He's not overrated on here, he is top quality, Pereira is a different type of player and more of what we lack in the first team hence why he's been promoted. Pearson on the other hand has Carrick, Fletcher and Blind ahead of him and so didn't need promoting as of yet. Once fletcher is gone I've no doubt he will come into the first team. As for his performance the other night, he was okay but I could see that he was still playing like he was in a 2 man midfield, he needs to work on his new DM anchor role and sit in between the defence, screen and distribute from deeper then he was, also needs to make himself more available. I thought Thorpe did well in the anchor role and there's Carrick and blind he can watch and learn from. Give him time he will do well here.
Ben Pearson
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He's not overrated on here, he is top quality, Pereira is a different type of player and more of what we lack in the first team hence why he's been promoted. Pearson on the other hand has Carrick, Fletcher and Blind ahead of him and so didn't need promoting as of yet. Once fletcher is gone I've no doubt he will come into the first team. As for his performance the other night, he was okay but I could see that he was still playing like he was in a 2 man midfield, he needs to work on his new DM anchor role and sit in between the defence, screen and distribute from deeper then he was, also needs to make himself more available. I thought Thorpe did well in the anchor role and there's Carrick and blind he can watch and learn from. Give him time he will do well here.
So what's happened to Pearson and Rothwell then? Injuries? Loan spells in the pipeline?
I really thought Pearson was going to make it here, might still do but you would have expected him to either have gone out on loan or got called up to the bench by now.
I'd said a few times over the past couple of years that I wasn't that as sure about Pearson as most others. I think Rothwell is certainly the better footballer for sure, but I think with him, Harrop and Pereira all vying to come through and perform a similar role, in addition to Nick Powell - he may also struggle.
He said himself that he wasn't ready for a loan yet, and that for now he wanted to focus on played well for the U-21s.
I wouldn't say that Pearson plays the same role as any of the others you mentioned. He has mostly been used in the Carrick-role, where he tries to shield the defence from the attackers.
Yea, I kind of changed the subject to Rothwell for that bit tbh.
I think they are both kind of running out of time as stupid as that may sound for young players. Pearson and Rothwell are nearly 20 without a single first-team appearance. I just can't help but look at other top players at that age and see them with 50+ first-team appearances. I don't know how many good players there are out there that never made a first-team appearance by 20 but I doubt there are too many and it certainly isn't a good thing. I rate the two of them highly and though Rothwell was great last season but I'm getting less and less optimistic about him. As you say as well Andreas is ahead of him and it looks like Harrop has passed him out as well with Joe getting benched a few times already this season.
I still remain optimistic about Pearson.Harrop Andreas Rothwell all can't play number 4 role and Carrick,Fletcher are ageing.The only worrying sign now is I think if LVG needs a youth holding midfielder at the moment he'll call up Thorpe instead.
Not everyone can make it in a top club like United as talented as Pearson/Rothwell/Harrop/Goss/Pereira might be if we can get 2 out of them to make it with United it's already a big success.Though Harrop is similar to Di Maria that he's equally adept at CM and LW/RW.
Not everyone can make it in a top club like United as talented as Pearson/Rothwell/Harrop/Goss/Pereira might be if we can get 2 out of them to make it with United it's already a big success.Though Harrop is similar to Di Maria that he's equally adept at CM and LW/RW.
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To clarify, I was just wondering where he's been recently. I've seen no sign that he's any less fantastic a prospect this season than he was last season. It's just odd that he and Rothwell weren't played in the U21s tie against Chelsea and I'm wondering if he's injured or something.
(Rothwell's a different matter, prospects-wise, because he's in competition with Pereira and Harrop. Pearson's got very little competition in the youth ranks, especially given that the evidence suggests LVG sees the likes of McNair and Thorpe (rightly, in my opinion) as defenders not DMs.)
(Rothwell's a different matter, prospects-wise, because he's in competition with Pereira and Harrop. Pearson's got very little competition in the youth ranks, especially given that the evidence suggests LVG sees the likes of McNair and Thorpe (rightly, in my opinion) as defenders not DMs.)
Good article.
(Although, being pedantic, I don't quite see how a team needs to 'bounce back' from losing the U21s final, especially to a side as good as Chelsea's. Last season was a very good one for the U21s.)
(Although, being pedantic, I don't quite see how a team needs to 'bounce back' from losing the U21s final, especially to a side as good as Chelsea's. Last season was a very good one for the U21s.)
I don't think that article is valid at all to be honest. To imply that Pearson is currently positioned next in-line after Wilson, although that's something only us 'clued up folk' would know is simply false. Any red who has followed us this season will know that it simply isn't true that Ben Pearson has been the one running the show or is on the verge of the first team. Not to knock him, but Wilson (and others who have Prem experience like McNair etc) aside - the likes of Pereira, Janko, Vermijl and even Rothwell and Harrop have seemed closer to the first squad than Pearson.
