Sep 28
Fergie Ensures United’s Kids Get Knocked Out
A belated post. But the time that has passed hasn’t tempered the feelings I’ve had, during and immediately after the match, in the slightest bit. There are many reasons really.
I have read quite a few opinions around the place. James Ryddel of A Kick in the Grass thinks it is a good thing we got knocked out — especially for disgruntled season ticket holders supposedly wilting under the weight of having to pay for Carling Cup games. Nevertheless, the turnout – something nearing 63,000 – never actually betrayed such concerns.
Scott at the RoM, couldn’t care less about the loss.
So I guess it’s my turn to share a bit of my exalted levels of punditry. So here goes.
Alright let’s face it. We have done worse than this – when a relatively stronger side was sent out to Burton and Hove Albion and drew in a FA Cup first round. That was a conference outfit. So drawing has to be slightly worse. But then I digress. Coventry were a different prospect. Granted they were a Championship side. Granted, we played at home in front of 63,000 home fans. But you’d expect Coventry to be hungrier to make a mark against big opposition. You’d expect them to be more prepared as an outfit and a certainly more cohesive one at that — especially when your team is a hastily assembled XI that may not have played together as a unit at all.
But that was not the issue. There was nothing wrong in fielding the side that Fergie did. After all, in his pre-game programme notes, his intention was to make good use of the Carling Cup for blooding in youth. That was what Wenger has been doing for a while, and that is what SAF intended to do. So, while the intention of using the CC for youth was undoubtedly good, there is the issue of ensuring the team manages to progress to the next stage of the competition – which translates to more games. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case.
Prior to the game, SAF went on record to mention how badly Rooney wanted to play. Playing him on the bench, therefore, wouldn’t have hurt our chances the slightest bit, in any eventuality. It’s not that he would have certainly scored a hat-trick and rescued the side – he could have, but that’s besides the point – but the necessity of having a someone who can come off the bench and change things could have certainly helped. We had Carrick and Brown instead – both players you would look to for more solidity rather than attacking thrust.
Surely Frazier Campbell couldn’t have done too much.
But I am sure a good lot of you must be wondering what I am on about. Yes we lost, but who cares, some of you might say. It’s only the Carling Cup, some of you might reassure me. Yes, I do understand, it is fourth in our priorities this season. But winning the Carling Cup is not the main purpose of the tournament for clubs like ours, and Arsenal for example. It would be good if we win it. I remember how many were delirious when the Cup was won two years back. Finally a Cup! , many had remarked.
I don’t want to sound alarmist, now that we lost, but it should come as little surprise that our youth system isn’t quite as good as it used to be some years back. Well, I don’t expect players necessarily coming through the youth ranks in hordes like baggages off conveyor belts – unlike Arsenal, who now have very little difference between their ’second string’ and first XI – but a genuine star or two, once in a while, wouldn’t hurt too much. Some would mention the potential of Pique and Evans, but didn’t we hear similar things about Bardsley and others? He may yet turn out to be good, but recent indications haven’t shown too much.
Now I may have been a little too bitter, but players like Pique and Evans need to be given more games against good opposition. Other wise they will rot, fret and move away — not unlike Rossi, who’s now already scored 4 goals this season, helping Villarreal to the upper levels of the La Liga table.
About Nani and Anderson? The jury is still out on both, but judgement on them must be reserved till the end of the season.
Anyway, if Fergie really meant it when he reportedly fumed after the game and was ‘flabbergasted’, he should have at least put in some good personnel on the bench to ensure victory. From his tone he took the game seriously. If not, he didn’t really care about giving a longer run to the youth. Or, which is more worrying, was his confidence in the youth ranks misplaced?
It’s just the Carling Cup. But doesn’t this tournament serve a different purpose – less about winning the Cup, more about progressing further?
Related items from Red Rants:
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- Man Utd v Blackburn: Preview
- United’s Transfer Strategy — Is There More to Their Denial?
