And the fact that we have nothing to play for this game.
Mourinho doesn't play youngsters!!
- Thread starter VanGaalEra
- Start date
Yeah. Fosu-Mensah, Mitchell, Tuanzebe and co haven't had a sniff all season. It's similar to those who credited Van Gaal with bringing youth through when in fact he had no choice.
Earlier on in the season we didn't have that many injuries. When we did a senior player stepped up, it's only logical to play the senior players over the junior players. Now that both the first XI players and their backups are injured the youths are playing. Most managers in the world do this, so what's the problem?
Its a non-issue. If they are good enough they will get picked and if they are not they won't
On the one hand, people will say it's because he's treating this game like a post-season friendly. But on the other, Fergie played plenty of dead rubbers at the end of seasons and never did this.
Well in, Jose.
Now just give us some Gomes, Mourinho 
Now just give us some Gomes, Mourinho
Jose: Kids aren't ready!
Kids: 2-0 up at half time.
Kids: 2-0 up at half time.
Against a side who beat chelsea and liverpool and arsenal.
I don't really think this is the same as trusting kids in important games, but it is still very nice.
But it never hurts to test them out during the season especially if our senior players are so poor
Yeah, I thought about this after the line ups were out.
Today is one of those days that does make you wonder what the point of Chelsea's and City's academy vanity projects are. Kids there never get a look in no matter what the circumstances.
Pointless. They are soulless clubs with no history of producing great players.
They will never be as successful as us no matter how much money they have.
Would absolutely love it if some of these youth players get first team spots next year (if they're good enough). That coupled with a few new signings and we'll be back in business!
Not really. He said at the beginning of the season that he wants to keep a mix of players for his squad. He also played McNair/Blackett mid-season. Whether they were good or not, that's another thing altogether. People say he was forced to play Rashford, but it was only because Rooney had turned to shit and was filling in the midfield area.
Van Gaal kept the squad very thin and said it was because he could trust young players for injuries or for rotation. Like when he says it t the start of the year and then does it and people still say it was an accident, there's not much more you can do to win these people over
I would have been more impressed of these kids had been given chances to establish themselves earlier in the season. When Mouronho actually drops an underperforming senior player for the likes of Axel and Harrop then we can rightfully say he plays youth. The performances some these players have been allowed to get away with have been criminal.
Fergie didn't have a major European final three days later though.
Mou is like a hedgehog in a hole; he takes no chances of any kind. Today was in keeping with this philosophy.
It's not been the season for fannying around and playing youth early on. Surely they'll benefit more from being brought into a settled team eventually. Today's result doesn't count as an example that they should have played earlier in the season. There was zero pressure. Could just go out and enjoy the opportunity, which I'm glad they took with open arms.
I agree that it definitely doesnt show that youth should have been thrown in earlier this season.
But lets see next season. Mou could really start to believe in the academy. We need to purchase some quality in key positions but these young lads could really bolster the squad.
There's definitely balance that can be reach. Smalling, Rooney,... won't be here next season. Young and Darmian's spot are definitely up for grab, even Fellani and Lingard.
Its not as if the senior players have been pulling up trees to justify shutting out the kids. We have severely limited players that Mourinho has relied on and this reliance has forced him to play our core players to the ground when all this time we have had kids that could have been built up as the season progressed. Yes today was a zero pressure situation but I don't think that these youngsters would have fared any worse against the likes of Swansea, Burnley etc. The key was to build them up early on through cameos and see whether they could build on those few appearances like Axel seems to be doing.
Name me a top manager who has given youth a chance this season?
The youth messiah Pep barely gave any young players a chance. Recalled Yaya and kept his aging full backs.
I don't recall Klopp doing anything. Conte recalled Ake and he barely played.
Klopp played several young players this season. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo, Kevin Stewart, Joe Gomez, Connor Randal...
Pochettino also played Carter-Vickers, Harry Winks and Josh Onomah.
From his recent comments, it seems Mourinho's way of promoting youth is to introduce them to a team with controlled setting (at least defensive stability is there, and the first eleven should be strong enough to get good results, meaning some first team players have to play).
Like today's games against CPalace, the team comprises of Pogba is a total domination, with Lingard providing the spice (thankfully he did), Rooney may contribute a goal (guess not) and defensive wall of Jones and Bailly.
Funny how he's against Bailly subbing off (Next time then Willock). Hence it's okay to play 'em lot. Or in last two games, the team is okay enough to get a fair enough result of draw at least, so just one youth to be promoted ~ Tuanzebe and he did fine against Arsenal and Spurs.
