Manchester United: Are these kids really good enough?
A lot has been made off Sir Alex’s comment that he is happy with the current united squad and that waiting for a host of big name signings would be time wasted. A lot of fans have groaned and moaned especially with the ‘noisy neighbors’ having a massive summer party with plenty of big names attending. With the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva and soon to be city player Mario Balotelli already reportedly having turned down the chance to play for Manchester United to be part of the City revolution.
I have found myself in a limbo state. I would love if United went out and spent big on one or two marquee players. Then again I would love if the likes of Macheda, Gibson, Rafael etc got a regular chance in the United team. After watching the ‘kids’ destroy the All-Stars with the new boy getting off the mark and the likes of Cleverley, Gibson and Macheda scoring some classy goals it has just widened the debate ten-fold.
Macheda and Nani
So lets have a look at some of these youngsters that could well determine the success Old Trafford will have in the foreseeable future.
Federico Macheda – 19
Ever since that April day where it seemed United had blown the title race and handed the title to Liverpool a young boy from Italy would score possibly the most crucial goal of the season and gain the affection of every single Manchester United fan with one strike of a ball, this guy has had the world watching.
His popularity rose even further when he did it again the very next week. Expectations were high last season but unfortunately Federico had an injury ruined season last season although he nearly repeated the trick against Chelsea but alas it wasn’t to be! Sir Alex has said he is one of the brightest young stars he’s seen at his time at United. I personally think this guy is going to be huge and I hope he gets more games next season. He is a cool finisher has good technique and is a big game player. One for the future no doubt!
Danny Welbeck – 19
Like his Italian team-mate this guy started with a bang with ‘that’ cracking goal against Stoke. He has impressed in his recent appearances in the FA and League cup games since. However he will be loaned out to a premiership team this season to get some more first team action. To be honest I don’t think he’ll make it at Old Trafford. He’s quick and tall but I don’t believe he has what it takes to make it at Manchester United.
Javier Hernandez - 22
Well this guy has come out of nowhere. Ever since he was signed up by Manchester United he has since went on to play in the World Cup, win the hearts of all the Irish people (including myself) everywhere by scoring against France, then he went on to score a fantastic goal against Argentina and has already made the 7 million pounds United paid for him look like a bargain.He scored he’s first goal the other day against the All-Stars with a beautiful chip over the keeper.
Then he had the cheek to score against his teammates while playing in against in the game Man Utd v Chivas which he played for Chivas in the first half and with United in the latter. He is a very quick player sure to frighten any defenses he’ll come across in the United shirt. I think he could be a big success.
Gabriel Obertan – 21
The young French man has certainly caught the eye since his 3 million move from Bordeaux last season. With his pace and flashy skills he has produced some good moments in the red shirt. However the question is can he improve? Can he follow the likes of Ronaldo and Nani by becoming more then a trickster? I like him but I think he has work cut out with him trying to push Antonio Valencia or Nani out of the team.
Darron Gibson – 22
The Irishman has been knocking on the door of the United team for a long time now. Has caught the eye with strikes that would rival some of Paul Scholes’ efforts. He has impressed when trusted into big games like the Bayern Munich game and Manchester City away. However something does seem to be missing with the lad. Whether or not he will be able to become a big big player for Manchester United is any one’s guess. I feel the season coming will be the most important in his short career so far!
Tom Cleverley – 20
The versatile midfielder who spent last season on loan to Watford and won their player of the year award with 11 goals in 33 games. Has scored two goals in pre-season so far this summer and has impressed. I like this boy he seems to have a good footballing brain as anyone who had the privilege to his goal against the All-Stars will know. However he like Welbeck will spend next season on loan so we will have to wait to see how good this player could become. Keep an eye on him next season!
