Ben Johnson and Conor Coventry last night demonstrated the academy is alive, well and thriving!
Ok, it was no more than a pre-season friendly against Reading but quality crossing and goal scoring remains the same whatever the level.
And both players demonstrated they have some real quality in their game as we head towards the biggest match of pre-season so far against Celtic at the weekend.
One defence splitting pass from Coventry to set up a great Jarrod Bowen chance in the first half was out of the top drawer.
That was followed by some outstanding crosses from Johnson who has really worked on his left foot delivery before he set up Conor’s goal ahead of scoring a terrific effort of his own.
Bowen too was in very good form and a constant menace but that two academy boys should take the eye in such a big way is very good news for us at this stage of proceedings.
Yes, we of course need new signings but let’s celebrate two players who possibly look likely to be having a big impact this season.
Agreed, both players have improved tremendously.
Very impressed by the pair of them, Coventry looked like a young Carrick at times, good range of passing and excellent spatial awareness. As for Johnson, nothing fazes him, left back, right back, finishing like an accomplished striker. O- Flex looked lively too.
I too was impressed by Coventry’s performance. I can only recall him wasting one ball last night. Passing to blokes wearing the same shirt as you is a decent habit to have.
The one criticism I think which can be legitimately levelled against Moyes is the lack of pitch time, in proper, competitive games he gives the youngsters. I can understand not risking them in situations where the game is in the balance but there have been occasions when the game is comfortably in the bag, or, for that matter, comfortably lost and the pressure is off. But instead of seeing an academy lad come on for the last 15 minutes or so we see the appearance of a Mark Noble or Andriy Yarmolenko.
Hopefully we may see a change of policy in this respect this season.
You mean Johnson’s crossing and goal Hugh
Coventry’s main problem up until last season was scoring goals. Last season he added that. He’s a better allround player than Cullen who we let go,Cullen is now a regular in the Ireland team so must be doing something right. This pre-season he seems to be given more minutes than Noble which we need. Agreed with Geoff that Moyes is terrible with giving youngsters game time. He needs to eradicate that or we’ll be regretting it with good you ng players moving on . He’s contradicting with what he actuals voices.
Sorry but neither of them or Holland or Kuina are premiership standard.