With the Premier League season now well underway, there have definitely been a number of different things to take away from the opening games thus far. From some dismal results that included a 5-3 defeat to Leicester City, to finally achieving back-to-back wins following victories over West Ham and Everton, United fans are desperately hoping new manager Louis van Gaal and his team have finally begun to hit their stride. While the arrivals of Angel Di Maria and Falcao have both shown that van Gaal is looking to assemble a squad full of world class talent, the former Holland head coach has also appeared keen on bringing through young players into the senior squad.
The lack of strength in depth in certain areas, most notably in defence, has seen van Gaal forced to blood one or two of United’s youngsters quicker than he would have liked, and the question remains whether or not this experience has done those players more harm than good. And it hasn’t been the most obvious younger players who have been given their chance in the first team, with van Gaal forced to really look at some youngsters that might have slipped under the radar, in a bid to patch up a defence that was almost inexcusably overlooked in the summer. While the likes of Tyler Blackett have come from nowhere to start five Premier League games, last season’s breakout performer Adnan Januzaj has found his chances much more restricted under van Gaal than they were under David Moyes.
With title odds of around 14/1 with the likes of Betfair, United fans are realistic with their targets for the season and while finishing in the top-four is a must for van Gaal, the Dutchman doesn’t have an overwhelming amount of pressure on his shoulders to be challenging for the title against strong and settled Chelsea and Manchester City sides. As well as assembling a squad of international talent in the hope of taking the club back to the top of English football again, van Gaal clearly knows the importance of continuing the club’s tradition of bringing through the young players and has handed a number of them their debuts this season.
So which young players have really stepped up this season, and which young players look as though they will use this year as a platform to put forward their case for being involved in the next generation of this Manchester United team.
Goalkeeper
With David De Gea looking every-bit a world-class goalkeeper this season, and Anders Lindegaard providing solid back-up on the bench, the youngsters coming through the ranks could well be forced to head out on loan in order to gain first team experience. Both Ben Amos and Sam Johnstone have spent time away on loan in recent years, impressing during their respective spells in the lower leagues. Barring injury to De Gea, neither keeper really stands a chance to coming close to a first team call-up this season under LVG. At just 23, De Gea could theoretically be the United number-one for the next 10+ years, and young goalkeepers coming through at Old Trafford will be well aware they face a huge battle on their hands to make it all the way to the first team.
Defence
Tyler Blackett
The lack of numbers in the centre of defence saw Tyler Blackett handed something of a baptism of fire during the opening of the 2014/15 season. After a mixed couple of performances, Blackett has really stepped up in the past couple of months and now appears to have been rewarded for his form with a new contract. Aside from his red card in the 5-3 travesty against Leicester, Blackett has looked a very capable defender and someone who could be used by van Gaal sporadically throughout the year. A versatile and athletic defender, United may look to loan Blackett out again in January when they inevitably strengthen their defence. Until then, however, the 20-year-old has proved he is worthy of his place in the senior squad and someone who could fill a number of gaps in the short-term, if needed.
Luke Shaw
While Blackett has slipped under the radar on his way into the first team, Luke Shaw’s arrival at Old Trafford was much more high profile. Following his £30million move from Southampton in the summer, left-back Shaw has so far failed to live up to the hype and made just a handful of appearances due to injuries. With question marks regarding his fitness, Shaw needs to go a long way to prove to United fans he is the man to replace Patrice Evra at United, and Ashley Cole in the England team. While the 19-year-old’s ability is undoubted, it remains to be seen whether or not the England international will have the mental strength to cope with carrying such a significant price tag. There were some positives to take from Shaw’s performance against Everton, and United fans will be hoping the left back is slowly finding his feet at Old Trafford.
Paddy McNair
At just 19-years of age, Manchester United would have wanted to have hand Paddy McNair his debut much later than against West Ham in September. But the Northern Irishman more than held his own against what proved to be a physical West Ham frontline – proving he is a player who could have an important role to play in the run-up to the January transfer window. Being handed his debut has clearly been a huge confidence boost to McNair and LVG will be hoping to nurture a defender who could well be a future first team stalwart. In a make-shift centre-back pairing alongside Marcos Rojo, McNair really caught the eye for the second time when he helped United secure a 2-1 victory over Everton before the international break. While Everton managed to score a disappointing goal from United’s perspective, McNair will have taken a lot of confidence from keeping a threatening forward line relatively quiet for 90 minutes.
