In an ideal world, Manchester United's Under-21s would reflect the first-team, with the philosophy and style flowing into the academy from the manager, Erik ten Hag, but the two sides have gone in the opposite direction in the calendar year of 2022.
The U21s started 2022 in fine form and they enjoyed a strong finish to the end of last season, while the first-team's start to 2022 was miserable, but they've now swapped places, in regard to results. Ten Hag has made laudable progress and the first-team have achieved improved results over the last few months, but wins have been hard to come by for the U21s in the new campaign.
Although Mark Dempsey's side have managed just one win in the Premier League 2, academy staff are not concerned about the U21s' form this season, as there is an emphasis placed on individual development, not results in the club's youth set-up.
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There is no panic at the U21s' results in the Premier League 2, or at the results in the International Cup, which is a competition featuring 12 of England's best academy sides and 12 of the top development squads from other European nations.
United had drawn with Sparta Prague and had been defeated by Monaco in the International Cup before Monday night's match against Dutch club PSV, which was their final match of 2022 and a chance to end the year on a high note.
The U21s played Sparta Prague at non-league Altrincham's Moss Lane and Monaco at Old Trafford, but PSV were given the pleasure of playing at Leigh Sports Village, which was warmer than expected just six days before Christmas, surprisingly.
Dempsey started the U21s in their usual 4-3-3 formation and there was another start for D'Shon Bernard, who captained the side against Bolton last week. Bernard has enjoyed loans at Salford and Hull over the last two seasons and his experience was needed in the early stages against PSV, with the visitors seizing the initiative in the game and asking questions of the back line.
Bernard made the first clearance of the match and his centre-back partner Rhys Bennett quickly made the second. Bennett, 19, trained with the first-team last week, alongside Kobbie Mainoo, who started in midfield, and his performance in the first half at Leigh showed why Erik ten Hag is closely following his progress. He was imperious in the air and impossible to get through.
Bennet was instrumental in United surviving the early pressure, but Mainoo was also doing his best to help. The midfielder was dropping deep and asking for the ball in uncomfortable, tricky positions, which PSV were pressing with intent.
Mainoo is just 17 years old and yet his composure is impressive. He executed a superb turn in the 10th minute, evading the PSV press and he began to inspire a response from his side, who took 25 minutes to grow in belief after a slow start.
PSV had the first chance of the game after the 20-minute mark but it was easily saved by Ondrej Mastny. The tide began to turn after that moment and Mainoo seemed to be involved with every positive transition, with Bennett continuing to stand out.
Bennett and Mainoo won the FA Youth Cup together last season - Bennett captained that side - and they might progress to both have first-team debuts in this campaign. They have made tremendous strides in each month throughout 2022.
PSV were also reduced to fouling Mainoo to prevent his forward runs, although he couldn't always be stopped. He played an exceptional ball to the left in the 35th minute after struggling off a challenge and he's still not physically the finished product.
There's more to come from Mainoo and the same could be said about Joe Hugill, who led the attack with Sam Mather and Noam Emeran on the wings. Hugill has only recently returned from injury and he wanted his second goal of the season against PSV, but he couldn't quite believe his eyes when he somehow missed the best chance of the game just before half-time.
Hugill had the goal at his mercy from two yards and he somehow put it wide, failing to take the Christmas gift he'd been given from PSV. He put his hands up in disbelief and Noam Emeran immediately approached him to say them encouraging words.
"Head up, Joe, " Dempsey shouted from the touchline and that miss was almost forgotten about moments later, with United ending the first half strongly and much the better side, but again, like the theme of the season, they were unable to score.
That has been their undoing in this campaign and it was punished again after the break. Bennett was taken off, seemingly with a knock, for Logan Pye and his presence was missed at centre-back, with PSV scoring from a simple cross into the box, which was too easy. Dempsey's message at the break would have been positive but that was quickly made redundant.
PSV pushed for another after opening the scoring and they were unfortunate not to extend their advantage on the hour mark, with the ball flashing around the post. Mastny looked grateful and he urged his teammates to respond ahead of him.
Isak Hansen-Aareon, who started in midfield with Shola Shoretire and Mainoo, did not shy away from the ball. United then had a penalty claim waived in the 70th minute and the referee was booed from the pocket of children in the North Stand.
Dempsey made four changes in search of an equaliser, with Marc Jurado, Sam Mather, Joe Hugill and Noam Emeran being replaced by Charlie Wellens, Omari Forson, Mateo Mejia and Dan Gore, but PSV ruthlessly scored after those substitutions.
It was against the run of play and the bottom corner was found to make it 2-0. That seemed to settle the match, but Forson, who looked bright from the bench, came close to finding a response when his shot from the edge of the box was saved.
PSV's players punched the air on the final whistle and they'll return to the Netherlands after a productive visit to Manchester. The U21s couldn't end 2022 on a high, but there's much to look forward to in the New Year, particularly Bennett and Mainoo.
They'll both be asking Father Christmas for their debuts in 2023 for Christmas.
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