Last season Pearson and Rothwell were absolutely running the show, and both looked as ready for first-team football as anyone bar Wilson, so I'd say the article's bang on.
This season, both have been missing from a lot of matches, for reasons that I can't really work out at the moment (given that, for example, we played a load of defenders in midfield against Chelsea in Pearson's absence, so it's obviously not a case of a different midfielder being more highly rated.) And clearly LVG sees Pereira as the next one to bring through, which I have no problem at all with.
But in terms of ability and performance when they've actually played, the consensus on here in the summer was that either Pearson or Rothwell would be the next in line after Wilson (well, of the forwards and midfielders. Defenders are a different thing altogether, of course.)
I am dismissing last season as we don't have the same manager. Since the current man who matters has taken charge, Pearson looks nowhere near the first team.
If last season was of any relevance, McNair would be a nobody and Thorpe would be the elect according to the caf. Not to mention most tards would still be calling Pereira inconsistent and far from the first team and of the view that Rothwell was next in line.
Janko has been really bad this season in a Valencia sort of way. Rothwell has barely played barring the first few games. Injured and then leapfrogged by Pereira and Harrop.
Pearson has been good though in and out with injuries as well and different positions/formations.
Though having said that i think you are more basing on who got into the MK dons squad in terms of LVG's thinking but that also depends on who else was there in that position and injuries at the time.
Shit, he's 19 already.
They grow up so quick these days
They grow up so quick these days
Janko has played for the first-team and been on the bench before I think. I agree that he has been poor this season, but then that is not the point. Our personal assessment of his form is not what determines how close he is to the first-team. The fact that he trains with the first-team every day and is involved with them is what matters. Pearson does not. In fact, the only thing, ever, that has indicated that Pearson is on the brink of the first team is that people on the caf watch the games and think that he played well.
Key point here is their position.The fact that we have more than enough quantity (but not sure if quality) in the CM position for both first team and U21s not bode really well for Pearson and Rothwell.Thorpe could play in the CDM position as well (LVG thought that at least) so one more player with experience ahead of Ben.Janko has only Rafael,Valencia and Vermijl ahead of him and the later two could play in various positions.
I think the main hope for Pearson now is having a couple of very good loans and coming back on time to replace Carrick/Fletcher before we bought someone else with experience.
If there's a thing I don't like about LVG that is he didn't seem to go there to watch the U21s that much.
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Well not everybody on the Caf is blessed with a vision like you for spotting young talent.
Next time, read the context before the Mean Girls rhetoric.
I doubt there is any issue there tbh. I live in London and am here arguing the case for and against U21 players. LVG will have the same access to MUTV, plus be in daily communication with his deputies on certain players. The best ones already train with him every day too.
Anyway, back to Pearson - Blind and Carrick's injuries on international duty could get him a chance in the first squad.
Even if Carrick is out for Arsenal and i hope Fletcher plays never for us again (Sorry his level should be Championship football) then....
1) Thorpe should be ahead of him in the pecking order......it seems like LVG sees in him an defensive midfielder and he trains regularly with the first team
2) Is Pearson even fit (He hasn't played in the last U21 match and hasn't played for England)???
I would love to see Pearson in the first team in the future (I'm still furious that Anderson has played against MK Dons instead of him/Thorpe/Rothwell)
I don't expect him to be in the 'team'. However, under LVG, we have been a team that always plays with a 'defensive midfielder', and if we go by the concept that an injury would cause everyone to 'move up one' in the squad - Pearson surely can't be lower than 5th at most?
I agree with you on Fletcher though, he's out of depth here now. But with the first and second choice DM injured, there is a chance that Pearson could land on the bench. Obviously, if he's injured as you suggested then this is a pointless debate.
It's really frustrating that we can't find out whether he's injured or not. If he is, then it's unfortunate after such a good last season. If not, then I can't understand why he's just vanished off the face of the earth.
Who do you think LvG rates ahead of him when it comes to playing the DM role for the first team?
Carrick and Blind obviously, but who else?
This is how I see it:
1. Carrick
2. Blind
3. Fletcher:
While Fletcher is a true United player and a fantastic rolemodell for the kids, after the illness he hasn't been the same and shouldn't be in the team. But he's the vise captain and has lots of experience, so he is.
4. James:
Not alot between him and Thorpe IMO, but a few thing makes me think he's ahead:
- Was on the tour and is a part of the first team(LvG see him every day).
- Is extremly versitile, for the U-21s I've seen him play LB, LWB, LM, LW, CB, DM and CM.
