23 Nov 2016 16:30:24
So its been a little doom and gloomy around here recently so here's a couple of things we can look on and be pleased.
First off only Man City, Liverpool and Spurs have had more shots on goal so far this season. After LvG's never shoot policy that is something to be thankful for. If we can become better at converting those shots then things will start to pick up pretty quickly.
Secondly I have six names for you, Gribbin, Boonen, Chong, Bukhart, Buffonge and Gomes. These six lads in our under 18's look like really good prospects, I would ecpect at least 2 or three to have decent long term careers at our club. These lads are younger than the likes of Williams, Tuanzebe, CBJ, TFM and Rashford.
We have some great young talent at the club, these lads will be the foundations of future success and a continuation of our proud traditions.
{Ed007's Note - Just like Cleverley and Welbeck etc, Shapps? ;-)
23 Nov 2016 18:47:17
Just like Zieler and Drinkwater and Simpson, Shawcross, Cathcart, even Evans. They're all good footballers, just because they've not made it at United, doesn't mean they're rubbish. If anything, and this is to quote Ed002, that's a toxic view of development. If they're not Beckham or Scholes, the academy failed to get the best out of them. A far greater quantity of United graduates go on to play at premier league and second tier clubs, meaningful careers! Even bojan and Shaqiri are playing for Stoke, they're both examples of other academy's bright prospects wallowing in the pitiful premiership.
23 Nov 2016 21:04:18
Bond, it doesn't always work out like that. Remember Tunnicliffe, Pogba, Morrison, Will Keane, Cole and Lingard. That was a great youth team, Pogba and Lingard are in the first team squad atm. But both found it hard to get there.
Cleverley was someone we all had high hopes for, ne was never going to be as good as Scholes who he was unfortunately likened to. But up until Kevin Davies done his ankle in he was making very good progress. After that he didn't seem to kick on.
Welbeck had potential, he just never realised it.
Hopefully we will have learned our lessons and we can help a few more of these young lads fullfil their potential. If they do then we will have some very very good young players on our hands.
{Ed007's Note - I'm just pulling your leg mate.}
23 Nov 2016 21:36:55
hopefully we have learned our lesson and don't build kids up to be world beaters before they have done anything ;)
23 Nov 2016 22:17:18
Boonen and gomes in particular look phenomenal talents shappy .
23 Nov 2016 22:46:00
Gribben and Gomes are the ones with the best chance at the moment. Gribben can take on and his beat opponent and is physically getting stronger all the time. Gomes has that individual spark that shines to use a Zlatan word. Let's hope they progress but as we saw with Will Keane who also looked a class act all it takes is a bad injury to derail a career. Similarly with James Wilson who was the most natural young goal scorer I had seen at Utd in years.
24 Nov 2016 05:32:27
The unfortunate world that we live in jred. Especially in England with the amount of English rags there are.
24 Nov 2016 08:15:57
Empty vessels make the most noise! The UK media is the emptiest vessel of all.
Plus young players now get too much too soon many think they have made it long before they have achieved anything. I know ed001 and I feel strongly about this as I'm sure many others do.
24 Nov 2016 13:24:58
Personally, and maybe realistically, i think only Gomes will make it, his natural raw talent is astounding and he has got 8 goals and 9 assists in 11 games.
Chong, Bukhart and Buffonge will struggle for oppertunities to shine due to us HAVING to win everytime we play.
Gribben apparently has a massive attitude problem and doesn't want to put the work in. Which at U18's is fine, but he won't get away with it at senior level.
Boonen is an interesting one, i think he is mint, top quality. Sadly so were Januzaj and even Pereira and i don't see either of them making it in our team.
Might sound like a massive pessimist but i think i might be right.