Rebuilding the squad with youth players

Red Rash

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Jun 25, 2019
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I think we are all in agreement that the squad needs a huge rebuild this summer and we have a lot of players due to leave such as Mata, Matic, Cavani, Lingard, Pogba and probably a few other sales.

I would suggest it's going to be difficult to bring in enough players with the likely budget we will have so we may need to rely on the youth to at least cover some squad positions. I think we have some young players who are very talented and probably close to getting game time. Which young players would you like to see in the squad next season?

For me I'd love to see the following players in and around the first team:

Laird
Garner
Hannibal
Amad
Elanga
Shoretire
Garnacho (probably more of a wildcard due to his age and may need a bit more time before he is ready)
 
Red Rash said:
I think we are all in agreement that the squad needs a huge rebuild this summer and we have a lot of players due to leave such as Mata, Matic, Cavani, Lingard, Pogba and probably a few other sales.

I would suggest it's going to be difficult to bring in enough players with the likely budget we will have so we may need to rely on the youth to at least cover some squad positions. I think we have some young players who are very talented and probably close to getting game time. Which young players would you like to see in the squad next season?

For me I'd love to see the following players in and around the first team:

Laird
Garner
Hannibal
Amad
Elanga
Shoretire
Garnacho (probably more of a wildcard due to his age and may need a bit more time before he is ready)
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You’d like to see players who are in and around the first team, being in and around the first team? Interesting…
 
Red_toad said:
You’d like to see players who are in and around the first team, being in and around the first team? Interesting…
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Well my point was I'd like to see them given time playing for the first team. Right now Laird, Garner and Amad are on loan so I wouldn't really say they are around the first team at the moment.

Also Hannibal, Shoretire and Garnacho have barely featured. I guess you knew what my point was meant to be but thanks for your comment anyway
 
Red_toad said:
You’d like to see players who are in and around the first team, being in and around the first team? Interesting…
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In fairness, only two or three of the players he listed are even arguably in and around the first team. Of them, only one player plays with anything like regularity.
 
Garner has done his loan time, and looks to have really used it well, (unlike so many of our loan player seem to do), so of them all I'd say he really deserves a chance now.

Obviously Elanga is already there, in fact I'd like to see him play a bit less.
 
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None of those players are ready for the 1st team, with possibly the exception of Garner but even he won't make much of a difference to this side. We need quality signings, that's the only way we stand a chance of competing next season. ETH isn't a miracle worker
 
If just one of them turns out to be good enough to be a regular first team player for United, we’ll have done well.

I don’t know where this idea that you can just throw a load of kids from the academy into a Premier League team came from but it needs to stop. They’d get slaughtered.
 
MikeUpNorth said:
If just one of them turns out to be good enough to be a regular first team player for United, we’ll have done well.

I don’t know where this idea that you can just throw a load of kids from the academy into a Premier League team came from but it needs to stop. They’d get slaughtered.
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I don't think that's the idea here is it? OP seems to be asking which of them could be useful squad cover, not which of them should start every game immediately.
 
I think it's a daft idea unless they all happen to be future world class international players. They're probably not.
 
Camilo said:
I think it's a daft idea unless they all happen to be future world class international players. They're probably not.
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What's a daft idea? Promoting any of them to the first team squad?
 
MikeUpNorth said:
If just one of them turns out to be good enough to be a regular first team player for United, we’ll have done well.

I don’t know where this idea that you can just throw a load of kids from the academy into a Premier League team came from but it needs to stop. They’d get slaughtered.
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Yeah agreed with that second bit. We’ve already started seeing in the Elanga thread, the criticism he gets. Not long before the same applies to all of the above, especially if we’re not winning.

Nothing wrong with having them in/around the squad as long as we’re not dependent on them. ETH works with a smaller squad (I’ve read that he doesn’t rotate as much), so maybe having youth around just to make up the numbers/gaps isn’t a bad idea.
 
For what it's worth, I'd like to see Hannibal given more opportunities, Garner given a chance to stake a claim for a squad role and Elanga to play a bit part.
 
Are you sure these kids are as good as you think? You'll know better than me but the likes of Laird and Amad are not exactly pulling up trees on their loans.
 
Pickle85 said:
What's a daft idea? Promoting any of them to the first team squad?
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They are all considered fist team squad players. Thats why they’re either regulars in the squad, or out on loan. I think the best 2 youngsters we have on the books aren’t in the first team squad, but theres no rush, as they’re developing nicely.
 
duffer said:
Are you sure these kids are as good as you think? You'll know better than me but the likes of Laird and Amad are not exactly pulling up trees on their loans.
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No it's a long shot, and I'd be very happy if one of them proved to be a true first team player, and not just some squad filler.

