BWB Blog

By Mick,
January 7 2010

Mick raps up his fine three-part feature: In the final instalment of The Future’s Red, I takes a look at the Academy players making the breakthrough at United. Although all of them are under 18 years-of age, there is some exciting talent and here I look at the potential they have of becoming future Old Trafford stars.

The Future's Red - Part 3

The United Academy used to be one of the most sought after places to be for a youngster. However, as outlined in Part 1 of The Future's Red, our youth set up has been on the wane.  Things, nevertheless, are on the up and it is in some way fitting that the son of a Busby Babe is helping to develop the current crop of United youngsters.  Paul McGuinness, son of Wilf, has been with the club since 1992 but took over as manager of the under 18s in 2005.  Here is a look at the talent he is currently working with.

Conor Devlin, 18 - A fine young goalkeeper who has done nothing but impress since cementing his place in the Academy side last season. He is agile and a smart shot stopper but his speciality is penalties. He has saved 5 from 6 recently with his unusual technique of pointing where the player should put it and diving the other way. I watched him in the recent FA Youth Cup tie against Birmingham and I was very impressed by him. He has all the attributes of a good goalkeeper and he could easily make it all the way at United if he continues to develop like he has done.

Reece Brown, 18 - As the younger brother of Wes, he will be forever saddled with comparisons.  It is inevitable though because his style of play is alarmingly similar and he too can play at right back and centre back. He is strong and powerful and has already made the step up to the Reserves on a few occasions.  The worrying thing is he carries the same injury record as his brother. If he can overcome that and get himself fit, he only has to look up to Wes and follow in his footsteps to make it at United.

Michele Fornasier, 16 - The young Italian defender was signed from Fiorentina in the summer and was the subject of controversy in the mould of Paul Pogba.  Unsurprisingly nothing came of it and he has settled in well to life at United. He can play centre back or full back. I haven't seen much of him but if we were eager to sign him he must have something and everyone knows the Italians can defend. At 16 he is still a baby and has plenty of time to develop.

Alberto Massaci, 16 - Another Italian who was snapped up in the summer before his previous employers Empoli could offer him professional terms. He is a rampaging right back but needs to improve on his defending. I've seen him a few times for the Academy and he has potential and once he has settled his performances will no doubt improve. It is an encouraging sign we are snapping up the best young talent from abroad.

Sean McGinty, 16 - The highly rated youngster was snapped up from Charlton in the summer when other Premier League clubs were circling. He is a central defender but has featured predominantly at left back for the Academy. He is a tough tackler and decent at going forward. He has already made numerous appearances for the Republic of Ireland under 17s so could have a big future in the game.

Scott Wootton, 18 - The young centre back was brought to Old Trafford from Liverpool in 2007 and has developed into a very reliable player. He has captained the Academy on numerous occasions and has been a frequent substitute for the Reserves. He is a bit slow but appears to be an old fashioned defender. Liverpool didn't offer him a long term deal and that is why he left and he had a trial at Preston before we signed him. This is his last season with the Academy and it will be interesting to see if he can impose himself in the Reserve side.

Robbie Brady, 17 - One of the most exciting prospects in the Academy side, the left sided winger is highly regarded at United. He is captain of the Academy when fit (which unfortunately, he is not at the moment) and was hugely influential in the winning 2009 Milk Cup side. He has power, pace and trickery on the left wing which has seen him make regular appearances for the Reserves. He has a bright future and similar to Norwood he already has a good physique that will only give him an advantage over other players. He is definitely one for the future.

Ravel Morrison, 16 - "Everyone knows about Ravel" were the words of Sir Alex and if you haven't then where have you been. He is THE player to get excited about if you are a United fan (although in my opinion, he could be getting over hyped with too much pressure placed upon him). He is a skilful, exciting player who can play anywhere across the midfield or behind the main striker. He is a player that makes things happen and has bags of talent. He is a bit of a wild horse though and his attitude has been questioned. He doesn't start regularly for the Academy but when he plays, he looks a special talent. He has a slight frame and needs to work in the gym to bulk up if he wants to make it. Morrison has been compared to the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo in that he is a free spirit. Time will tell if he has the full package but he is definitely the player on everyone's lips!

Paul Pogba, 16 - The boy who was at the centre of a transfer storm (a storm in a tea cup as it turned out), he has certainly shown already why we were so keen to sign him up. He has settled in perfectly at United and has imposed himself in the middle of the park. He is strong, athletic and a marvellous passer of the ball. He has started to chip in with a few goals as well, scoring on his Reserves debut a week after he scored a screamer for the Academy (another must see youtube clip if you have a minute!). He still has a lot to learn but don't be surprised to see him fast tracked to the first team in the next few years.

Ryan Tunnicliffe, 16 - The tough tackling midfielder has made quite an impression since making the breakthrough last season. He is most at home in the centre of the park but can ably fill in at right back if required, a position he has played on a few occasions for the Reserves. He is an all round midfielder who can sit and defend or burst in to the box to grab a few goals. It would be unfair to liken him to Keano but he has the same all round game as our former captain. He is another who has a bright future ahead of him.