Midfield
Jesse Lingard
Lingard had been the subject of plenty of interest during the summer, and its little surprise when you look at his performances during his recent loan spells in the Championship. The attacking midfielder looked a class apart last season in the second tier of English football, scoring four goals on his Birmingham debut before going on to earn rave reviews for his performances for the Blues and later Brighton. After earning stellar reviews last year, Lingard was given his chance in the United first team for the first game of the season against Swansea – only to suffer a knee injury after 24 minutes that forced him from the field and out of action for the next two months. Now back in full training, Lingard will be looking at a different midfield than when he suffered his injury. With the arrival of Di Maria, Lingard faces a tough task to work his way back into the starting line-up, but LVG clearly rates the 21-year-old and the midfielder looks set to be kept around the senior squad rather than drop down back into the Championship on loan.
Adnan Januzaj
United fans could have been forgiven for expecting Adnan Januzaj to have played a much bigger role in the first team this season than he has. On the back of a breakthrough season under David Moyes that culminated in earning his place in Belgium’s World Cup squad, Januzaj has found his first team chances much harder to come by since Louis van Gaal arrived at the club. With just a handful of substitute appearances in the Premier League to his name so far this year, Januzaj hopes of establishing himself in LVG’s starting 11 weren’t helped with the signing of Angel Di Maria.
While some have already been quick to diagnose Januzaj with “second season syndrome”, United fans will know they have a genuine potential world superstar on their hands and maybe being held back a bit after last season won’t be the worst thing. At just 19, the Belgium international is coming off the back of a year in which he played 35 games and showed signs of fatigue. While the youngster will be hoping to be given more of a chance to reclaim his place in the first team, United fans shouldn’t be overly worried by the lack of Januzaj this season. The cup competitions could well be where Januzaj finds his best chance to impress this year, but there could be an argument to suggest a loan move to another Premier League club in January may be the best chance for the attacking midfielder to really learn his trade in English football.
Forwards
James Wilson
James Wilson took his chance to make his mark on the first team at the end of last season when he scored two goals against Hull City in a memorable debut before being replaced by Robin van Persie in the second half. The 18-year-old has found himself very much in the mix this season, with van Gaal involving the youngster in his senior squad for the opening part of the season. While Wilson has made just a handful of substitute appearances so far under LVG, the striker has done enough to justify his inclusion in the first team squad. With Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Falcao all ahead of him in the pecking order, Wilson will know that a spell away on loan could be the best move for him to make this season. Van Gaal will be well aware of Wilson’s prolific scoring record in the reserves and the Dutchman may be looking to send the forward out on a short-term loan in order to help aid the youngster’s development. A classic poacher with an ability to play off the shoulder of the last defender, Wilson will be gaining some valuable experience by training alongside Falcao and the Colombian hit-man could prove crucial to the youngster’s progression this season.
Will Keane
Will Keane has been a player United fans have been aware of for a number of years now without ever really having the chance to see the striker in the red shirt. Since breaking into the senior squad in 2011, Keane has found himself on loan in the Championship with his path to the first team blocked by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and now Falcao. At 21-years-old, Keane will be well aware that his opportunity to prove himself at Old Trafford is coming to an end. But rather than loan Keane out in the summer despite a number of offers from both the Championship and the Premier League, LVG decided to keep the striker around the senior squad during the early stages of the season. After cutting his teeth in the professional game with Wigan and then QPR, Keane has caught the eye playing for the reserves and he will know any chance he gets over the next few months could be pivotal in him extending his stay at United beyond January. Clubs will inevitably come in for the England Under-21 striker when the transfer window opens and van Gaal will have a clearer idea then on whether or not he feels Keane has anything to bring his squad this season.
And it’s not as though ‘Keane’ is a particularly popular surname in Manchester at the moment.
So while van Gaal will know he has funds available to him to bolster his squad again in January, the Dutchman may not have to do as much shopping as he would have expected. Sure, the defence needs one or two experienced centre-backs in the immediate future, United fans will have been encouraged to have seen the likes of Blackett and McNair prove there is talent coming through the ranks. In midfield and attack, however, van Gaal will feel confident in his mix of youth and experience that he has everything he needs to lead United back to where they need to be. While this is clearly a new age for Manchester United, traditional values and a focus on bringing through the youth is something that will remain important and key to Louis van Gaal.