- United are EPIC #FAIL, injury-wise
- United’s debt situation explained
Tags: Match Reports
September 28th, 2007 at 12:48
Ya i do believe we a poor youth system.the players all have the same styles..right now i doubt any of them will make it..as for pique.he gets turned far too easily .i hold more hope for anderson though
September 28th, 2007 at 12:53
fergie has come out and publicly said that it will be another year before anderson is good enough to push for a first team slot.not good at all..particularly when he cost 17 million pounds.this has all the makings of another fergie blooper in the transfer market..and it just makes me wonder..why did we go for a promising player in nani for 17 million wen we could have got an accomplished player in ribery for the same amount. i could be proved wrong..and i hope i am wrong..
September 28th, 2007 at 13:10
http://premierleagueclips.blogspot.com/2007/09/carling-cup-260907-all-goals-and.html
links to all the goal from carling cup
i feel our youth is really in a bad shape losing reserves matches and now this
yeah even when bardsley played in first team couple years back i was looking forward to him a lot but sadly havent seen him much and pique and evans need more games and by the looks of our solid defence chances of them playing are really diminsh but i see wes brown being the key factor in their future
but then unlike last year we need depth and backup so they better be prepared the best thing they might know is they are starting in the Cl final and debuting for utd
But overall i feel our youth aint close to what mr arsene has built up so fergies got this one really long
Now only if ryan davis was a bit older
September 28th, 2007 at 14:14
no.2, are you stupid? better to have a promising player will play another 12-16 years then an acomplished player who will play another 4-7. its all about saving money.
September 28th, 2007 at 14:54
You won’t find Wenger shelling out £30M for two “promising” players.
Nani & Anderson whilst young were supposed to be a little more than promising. Whilst they were probably to have a peripheral role this season and Nani has shown to have something about him, Anderson has looked pedestrian so far.
Still, it is early days and come the end of the season it may well look different.
As long as Torres doesn’t turn out to be a bargain £27M!!
September 28th, 2007 at 15:30
I think the reserves games are not helping the kids. Fergie need to stabilise our EPL first team and then need to give these kids a chance to play up there with the best. Pique along with Vidic. Anderson along with Hargreaves,Rooney..That will give them a good experience of the higher level and will be able to get on field guidance from their senior counterparts. I think Tevez and Rooney need to take a class to Anderson about desire and hunger to win every ball and make every pass count..Tevez really impresses me when he goes for 50-50 balls ..Rooney is a truly a master in winning those…
September 28th, 2007 at 16:42
shyam, anderson during that match was fighting for everyball near him, even in the pre-season matches he faught for everyball,
nice post RR, agree with it completely, im just waiting for our next match, lets hope we score at least 2, then it is ROMA
September 28th, 2007 at 16:51
all of u moaning about anderson and nani, r ridiculous. they wer nt bought to have an impact this season, as has been said several times by fergie and queiroz.
and y r u all jumping on the bandwagon about arsenal “kids”. some 1 said wenger would nt splash out 30+ million on kids. have u 4gotten the money he spent on reyes and walcott.
so stop all this nonsense about the jury been out on nani and anderson. give thm a chance (and i dnt mean just till da end od da season)
September 28th, 2007 at 17:02
Yes football guy but what we r sayin is 30 million spent on two players should give some signs of promise.didnt ronaldo have a terrific debut vs bolton after he joined straight from portugal?i have seen 2 bits of games from anderson.the first half vs sunderland and vs sporting for 20.and he wasnt running at people like he do in the vids iv seen of him.maybe its fitness.maybe its fear.
September 28th, 2007 at 17:35
@4
ribery is 23..and there is no guarantee that nani will develop into half the player ribery is..and 16 years..so presume he is going to play till 37..
September 28th, 2007 at 17:45
i have to agree with you there taeher, anderson isnt using his biggest weapon in his arsenal, his running game, he can out dribble some of the best in the world, and he hasnt done that at all, i wonder why though
September 28th, 2007 at 18:12
I am seeing contradicting remarks on papers. Some say that Fergie is unhappy with Anderson’s display on Wednesday while most of Fergies’s interview states that he picked Pique and Anderson as their best performers on that day. Can anyone say who was good and who was bad in that match??
