Coach looks to build on 'mature' performances
NORWICH City Under-18s will take the positives of their recent FA Youth Cup run when they return to league action at Newcastle United on Saturday (11am), according to manager Graeme Murty.
City's youngsters were eliminated at the quarter-final stage on Monday, producing an impressive performance only to eventually be edged out 2-0 by Manchester City at the Citizens' Academy Stadium.
Murty remains proud of his side's progress throughout the course of the current campaign however, and told canaries.co.uk: "We went there and stood up, so the players have done themselves the world of good.
"They went toe-to-toe with a top Academy side and didn't disgrace themselves by any means. It just goes to show how far they've come this year.
"Sometimes it takes a younger side a while to find belief in matches. Once they got that though, they caused Manchester City a few problems.
"Overall, we saw a group of players heading towards their potential."
City's youngsters were eliminated at the quarter-final stage on Monday, producing an impressive performance only to eventually be edged out 2-0 by Manchester City at the Citizens' Academy Stadium.
Murty remains proud of his side's progress throughout the course of the current campaign however, and told canaries.co.uk: "We went there and stood up, so the players have done themselves the world of good.
"They went toe-to-toe with a top Academy side and didn't disgrace themselves by any means. It just goes to show how far they've come this year.
"Sometimes it takes a younger side a while to find belief in matches. Once they got that though, they caused Manchester City a few problems.
"Overall, we saw a group of players heading towards their potential."
Lost 2-0 to a very good team tonight but that can't take away from how proud I am of the players and what they've achieved in the comp.
— Graeme Murty (@GraemeMurty) February 29, 2016
The 41-year-old coach is now set to shuffle his pack for the trip to the north-east, and explained: "There will be changes to the team, and to the squad generally.
"We're looking for people to put down a marker for the last six games. We want players striving to make the Under-21s squad, but also to be the best on the pitch.
"We've had development periods, but now we're looking for performances; bringing understanding and quality together in games. There are contracts to be earned still, and I'm looking for people to stand out.
"That's the message I'll be delivering to them."
"We're looking for people to put down a marker for the last six games. We want players striving to make the Under-21s squad, but also to be the best on the pitch.
"We've had development periods, but now we're looking for performances; bringing understanding and quality together in games. There are contracts to be earned still, and I'm looking for people to stand out.
"That's the message I'll be delivering to them."
CANARIES' FORM
L – 2-0 v Manchester City (A) 29/02/2016 - FA Youth Cup
L – 2-5 v Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 27/02/2016 - Barclays Under-18s Premier League
L – 2-0 v Manchester City (A) 29/02/2016 - FA Youth Cup
L – 2-5 v Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 27/02/2016 - Barclays Under-18s Premier League
D - 1-1 v Reading (H) 20/02/2016 - Barclays U18s Premier League
L - 0-1 v Tottenham Hotspur (A) 13/02/2016 - Barclays U18s Premier League
L - 0-1 v Tottenham Hotspur (A) 13/02/2016 - Barclays U18s Premier League
W – 5-4 (AET) v Middlesbrough (H) 03/02/2016 - FA Youth Cup
LAST NORWICH CITY U18s XI (v Manchester City): Oxborough; Ramsay, Crowe (c), Odusina, Syme; Pollock, Godfrey (Kamal, 88); Lewis, McIntosh (Aransibia, 76), Middleton (Couzens, 76); Ashley-Seal. Subs not used: Beauchamp (GK), Wallis.