Fabio Da Silva – 20
Unlike his brother we have not seen much of Fabio. Due to two main reasons the constant injuries he has suffered from. Also the fact that the man he has to push out of the team is one of the best in the business. While his brother has had most of his competition in the right back position suffer from recurring injuries, Fabio hasn’t got the same luck. This lad has impressed though when given a chance and I do think he will eventual prove a success at United.
Chris Smalling – 20
The new boy has risen from the debts of conference football to play in the Barclays Premiership and then has gone on to be snapped up by one of the biggest clubs in the world all in the space of 2 years. Scored a good header in the game against Chivas. The boy impressed for Fulham early on which led United to sign him. Ever since he signed however he’s form has dipped dramatically, he made plenty of mistakes for Fulham last season and gave away a penalty to Celtic in his first game for United. Hopefully he will learn from his mistakes before the season starts because with the fitness of Rio Ferdinand always in doubt this could be a busy year for the young center back.
Rafael, Jonny Evans, Nani – 20,22,23
I’ve put these players all in one section because there is no doubt in my mind these players will be the future of Manchester United. Rafael and Jonny Evans have grown as players in the past two seasons and have never looked out of place in the United team. Nani after 2 years of frustrating finally came alive in January 2010 and would prove to a key player for the rest of the season. If he continues to do the same this season he will be on his way to fulfilling the frightening potential he possesses.
Personally I think that even while all these youngsters show promise United need to buy a midfielder who can score 10+ goals a season. Someone in the form of Mesut Ozil or Steven Defour would be ideal. However what do you think? Are this kids good enough? Are they being too hyped up based on a few pre-season games? Do United need to sign big? What about the young players like Anderson, Da Laet and Diouf that I left out of this article? Could they be a success?
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Not all youngsters go on to fulfill their early potential. I believe that most of the ones discussed will. I agree that Ozil / Dafour is required to give the cutting edge & creativity, but I feel an Annan / Khedira is also needed to provide a back-up for Fletcher.
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:08I agree with most of that. But you didn’t mention Anderson who’s still only 22 isn’t he? Big, big season for him, I hope he can pick up where he left off in his first season with us.
I’m also a bit worried about Nani. To me he looks like a different player when playing on the right rather than the left. Playing him on that side against Arsenal was what made all the difference. But we already have Valencia there who creates so many goals with his crosses. I can see Nani spending most of the season being ineffective on the left, unless Valencia gets injured.
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:09Only time will tell,they need playing time and to be around the first team more,they have every chance in the world to make it with hard hard work a little good luck and they need to remain focus.I hope most if them make it,Good luck to you guys.
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:12Regarding Anderson… At times he has been outstanding for United, and other times he has gone missing in games. It’s not a lack of talent – he has buckets of that – but maybe he needs that extra bit of maturaty to turn in gtop performances week in week out. A year is a long time when you are his age, so maybe were about to see the best of Anderson!
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:23If any of these players had an ounce of self respect they wouldn’t be at Manplastic United, i do wonder what drives a person to want to play the game for a bunch mercenary prawn sandwich eaters, with a bunch of mercenary prawn sandwich eaters in front of a bunch of prawn sandwich eaters, it says it all when one of their ex players can only find words of insult to describe the bunch of cheating knuckledraggers.
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:23…..theres always one isn’t there, you guys LOVE Man United sooo much, you just can’t keep yourself away from all things regarding us…..WE LOVE YOU TOO!!!
GLORY, GLORY, MAN UNITED!!!!!
August 1st, 2010 @ 22:22I agree with everything you wrote except for Johnny Evans, not sold on him at all. I would feel much better about our chances f United would sign one established midfield star (Ozil, Sneijder, etc.).
