Jul 12
What purpose does United’s youth system serve?
Fraizer Campbell is the latest in line of the more prominent youngsters deemed not good enough to make the grade at United. He was sold at £3.5m (which could potentially rise to £6m). Financially, I think we sold him a bit on the cheap when Hull were prepared to offer up to £7m as a one time fee. But the fact is, here we had a player we got for free through our academy, and made a healthy sum on him.
But he clearly wasn’t the first of his kind.
More prominent among the players that left include the likes of Giuseppe Rossi, Gerard Pique, Kieran Richardson — each of whom left for fees in excess of £5m. Other lesser names such as Dave Jones, Lee Martin etc have left for smaller fees which still add up to a significant sum — or as our owners would like to say, profits.
Not accounting for members of our class of ’94, the folks who have come through our youth system and over the age of 24 are:
1. Wes Brown
2. Darren Fletcher
3. John O’Shea
Of course, I am talking about players who’ve enrolled as trainees at our club, or come through the academy. But modern youth systems in England don’t necessarily function in a way to find enough talented local lads that grew up within a 90km radius of the club. Which is why clubs like United look elsewhere in their efforts to stock up on promising kids. Last season we added Davide Petrucci from Roma; prior to him we got Frederico Macheda from Lazio. Giuseppe Rossi was lifted from Parma’s academy. Rafael and Fabio da Silva caught the eye in a few games for Fluminense and were bought immediately. And Rodrigo Possebon was signed even before he made a first team appearance for Brazilian side Internacional. Each of these players were signed on for little more than a song, whilst the occasional flashes of young British talent like Welbeck, and Jonny Evans continue to rise up the ranks.
This season we signed a 15 year old kid, Scott McGinty, from Charlton and 16 year old Empoli product, Albert Massacci. We were briefly linked to Brazilian centre half Dodo, whilst striking a deal with a Brazilian youth football factory, aptly titled Traffic Football Management (specifically Desportivo Brasil football club).
With United’s current squad depth, it is obviously quite hard for players to come through to our first team unless they are exceptional. Those that do, like when Rafael broke through, they pay off the faith the scouts and coaches have in them, and are hence useful additions to our squad.
Loosely speaking, Ronaldo at 17 could be classed as a youth acquisition and at £12m, was really a steal. However, Wayne Rooney at £27m was quite pricey for a teenager, but financially speaking, his value is likely to be way higher than we bought him for, for quite some years to come. [Not that I'm saying we are going to sell him, mind.]
However, tie all these in with our policy on buying players under 26, and we can see a business plan right before us. Now, a rigid policy of not buying over 26 is not always ideal, but more often than not, it wouldn’t make financial sense either, but I digress.
It seems rather clear from all these recent acquisitions that United have stocked up on enough highly promising youngsters not necessarily in the hope that everyone breaks through; it would be nice if most of them indeed do break through, but that would be naive.
With the way the Glazers have run the club, with a now clear mandate on transfers, there is sure to be a clear cut policy on young players. We don’t see Ferguson trying to be sentimental with young players, hoping they would come good at some point of time. If a player seems to be static he will, more likely than not, be culled. Gerard Pique was a promising player whose departure disappointed a lot of United fans. But the manager saw selling him a good piece of business, and he rated Evans over the Spaniard. Barcelona would be happy with Pique, but they would obviously be disappointed to be buying back a player they ‘produced’ from their academy.
This may not appear anything out of the ordinary for many readers; after all, clubs do bring players through the ranks, and some of those players have to be eventually sold. But there seems to be a purpose with the way United seem to be stocking up talent. Arsenal have made this a major part of their business strategy, but United’s first team squad is a blend of experience and youth that’s geared towards winning trophies and not necessarily to ideals that Wenger’s sides profess.
So what purpose does our youth system serve?
