Loan watch (2011/12): Ryan Tunnicliffe at Peterborough United

**S.E.Arising** · 01-07-2011, 16:22

BBC Sport - Peterborough sign Man Utd's Tunnicliffe and Wootton on loan

Peterborough United have brought in young Manchester United pair Ryan Tunnicliffe and Scott Wootton on loan.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony confirmed the deals on Twitter.

"Gaffer just told me two United lads signed on loan, Tunnicliffe & Wooton signed up,"

The length of the loan spells has yet to be confirmed, but it is believed they will both be for the duration of the season.

**se7en** · 01-07-2011, 16:29

Another team to look out for on the Football League Show.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 01-07-2011, 16:31

Was just about to post this, good move for the pair. Wootton was the best player for the Reserves last season in my opinion, I was surprised to see Gill get the nod ahead of him although perhaps Gill was the more consistent player. Shall look forward to hopefully seeing Peterborough play sometime, maybe even on the BBC. Might even make a trip to Cardiff to watch a game. Do a bit of scouting. haha.

The only thing I find disappointing about this is that I won't see Tunnicliffe when I go and see the Reserves play.

**se7en** · 01-07-2011, 16:46

Will they both get in the squad straight away? I have no idea whether their defenders and mids are good or shit

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 01-07-2011, 18:07

They should do, depends who else they sign though, any chances would be welcomed to begin with, they have to take the chances though and perform well. Championship football will be a lot better for them than playing for the Reserves every week, especially with the Reserves league dying out.

**IrishManc.** · 02-07-2011, 01:34

Both very good committed players so it should be a success. Was hoping Tunnicliffe would get a few first team games next season but this loan should be good for him

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 02-07-2011, 02:05

The loans are 6 months with a view to another 6 months.

Chances would be limited for Tunnicliffe in the first team, they're gonna be limited for Morrison, I doubt Tunnicliffe would get a chance with us in the first 6 months to be honest, best chance would be off the bench in the League Cup, only chances in 2012 with us will be FA Cup maybe and the League if we win it early.

**G7SEV** · 02-07-2011, 15:01

Good news for them both to be getting first team experience and hopefully playing regularly.

**IrishManc.** · 02-07-2011, 15:58

Originally Posted by JSNFRMN_MUFC

The loans are 6 months with a view to another 6 months.

Chances would be limited for Tunnicliffe in the first team, they're gonna be limited for Morrison, I doubt Tunnicliffe would get a chance with us in the first 6 months to be honest, best chance would be off the bench in the League Cup, only chances in 2012 with us will be FA Cup maybe and the League if we win it early.

Agree on Tunnicliffe. He'll make a big impact the season after next. Keano's successor at long last.

However I feel Morrison will get a lot of game time next season, especially if we don't sign Sanchez or a similar player.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 02-07-2011, 17:24

Yeah well if we don't get anyone else he probably will get chances but I think there's 1 or 2 more signings to come.

**se7en** · 06-07-2011, 16:10

Full article: Wootton jumped at the chance to join Posh on loan

Scott Wootton reckons every second will count during his time at Peterborough United.

Central defender Wootton has travelled to the club’s pre-season training camp in Portugal and will then put pen to paper at the end of July to join.

Wootton said: “I was on holiday when I got a call from the gaffer at United telling me that Peterborough were interested in taking me on loan.
“He told me to have a think about it but I didn’t really need to. I called him back the next morning and said I wanted to come.

“It was a great honour to be given the captaincy of the reserve team at United. Being given the armband is always a show of respect from the manager and the other players.

“But I don’t think playing in the reserves again next season would benefit me that much. I feel the time is right to come out on loan and I’m sure this will be a great move for me.

“Gaining first-team experience in a league as good and tough as the Championship can only be good for lads like myself and Ryan and I’m sure we’ll make the most of it.”

**se7en** · 14-07-2011, 17:28

Ferguson jnr defends Man Utd link - Yahoo! Eurosport

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson has hit back at critics who say he is relying on player handouts from his father to build a team capable of thriving in the Championship. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has allowed highly-rated midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe and centre-back Scott Wootton to join Posh on loan. The Barclays Premier League champions also sold striker Nicky Ajose to Peterborough.

Ferguson junior, who also took United players on loan during his previous stint as Preston boss, told the Evening Telegraph: "The comments don't bother me in the slightest.

"Every club has the right to go in for these players, but my father knows they will be in good hands with us and that we will try and improve them. Many managers use their contacts in the game to get players in on loan so it's not an issue for me at all.

"We have paid for Ajose anyway so that's a different matter, but I'm just happy that we have two lads with huge potential on loan at the club."

