made a wild sliding tackle after previously receiving a yellow card for celebrating his and Sheffield United’s second goal of the game by removing his shirt.

To reach the final Sheffield United have beaten Cheltenham, Millwall, Blackpool, Leicester City and Aston Villa scoring 15 goals along the way and keeping three cleansheets, two of which were achieved in the semi final games against Villa. Their top scorer is the suspended Whitehouse with four (2 x Pen) but he offers more than just goals. He’s the central midfield engine and his absence is definitely United’s gain. Joe Ironside has three goals to his name and plays the poacher role, Jordan Slew was impressive against Millwall creating all three goals and also scored twice in injury time against Blackpool in the 6th round. Ex player and now Academy Manager John Pemberton isn’t afraid to adopt unfamiliar formations and sends his team out with the belief that they’re capable of getting a result by playing an attractive quick passing style of play. My guess is, up against Morrison, GVV and Keane, and with the loss of Whitehouse it’s unlikely he will use the 3-5-2 he often uses and is more likely to play 4-5-1 with a man marking Morrison.

United have beaten Portsmouth, West Ham, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea to get to the final scoring 14 and conceding just 7, 5 of which were conceded at Anfield and Stamford Bridge. Despite missing two games Will Keane is United’s leading goalscorer in the competition with five goals, which included a hat-trick in the 2nd leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford. Ravel Morrison has bagged three times, twice at the Kop in the fantastic 6th round fight back against Liverpool when the Reds won 3-2 despite being two goals down at half-time.

The 1st leg of the semi final saw manager Paul McGuiness adopt a 4-5-1 formation in the absence of Ravel Morrison, if captain Tom Thorpe hasn’t completely recovered from a calf injury that’s threatening to keep him out, McGuiness could well adopt the same formation with the emphasis on keeping it tight. With the suspension of Tyler Blackett and Thorpe doubtful, I can see no other option than recalling the recently out of favour Alberto Massacci to right back. That would allow him to use Sean McGinty and Michael Keane at left back and centre back respectively (or possibly vice-versa). If Thorpe does make it he’ll partner Fornasier as usual in the centre with McGinty on the left and Keane on the right. As for the midfield, Larnell Cole is struggling with a knock that he’s been nursing for a few weeks and looks set to miss out. This should see Pogba and Tunnicliffe start in the central roles with Morrison roaming just in front and behind them with Lingard on the right and Van Velzen on the left. Will Keane completes the line-up on his own up front. On the bench McGuiness has John Cofie, Tom Lawrence, Charni Ekangamene, Joe Coll and either Massacci/Daehli/Wilkinson at his disposal.

As is always the case with two-legged ties it’s important to keep yourself in the game at the end of the first leg. With United holding the advantage of playing the second leg at home don’t expect to see swash-buckling, adventurous, all out attack from United, and also don’t under estimate the opponents. The game promises to be a hard fought one but I fully expect United to dominate with the instruction to control the tempo and not concede any soft goals.

Kickoff 7:30pm, Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Tuesday – 17/05/2011

My prediction: SUFC 1 – 2 MUFC

Possible Team/Formation: 1305490487674396.jpg

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Category: Manchester United