If it’s not already obvious from the rambling above, here it is again: United clearly have a buy-small-sell-big strategy (if the player isn’t good enough). And that is the modern youth system for you in a country that restricts player movement under a certain age. So far the results have been a mixed bag in terms of players that make the first team transition. But it almost always seems to be making good business sense. Sending players out on loan to decent leagues, like Rodrigo Possebon’s loan spell to Braga for the upcoming season, are ways to increase the value of the club’s assets. Doubtless, if Possebon has a good season for Braga — which, by the way, will be playing in the Europa League this year — it will immensely help him make strides on his game as well as, from the United executive hierarchy viewpoint, increase his resale value.
Foreign talent are more likely to be coveted by clubs abroad, than English players coming through. Which increases the saleability of our Italian and Brazilian kids.
Win-win situation it could be, but we must also be sure not to be sucked into a Wengeresque stubbornness where we begin to reject obvious, mouthwatering talents just because they are beyond a certain age. It might be sad for a fan to see kids coming through our system only to be sold, but it is a part of reality in modern football and is bound to only increase in significance, especially for our club.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Fergie Ensures United’s Kids Get Knocked Out
- The Red Exodus | Rio Sure of Ron | Neville v Brown and Other Tales
- Fast and hard, fast and hard.
- United’s debt situation explained
- United to overpay for Valencia this week?
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (487)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (348)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@ Stephen : success is future thing but even they tried and sucessfully to bring some of the brand names to their club…they did their work…
we should also show the same courage…
in past there was a excuse of lack of funds…but what now….can we go for hernanes…motinho,arteta,……
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@jamie lee: Firstly there is no evidence we are interested in him, and also to me it is obvious that the Glaziers have pocketed the money or paid off some of our enormous debt with the cash, it was stright cash for Ronaldo no add ons.
Personally I think next season we will get to the quarters or the seni’s in Europe as we have got to the final twice in the past two years, getting to three would really be a lot to ask, I am not sure about Real they will score a lot but defensively they are still weak.
And yes a have belief in Berba that maybe just me but he is a class act and with a full pre season behind him and a more defined role this season especially if he forms a bond with Owen and Rooney we will see the best of him.
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@owen: Fergie has said no more signings mate, and I believe him as in my view the Glaziers have pocketed the money or paid off some of the debt, we also have a massive sqaud.
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@owen: I do agree about the midfield I have been banging on about Arteta and Flamani for weeks but it won’t happen, also we have 6 strikers on our books so cannot see SAFFY bringing in another.
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It seems as though everyone wants a certain someone at united…be it aguero, huntelaar, gignac…whatever……but do we really think that sir alex is that dumb that he is not going to sign a player that improves the team??? Lets just face it…the market is fucked up…..why not spend prudently rather than splashing the cash…..if you can buy a car for 1000 tomorrow rather than paying 10,000 today, what would you do? For what i see here all of us are pretty gloomy about the prospects of next season……did we forget the youngsters that are coming through the ranks?….or players like berba(who created as well as scored and didnt get any credit from the rest of the fans) and rooney…..for once i am looking forward to preseason without the whole “whether he/wont be” ordeal! and am also looking forward to our new style of play!
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@owen: The answer is yes, yes they will. Berbatov’s goals to shots ratio is the highest in the club, so he has no problems with his finishing.
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Traverse, Berbatov may have a good goals to shots ratio but when he takes one shot a game that is not surprising. It may have something to do with the way Fergie deployed him last season but he was goal shy. You have to take more shots if you want to score and he was playing too deep, not getting into the box enough and not being aggressive.
We’ll see what he can do with some better service and without Ronaldo getting in the way.
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@owen: yea cos Cristiano Ronaldo was really a big name before we signed him. whats to say Obertan won’t be the player we are fending the Real cunts away from next time round.
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@ will : when obertan’s own manager is saying that he is surprised,then it is obvious….he can just be a silly substitute in few games…nothing much…
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stop downplaying obertan he is a good player, he has got all the attributes to succeed (pace, power, agility ect) give him a chance, i mean he has got united to help him improve and we dont shit on players like chelsea, we make them better and check him out on youtube if u havent already. Watch him play
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we could have replaced with robben some what and was quite possible…would have been little expensive than valencia which affordable….