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 16-07-2011, 16:49

Wootton (#6) and Tunnicliffe (#16) came on as subs for Peterborough. Wootton apparently playing superbly in a DM position of a diamond formation. TalkSport Drive said on twitter that "tunnicliffe looks comfortable on the ball and ready to take midfield by scruff of the neck. impressed".

Latest score is 2-2.

**S.E.Arising** · 16-07-2011, 16:58

Great to hear. Definitely going to watch Peterborough this season. If Tunnicliffe features regularly for The Posh the hype surrounding him will build quite quickly.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 16-07-2011, 17:03

Comparisons with a certain man will continue if he gets the #16 shirt permanently for Posh and impresses.

From Doron Salomon on twitter: FT P'boro 2-2 Barnet. Wootton and Tunniclife playing the second half. Tunnicliffe described as 'comfy' and Wootton had a 'blinder'

**S.E.Arising** · 16-07-2011, 21:59

Just had a look at a Peterborough United forum.

One poster: Tunnicliffe took a while to get into it but started to show he can burst forward & support. Wootton looked pretty calm and composed in the deep midfield role from the off & showed some decent passing. Man Utd lads (inc Ajose) generally looked like they've got a good touch & football brain on them, but it'll be interesting to see how long it takes for them to adjust to the extra pace & power in the Championship given their ages.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 20-07-2011, 19:12

Wootton and Tunnicliffe both start for Peterborough at Notts County tonight (as does Ajose)

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 20-07-2011, 22:29

Both played 90 mins and played well in a 3-2 win. Tunnicliffe in a 2 man midfield of a diamond. Wootton at CB tonight.

**S.E.Arising** · 23-07-2011, 16:40

Loan Watch: Ryan Tunnicliffe and Scott Wootton at Peterborough United | Manchester United Blog & Man United Forums | Stretford End Arising

After our victory at old Trafford in the play-offs last season I knew that our squad would need some serious reinforcing over the summer, we lacked depth in our squad that we could rely on and well some lads could hardly cut it at League 1 level so the Championship was always going to be a step to far. We needed some experienced heads to come in to guide our young squad, sadly though our wage bracket is preventing any such moves and while this is a disappointment it did mean that the old Ferguson connection would need some utilising.

I’ve never been one to complain about Fergie Jnr’s hand me downs from his father, however we have only been graced with two, in the shape of short term loans centre back James Chester and one game shot stopper Ben Amos. Both played their socks of for the club and I can’t fault their dedication but for players to really make a difference they need to be at the club for an extended period of time.

So when the rumours of us getting 2 or maybe even 3 young United lads surfaced I couldn’t hold myself back from scouring the youth team/reserves for players that could fit in at Posh. A name that jumped out from the start was that of young Ryan Tunnicliffe, I was won over by the Roy Keane comparisons and the fact that every United fan who had seen him play thought that the boy definitely had some class. Shortly after then he was signed by us on a 6-month loan deal.

Where I can see him fitting in, is in the hole left by the eventual departure of Aussie battler James Weslowski. He was a tough tackling central midfielder much like Tunnicliffe has been billed as and this is where I see the 19 year old midfielder fitting in. I think Fergie Jnr. sees him as first team from the very start and I hope he can hit the ground running at this level as our back four will need protecting and as our box to box man I can see this being one of his main duties. I am sure he will pitch in with some attacking displays as well, but if he can help out in the defensive third as well as he has been billed too he could prove to be a key man this season for Posh.

Wootton’s signing didn’t buoy me as much as Tunnicliffe’s since I believe our best central defensive pairing is already at the club in the shape of Ryan Bennett and Gabriel Zukuani. I believe he has been signed as a back-up to this pairing if one is injured and with Zukuani’s injury record this may mean that Wootton will be called on regularly. In our pre-season fixture against Barnet though he was placed at the bottom of Fergie Jnr’s preferred midfield diamond in a position he didn’t look entirely comfortable with, maybe with practice this could be where he fits in but for now I really just see him as a backup, although I would love to be proved wrong by some amazing defensive performances as most of our problems stem from our dodgy defending.

Overall both of these lads could do decent jobs for us and I can see Tunnicliffe being a major cog this season, let’s hope that they get some time to shine and that they can give us what we were missing 2 years ago.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 23-07-2011, 17:00

I presume he means James Chester not Matt Chester.

**S.E.Arising** · 23-07-2011, 17:10

Aye, I've changed.

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 26-07-2011, 19:24

Wootton and Tunnicliffe both start for Peterborough at Crawley Town tonight

**se7en** · 26-07-2011, 21:25

Both played 57 mins

**JSNFRMN_MUFC** · 05-08-2011, 22:54

According to @RedMancunia: Darren Ferguson has hinted that Manchester United's Ryan Tunnicliffe may not feature in the Peterborough United starting XI tomorrow.

Peterborough are at home to Crystal Palace. Kick off is 3PM.