Nicky Ajose, 18 - The lightening quick winger is in his last season with the Academy but has already featured regularly for the Reserves. His main asset is his pace that he utilises on the wing or up front but he also has a good eye for goal. He is small but has developed in to a stronger player from when I first seen him. He doesn't seem to have that X factor to make him a United star of the future but he could easily make it with another Premiership club.

Davide Petrucci, 18 - Another Italian star who is on our books, he arrived at Old Trafford at the same time as Kiko Macheda.  He was signed from Roma where he scored 14 goals in 19 games and was regarded as the new Totti in Rome. It is easy to see why he was given that tag as he is quite similar in style to the enigmatic Italian. He has an abundance of skill and a good football brain but he has failed to replicate the goal scoring feats he had with Roma. He has scored some fabulous long range goals and is quite handy in dead ball situations. He has been unlucky with injuries recently but he returned in the last few weeks. He normally takes the armband when Brady is unavailable. He was given a first team squad number for this season with many hoping he was going to make a Kiko style impact at some point. Watch this space...

Will Keane, 16 - The Stockport born forward has made a big impact this season for the Academy.  He has been on fire - banging in 7 goals in 11 appearances, including a hat-trick against City and a double against Liverpool! Surprisingly he prefers to play off the main striker and he definitely has the ability to play in that position because he is an intelligent player with an eye for a killer pass. This has led to comparisons with Teddy Sheringham and I must admit there are similarities (but his finishing is more Solskjaer, as he is deadly in the box). He has all the right attributes to become a great United striker.

That concludes my round up of the players that are the future of our glorious football club. There are of course a few other players plying their trade with the Reserves and Academy but the ones I have mentioned are the ones I feel I have been most able to comment on. I hope we can look back on these posts when many of the players have broken in to the first team. I could be wrong about them all. The players I have disregarded could go on to make it here whereas those who are the shining stars might not fulfil their potential. All I can is good luck to the lot of them and the future is without doubt RED!

Busby Way Blog IV: The Future's Red! - Pt 3/3

Discussion started by manutdweb.com , 07/01/2010 21:43

manutdweb.com
07/01/2010 21:43

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

RedKen
07/01/2010 21:51

I really enjoyed this article, but there's something I'm worried about. Whilst all these players are showing promise at this level, will any of them mature to first-team standard? It has frustrated my greatly in recent years to hear about the promising youngsters in the reserve-team and read about our successes. Haven't we continued to do well in the Youth Cup, Mick? And yet so few of these players get a chance. I'd love to see more youngsters blooded through the system like in the early 90s, rather than see us splash the cash for continental youngsters. I'd especially like to see some more local lads come through. Some youngsters could learn a lot from our stars – teams like United need to take advantage of the great players from around the world. However, I'd sooner prefer to see a youngster given a proper chance to impress than the club spend around a fortune on average players like Nani, whilst the youngsters play in front of no crowds and loyal MUTV viewers. Anyone else think these players deserve a chance?
Ta,
Red Ken

Reply Quote Report

ExPatRed
08/01/2010 01:50

Enjoyable and informative as were the other two articles Mick, good work. It's a shame to see your patriot English grammar critic has disappeared though, I bet you miss him.

Reply Quote Report

Rogero
08/01/2010 09:19

Good stuff Mick - an interesting and well informed piece.

Unfortunately to answer Red Ken's point - history tells us that the % of youth players actually making a craeer in the first team is quite low. At United we have had much success in the past with The Babes in the 50's and Fergies Fledglings from the late 80's - who will ever forget the production line that produced Gigs, Scholes, the Neville's, Nicky Butt and David Beckham to name but a few.

Heck even Robbie savage is a product of that team!!

Hoepfully a few will make the grade - good luck to them all.

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
08/01/2010 16:49

Your are not alone in your frustration RedKen. Its one of the reasons I done this piece because the lack of talent we have had coming through is shocking. I've highlighted a few players in this article and the previous one on the Reserves who I think could definitely make it but you just never know at this stage. Youth needs to be given a chance a lot more instead of holding them back til they are 21/22. If they aren't good enough when they leave their teens its time to let them go. If they have the potential then throw them in. In the next blog I plan to do I will be looking at why me may have no other option than to rely on the players that are coming through whether we like it or not.

Glad you enjoyed them 3 part series lads. And ExPatRed, devastated that prat didn't show his face again

Reply Quote Report

Editor_Chris
09/01/2010 11:31

What I find worrying is that youngsters are appearing in the first-team earlier and earlier these days. So, if a player is still plying his trade in the reserves when he reaches 19 or 20, he is too often judged not to have the ability to perform at the highest level. That's not how things used to work.