July 31st, 2010 @ 13:24For those who still have doubt on Evans ability should rethink again, this guy if you watch him through out last season has improved leaps and bound, I regarded him highly as one of the best young cb in Europe, I have no problem on him successing Rio but I still reserve my doubt on Smalling though, he had mixed performances during the pre-season games, hopefully he will learned from those mistakes and do better in the future
July 31st, 2010 @ 16:02i agree with you in most cases. and i do believe we only need only player in the midfield..ozil can be a good option..but if anderson can finally do it then we got no problem.fabio is a gr8 lad.but i have my doubts abt smalling. and evans is a good cb but sometimes he loses his composure. i think obertan will be good.abt gibson he has goal scoring ability but he is not a good passer or does not have the creativity. he might not make it
July 31st, 2010 @ 17:51I can not believe you do not think Welbeck will cut it at old Trafford everytime he has been on the pitch in this pre season there has been a level of potency in our attack. the ones you should really be worried about not making it is Cleverly. Like Gibson there is something off about his game. The thing with Gibson on this pre season thus far is to do with his family grievances. Cleverly just seems to lack ideas at times and on the occasion seems to think of something spectacular like we saw against the all stars.
I agree with buying Ozil but Defour i must remind you has never scored more than 4 goals in a season. He is more likely to be a replacement for Hargo than a 2nd option to Ozil. To different roles they play but it would be nice if Fergie splashed 20 mill on the pair 12 for Ozil 8 for Defour – that to my understanding should fill it.
Also there is something wrong with loaning out the crop of players we have. I think Cleverly needs another loan spell but the depth in our attack would be perfect if we have Hernandez, Kiko, and Welbeck pushing (like he needs pushing) Rooney, Berbatov and Owen. Im still shocked you don’t think Welbeck would make it such a diverse and talented player. The only thing that might need work about him is maybe his attitude. this season should be his pinnacle season.
July 31st, 2010 @ 17:57Chicharito is looking like a great signing for United. Looks to have lots of talent and a range of qualities. Not sure how him and Rooney will fit in the same team considering Rooney has played his best football as a lone striker for United.
Macheda has a lot of potential, and I really like his enthusiasm, but he’s only 18 so he’s got a good few years before he’s the finished article.
Cleverley is an interesting player, not sure how good a player he’s going to be yet. Same with Welbeck. I’d love them both to do well though as they’re English.
Fabio should end up being Evra’s replacement if he doesn’t mind playing second fiddle for a few seasons.
Gibson reminds me of Lampard, if we let him mature I think he’ll become a strong midfielder.
July 31st, 2010 @ 18:25My problem with Anderson is that after he’s first season I really admired the guy I had huge hopes for him and to be honest after 07/08 I personally thought that Anderson would go on and really improve while Nani would just not improve much at all, but it has turned out to be the other way round. Anderson hasn’t for me improved enough since 2008, but I’d love if he came back from his injury fresher and a better player and can improve like Nani has done this year, because he has shown some flashes of the brilliance that he does have.
July 31st, 2010 @ 18:50The problem is that Anderson is not mid-defense (MDF), Alex Ferguson would put it as mid-offense (MO). Am Brazilian and I saw Anderson playing in Gremio and always doing a lot of goals and an offensive mid-attack.
July 31st, 2010 @ 19:48(Portuguese: “O problema é que o Anderson não é mid-defense(MDF), Alex Ferguson deveria colocá-lo como mid-ofense (MO). Sou brasileiro e vi Anderson jogando no Gremio e fazendo muitos gols sempre bem ofensivo um mid-ofense”.)
Another reason that Anderson is going to help the new manager of the Brazilian team is “Mano Menezes’ who worked with Anderson at Gremio and enjoyed a great time in the” Battle of the Afflicted – see on You Tube – where with seven players on the field and there are two minutes of finishing the game 0 x 0 – gremio classified with this draw – The rival had a penalty for the ball but was defended against attack and Anderson did 1×0 for Gremio, leading him back from hell to heaven .