- Is quicker and more mobile than Thorpe.
5. Thorpe:
Physically slightly more robust than Pearson, more experienced (has been out on loan), and good at set-pieces.
6. Pearson
I've been a huge fan of Pearson since his last season with the U-18s and I really do hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he will be given a chance unless pretty much all the others are injured
Carrick and Blind obviously, but who else?
This is how I see it:
1. Carrick
2. Blind
3. Fletcher:
While Fletcher is a true United player and a fantastic rolemodell for the kids, after the illness he hasn't been the same and shouldn't be in the team. But he's the vise captain and has lots of experience, so he is.
4. James:
Not alot between him and Thorpe IMO, but a few thing makes me think he's ahead:
- Was on the tour and is a part of the first team(LvG see him every day).
- Is extremly versitile, for the U-21s I've seen him play LB, LWB, LM, LW, CB, DM and CM.
- Is quicker and more mobile than Thorpe.
5. Thorpe:
Physically slightly more robust than Pearson, more experienced (has been out on loan), and good at set-pieces.
6. Pearson
I've been a huge fan of Pearson since his last season with the U-18s and I really do hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he will be given a chance unless pretty much all the others are injured
Pearson reads the game better than any other youth player I have ever seen. Its a fantastic attribute to have and he can never lose that, it can only improve with experience. This quality along with his good vision, a strong work ethic, decent touch and technique and ability to pass with both feet make him more than just an average prospect for me.
Interesting to see what happens with him over the next couple of years, especially when he grows a little bit more and gets stronger.
Interesting to see what happens with him over the next couple of years, especially when he grows a little bit more and gets stronger.
Well, it's just one game he hasn't featured in. The explanation might be as simple as Joyce taking advantage of the rare luxury of two games in a week to give game-time to some of those who haven't featured much so far this season. Rothwell and Harrop weren't involved at Stamford Bridge either but all 3 were in the stands. They wouldn't have traveled if they were injured.
Young players are also often taken out for a while if they're doing a lot of strength and conditioning training which could be the case if were planning on sending them out on loan
Pearson, Rothwell and Harrop have all missed 2 u21 matches and for all 3 it has been the West Ham and Chelsea matches so not sure if there is something to read into that. Just a shame Rothwell's appearances are mainly off the bench.
Neither Pearson or Rothwell were in the recent England u20 side either so not sure if they were just dropped or could be injured.
Neither Pearson or Rothwell were in the recent England u20 side either so not sure if they were just dropped or could be injured.
Two games isn't it? Plus he missed an England U20 game and he's been a mainstay of those sides. I didn't notice he'd travelled for Chelsea though, so that's a good sign. Hopefully @jb8521 is right that he's being prepared for a loan spell or something.
Rothwell wasn't in the stand.
No, he played the full 90 against Leicester. And prior to this international break he was picked for one England squad and omitted from the other (though later included due to withdrawals) so it's not inconceivable he was simply left out again.
Could have sworn I saw him but it makes no difference regarding Ben.
I'm more worried about Joe, much more than Ben.Joe isn't starting games for us even when he's fit and available.
I was thinking of West Ham.
Read that he is slated to join Preston on loan.
Deal not came through.Heard rumour that Giggs pulled the plug last minute.They wanted W.Keane and Grimshaw as well.
Hopefully not another youngster whose progress is screwed up by lack of loan actions.
Is it because of Tom Thorpe's injury? Do they want him to play at the base of the midfield for the reserves now or they seem him as an option for the first team?
Has he trained with the first team this season?
Will Keane can play at a level higher than Preston, no?
Today was the deadline as well wasn't it? Another year of players hanging around the U21s when they've spent their time there and are blocking the younger lads. Sure wtf is Grimshaw up to? May as well let him out, he got 244 minutes last season from the U19 youth league and U21s combined and this season he has 162 minutes for the u21s. Either let him out on loan or let Ben go out to open a space for Grimshaw. Sean Goss, highly rated for the u18s last year and has 45 minutes this season, how is he going to progress with that. Even Rothwell who was great last season for the u21s is getting limited playing time. When are we going to try get these lads to progress or are they just going to stick around and be called young players until they are 25?
Ben always plays at the base and Thorpe almost always at CB, only played at the base once or twice when Ben wasn't playing. I guess Thorpe wouldn't able to replace him now with the injury but there are other players to fill in like Grimshaw or Goss. He said in an interview that he has trained with the first team a few times but not sure whether that is this season or last.
Will probably could play at a higher level but atm imo the most important thing for Will is playing and he should be a clear starter for a League 1 side. It'd also give him a good chance to bag a fair amount of goals to boost his confidence.