Manchester United has a wonderful history with home grown football players. From the Busby Babe’s to The Class of 92, there has always been an emphasis on youth. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. That is always the one constant throughout Manchester United’s recent history, a team mixed with superstar’s and home grown talent.
In the 1999 Champion’s League final, Manchester United started with academy product’s Butt, Beckham, Giggs, and G. Neville and the stars that United brought in, Schmeichel, Cole, York, Stam, Irwin, Johnsen and Blomqvist. A team mixed with academy products and talented players who were bought. The same can be said of the 2008 Champions League final, we started with two academy products (Scholes and Brown) and we also brought Ryan Giggs on in the 87th minute. In that team we had superstar players such as Rooney, Ronaldo, Ferdinand, Vidic, Tevez, Evra, Van der Sar, Hargreaves, and Carrick. This just goes to show that Manchester United have always given a chance for our youth players, and trusted in them, yet we’ve also bought players in where necessary.
This identity, this philosophy, has been thrown into question since Manchester United sold fan favourite Danny Welbeck to direct rivals Arsenal and signed two massive superstars over the summer, Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria. These two are nicely accompanied by Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, and Daley Blind. This is not a changing of identity from Manchester United, it is a squad overhaul which has had to come about due to underinvestment in the transfer market for many recent years. The wrong players have been bought and replacements never found for retiring players or those who leave. Manchester United’s rebuilding has started this year, not their restructuring.
On the first day of the season the media and pundit’s alike were left scrambling trying to figure out who the two debutant’s Manchester United fielded were. These were Jesse Lingaard and Blackett. Unfortunately Jesse got injured and hasn’t been able to play since, however Blackett has featured in every Premier League game so far for Manchester United and has been largely considered as the second best of our defenders in the back three so far this season. He was given his chance by Louis van Gaal and he grasped it.
Against MK Dons Louis Van Gaal played nine players that have featured in our academy and he did not need to do this because fixture congestion will not be an issue for United this year without Champion’s League football. He played them because he wanted to give them a chance. The identity is still intact.
You can expect many youth players to feature over the season, and many Red’s will be keeping their eyes on James Wilson, a player of such natural grace, balance and precision. Our young Manchester United players will be given the chance to play for their team, because Manchester United always does. The superstars are a help for our youngsters, not a hindrance, because who better to learn your trade from than the best?
6 replies on “Manchester United's Identity Remains The Same Under Van Gaal”
Thanks ethan, well said bro.
I second that, it will always be the same, uniteds new youngsters will get there chance , and they will shine. The only reason you have to write this, is because all the haters are pissed off we signed a couple world class players, and off loaded welbeck. Everybody jus fck off and get over it, still plenty of home grow talent inside the walls of the world biggest club.=Belive That!!
Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would love to see youth come through but the money lost of not making top 4 grows every year. The only regrettable loss from the youth system is Pogba and SAF is the reason why. The major stars of the last 10 years have ALL been purchases- Rooney, Ronaldo, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,etc. All of them!
Welbeck had plenty of chances to prove his class. He was not much of a clinical finisher. Tom Cleverley had plenty of chances to prove his class. He’s not much of a midfielder- weak in winning/keeping possession, weak in attack.
Januzaj will get his chance. James Wilson will get his chance. Blackett is getting his chance. LvG will not hold youth back- his history shows that very clearly.
I am writing this from Rwanda with great pleasure . I thank you Ethan for a wonderful article that will definitely help my day. .let me share with my bitter arsenal friends. Lmfao
Lvgs trademark has always been giving the youth a chance. The identity is intact. Welbeck and cleverly had their chances.
I’m sure lvg would rather promote a youth player than buy one. As long as
The player will do his wishes unlike kagawa.