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@ all: before 6 month anyone of u ever thought watching valencia that he will be playing for us…
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no..
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we generally use to buy youngsters or proven ones like berba,owen etc…
valencia belongs to neither category…4 goals in around 100 matches…
some one mentioned that raul garcia is not of our quality…
is valencia then????
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@ Anthony Los : thanx for giving straight answer…
ya tats correct…actually i first saw him when playing against us
and he missed a shitter…
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haha yea, look i dont rate him, i just think he is the mid that goes up and down and up and down and up and down the field not doing much. But i just have this gut feeling that he might be quite good 4 us this coming season
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@Grognard: I know all about history, tradition and what the number 7 represents. But what do you do when you haven’t got anyone fit to wear it? Established players (Rooney, Berbatov…) do not change their numbers, most of the time it happens for up and coming youths, or new transfers in the process of establishing themselves.
My point was that Owen getting 7 was for the best as it leaves some time for another youth to break through and in the future make no.7 his own.
And my general stance on player is that, through his performances, the player makes a jersey number his own, and not the other way round.
@Grognard: Moscow better than Roma?
I don’t know about you, but me personally I’d take Roma, if it meant a great, offensive, dominating, european campaign lost only on tough luck.
(Leverkusen comes to mind too.)
@Grognard: “…I have yet to read a really good, convincing and well thought out rant stating their side..”
While we’re waiting for RR’s new post, how about this. (the main article, that is)
@Traverse: Agree.
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@Madschester United: This is all becoming quite contrite isn’t it. We are now left to argue about arguing!!
As far as I’m concerned, my commentary on all this is coming to a close – after all we are only gonna debate the impossible, which is how well or how poorly our players perform in the upcoming season. After all the proof of the pudding , really is in the eating.
With this said, my opinion has been swayed by historical evidence. Knowing full well what I’ve seen, and knowing not what lies in the future, it paints a very bleak picture in my mind!!
To what extent our team will fall this term, will depend largely on how well the dubious members of the squad improve over past year(s). If the best case scenario can be assumed then perhaps we could win a minor cup competition and hopefully compete, late into the season, for the PL. The CL will be impossible to compete in during the closing rounds, and if we end the season with auto qualification for the final year I will be very happy indeed.
The thing that really gets to me though, is the 60m going into the bank, and not being re-invested back into our squad. With the circumstantial evidence we’ve seen thus far, this was planned and contrived from way back. We were thrown a bone two and a half hearted effort was made to get a quality striker, one who has never shown a desire to play for us.
I’ve never been one for conspiracy theories, and have have always jumped to support the management of the club, but, I’m sorry, I just cannot turn away from the facts!!
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@Roge9: There you Doom Squadders go again. Without any proof of performance in the EPL, you claim Aguero is Ronaldo 2.0. I think it is far more likely that Owen will play better than Aguero next season and score more goals, even if we got Aguero. You also state that our squad is lame, but based on what? On the 10 games Nani played last season? On Andersons high expectations making him look worse than he actually is? On Berbatov arriving late and not having time to gel with the team.
Look, all we can do, Pessimists and Optimists, is attempt to predict the future – since none of us is actually able to that we come up with what is most likely. I say Aguero is not more likely to succeed in the EPL than Berbatov or Owen who both have proven goal scoring records here. But you are willing to Gamble a majority of the 80 million on ONE player. What do you do the following year when Giggs, Scholes, etc.. retire? Where will your funds come from?
Plus, we have a very young squad with NOT lame qualities that need to be blooded with a full season before being judged – I think our defense is amazing, midfield is creative, high work rate and can pass like no other than Barca. Having Ronaldo at RM allows our team to play like a team again and not just Ronaldo’s yes-men – thinking about Hargo/Carrick and Rooney/Berba or Rooney/Berba/Owen is hot stuff! How many people actually saw 18 year old Ronaldo as who he is today? Fergie did, yet you don’t trust him on Obertan after he managed Ronaldo to perfection. (ASIDE: Ronaldo at RM will not be spoon fed chances as he was here because Benzema will not play for Ronaldo)
Be gloomy all you want because that way you can only be surprised when we fight it out for the EPL crown and in the ECL.