Sadly, the money and pressure in modern football means that winning is everything. Clubs would rather splash out up to £20million on an only half-decent foreign star than look to their own youth products and save a fortune in the process. They're not willing to take the risk. Exhaustive scouting networks are making Reserve and Academy football less of a stepping-stone for may youngsters.

Mick is clearly an expert on the Academy and Reserve Team – and reading this article has filled me with optimism that the club has some bright prospects for the season. If one or two of them become United stars of the future, I'd be pleased – but I just hope they are given a fair crack of the whip.

Reply Quote Report

Briansmurph
09/01/2010 15:06

But thats just is Chris, one or two is all that might make it.

Its pretty small return from a reserve and youth squads combined, surely 40 ish players? To only get MAYBE one or two. It just highlights how lucky a player is when they actually do succeed, the competition to do so is magnanimous.

Well done Mick on a great series of threads, thoroughly enjoyabe reads mate, keep it up

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
10/01/2010 18:53

I think expert would be too far Chris but i do like to keep up to date with what is coming through. If only so i can say told you so when someone breaks through and does a Kiko.

So who has heard of Ravel Morrison? He is the shining light of our future if he can keep his head screwed on. Hopefully Petrucci can step up soon coz he has fantastic ability.

Reply Quote Report

The Mad Hatter
12/01/2010 02:42

Very good series.

Heard of Morrison, unfortunately also about his attitude too.

_______________________________________

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
12/01/2010 13:39

Ye thats the only worrying thing but hopefully when he grows up his attitude will change. There have been suggestions that he would just need to be let off the leash the way Ronaldo and Cantona where, forget the attitude because the talent is there to transform the team. Early assumptions about a kid so young but if he had the talent of Ronni and Eric then f.uck the attitude and let him get on with it because we definitely need something special in that team!

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
13/01/2010 17:41

4th round of the FAYC tonight against Burnley at Turf Moor. Kick off is at 7pm and is live on MUTV. I'll hopefully catch the game and if not I'lll definitely see the highlights. Fill you in on anything of note.

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
13/01/2010 23:41

Easy 5-1 win tonight, a much improved performance from the last round against Brum but Burnley weren't really at the races. King and Keane both got braces after Petrucci opened the scoring. Keane is a deadly finisher and showed it again tonight. King scored a beautiful first goal, curler in to the far corner. Ajose lined up at LB which is a very unusual position for him but he was rarely troubled. King was taken off with an injury and its unsure if Petrucci was subbed for the same reason, hopefully neither are serious.

Game against Bolton is off on Saturday because they are playing tomorrow night in the Cup. Its the winner of Mondays game between Blackburn and Leyton Orient in the next round and that is scheduled for the 30th January.

Reply Quote Report

The Mad Hatter
19/01/2010 11:37

True, but in Ronaldo's case in terms of applying himself in training to become the very best and off the pitch lifestyle, his attitude was very good.

_______________________________________

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
19/01/2010 23:14

True, lets just hope he matures a bit.

Blackburn in the next round and that will be a very hard game. They are 4 points clear in the league but we drew with them earlier in the season. If we can get past them we could have a good shot of going all the way.

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
11/05/2010 13:20

3rd or 4th best Academy team in the country depending how you look at it. We won our regional division (there are 4) and we played Arsenal at Carrington in the play-off semi final. It was 0-0 at FT and 1-1 AET but the boys were beaten on penalties. It was the first time we had won the Academy regional section though which proves how good these lads are that are coming through. A draw was probably a fair result but we had numerous chances to win it. Keane had an off day in front of goal which was surprising. Took much fizzy juice and sweets after winning the Academy POTY award no doubt.

An update on Morrison for anyone who is interested as well...

He came back in to the team around March and played in CM most of the time and was exceptional. His skill and composure on the ball is something I haven't seen before for such a young, homegrown lad. I really hope he knuckles down because he is a special special talent and could be a real star.

Oh and Paul Pogba scored one of the goals of the season in the last few weeks. Zidane pirouette on the edge of the box, skipped by another defender and drilled it low in to the bottom of the corner. He looks worth the hassle we had to go through to get him.

A great season for the lads and another very big well done

Reply Quote Report

Rogero
11/05/2010 19:01

Thanks Mick!

Reply Quote Report

The Mad Hatter
11/05/2010 22:41

Good update. Consistently heard good things about Morrison, lets hope he sorts this supposed problem out.

_______________________________________

Reply Quote Report

Mick_MUFC
12/05/2010 11:25

Fergie was at the semi against Arsenal and Morrison was excellent. I hope Fergie recognises the special talent we have and nurtures him through these years.

One thing we do have comnig through is a great strike force. Kiko, Welbeck, King, Keane and Cofie all look like they have the talent to make it at Utd.

Reply Quote Report

cleveland red
15/05/2010 20:21

Great article Mick. Thanks. Not at all sure about Welebck though.Hope I am wrong.

Reply Quote Report

Message List Search Log In

Your Name:
Subject:

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net