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Is it really necessary for United to break the bank this summer?

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Sir Alex Ferguson Media BlackoutWritten by Daniel Blazer for FootballFancast.com: About fifteen years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson unleashed the most impressive batch of Manchester United youth players in a generation that went on to create a legacy, one with countless trophies to show for their dominance. Giggs, Butt, Sharpe, Beckham and Scholes, to name but a few, were all effectively “free” and played out their best years of football for the Red Devils.

There is no denying that Manchester United have a very prosperous youth system; with fifteen players currently plying their trade in the Premier League despite not making the mark at Old Trafford. Further to that the current crop of Man United players consists of eight that came through the team’s youth system (nine if you include Gary Neville before his retirement), a very impressive number, but despite topping the Premier League by five points, being in a FA Cup Semi Final and Champions League Quarter Final, this team has been criticised for not having the same aura about them as the Manchester United team of the late nineties. Perhaps the treble winning side that consisted of all those home grown talents has spoilt the world of football and United fans were never going to get that next golden generation they craved for.

The likes of Wes Brown and Darren Fletcher have been loyal servants, but hardly the shining stars that this new look Man United side is crying out for. Perhaps this is because, unlike before, Manchester United haven’t found the right balance between youth player graduates and experience with flare. They replaced Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke with players like Ruud Van Nistelrooy; then Van Nistelrooy with the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez, but with Rooney now misfiring and Ronaldo and Tevez no longer at the club, their goals and all round threat hasn’t been replaced effectively enough.

Giggs and Scholes represent the end of an era for Manchester United. However the future isn’t totally bleak on the youth front, with players such as Fabio and Rafael Da Silva taking the Premier League by storm. Despite not being viewed as homegrown players by the Premier League, they have had two or three years learning the ‘United way’ in the youth system and there is no doubting these two are prodigious talents. Added to this are Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Tom Cleverley; all products of Manchester United’s youth system who have been earning rave reviews whilst out on loan and they will all more than likely return to play a big part for United next season.

Furthermore, the likes of Jonny Evans and Ritchie de Laet (arguably more a product of Stoke and Royal Antwerp’s youth system) definitely have the capabilities of being successful Premier League players, together with Darron Gibson, for all his critics, who may still yet be the Scholes replacement Manchester United have been trying to find for a couple of years, especially when you consider the expensive failures such as Owen Hargreaves (albeit due to persistent injury problems). I think the problem lies in the fact that pundits, fans and critics alike must accept that Paul Scholes is a player that comes along as rarely as the veteran midfielder makes successful tackles, so when Sir Alex stops trying to replace the irreplaceable, Gibson can play without the burden of being dubbed the new Scholes; then the chemistry will begin to happen and who knows what might be accomplished?

Sir Alex Ferguson has never been afraid to make bold changes in his squad when he feels it is time to rebuild. Despite all the media frenzy around Ferguson’s supposed £95 million spree, I believe Fergie will only be in the in the market for a top-class goalkeeper and an experienced midfield playmaker when the transfer window reopens (by no means a significant fiscal summer by Premier League standards anymore). Outside these possible signings, I feel the depth of quality in the United ranks on the youth front is what most club managers would dream of having at their disposal; ensuring Fergie’s legacy.

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  • Hugo says:

    1) Gibson really isnt Utd quality (He cant keep/protect the ball or shoot consistantly and his passing is questionable. Sell on to a low-mid prem club
    2)Rafael (and Fabio to a lesser extent) came into the 1st team quite quickly (his goal against Arsenal 2 seasons ago near to his debut). Not really Academy product at all imo. The next right back hopefully
    3) Tom Cleverly is a very decent player but shouldnt be rushed. He should get CC games and sub appearances at the start of the year and see how he gets on in the cauldron of OT /pressure of playing with the 1st team. He will come good but maybe next season is too soon for him (just)
    4) Iffy about Macheda and Welbeck – think they are subs at best , might be worth hanging on to them but Im not entirely sure they can displace anyone from the 1st team yet. Depends on length of contract left for each player
    5) Evans lost his form badly about 18 months ago and has never found it again. I really liked him for his first senior season + a bit, but he has been a major let down and cant be relied upon partnering anyone. With Brown likely to go to get 1st team opportunities (which he is worth at other Prem clubs) I think SAF needs another centre half with Rio’s constant injuries over the last 3 seasons ruling him out of a huge majority of games (and this isnt improving either). Rio is brilliant when able to play but cant be relied upon imo

    6)Personally I would love for Utd to get a gk, centre half, box to box midfielder (excellent tackler esp/ free kick – corner taker), creative mid….and to be fair (although unlikely) a “specialist” left winger (too much goes down the right imo)

    7) I wouldnt be that surprised to see Berba leave (due to his goals coming in spurts rather than any reliable consistancy). Also only 1 year left on his contract. I also wouldnt be surprised if Evra left (still the best left back in the Prem), “love Utd, hate Manchester”. If the latter goes I will be very sad to see him go but I will wish him the best whereever he goes (probably Madrid) If either of these happen obviously priorities of 6) change also

    8) With Neville, (possibly Scholes), Hargreaves, Owen, VdS & possibly Brown all leaving the club / retiring come the summer, the amount of experience the club will have will be decimated on any given match day. Buying youth is the best way to go in general but losing that collective of experience means some experience NEEDS to be invested also imo

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