Claiming Owen (Hargo) and Owen (#7) (O2 together) will be injured all season is unlikely after having gone thru big surgeries a while back just to cure a problem for good. I say Injuries will come from some place else… just like life, the season will be full of the unexpected.
Prediction: Top 2 finish in the EPL. At least Semis of ECL.
*This prediction will change based on summer injuries.
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@Redrich: what is your historical evidence? Schmeichel, Cantona, Beckham, RVanN? I am interested to hear it…
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I think this thread is being weighed down by the number of comments. It will have certainly slowed down a lot. So I put up a new post where you can continue your discussion. In the meantime I’ll come up with another post.
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@NicoQB: Scott the Red is saying better than I have. Look at RoM or a NicoQB’s link
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@Johnsom33: That’s how much I know about the Mexican League. I wonder then if it is structured properly in the FIFA games? Thanks for that info.
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@colver: It means he doesn’t waste the ball. If he shoots, he usually scores. If he doesn’t shoot it’s because the shot isn’t on and he passes to someone else, hence his top assists stat.
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@Red Ranter: It was more the stuff you said around the term that bothered me mate, not the term itself. Honestly, I like the term. It’s similar to the term I like to be referred to from Star Wars which is Dark Lord.
What I didn’t like was the black mark against honesty and being negative if negativity was a natural and honest reaction. We all cannot be happy go lucky about things. Some of us get affected differently.
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@RedDevilEddy: Disappointed, seriously. I thought I had an ally who saw things the same way. Not a fickle wishy washy, confused bloke who turned his back on what he TRULY BELIEVES in order to remain popular.
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@Madschester United: Yes like he worked Tevez, Beckham, Keane, Stam, Heinze and van Nistelrooy. A tremendous man manager indeed.
He is a great man manager with those he favors. Those he doesn’t favor are treated like scum.
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@Grognard: You’ve dismissed most positive comments (without regard for whether the people genuinely believe in that or not) as something approaching farcical. You’ve dismissed them to blind faith, and in many cases you’ve presumed people in here don’t think before they talk, which is an insult to their intelligence. Including mine. I could pick out the snide remarks you’ve passed on the optimists, but you wouldn’t like being quoted.
So when you’ve made derisory remarks on the optimists including making sweeping generalisations by lumping them all into one herd, you are bound to get some the other way, intentional or not. So if it hurts you, I think you must also see it may have hurt the others, although they may not be as vocal as you.
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@Madschester United: How about 7 years as a high school teacher 6 years as an Executive Assistant to the Minister of Labor in the province of Alberta and finally 4 years as an IT consultant and 7 years running my own business?
I have two University degrees and a diploma in Employment Counseling as well as coaching diplomas in basketball, golf and football (US/Canadian version). I was also the speech writer for the Minister during my years with him. Honestly, I’m not bragging but is that qualified enough for you? If not, sorry, it’s all I have to offer.
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@Roge9: Bless your heart mate and welcome to the Doom Merchants. We’re not evil, we just state the facts.
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@owen: I’m glad you feel the same mate. It’s good to know there are people out there that see things clearly and don’t just respond with their hearts.
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@Zauberlehrling: Barca is a more well rounded team without glaring weaknesses. Their back four was considered their weakness but look how they shut us down in the biggest game of the year. They also arguably have more world class players. Messi, Eto’0, Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Alves are all that. Rio, Vidic, Rooney and Ronaldo were world class for us. Our midfield was totally inferior to theirs and so yes they can survive quite nicely without Messi. But then again as great as Messi is, he does not impact a game in the same way or with as much raw force as does Ronaldo. Ronaldo for me is the greatest player of the past 20 years. Better than Zidane and all those and the best since Maradona. And he’s just getting started.