July 31st, 2010 @ 19:59So Mano Menezes certainly call Anderson to the Brazil squad as mid-offense and improve the ease of Anderson to play, improving their performance at Manchester United.
dennis law ’74 – bitter little RAT. PATHETIC REALLY. MORON OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
August 1st, 2010 @ 00:07I think Man Utd definatley should make a big signing, Ozil at the very least. If they don’t it will be two whole summers without spending any real money. Certainly players have arrived in that time and a bit of money has been spent, Man U need to send a message to the other teams we’ll be competing against next year though by showing we can compete off the park for the top talent and still attract them to Old Trafford. There’s no doubt we are the poor relations in Manchester now and also trail well behind Chelsea in the transfer stakes. We’re probably on a level with Spurs. However, Man U do at least earn their money thereselves – they don’t rely on huge handouts from sugar daddys. If Man City fail to win anything this year it’ll be interesting to see what happens there – Mancini will definatley be on his way that’s for sure.
August 1st, 2010 @ 00:24I hope Man U sign a big player. It’s all very well to keep saying we’re preparing for the future but you also need to prepare for the now.
Cleverly impressed the hell out of me with that overhead flick to get the goal against the MLS All-stars. I’ve always liked Gibson in his sporadic appearances for the first team that I’ve seen. I was unconvinced by the Smalling-Evans partnership in back, but hopefully Vidic-Evans will be grow until Rio gets healthy and finds his form again.
What United really lack is a creative superstar who can link up with Rooney. I’d like to see SAF pay big money for Ireland, Ozil, or Sneijder. The kids will make good squad players, but they’re hardly the creative maestro needed to regain dominance in Europe.
August 1st, 2010 @ 01:10The problem is that manutd start with giggs or scholes for instance when they played bayern in the first leg they couldnt keep up with the game. They should be kept as subs or motivations not for show in big games. Also they should take a risk puting on a youngster every now and again there still learning and there passion overrides the mistakes they make. Nani , Rooney, berba(hopefuly), harnandez, valencia evra,vidic, rafeal and macheda are going to be manutds players this season oh and fletcher
August 1st, 2010 @ 01:24fabio is probably gonna be better then his brother. naturally a right footer who has an amazing enough left foot that people cant tell he is a natural righty. all the pace and skill of his brother as well. this means fabio can not only stretch play when needed but also come in and shoot, basically a better version of lahm.
August 1st, 2010 @ 07:25Disagree with Chris re Evans. He’s a quality defender.
On Anderson, what he needs is a run in the team to build confidence…….he definitely has the class!
I agrre with Fergie’s approach. Some of these will definitely make it big and with so many on the verge it makes no sense to buy players in and hold them back.
August 1st, 2010 @ 12:12The kids look promising but they do not match up to the City or Chelsea squad. United wil have to rely heavily on their tried and tested first teamers this year
August 1st, 2010 @ 15:11…Disagree…..!
August 1st, 2010 @ 22:32ANDERSON IS A GREAT YOUNG TALENT BUT SAF PLAYS HIM DMF BUT HE IS AN AMF.JONNY EVANS HAS THE POTENTIAL 2 B ONE OF THE BEST.SMALLING……..ERR………HE IS NOT THAT GOOD AND GIBSON IS A GOOD LONG RANGE SHOOTER BUT OTHER THAN THAT HE<S GOT NOTHING.
August 2nd, 2010 @ 13:51I actually think Rafael is the potential weak link. He’s great going forward, but he has been very poor at defending. I know you can’t read too much into a pre-season friendly, but he was terrible against the MLS “Al Stars.” And if he’s getting burned by those guys, then God help him against someone like Ashley Young or Joe Cole (assuming he stays there). He has a lot to prove this year. Otherwise, I could see the team getting an established right back next season.
As for Evans, I think he’s quality, but he makes mistakes and can be shaky at times. That said, so was Rio Ferdinand when he was younger. He matured and improved through regular playing time. The same should be true for Evans. Bottom line is, as good a player he is, he’s miles behind Gerard Pique, who the club had at the same time.
August 4th, 2010 @ 13:35Man U go for the wins, it is our time to rule again this season.
August 11th, 2010 @ 02:49