In May 2008, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed United Reserve Team Manager and since then has made a considerable impact.  He led the team to a cup double with wins in the Manchester and Lancashire Senior Cups, and finished runners-up to a strong Sunderland outfit in the Premier Reserve League. It's not just the winning of silverware that has impressed though. The style of football being played and the development of the young players under Ole's tutelage have not gone unnoticed within club and beyond.

Here is a summary of some of the players under Ole's guidance....

Ben Amos, 19
A tall, athletic goalkeeper who is a good shot stopper and commands his area well. He has established himself in the Reserve set-up and a string of impressive performances has seen him travel with the first team squad for pre-season in two consecutive seasons. He made his competitive debut against Boro in the League Cup in a 3-1 win in 2008 and was loaned to Peterborough for a month this season as emergency cover. He has the potential to be a good keeper but promotion of goalkeepers through the ranks at United has been scarce to say the least. He will need to be patient - but with the no.1 jersey up for grabs when VDS retires - he could impose himself and become no.2 if PIG/Foster lose patience and move on.

Ron-Robert Zieler, 20
Arrived from Cologne in 2005 as a highly-thought of shot stopper. He progressed through the ranks and fought Heaton for the number one jersey in the Reserve team. He broke his arm near the end of last season allowing Amos to steal a march on him. He turns 21 in February and with Amos looking to be ahead of him in the pecking order he could find himself surplus to requirements in the not so distant future.

James Chester, 20
The tough tackling defender was captain of the Reserve team for the 2008/2009 season which ended in him winning the Denzil Haroun Player of the Year award.  He made his debut in the League Cup semi-final against Derby in 2009 and days later joined Peterborough on loan after his impressive cameo. He was sent to Plymouth on loan this year but after only 3 appearances he succumbed to injury and returned to Old Trafford.  He has the potential to be a top class centre back and could follow in Jonny Evans' footsteps. The thing that could hinder his progress is his height. At 5'11" he isn't a giant and that isn't always the best attribute to have when you are a CB. If he can develop other parts of his game he only has to look at the likes of Cannavaro and Puyol to see size doesn't always matter.

Ritchie De Laet, 21
I could have probably put him in the "fringe player" category but unless there is massive injury problems he won't feature in the squad on a regular basis. A gangly but speedy defender, he can play anywhere across the backline.  He figures predominantly at CB for the Reserves but his speed and agility has seem him occupy the full back slots in the first team. He is unorthodox but Fergie rates him and he narrowly missed out on being in the CL spot. His defending and positioning needs to improve but with Rafael going off the boil and continuing injuries to the backline he could impose himself on the first team by the end of the season.

Joe Dudgeon, 19
The left-back gives nothing less than 100% every time he steps on the field. He is strong in the tackle and great going forward. He is probably the most complete full back we have coming through the ranks as his defending is better than all the others. We are thin on cover at LB so if he continues in the same vain he could be the next defender to make the step up to the first team. A loan spell at the turn of year or next season will do him the world of good.

Oliver Gill, 19
Everyone will have heard of him now after his inclusion in the CL squad midweek. He was a late starter in the game, concentrating on school before turning professional in July this year. He isn't the most eloquent defender but has good height and strength. He can play LB and CB - but even his versatility will struggle to get him in the first team squad in the near future. Personally, I can't see him having a future at United but he could do a job for a team in the Championship.

Cameron Stewart, 18
A speed demon with great skill on the wing but he lacks a killer instinct in front of goal. He has played in nearly every position for the Academy and the Reserves but is most comfortable as an attacking midfielder. His early promise reminded me of Ashley Young but he has failed to build on that. Competition for places on the wing for is fierce and you need to be a special talent to play there for United. Time is on his side though, and a loan spell could toughen him up. I initially had high hopes for him - and hopefully he can develop in to a great winger.

Magnus Eikrem, 19
A graduate of Solskjaer's soccer school in Norway, he was signed in 2006 from Ole's old club Molde. He is a talented player who has been converted from a winger into a central midfielder. He is of the play making variety and his impressive start to the season has seen him figure in the first team squad on two occasions. He is a bit light weight and will need to bulk up if he wants to impose himself in the big leagues. Another who would benefit from a loan spell in the Championship this season before he reaches his twenties.

Corry Evans, 19
Followed his big brother Jonny to United after his family moved to Manchester. He is naturally a central midfielder but played centre back for a large chunk of last season. He was my favourite player last season as he shone at the back. The change of position didn't fluster him and he captained the side to the cup double. His performances did not go unnoticed and he was called up by Northern Ireland to play Italy in June. He played 78 minutes in central midfield and the experience of playing against the likes of Gattuso will have done him no harm. I prefer him as a CB to a CM but his versatility and reading of the game should see him progress in to the first team set up in a few years.

Sam Hewson, 21
Ever present in the Reserve team last season until being sent to Hereford on loan, Hewson impressed at Edgar Street with 3 goals in 10 appearances. However, at 21 he should be progressing better than he has been if he wants to make it at United. Competition is unrelenting for a central midfield spot and unfortunately Sam won't make the breakthrough at Old Trafford. He will probably find himself released him the summer and could do well in League One.