LVG's way is more of a sink or swim ~ throw them on in games, and if they play well, stay with the team (Rashford, TFM & CBJ, and for some times McNair, Wilson, Varela, Blackett & Januzaj), but if they fail.. out. (Keane, Love, etc, and the players who played well for some times). Injuries to first team players would also open the door for the kids, depending on their 'best' positions.
SAF's way is more dependent on competitions, scorelines, and sometimes the risk approach. He would definitely play them in the Micky Mouse cup, and if otherwise, would sub them on in games if the scoreline is convincing enough, leading by 3 or 2 goals convincingly eg. Pogba's debut. If the first team is suffering from injuries, he may even play them but make sure to play with strong players too, like Evans with Ferdinand, Fletcher with Keane, or Rafael at RB. There is partial risk there. Also, there's the classic Fergie's Gamblewhen we're chasing games and in need of a goal to win or draw, throw some goalscorer kids eg. Macheda, Gibson, etc.
Like today's games against CPalace, the team comprises of Pogba is a total domination, with Lingard providing the spice (thankfully he did), Rooney may contribute a goal (guess not) and defensive wall of Jones and Bailly.
Funny how he's against Bailly subbing off (Next time then Willock). Hence it's okay to play 'em lot. Or in last two games, the team is okay enough to get a fair enough result of draw at least, so just one youth to be promoted ~ Tuanzebe and he did fine against Arsenal and Spurs.LVG's way is more of a sink or swim ~ throw them on in games, and if they play well, stay with the team (Rashford, TFM & CBJ, and for some times McNair, Wilson, Varela, Blackett & Januzaj), but if they fail.. out. (Keane, Love, etc, and the players who played well for some times). Injuries to first team players would also open the door for the kids, depending on their 'best' positions.
SAF's way is more dependent on competitions, scorelines, and sometimes the risk approach. He would definitely play them in the Micky Mouse cup, and if otherwise, would sub them on in games if the scoreline is convincing enough, leading by 3 or 2 goals convincingly eg. Pogba's debut. If the first team is suffering from injuries, he may even play them but make sure to play with strong players too, like Evans with Ferdinand, Fletcher with Keane, or Rafael at RB. There is partial risk there. Also, there's the classic Fergie's Gamble
when we're chasing games and in need of a goal to win or draw, throw some goalscorer kids eg. Macheda, Gibson, etc.Yes in league cup games. How many did he consistently play? You having a go at Jose for not playing youngsters consistently yet Klopp just played them in league cup or FA cup games.
I guess the narrative of Mourinho not playing youngsters can be taken over by Conte now.
Van Gaal done it all his life..come on man. Gotta give credit where it's due. Gets a small squad so he can utilize kids when need arises yet people will still try taking that away from him to win an argument.
I'm not having a go at Jose for not playing youth consistently? Where did I say that?
I'd love it if Jose played some youth players in the cup games and rested some of the senior players.
First PL manager to play someone born in the 2000's.
We might have then not won the cup. So you know I rather Jose go for the realistic trophies we can win. When we actually challenging for leagues then we can play youngsters in league cups as that is a low priority.
I rather worry about winning trophies than how many youngsters we played.
How long and for how many games? It would be interesting to see the stats. The reality is that is more abnormal than normal for managers of top clubs to give youth a chance unless the youth is really exceptional or the stakes are low.
Several games, Alexander-Arnold especially. Look them up on Transfermarkt.
Fair points. If we are challenging in the PL and Champions League the youngsters in the other cups is practical.
The key question is how many of these youngsters can help upgrade the squad and help win key games?
Obviously Rashford and Tuanzabe are in the picture. Not sure who else for next season? Mitchell?
I don't get the complaints. Which top manager has given more games to youth players than Mourinho this season?
Okay. That's cool but unusual.
Rashford and Fosu Mensah were the only ones given anything significant before he threw the towel in against Arsenal
based on what we saw today some of these kids should have featured much earlier in some of those Europa League games
my big issue was the lack of games Rashford got at number 9......contributed to Ibra's loss of form as the season went on in my opinion
based on what we saw today some of these kids should have featured much earlier in some of those Europa League games
my big issue was the lack of games Rashford got at number 9......contributed to Ibra's loss of form as the season went on in my opinion
Tbf our U23s has been so poor this year that hardly anyone could have justified being promoted other than Tuanzebe (and Mitchell later on in the 2nd half). To be considered for the first team you must at least performed well consistently for the lower teams (i.e "being so good that they can not ignore you"). Next season we'll have a much more promising U23s squad including the 2 that were on the bench today (Gomes, Dearnley) so hopefully we can see more players knocking on the first team door.