Best academy player we've produced since the class of 1992?

[Vidyoyo]

So, I'm having a debate with a non-united supporting mate about our best youth academy player since the class of '92.

He's adamant it's Lingard which I dispute, but he's quite contrarian and probably half-joking.

It's made me think though, who is the best player we've produced?

Rashford?
Dazza Fletch?
Mikey Keane?
Wes Browny Brown?
Greenwood?

We're both discounting Pogba because we bought him late into his development from Le Havre.

 

[Solius]

Greenwood.

 

[Remember the geese]

It's Pogba. Although in time, it could be Greenwood.

 

[Stacks]

So, I'm having a debate with a non-united supporting mate about our best youth academy player since the class of '92.

He's adamant it's Lingard which I dispute, but he's quite contrarian and probably half-joking.

It's made me think though, who is the best player we've produced?

Rashford?
Dazza Fletch?
Mikey Keane?
Shawcross?
Greenwood?

We're both discounting Pogba because we bought him from Le Havre.

Giuseppe Rossi was better than Greenwood

 

[roonster09]

Most talented - Greenwood (Excluding Morrison as he barely made any impact)

Best career - Maybe Fletcher or Wes Brown.

 

[roonster09]

Giuseppe Rossi was better than Greenwood

We bought him just like Pogba, if Rossi is included then clear winner is Pique.

 

[Vidyoyo]

Most talented - Greenwood (Excluding Morrison as he barely made any impact)

Best career - Maybe Fletcher or Wes Brown.

Yeah those were my suggestions, I went with Fletch in the end

 

[roonster09]

Yeah those were my suggestions, I went with Fletch in the end

Yeah both their careers are almost same, almost same number of games and trophies (I think Brown won 2 CLs, Fletcher -1).

Both made PFA team of the year once. So yeah, both had similar careers.

 

[Mcking]

Rashford for me

 

[Dante]

On a scale of 'lower league' to 'world class', Rashford has been the closest to 'world class' at any point in his career. Though, obviously, his form has dropped off since then. And I think Greenwood will eventually reach higher heights.

 

[Stacks]

We bought him just like Pogba, if Rossi is included then clear winner is Pique.

modern football is like that. They were bought and promoted from our academy. Maybe you are correct and it is Pique

 

[charlenefan]

Definitely Rashford though Greenwood could move ahead of him

 

[hellhunter]

Shoutout to Danny Simpson winning the PL with Leicester

 

[roonster09]

We're both discounting Pogba because we bought him late into his development from Le Havre.

modern football is like that. They were bought and promoted from our academy. Maybe you are correct and it is Pique

That's the criteria OP set, so just went with academy players we had from very young age.

Maybe Fletcher is not qualified too as we bought him from Scottish club.

 

[Frank White]

Potential or what we've seen? If it's potential then it's probably Mason but as of right now don't think his high are anywhere close to Rashford.

 

[MadDogg]

Fletch, Wes and Rashford are obviously the three main choices of the players who came through the club. It's actually surprisingly difficult to choose what order to put them in. They all had poor periods where they really got the fanbase on their backs, but they all also had great periods where they were absolutely vital to the team and looked like they were going to be mainstays for years to come only for injury/illness to raise it's head. Obviously the hope is that Rashford gets past this and gets back to his best in which case he'll be the obvious #1.

If I absolutely had to choose one I'd probably go with Fletch for that 18 months of consistently top form. That's the longest period of great form that any of the three really had.

Too early for Greenwood to be there yet.

 

[Dante]

Shoutout to Danny Simpson winning the PL with Leicester

And Danny Drinkwater.

 

[AltiUn]

Pogba and Pique, then Rashford, Greenwood, Fletcher, O’Shea and Brown in the tier below.

Just for the record, I wouldn't include Rossi as he was 17, whereas Pogba and Pique were 16 when they joined. I know that might not seem like a lot of difference but it's a fairly big one at youth level. I know OP is discounting Pogba but he's a United product, he's also spent more than half his career here which I think factors into the discussion, so he feels more of a United product than someone like Pique did.

 

[Stacks]

On a scale of 'lower league' to 'world class', Rashford has been the closest to 'world class' at any point in his career. Though, obviously, his form has dropped off since then. And I think Greenwood will eventually reach higher heights.

what season? He has never won any seasonal awards or even in contention. Giuseppe Rossi was wanted by Barcelona when they were good and he hit 32 goals 11 assists in 2011

 

[Stacks]

That's the criteria OP set, so just went with academy players we had from very young age.

Maybe Fletcher is not qualified too as we bought him from Scottish club.

my bad. George Best is un qualified too. came at 15. might have to disqualify Becks as he was signed as a teenager aged between 14-16

 

[trevor newnham]

Ravel Morrison. unfortunately he went a tad wayward before showing his undoubted talent

 

[GMoore23]

Fletcher and Wes.

