14 Dec 2019 06:49:29
When we play Everton tomorrow, we will see Academy graduates such as Rashford, Lingard, and McTominay playing, and probably Greenwood, Tuanzebe, Williams, and Garner on the bench. This will be our 4,000th consecutive match since 1937 when we have had at least 1 youth graduate player in the squad. That is an incredible achievement, particularly in the EPL era when big money has been around and a record that is unlikely to ever be rivalled.

On a separate note, has anyone else noticed the move towards British players? In some games we have had 7 or 8 British players starting which is also quite unusual nowadays. James, Maguire, and AWB have bumped that number up I wonder if that has been a deliberate approach or just the way things have fallen?

1.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 09:18:31
100% it's a breath of fresh air and a step in the right direction.

2.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 09:35:34
I think its been deliberate AJH.

Firstly one of the biggest criticisms of the post-Ferguson era has been of poor signings who appear to have been in it for the money and haven't really cared for the club. Now we appear to be looking for players who buy into the ethos of playing for United. Secondly look at Barcelona, Bayern and Juventus and what do they have in common apart from sustained success. A core of domestic players some bought some self developed.

3.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 09:59:47
We know results haven’t been great so far but there is some good stuff happening. In 2019 Ole has given debuts to 9 Academy players: Tahith Chong, James Garner, Brandon Williams, Ethan Laird, Di’Shon Bernard, Dylan Levitt, Ethan Galbraith, Largie Ramazani and D’mani Mellor.

There are 12 academy players in the squad. They have played 38% of all first-team minutes in 2019-20 and assisted or scored 31 of United’s 34 goals. November’s 3-1 defeat of Brighton and Hove Albion featured the Premier League’s youngest lineup this term with an average age of 23 years and 350 days.

I may be wrong, but I think our top 5 players for appearances all came through as youngsters.

I love that we do this, if we can keep developing them, and add a little more guile and experience hopefully we can be more consistent.

4.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 10:19:27
That’s top 5 appearances ever - Giggs, Charlton, Scholes, Foulkes, Neville.

5.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 11:52:27
You know what guys - under the grim days of Moyes, LVG and Jose, we had no style of play and a mosh mash of random players.

OHS has come in, there are goals a plenty (for and against), and he has picked a lot of good young academy players and bought very well so far.

I know Ed does not rate him, and many of us are sceltical, but to be fair to him he’s doing ok and deserves to see the January window and season out.

6.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 13:45:25
OGS obviously not OHS.

7.) 14 Dec 2019
14 Dec 2019 16:25:53
I think he's doing great. I'm expecting the rest of the season to improve.

Integrating 2 new players into the back 4 is a big deal. It is no surprise that Lindelof's form has suffered with two new players on either side.

But also our young players are maturing all the time. They are growing and improving. I am a firm believer that players who are thrown into adversity and opportunity learn far more than simply dominating youth age groups.