Last week Sir Alex Ferguson lashed out at the Football Association, claiming that he and his club had been treated unfairly by the governing body. Last season Ferguson was hit with a five match touchline ban, while striker Wayne Rooney was handed a two match ban after swearing into a television camera during his goal celebrations. Ferguson’s claims were backed by Manchester United chief executive David Gill who suggested that such ‘harsh’ punishments would not have been handed out to other clubs, and that the FA wanted to demonstrate their ‘toughness’ by punishing the bigger clubs. Ferguson’s comments were triggered by concerns over the possibility of having up to eight of his players being called up to the England squad this weekend, and the United boss insisted that the FA ought to realise the importance of his club to the national side, “instead of treating us like s***”.
Ferguson’s argument rests on his claim that Manchester United have produced more players for their country “than any club in the world”, however, of the eight players that could potentially be called up for England duty, this can only be said for two of his players. Only Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley have come through the youth system at United, while the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Phil Jones, and Chris Smalling had already made a name for themselves before joining the club. There are of course a number of players in the past who have been ‘produced’ by United and played for England, Paul Scholes being a prime example, but if Ferguson is suggesting the club are responsible for ‘producing’ players like David Beckham, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, or any of the current crop of English players at his disposal, then I remain somewhat bemused by these remarks.
One thing being at United does for these players, is provides them with a platform and opportunity to prove their ability at the very top level. Those playing well in the Championship or lower divisions of English football are always going to be overlooked while they face competition from those at Manchester United, but Sir Alex’s suggestion that the club are ‘producing’ most of the English talent in the world seems far from the truth. Wayne Rooney was part of the Everton youth squad from the age of nine and signed for Manchester United some eleven years later on, and for a fee of around £25m. Ashley Young made his debut for Watford at the age of eighteen back in 2003,while Phil Jones came through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers, however both of their moves to Manchester United were only agreed this summer. Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, like a number of other English players, owe much of their ‘footballing ability’ to the youth academy at West Ham. The likes of Carlton Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Joe Cole all spent much of their youth career with West Ham, and the club has since earned itself the reputation of producing a lot of the English talent that we see today.
Ferguson’s comments came about when he was discussing the possibility of eight of his players being called up for England duty, which can only mean he was suggesting that Manchester United had ‘produced’ such talented players. While it would be naive to suggest that playing for Manchester United would not improve your ability as a footballer, Ferguson’s suggestion that the club had ‘produced’ so many talented English footballers, at least for now, seems somewhat unfounded. Ferguson has simply splashed out on young English players in the early stages of their career, however a number of these players, if not all of them, have already made a name for themselves at their previous clubs. The likes of Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick were all regular first team players at their former clubs, they had already been ‘produced’ as footballers at these clubs, and their talent had already been proven at the top level of English football.
While Ferguson can boast a number of top English players at Manchester United, he cannot take responsibility for ‘producing’ the talent that most of these players possess, only for purchasing it.
Written by Thomas Kenny for FootballFanCast.com
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I am left somewhat bemused as to the point of this thoroughly pointless and dull article.
It seems rather ignorant to use examples like Bekcham and Smalling as “not produced by United” as they where nowhere near a national callup, even a u-21 callup as they joined MUFC.
The Beckham’s and Smalling’s of the lesser clubs have not and would/will not reach the level of performance and quality needed for a full international at their youth club, and thus are “produced” by MUFC to that standard requiered.
The fact that you prolly are a rather disgrunteled LFC or AFC supporter does not change that fact.
You are obviously of the clear opinion that Christiano Ronaldo where a veteran Portugese international and seasoned world beater as he joined MUFC and thus not “produced” by MUFC either.
Or as fact’s state. Your opinion is full of the same s*** that the FA treats MUFC with.
I think you need to get your facts straight buddy. But then again greatness is always attacked by parasites.
Beckham was ‘produced’ by United. He signed for the club at the age of 14 and was developed by the club. You’re being pedantic anyway by seizing upon the word ‘produced’. Certainly United have PROVIDED the most players to the national side for a long time. The whole of which makes your article a boring read, somewhat factually inaccurate and a rather pointless one to be honest. Don’t give up your day job pal.