Unsung Heroes - Finley McCallister & Devanney

Mylock

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Jan 4, 2011
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I been following the u18s all season and 2 players that don't get much press are McCallister & Devanney. initially they both didn't stand out but I have started to rate both as vital cogs in the success of the youth team.
McCallister is a very interesting player, very intelligent in his positioning, great reader of the game, keeps the ball ticking over, and crucially an outstanding leader, demanding of the rest of the team, a proper no 6. The next 12 months will show if he's going to push on.
Devanney has similar qualities as McCallister but probably is a little better with his defence splitting passes. Very good receiver of the ball under pressure. He is younger than McCallister, his game has grown enormously over the last 6 months.
We have produced similar players over the last few years and none have made the breakthrough. It will be interesting if they can make the step up to the senior squad, they both have very good characteristics that are badly needed in the senior squad.
Exciting times for both of these lads, with a bit of luck they will have very good careers.
 
I think Devaney is the unsung hero. McAllister deservedly gets a lot of admiration for his talent, work rate and leadership.
 
McCallister was in the side at 15. He has a very good chance of making it.
 
holdsteady said:
McCallister was in the side at 15. He has a very good chance of making it.
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He has a chance - I would not say a very good chance. You almost need to be as talented as Mainoo or Garnacho to have a really good chance - he is not there
 
lysglimt said:
He has a chance - I would not say a very good chance. You almost need to be as talented as Mainoo or Garnacho to have a really good chance - he is not there
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His competition at DM is currently Casemiro and McTominay. You don't have to be that good if you come through at the right time and have the right attitude.

DM is a very specialised role and it's not always the most talented ones that get to the top. Intelligence, physicality, and work rate can take you far as long as you have reasonable ability on top. For example, Kante was a good footballer but it was his monstrous engine that made him the best midfielder in the world for a while. There's no comparison technique wise with say Kroos or Rodri, but he was an unbelievable player anyway.
 
lysglimt said:
He has a chance - I would not say a very good chance. You almost need to be as talented as Mainoo or Garnacho to have a really good chance - he is not there
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He's also played about 4 different positions for the team and done rather well.
 
holdsteady said:
He's also played about 4 different positions for the team and done rather well.
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Sure he has - he has been very good, but so has 7-8 of our other players. But if you look at the players in our team who has broken through to the first-team over the last say 7-8 years - Rashford, Mainoo, Garnacho and Greenwood - all have been really stand-out at lower levels. McAllister has not been anywhere near that level yet. And he is now competing with the biggest group of talented players we have seen at United - since arguably the Class of 92.

Now we have Amass, Fletcher, Scanlon, Williams, Mantato, Wheatley, Lacey to name some - and McAllister certainly hasn't out-performed any of those guys this season.

He has a chance yes - but when you realistically can hope for 2-3 players from the group at best to reach the first team - there are at least 4-5 players I consider more talented than McAllister
 
lysglimt said:
Sure he has - he has been very good, but so has 7-8 of our other players. But if you look at the players in our team who has broken through to the first-team over the last say 7-8 years - Rashford, Mainoo, Garnacho and Greenwood - all have been really stand-out at lower levels. McAllister has not been anywhere near that level yet. And he is now competing with the biggest group of talented players we have seen at United - since arguably the Class of 92.

Now we have Amass, Fletcher, Scanlon, Williams, Mantato, Wheatley, Lacey to name some - and McAllister certainly hasn't out-performed any of those guys this season.

He has a chance yes - but when you realistically can hope for 2-3 players from the group at best to reach the first team - there are at least 4-5 players I consider more talented than McAllister
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Conveniently left out McTominay ;)
 
top1whoisman said:
Conveniently left out McTominay ;)
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Forgot about him to be quite honest - but it doesn't really change the point. We have had 5 players making a breakthrough over the last almost 10 years - 4 of them have been exceptional talents. McAllister does not fall into that group - but he has a chance - just like 7-8 other players on that team have. But if 2 or 3 of them make it, it will be really good - and he is not on my current top-3 list
 
lysglimt said:
Forgot about him to be quite honest - but it doesn't really change the point. We have had 5 players making a breakthrough over the last almost 10 years - 4 of them have been exceptional talents. McAllister does not fall into that group - but he has a chance - just like 7-8 other players on that team have. But if 2 or 3 of them make it, it will be really good - and he is not on my current top-3 list
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To me it kind of does change the point. There’s always an opportunity for late developers and players with the greatest of attitudes. McAllister could be one of those.

I agree though in terms of the obvious talents in this group of players. It’s just that it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of those ”more talented” players faded away and some of the ”lesser” ones made it.

But make no mistake about McAllister’s level of talent either. An England regular at his age group. May not be as flashy as some of his attacking teammates, but does what he does very well. A team player who can play multiple positions without dropping his performances.
 
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top1whoisman said:
To me it kind of does change the point. There’s always an opportunity for late developers and players with the greatest of attitudes. McAllister could be one of those.

I agree though in terms of the obvious talents in this group of players. It’s just that it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of those ”more talented” players faded away and some of the ”lesser” ones made it.

But make no mistake about McAllister’s level of talent either. An England regular at his age group. May not be as flashy as some of his attacking teammates, but does what he does very well. A team player who can play multiple positions without dropping his performances.
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Oh I generally agree with you - I am not saying he wont make it .He absolutely has a chance - but realistically very few will make it. And you can always find exceptions - the biggest I can think of was Cleverley. When I saw him play the first 4-5 times (cant remember if it was at U18 or reserve-level) he was very average at best - but as a general rule, you need to be a special talent to make it at United.

And I agree with you about the "some talented players fading away" - but even if (or when) that happens - there are so many players who are more or less at the same level - it's hard to say that a single player has an above-average chance of making it. I am convinced that 2-3 players from that group will make it. McAllister probably is in a pool of 11-12 players with a chance - but I do rate him closer to the bottom than the top of that group. I am just not convinced by his defensive contributions.
 
I like these two so much. Young boys with an old-school heart.
 
I’ve been singing Devaney’s praises for a while for this exact reason. Because the season has gone welll and lots of the eye catching players have done well the cogs of the team often don’t get the praises their performances warrant.

He is a smart and efficient player with good awareness and does the dirty work too. The type of player that would settle well tactically I think thus might get trusted over others.
 
lysglimt said:
He has a chance - I would not say a very good chance. You almost need to be as talented as Mainoo or Garnacho to have a really good chance - he is not there
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I don't get the hype, he's like Tunnicliffe. Leader, hard-working, but he's probably not going to make it. As you say, you almost need to be Mainoo.
 
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