Dunno why you felt the need to show how much of a top red you are. United bring through youths but not at the expense of success. We are not Arsenal under Wenger. I recall Giuseppe Rossi (arguably our most talented player in academy for past 20 years) didn't get the chance here to mature and neither did Pique, simply because there were better options. United first team is not and has never been an academy. There has always been a need to compete so the players have to deliver despite their age. I am not so certain neither Rashford or Martial will become world class but I am happy to have the both of them. My concern with Rashy is that he has shown no progress over 3 seasons and is still doing the same stupid shit so perhaps he needs better coaching.
Thanks for that. Not really thought of myself as a 'top red' before.
Rossi was renowned as a pure finisher - not what we needed at the time and if that is your opinion that he was our most talented graduate then fair enough. The fact is he didn't make it wheeras someone like Welbeck did who was an important option for us. He was trusted in the big games and one time even ahead of Rooney. Some of our most talented academy products - Terry Cooke for eg - never made it. So hence the caution with the current crop but Greenwood has been included in all 3 match day squads and made an appearance in each so he clearly has something to offer. He has not been fazed by it and must be continuing to work hard in training to keep himself in contention each week.
Pique wanted to go home. It may have made a difference if Ferdinand and Vidic were older. I think he and Evans would have been brilliant together but like Fabregas the threat was always there from Barcelona. I think he would have gone eventually.
The difference between us and Arsenal is that they bought in quantity and the cream of their crop had bad injuries - Diaby and Wilshere. That is just bad luck.
In terms of our young players. Those with enormous potential are/were introduced / bought early. Players such as Whiteside, Best, Sharpe, Giggs and Ronaldo fulfilled their potential with us (Whiteside and Sharpe were undone later by injuries). So they have to be very good to make it.
I think Rashford is very good and he has improved. It is easy being the novice, the unknown but as soon as you become a regular, teams know enough about you to try and stop you. He and Martial have had no choice but to improve otherwise they would have been out the door. First half of last season Rashford was snatching at chances when one on one and since Ole has arrived his composure has vastly improved. He looks like a real finisher now and he will add the tap ins I am sure of that.
He is an england regular and at 21 his record for us is incredible as are some of his performances. He has 2 in 3 already this term including a MOM performance. All he did was to let his frustration show against CP but then so many great players before him at that age have done the exact same thing.
Ole tried to get a little bit of forward experience to help them. A bit like Larsson did with Ronaldo and Rooney but it was a very difficult market. So we go with these knowing that they may be inconsistent now but that they will become less so.