We've also recruited a couple of players at 18 and will likely go for more. They'd count as HG under the rules by 2028, just in time for Berrada's Project 150.It’s definitely something that needs to be looked at. Although our U18s look like strongest set of players in years. Which is good timing.
I don't believe so. We have a host of good young players coming through that will replace out going talent in the short term (i.e Kukonki for the likes of Lindeloff). I also fully expect us to still buy British grown talent of the likes of Branthwaite, Guehi, Rigg, Wharton, Dibbling in our long ter. recruitment strategy etcA big part of the culture of Man Utd has always been using the academy, and having a squad core of homegrown talents. In a practical sense, this is also really useful when it comes to the PL and UEFA homegrown player rules (specifically, you can only have 17 over-21, foreign players in your squad, the other 8 spots can only be filled by homegrown players).
A concerning trend over the last several years - not just at United mind - has been our seeming willingness to sell off (or practically give away) homegrown players, and instead bringing in players from abroad. Dont get me wrong - I dont think we should be keeping loads of average players on the books just for the sake of it, but equally if you have homegrown options that can add to squad depth, it helps you a lot over the course of the season.
Look at the players we have sold, or looked to sell - or who are being rumoured as possible outgoings;
Maguire
Evans
AWB
Shaw
McTominay
Mount
Sancho
Rashford
We sold Kambwala who wouldve qualified as homegrown, having just broken into the first team (understanding there were contract issues).
Realistically, the only HG players not at risk (or already gone) are Mainoo and Garnacho, who are U21 anyway so dont need to be registered. You could also point to the likes of Greenwood and say we got unlucky there.
Point is, as things stand - maybe not this year but next - we are going to have to end up with a <25-man senior squad due to a lack of homegrown talents. It also arguably represents an erosion of the clubs longstanding culture - so is undesirable both on and off the field.
This isn't me having a go at you but I feel like someone says this every year.
Yep. And last season as well (winning 3 out of the 4 trophies). And they're carrying that impressive form on this season so far.They certainly don’t get the results they’ve had so far this season every year.
Yep. And last season as well (winning 3 out of the 4 trophies). And they're carrying that impressive form on this season so far.
They've been very well coached, and have good strength in depth - so look a very solid all round unit. Whether that is making the players look better than they individually are remains to be the same. There's rarely any guarantees about which players will kick on, but there seems a bigger amount than usual of 'possibles' - players who look to have a realistic possibility.
So it's a fair comment, but as always it'll depend on the players kicking on from here and the coach trusting to giving them genuine opportunities in the first team set up.
CurrentlyI think Evans will be retained for another year. His contract is small enough, helps up with homegrown requirements and does a decent job when needed and is fuss free when not playing.
Top professional who’s a good influence on the younger players. He’ll be here as long as he feels his body can take it.
But does it make sense for Gomes?Signing Angel Gomes on a free is making more and more sense…
We got Mainoo and Garnacho from the last group. But, yeah, between those (19 and 20) and the Rashford and McTominay (27 and 28) times, it feels like there's a gap where the lkes of Laird, Mengi, Garner, Gomes, Elanga, Geeenwood, etc (all early-mid 20's now) were realistic possibles but have left instead for various different reasons.I’ll admit to not watching them much. So if the results are down to being well coached and organised rather than individual star dust then there might not be a better chance than usual of someone breaking through. But we really only need one or two to establish themselves as squad players. We’re looking for the next Welbeck, Lingard or Evans. Not a superstar. Which is hopefully not beyond the realms of possibility. We’re surely due one or two at some point. It feels like it’s been longer than usual since that last happened.
But does it make sense for Gomes?
I was one of them, Probably the best midfiled we have had after the class of92I used to be a lurker back then but I remember people lining up a future midfield three of Tunniclife, Pogba and Ravel.
Signing Angel Gomes on a free is making more and more sense…
HESA FREEE!!How is he doing though? According to whoscored he played 22 games he scored 1 goal and he created 2 assists. He's been playing across the entire CM (DM, MC, AM) and had been a sub in 5 games. That doesn't look great isn't it?
He's not been as good as last season, where it looked like he'd made a big step up. Bigger question is this a natural regression down to his normal level or is there other factors playing into it. Hard to say really, probably needs someone who watches Lille religiously.How is he doing though? According to whoscored he played 22 games he scored 1 goal and he created 2 assists. He's been playing across the entire CM (DM, MC, AM) and had been a sub in 5 games. That doesn't look great isn't it?
Feel like you might have quoted the wrong post there, I never said anything about signing him.When the Bosman ruling passed many predicted that transfer fees will simply vanish in football as players will just let contracts run down and move were it suited them. Needless to say that never happened. There are two main reasons to that. First of all clubs hate losing useful players. Thus if the salary being asked is reasonable then they would rather put their hands in their pockets and pay. Secondly players aren't stupid. They know their worth as free agents and they'll demand that money for themselves. That's evident with Tosin. On paper he would have been the ideal squad member signing for United. He's tall, he's decent and he's homegrown. There again its rumoured to have demanded a huge signing on fee + a salary of 120k a week. That exceed what a squad player CB in a well run club would ask. For example Joe Gomez is on 85k a week, Solanke is on 90k a week, Yoro 115k a week and Calafiori is on 120k a week.
You might say, well, he's on free. Unfortunately while that's true, his teammates would probably not care. Why should an inferior player who sits on the bench for most of the time be paid higher then they'll do? That's a problem United faced during Sanchez time. Once he signed and he played (badly) his teammates were at the gaffer's office demanding their own salary to be revised. It can happen also at the highest end of the spectrum as well. Messi's 555m in 4 years salary lead to a salary creep at Barcelona that financially crippled them big time.
Angel Gomes would probably ask around the 60k-85k a week. That won't cripple us financially but is serious money in the mid table club bracket which mean that if he fails then it would be rather challenging to get rid off afterwards. He will also be competing in terms of salary to the likes of Rasmus (85k) Dalot (85k), Garnacho (50k), Mainoo (20k) and Diallo (26k). Can he keep up with these players? Else we risk of having our next crop knocking at the gaffer's door asking for a payrise
My ApologiesFeel like you might have quoted the wrong post there, I never said anything about signing him.
How is he doing though? According to whoscored he played 22 games he scored 1 goal and he created 2 assists. He's been playing across the entire CM (DM, MC, AM) and had been a sub in 5 games. That doesn't look great isn't it?
It’s become a must, I think this is why we are looking at top foreign 17-18 years old, if they spend 3 years they become Homegrown at 21 like Garnaucho has and Yoro will also become in 2 and half more seasons.But does it make sense for Gomes?