And given what we paid for Amad, it's odd that he is been clubed in with these players,.
 
Even if they’re not technically as good as long as they give a shit and can follow instructions then it’ll be an upgrade on what we have now
 
Hannibal is the one I'd expect to be seeing a lot more of. He's represented his country in 2 tournaments this season and he's always looked a class above in the U23's. Honestly, I think he should be getting starts now.

Haven't seen any Forest games this year, so can't really say anything for him. You'd hope he could join the squad if he's done well there because we're lacking in numbers.

Laird seemed to be doing very well at Swansea earlier on, but at Bournemouth apparently it's the fitness issues again? Feels like one step forward and 2 back there.

Amad is another one who's been damned by his loan. Looked incredible in the U23s and good in last seasons dead rubbers. He's an example (of which there are many) that we need to be way more careful with our loans. Maybe Ten Hag comes in and sees a £40m players there, but he's probably just gonna get shot out on loan somewhere so we can hope he starts developing again.
 
Red Rash said:
I think we are all in agreement that the squad needs a huge rebuild this summer and we have a lot of players due to leave such as Mata, Matic, Cavani, Lingard, Pogba and probably a few other sales.

I would suggest it's going to be difficult to bring in enough players with the likely budget we will have so we may need to rely on the youth to at least cover some squad positions. I think we have some young players who are very talented and probably close to getting game time. Which young players would you like to see in the squad next season?

For me I'd love to see the following players in and around the first team:

Laird
Garner
Hannibal
Amad
Elanga
Shoretire
Garnacho (probably more of a wildcard due to his age and may need a bit more time before he is ready)
Click to expand...

Laird
Hannibal
Garner
Elanga
Pellestri over amad as he simply has to go on another loan he needs minutes.
Garnacho as 3rd option behind Ronaldo and new st.

I think they will get decent minutes because of next seasons 5 subs rule.
 
I’d promote Mejbri, Garnacho, Garner to first team next year. Might also give a chance to Fernandez and Hansen to see if they are ready or not.
 
Pickle85 said:
What's a daft idea? Promoting any of them to the first team squad?
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It's daft if the only criteria for doing so is "they're young".

Are they actually any good?! They'll try hard, but so what? Look at all the wonderful youth products currently playing for us... Rashford, Greenwood, McTomminay... Diallo has started well enough I suppose.
 
They’re all pretty lightweight and may need loans. Garner has a good chance of being around the squad, however if forest get promoted I can see us keeping him there.

I guess it’s what Ten Hag sees in them and whether or not he feels they can effectively press and win the ball back quickly whilst displaying the right temperament when in possession.

The physicality Liverpool and city bring with their pressing is impressive and something we haven’t been anywhere near with our current crop.
 
I haven't seen our youth players, but Amad and Elanga, who are believed to be the best are mediocre.
If we don't believe in fairy tales and we don't plan finishing mid table, than we need quality and let the individual value of our youth decide who makes it in the first team or not. Many of our loaned youth players don't impress at a lower level, so I wouldn't be so optimistic about their talent.
 
Youth is good, I’m all for it, but they simply won’t stand a chance against these refined Liverpool and City machines.
 
Camilo said:
It's daft if the only criteria for doing so is "they're young".

Are they actually any good?! They'll try hard, but so what? Look at all the wonderful youth products currently playing for us... Rashford, Greenwood, McTomminay... Diallo has started well enough I suppose.
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Agree with the bolded but of all of the recent examples, Diallo seems an odd one to pull out as an example of a success.
 
Red Rash said:
I think we are all in agreement that the squad needs a huge rebuild this summer and we have a lot of players due to leave such as Mata, Matic, Cavani, Lingard, Pogba and probably a few other sales.

I would suggest it's going to be difficult to bring in enough players with the likely budget we will have so we may need to rely on the youth to at least cover some squad positions. I think we have some young players who are very talented and probably close to getting game time. Which young players would you like to see in the squad next season?

For me I'd love to see the following players in and around the first team:

Laird
Garner
Hannibal
Amad
Elanga
Shoretire
Garnacho (probably more of a wildcard due to his age and may need a bit more time before he is ready)
Click to expand...
You say that about Garnacho but not about 17 year old Shoretire
 
Camilo said:
It's daft if the only criteria for doing so is "they're young".

