If everything the media wrote was true, then Arsenal would be the greatest football side to ever grace the planet and Manchester United would falter with their “old” squad every season.
This, however, is the media’s most common misconception, and one that Arsenal fans quote quite often. After growing sick of hearing that Arsenal are a team full of youth compared to the United old guard, it’s necessary to look at the facts.
United have forever been known for their excellent youth academy. Older fans witnessed this phenomenon in the 50’s and 60’s with the Busby Babes, and more recently we’ve witnessed the brilliant class of 1992. Since Beckham became a pop star, Phil Neville stumbled over to Goodison Park, and Nicky Butt left Old Trafford to find first team football, many people started to believe that the United youth academy had dried up.
Is this true, though? Is United going to have to continue buying big in order to keep the pace? The answer is a definitive “no,” as much as the media would like you to believe otherwise. Like the Arsenal “youth” system, United are doing an incredible job of buying talented teenagers from around the world for very cheap and nurturing them to stardom. All too often people overlook the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t even a quarter of what he is today when United bought him in 2003. The club’s staff looked after him closely and have developed him into the world’s greatest player. The same process is going on with Nani and Anderson right now before our eyes.
The point of this piece, however, is not to talk about what can already been seen on the pitch. Instead, let’s focus on United’s future: is the future even brighter than the past or are we witnessing the last wave of success?
This season should give the world a glimpse into United’s very bright future plan – we are within a year of seeing the next great batch of youngsters. Rafael, Fabio, Fraizer Campbell, Possebon, Jonny Evans, and friends: welcome to the big time. Fergie’s final batch of youngsters have proven themselves in this preseason and will surely figure into the first team’s plans this year.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with these players, you soon will be. Rafael and Fabio are identical twins from Brazil who play right back and left back respectively. Rafael has already secured the adulation of many of United fans after great performances against Peterborough and Juventus. Fabio, who hasn’t gotten as good of a chance as his brother yet, is apparently the more talented of the duo. Fabio captained the Brazilian Under 17 team in Korea last year.
Meanwhile, Fraizer Campbell is a talented striker who has been plying his trade on loan spells for Antwerp and Hull. After joining Hull in October last season, Campbell finished the year as the club’s leading scorer. This prompted the Hull chairman to declare Campbell as “too good for the Championship.”
Possebon is yet another Brazilian at Old Trafford. The young central midfielder has a wide range of passing similar to Paul Scholes and is also capable of shooting from distance. Possebon has been heavily tipped a future star in United’s midfield.
Jonny Evans is the reason why Fergie was confident enough to let Pique return to Barcelona. The defender has proven himself on the international stage for Northern Ireland against the likes of Spain, and Sunderland fans were lucky enough to watch him help the club to promotion in 06/07 and then again in their fight for Premier League survival in 07/08.
These particular youngsters are just a sampling of what is going on behind closed doors at Carrington. There is no doubt about it that United always have something brewing in their youth system, and football fans around the world should be looking for these youngsters in the coming season.
Besides, United’s current batch of stars are mere youngsters. Wayne Rooney is only 22, Cristiano Ronaldo is 23, Carlos Tevez is 24, Anderson is 20, Nani is 21, and goalkeeper Ben Foster is only 25 (extremely young for keepers).
The future is only bright for United.
Brian Lofrumento writes at Premiership Talk.
Decent Article providing good insight, though I would have to say your starting will absolute bullshit, Arsenal are the team that gets slagged off by the media more than any other team in Europe.
To clarify, i am a United supporter. I admire your faith in the youth system, unfortunately i cant say i have the same. Raed, i think the author was commenting more on the Arsenal youth system than the club itself, so yes the club gets canned for their shockingly non-english presence but get recognition for their youth “factory”. But unfortunately i think long gone are the days of the busby babes or the class of 92. To begin with, i cant think of one good Englishman that has come out of the academy since the class of 92. Ben Foster was bought, Rooney from Everton, Carrick and Rio from West Ham, Hargreaves had been in Bayern since he was 16. One can talk about evans and jones etc but they are far far to untested to even mention in the same breath as becks, giggs, scholes, neville bros. et all. But my pessimism is based more on experience than on lack of faith. i remember about 4 seasons ago when djemba djemba and bellion were the next big thing. 2 seasons we had high hope for likes of lee martin, chris eagles, giuseppi rossi and pique. 3 have now left the club. I’m really struggling to find one player come out from the academy and make it as a first team regular in the last 10 years. If you look at arsenal on the other hand, almost their entire team is filled up with kids they bought young and trained and shipped into the first team. And you got to give them credit, the kids seem to able to hold their own. As for the next generation, i cant say im as excited as you. The da silve brothers have been in the country for less than 6 months, Frazier Campbell is untried in the top flight, Possebon wont get more than 5-6 games in the season through the carling cup while Evans does look good but you give him too much credit when you say Sunderland were lucky to have him help save them. So to finish up, i think a reality check is in order, lets not get too carried away, though the first team looks like one that will go the distance.
“Fergie’s final batch of youngsters…”
Five of the saddest words in football. 🙁
Raed, as A said, in the opening I was in fact referring to Arsenal’s youth policy – not about their lack of English players at all. In fact, I’ve addressed this issue in my most recent article on my main website.
A, I see we agree on a lot of things, I just have a little more optimism than you after seeing players like Rafael and Possebon in preseason. But yes, this bunch have a LOT to do in order to be talked about in the same class as previous Old Trafford groups.
And Steve, it is indeed sad that Fergie’s career is winding down…
A – What about Big John O’Shea and Fletcher for a start. There two youngsters within the last 10 years to make it in to our first team.
Chris,
if we’re talking last 10 years then Wes Brown should be included as well.
Alright, Ahmed i will give you Wes Brown, but to be fair he broke in 10 years ago in the 98 season, doesnt really disprove my point i was trying to make. But lets look at this objectively. “Big” O’shea, as much as i love his commitment, is not a regular first team player. When all players fit, he does not fit it anywhere. Also when it comes to giving a rest, Anderson and Hargreaves are ahead of fletcher in the pecking order, not to mention he is the most in and out player in the team. And the fact that we can come up with 2 players to make it as “squad players” at the club, proves the bigger point i was trying to make.