As far as i saw Anderson against Sunderland and Sporting, he was trying to play hide and seek game…He never wanted the ball to be palyed to him..He never ran at defenders neither he gave defense splitting passes or set up a play. If he is going to be replacement to scholes he has to get involved more in the play and distribute the ball more…..When i saw youtube videos i thought he knew all this..I dont know but never saw him do that on the field…I expected a lot more from him after seeing his first outing for Brazil in Copa America..
September 28th, 2007 at 18:30
10, im talking about all players in genral and i said 12 to 16, and can you count, thats 36, most players retire between 32 and 36.
September 28th, 2007 at 19:14
i completely agree. Yes, this could be a great chance to blood youngsters – but if they’re all played at once the likely result is going to be a loss. I think United should have had two or three ’senior senior’ members of the squad playing.
This would have ensured we had a good run in the competition, and give the youngsters more games to impress.
September 28th, 2007 at 19:46
Give Anderson time. He is only 19 and he is also suffering from culture shock. We can’t expect every teen phenom to be as good as Ronaldo right out of the gate. He needs time to find the fitness required for the fast paced EPL game as well, he needs to become comfortable in his surroundings. I think everyone’s expectation of Anderson were very unrealistic. What he needs now is hours on the pitch and positive reinforcement from Fergie and the rest of the coaches. I think he will show his special skills more by season’s end and I think he will be dynamic in two years from now.
Patience is the key. this kid is not Kleberson or Djemba Djemba. Just two years ago Fabregas was not playing all that well for Arsenal. Look at him now. Anderson I feel will follow a similar time schedule until he starts repaying the club and supporters for their investment and faith.
September 28th, 2007 at 19:56
grognard, for the first time in your post, i agreed with everythign you said, and was not negative about one thing,
but its truem, everyones expectations of anderson was unrealistic, im saying he is young, just wait, he will come through
September 28th, 2007 at 19:59
Can any1 think of a future united formation?lets say 4 years?when all there players,nani,anderson,rooney,ronaldo,tevez are at their best
September 28th, 2007 at 20:28
Yes, a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1
Just like now. Although its hard to say depending on who our manager will be…but with those players we could easily play a 4-4-2
Foster
Evans-Pique-Vidic-Evra
Ronaldo-Anderson-Hargreaves/Carrick-Nani
Tevez-Rooney
That could be our team in a few years, as when Rio has lost his pace I think he will have lost his best asset, his ability to recover, whereas Vidic uses his pace less. Evans/Pique may not be in the team at all and we may have bought better replacements, but lets hope they are, plus both Pique and Vidic would get us a fair amount of goals. But i definitely see Anderson in our future, the reason Ronaldo adapted quicker was because he was used to European football, Nani was too and thats why he was more ready to come into the team than anderson, as he hasn’t even played a full season of European football,and apparently Sir Alex wanted to let him play another full season but wasn’t sure if the other big teams would come in for him by then…No matter what Anderson has an eye for a killer ball, can dribble really well and is pretty fast. In truth I think he will be better than Nani, but both will be great players.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:32
AS regards to formation, I would personally love to see a 4-4-2 rather than a 4-2-3-1. I still maintain that even though Rooney might have done well in a few games as a lone striker, this is not the position where he will reach the heights we all want him to. I dont know why switching Roon to lone role came across Fergie’s mind, maybe because of Rooney’s comparitive lack of goals. As regards to new guys, Anderson looked to be the more promising and he will definitely come good while Nani I think needs to add more to his game, he doesnt use his pace at all .. And if u allow me to rant over the older players, I think Scholesy though the legend he is, is showing complete lack of imagination these days and passing only sideways. The difference in his attitude and Fabregas’s is the reason between the respective fortunes of their teams at present. Same can be said about Giggsy too.
September 29th, 2007 at 15:39
‘Bestie’ Firstly his passing was unimaginative because Tevez doesn’t make ‘imaginative’ runs in behind, Rooney will do that for us, and also,a 4-2-3-1 is basically the same as a 4-4-2, since Tevez likes to play behind the striker, and when Saha plays Rooney will do the same.