Are they actually any good?! They'll try hard, but so what? Look at all the wonderful youth products currently playing for us... Rashford, Greenwood, McTomminay... Diallo has started well enough I suppose.
Click to expand...
Was this written on May 1, 2021?
 
it’s a romantic idea but another class of 99 is unrealistic.

I’m sure they will all get their chance at some point, but ten hag isn’t going to want a team with a spine or kids.
 
Get rid of some of the older backup players and have a mix of prime age, established players, and youngsters.

Telles, one of AWB/Dalot, Bailly, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, (Pereira), Martial and Cavani can all go.

Rashford, Van de Beek, Fred, McTominay, Shaw, one of AWB/Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof should all be bench/rotation options, and they should have to fight it out both with the starting XI, and with the youngsters. If they can't get in the starting XI with some regularity, or don't perform when they do, move them on next summer and give further opportunities to the young lads.

The squad needs thinning down to make space for the youngsters. We've seen the start of that with Martial, VdB going on loan, Lingard would have gone too if not for the Greenwood case, which has allowed for Elanga to come in.

For the starting XI we have/need:

DDG,
Shaw (but need viable alternative LB, Fernandez looks promising but probably a couple years to go)
Varane (injury prone)
Lindelof/Maguire (both are or can be decent, but shouldn't be automatic starters)
RB (we have no top quality RB)
DM (need top quality)
CM (need top quality)
Bruno
Sancho
RW (need top quality)
Ronaldo (need viable rotation option, as our other options are leaving, on bail, or not CFs). That's even assuming Ronaldo stays.
 
golden_blunder said:
You say that about Garnacho but not about 17 year old Shoretire
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To be honest I thought Shoretire was a year or two older.

Anyway just to clarify my point I think these youth players should be replacing the likes of Mata, Jones, Matic etc that's to say the players who are getting 10 minutes at the end of the game or coming into the team in cup matches.

No way am I suggesting these players are ready to be first teamers but we will lose a lot of fringe players in the summer and need to replace them
 
Theres a whole list of players we have on loan or in the youth setup worth looking at:
Laird
Mengi
Bernard
Williams
Garner
Levitt
Mejbri
Galbraith
Amad
Pellestri
Shoretire
Elanga

I dont see why bailly and jones who basically never play couldnt be replaced in the squad by bernard and mengi For example. But theres a fine line - if for instamce laird is second choice rb and awb goes out injured, is he ready and good enough to play every game?

i think they could all be in the squad and ETH will be able to see whos worth what but no one should count on them being major components. But our focus is going to be on getting a top first 11 rather than building a full squad next year so no harm done really
 
It doesn't happen in any elite club and won't here. If they are good enough they will get a chance but the actual number that are good enough will be very small, maybe 2 or 3 at most from the lists above.
 
Pickle85 said:
Agree with the bolded but of all of the recent examples, Diallo seems an odd one to pull out as an example of a success.
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I'm not saying Diallo isn't a decent young player. But is he any better than that? Do we want to see a squad of quite good young players? Why not a squad of excellent committed internationals?!
 
Adam-Utd said:
it’s a romantic idea but another class of 99 is unrealistic.

I’m sure they will all get their chance at some point, but ten hag isn’t going to want a team with a spine or kids.
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Ah yes the infamous class of 99. Its a tall order to replicate the likes of Wes Brown, Jonathan Greening and Ronnie Wallwork. :D
 
There's no denying most of our loan deals have failed to inspire confidence in their future success. Who decides/suggests where they go?
 
Red Rash said:
I think we are all in agreement that the squad needs a huge rebuild this summer and we have a lot of players due to leave such as Mata, Matic, Cavani, Lingard, Pogba and probably a few other sales.

I would suggest it's going to be difficult to bring in enough players with the likely budget we will have so we may need to rely on the youth to at least cover some squad positions. I think we have some young players who are very talented and probably close to getting game time. Which young players would you like to see in the squad next season?

For me I'd love to see the following players in and around the first team:

Laird
Garner
Hannibal
Amad
Elanga
Shoretire
Garnacho (probably more of a wildcard due to his age and may need a bit more time before he is ready)
Click to expand...
I don’t get the love in for Laird - he must have been a beast in the yoofs because his loan this season has been a disaster and he’s had plenty of injuries to boot. Probably needs another solid season away.
I think Shoretire would benefit from a loan too.
Also you forgot Pellistri? I’d love to see him get a shot at our team. He’s had a good run for the Argentine NT so would be good to find out now if he’s a prospect for us or if we can move him on. Same for Amad too most likely. For sure Garner and Hannibal should be involved with the first team next season. I’d expect Brandon Williams to be in the squad too. I think ETH will like him.
 
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