Bury Red
Backs Fergie, Yells Giggs!
Well UEFA and FIFA rules state that your age group is classified at the start of the calendar year a tournament commenced, so by that definition Lingard is a 22 year old player this season. It's the reason you can have 23 year olds playing in the U21 finals, or 22, as Jesse was when he scored England's winner against Sweden in last years UEFA U21s.At least where I come from you're classed in your age group. Those who are born in the same calendar year are judged on the same level, whether you are born in January or December, you grow up playing at the same level. He will be 24 this year. You can call it a late bloomer, but I can't see him improving to the required standard of a Manchester United player.
Lingard's shown a few signs of promise at times this season for me: He never hides from responsibility, unlike Januzaj. He's not been afraid to break in and take a shot, unlike most of our team under van Gaal which has seen him bag a couple and he can at least deliver a cross around 70% of the time unlike any of our other genuine wingers. With Januzaj back he'll see more competition for limited opportunities and I don't personally think he'll make it, but he's still worth a shot and it would please me no end to see a young local lad break through.