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@Zauberlehrling: We could have had a transition without skipping a beat had we bought Aguero and a central midfielder. Lack of ambition and lack of financial courage is the root cause of this rebuilding period we are about to be forced into. Dark times are coming, believe me.
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@Stephen: Incredibly ambitious considering we have not bought and proper service for them. You forget that Ronaldo actually created most of his own goals. Who are the finesse attacking midfielders who will be providing these great opportunities to give these forward a total of around 50 goals. And are you talking total goals or just in the EPL? Me thinks you are being a touch optimistic and slightly unrealistic. We don’t have Xavi and Iniesta to help set those boys up.
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@owen: Great points mate, great points.
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@Traverse: Yes we will bore the world as a team.
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@Stephen: Both of the Liverpool owners have sold some of their sports franchises in North America so they are actually coming up with some cash. That’s why they haven’t gone into a fire sale and why Rafa hasn’t up and quit.
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@owen:What midfield? We have a midfield? They are a joke at best. Liverpool, Arsenal and especially Chelsea have superior midfields to us. OK, maybe not Arsenal but certainly the other two.
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@NicoQB: You keep the number in moth balls until the player arrives who warrants wearing the jersey. And if you know about history then you should know better than to spit on it and disrespect by giving the number to someone unworthy of it.
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@NicoQB: And if you prefer the Roma game to the CL final we won mate, then I have nothing more to say to you. Just shocked.
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@Redrich: Well said mate and as logical as ever. It also doesn’t hurt to share the Grognard’s conspiracy theories either
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@Madschester United: According to you, Torres should have been a failure, while Villa, Messi, and every other great player on the planet would be a failure because they have never played in the EPL. What a load of total bollocks. A great player is a great player mate and those players including Aguero are too good to fail for your sake. What gets me is you probably have hardly ever watched the lad play so you know absolutely shit about him. So drop the weak assed argument and make sense and offer concrete logic, not just biased gut feelings.
And dream on with your delusions of grandeur. Turning a Vauxhaul into a Porsche
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@Red Ranter: Sorry mate but they all started it. I only dish it out when I receive it first. You know that about me so kindly get off my back because I never started the mud slinging. As long as they point out my weaknesses, and insult my views, I will point out theres and I frankly I am better at it than they are. And you are not targeted in my wrath, believe that.
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@Red Ranter: Ermmm,.. why are you trying to assassinate him in front of his audience??
His passion and participation should surely be allowed some leeway here!!
What has happened over the past 48 hours has certainly led to a degree of division amongst our ranks, and I can see fairly clearly the side you’re leaning toward!
If you were to differ with an opinion, you would make the attempt to dissuade it, yes, and not to smother it – which in this case, I think you’re doing!!
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@Redrich: I haven’t stopped him from expressing what he wants to.
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@Red Ranter: Yes , you haven’t, but don’t under-estimate the influence that your commentary upon another’s might have.
He’s a infuriating geyser, as our tete a tete’s have proven, but his heart is solid, and true, but not set in stone!!
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@Redrich: One can never truly estimate the effect of their commentary on others. It’s non-quantifiable and hence I cannot be second guessing the other person. All I can do is refrain from direct personal abuse, and that’s what I enforce upon myself as well as on this blog in general. Anything else comes in the hot-headed-but-fair debate category.
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@Red Ranter: All of that is very true, the discourse that one might have with another is as unpredictable as what the tide might wash in. But my point was that your critique of a commentator, for the sake good commentary will niether deter of persuade, it will only belittle, because of your staus here!!
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Nani lover Craig… Join me Bro! As we finally overtake the Doom Merchants!
Do do that…. We only need to slice Groggy in half!
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@Darth Red Diablo: Keep spewing that verbal diarrhea there puppy. One day your master will wake you from your fantasy. And if I were you…..I’d have a bad feeling about that.
BWOOOHAHAHAHAHH! 
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