When Rashford and Greenwood begin starring in League and CL title winning seasons they can be considered. As it currently stands they can't even string 2 good performances together. I'd have Evans and Welbeck above them currently also. O'Shea as well if he counts.

 

[Luffy]

Jonny Evans.

 

[Irwin99]

So, I'm having a debate with a non-united supporting mate about our best youth academy player since the class of '92.

He's adamant it's Lingard which I dispute, but he's quite contrarian and probably half-joking.

It's made me think though, who is the best player we've produced?

Rashford?
Dazza Fletch?
Mikey Keane?
Wes Browny Brown?
Greenwood?

We're both discounting Pogba because we bought him late into his development from Le Havre.

He's probably joking but in fairness, Lingard was pretty instrumental in both League cup and FA cup final victories, scoring in both. Wouldn't be my choice though as he's been far too inconsistent.

It sounds bad but a lot of the non-striker options have been fantastically solid but rarely world class and the strikers are still at the 'potential' level.

I'll go with Rashford but i hope he gets his career back on track soon.

 

[Rozay]

Rashford.

 

[Oranges038]

John O'Shea or Fletcher

I'd go with O'Shea.

Nutmegged Figo
Scored a totally undeserved last minute winner at the Kop end
Kept a clean sheet at Spurs
Scored a glorious chip at Arsenal
Won everything and played everywhere.

Can't ask for any more than that.

 

[Ali Dia]

Fletcher
Brown
Rashford
Greenwood

In that order. Either Greenwood or Rashford could end up at the top of the list in the next few years but for now I think that’s about right.

 

[ManchesterManchester]

Pogba and Fletcher by far I think? Pogba was a key player in Frances World Cup win and despite his under performances for us, he has the ability to be amazing sometimes. Fletcher was key in multiple premier league wins and won the champs league with us.

Greenwood can obviously surpass them, Rashford could if he can somehow turn things around.

Edit: forgot all about Pique! Good shout! He is up there with Pogba and Fletcher obviously.

 

[TwoSheds]

Fletcher
Brown
Rashford
Greenwood

In that order. Either Greenwood or Rashford could end up at the top of the list in the next few years but for now I think that’s about right.

Agreed. Although I might put McT above Greenwood as yet. Hopefully we'll be able to put Elanga up there soon enough!

 

[Rood]

It's Rashford - quite ridiculous how much stick he is getting at the moment, fans have short memories of what he's achieved

Greenwood could surpass him but too early yet

Brown had talent but injuries stopped him reaching full potential

 

[TwoSheds]

It's Rashford - quite ridiculous how much stick he is getting at the moment, fans have short memories of what he's achieved

Greenwood could surpass him but too early yet

Brown had talent but injuries stopped him reaching full potential

Fletcher had one world class season. When Rashford does that you can come back to us.

 

[DWelbz19]

Fletcher
Brown
Evans
Rashford
Greenwood

Probably

 

[wolvored]

None since the class of 92 have come close to what the class of 92 breought to the table. Its hard to pick one. If its a young player we bought from another team pre 18 has to be Pique. Greenwood has the potential to be the best if you are talking having from a kid, but must learn not to be so greedy and shooting from long range when the better option is to play in someone.

 

[Beans]

Paul Scholes, who first played for United in 94.

Other than him, hard to say. Greenwood might end up being the one but Wes Brown won more.

 

[Ali Dia]

Agreed. Although I might put McT above Greenwood as yet. Hopefully we'll be able to put Elanga up there soon enough!

That list says to me that no matter how good you think your youth setup Is or highly rated your youth players are your signings are even more vital. Fletcher is easily the best player on that list and arguably all he was doing was the grunt work behind 3 of our smartest signings ever.

We are finding it very hard to strike a balance here currently. I always felt our youth players are perfectly good for defenders, DM, and squad fillers but the real specialist attacking stuff now the standard has gone way up is probably best outsourced to players already doing the business and if your youth eventually overtakes the signing that’s all well and good. This waiting for years for Rashford and Greenwood to develop is probably holding us back somewhat

 

[The holy trinity 68]

O'Shea. Who else can say they nutmegged Figo and also kept a clean sheet as a stand in GK?

 

[The holy trinity 68]

John O'Shea or Fletcher

I'd go with O'Shea.

Nutmegged Figo
Scored a totally undeserved last minute winner at the Kop end
Kept a clean sheet at Spurs
Scored a glorious chip at Arsenal
Won everything and played everywhere.

Can't ask for any more than that.

O'Shea is definitely underrated.

 

[Ladron de redcafe]

O'Shea. Who else can say they nutmegged Figo and also kept a clean sheet as a stand in GK?

Spurs away in 2007. He also joked about asking VDS for his clean sheet bonus.

 

[Varun1]

Johnstone has had a good career as well.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Rashford.