Matty James, 18
A magnificent all round midfielder in the mould of Michael Carrick, he has fantastic vision and a ferocious shot which wielded four goals last term. He signed professional forms in July this year and figured on the bench in Germany this week for the first team. He is probably the player with the most ability in the Reserves at the moment and one who could easily follow in Fletchers and Gibson's footsteps in to the first team. My highlight of last season was a delicious 50 yard ball to Kiko for his 3^rd goal against Newcastle. Youtube it - you will not be disappointed! If he isn't kicking around the first team in two seasons I will be very surprised.

Oliver Norwood, 18
"He is going to be a very good player"  - Not my words but that of Northern Irish boss, Nigel Worthington after scoring a Beckham-esque free kick against the Czech Republic for the under 21s. He captained the Academy last season and made the occasional step up the Reserves. He has firmly established himself in the Reserves this season and will look to kick on and impress Sir Alex. He is a dead ball expert but has a good all round game. He has a good frame and probably the most physically developed out of all the midfielders which could be a big advantage to him in his quest for first team stardom.

Josh King, 17
The youngest of the Reserve team players he has made the step up this season after a string of impressive displays for the Academy coupled with Danny Welbeck and Kiko Macheda's emergence in the first team. He has raw potential but his career has been blighted by injury.  He is currently on the treatment table again after making his first team debut in the Carling Cup a week after I tipped him to follow in Kiko's shoes and make an impact this season. A good season in the Reserves once fit could see him get further chances because he has a great all round game. He is definitely one for the near future.

There are a few others who could have been included in this list but they will figure in part 3 when I take a look at the Academy boys.  Until then, I hope you enjoyed the read and the grammar/spelling/use of the English language did not reduce your enjoyment!!

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Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: manutdweb.com (IP Logged)

Date: 18/12/2009 19:04

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Briansmurph (IP Logged)

Date: 18/12/2009 20:48

Top stuff Mick well done mate.

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: The Mad Hatter (IP Logged)

Date: 19/12/2009 13:01

Good read.

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Slabstone (IP Logged)

Date: 19/12/2009 23:47

Mick, if you had to pick one of these lads to become the next Rooney, Vidic of Giggs who would you choose? Reading this article, sounds like we have some talented kids in reserve but the question is will they get the chance they deserve? Or will the club always look to buy from abroad rather than risk "winning something with kids" ?

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)

Date: 20/12/2009 19:46

There probably isn't another Vida, Giggs or Rooney from that bunch but there is certainly good players coming through, just not in those moulds. If I had to stick my neck out I would say James and Norwood have the best chance of being Utd stars.

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Icon (IP Logged)

Date: 20/12/2009 20:48

Fantastic read Mick.

J
x

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)

Date: 11/05/2010 13:13

Best Reserve team in the country after winning the PL North and then beating Aston Villa in the play off final at OT on pens. Aston Villa had won it the past 3 years and we beat them on pens after a thrilling 3-3 draw. It was a great game, one of the best i've watched all season at any level. We went behind 3 times and came back, snatching a draw in the last 2 mins to take it to pens.

It has been a very successful season with most of the lads i mentioned playing really well. De Laet won reserve POTY with Gill and Eikrem also nominated. Also good loan spells for some players especially Matty James who excelled at Preston. Well done lads

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: The Mad Hatter (IP Logged)

Date: 11/05/2010 22:46

And well done Ole.

Who do you see going out on loan next season Mick?

I used to be very interested in our reserves, particularly the Rossi, Pique, Jones, Evans generation but ended up getting excited about players who weren't given much of a chance or sent on dire loans and sold! Would have liked to have seen Rossi for instance given more of a chance.

But now with our financial problems and the new rules maybe the emphasis is going to shift back to relying on some players coming through.

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Re: Busby Way Blog III: The Future's Red Pt 2 - The Reserve Lads

Posted by: Mick_MUFC (IP Logged)

Date: 12/05/2010 11:22

Exactly, well done Ole too. What is startling is how good defensively we have been. We only conceded something like 12 goals in the league.

Tough one about the loans. I think a few won't be here next season like Brandy, Hewson, Gray etc. It depends who has caught the eye really. Corry Evans would benefit from going out on loan, James could go out again as I'm prettu sure Darren Ferguson would want him back. Eikrem as well because he was playing really well until he got struck down with a few injuries since the turn of the year.

That was one of the reasons I looked at our younger players because with the debt situation and the new rules people are going to have to sit up and take notice of them because sooner or later they will be in the team.

The 25 squad rule could work against some of them when they turn 21 though. Some will be lucky to get registered if we have 25 Internationals already and plenty of homegrown talent in that 25. They could stagnate in the Reserves and we could lose a promising generations. I would hope that these lads would be given a chance rather than spending over the odds for average English players to meet the quota of homegrown players. The season after next we'll be losing 3 in Nev, Giggs and Scholes so hopefully one or two can push to be registered.

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