07 Nov 2019 09:00:36
Anyone else think we are in a bit of rush to hype up the kids.

There's a few things to mention. one is the u23 ls got relegated last season, in part due to poor management and in part that most of our 23s are around 17-19, so on the young side.

Secondly I saw na ton of hype for the kid from Monaco, Hannibal. He's supposed have amazing potential but already people are raving that he helped the u23s beat Middlesbrough U23 in the 2nd tier.

As with a lot things at the moment perspective and patience seem are a rarity.

1.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 09:23:38
We have some great young players, players who if they can make the monumental step up from the under 23's to the first team will become fantastic first team players for us.

I think there is more hype around these kids as it has been a long time since we really had a few come through who genuinely had world class potential.

Yet potential doesn't win you games, it needs to be realised.

We also need to remember that players like Rashford, McTominay and Tuanzebe are 21/ 22 now and are starting to make a more regular impact. But they are still inconsistent. So we can't expect the likes of Williams, Garner, Gomes, Chong and Greenwood who are 18/ 19 to be making regular telling impacts or for them to have any sort of consistency at this stage.

It's fine to be excited about them, it's fine to talk about them. Just don't put any expectancy on them at this stage.

The under 23's got relegated in part because that side was filed with 16-18 year olds playing against 20-22 year olds. They lacked experience and were too niave. However, that was also great experience. Something they can learn from. Now many of them are fighting to get promoted, if they manage that then that will show spirit and fight. All things they will need if they are going to be able to make the jump from the under 23's to the first team.

2.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 09:50:15
In short we can say we have been handling the reserves side of the club pretty badly?

3.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 14:59:06
Becks, that's one interpretation. On one hand the older players we had sadly weren't likely to become good enough, there was a lack of investment and focus at youth level which allowed the clubs academy to stagnate.

On the other hand, keeping older youth players who were likely to become good enough for the first team while blocking the path for younger potentially better players also wasn't ideal.

So, releasing or selling off those older players to make space for the more talented younger players to step up meant they got more exposure to a higher and more competitive league, which will help them with their development. It did mean there was a lack of experience in the under 23's which led to their relegation. Yet it is often said you learn more in the face of adversity than when everything is going well.

The early promotion to the under 23's, the relegation and learning how to fight back from that might be the making of some of these young players. If so were they handled badly? Or did the club make the most of a bad situation.

4.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 18:16:25
I am not sure but I heard the reason Mctominay was used as a CF was because they would not sign some one for the reserves.

I'm just not sure these kids are even that good and the way they are being developed, wether it be Greenwood not getting minutes in either U23 or first team or even Young blocking Williams development, there's little to say they will make it.

5.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 18:23:47
Catch 22 really if we don't find quality loans for them soon.

6.) 07 Nov 2019
07 Nov 2019 19:28:40
Rashford is only 21 yet this is his 5th season in the United 1st team.
Will we still be talking about him as potential in 5 years time or will he be another lingard. 1 decent breakthrough season then downhill from there.

7.) 08 Nov 2019
08 Nov 2019 01:35:33
Wow, this post didn't age well DG. Rashford looked pretty good tonight.

8.) 08 Nov 2019
08 Nov 2019 10:23:27
I think Rashford has 8 goals already this season. Whilst he should already have more, that’s a great return for this stage of the season.

9.) 08 Nov 2019
08 Nov 2019 10:22:35
I think Rashford has been good too if late. He needs to be a little more composed and be more consistent.

This may come with age but either way he isn't a problem.

My point is more out of concern the youth will never reach their potential under the current arrangements.

10.) 08 Nov 2019
08 Nov 2019 13:51:36
I think Rashford has improved with being moved over to the left handside. It gives him more freedom to play facing goal rather than with his back to it. Let him find a yard or two of space and run at players and he will make things happen.

I don't think he will be a 20-30 goal a season main striker, yet I think he could be a 15-20 goal a season wide forward, who might create another 10-15 assists. If he can bring 25-35 goals a season into the team then we will have a gem of a player.