McTominay can help Ole’s boys get their hands on Sylv-erware
HYPE is no substitute for character or attitude at Manchester United.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake realised that as he learned his trade at Old Trafford during the glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
And it is why he is adamant the new five-year contract signed by Scott McTominay last week is a sign the club are on the right road to recapturing the values which helped them dominate for two decades.
It is a little shy of 20 years – 2003 to be precise – since Ebanks-Blake, a promising striker from Cambridge, was part of the side which won the FA Youth Cup.
He was then one of the few to make the breakthrough into United’s first team, although his two appearances in the League Cup in 2004 and 2005 against Crewe and Barnet respectively – finding the net against the latter opponents – meant it was a short-lived experience.
“You get a taste of it and what it could be like,” he said.
“You are brought up in that environment to have the belief and confidence that you will make it. It’s only when you have time to look back on it that you realise how hard it is.”
A broken leg didn’t help his progress but that was not the reason Ferguson told him personally that a deal had been agreed for him to go to Ian Holloway’s Plymouth Argyle.
“It was heartbreaking to leave. It was like leaving my family,” said EbanksBlake, 34 (above).
“I cried in the car afterwards, I called my mum and she said, ‘Right, now you go for it somewhere else’.”
Ebanks-Blake got closer than most to realising his dreams at United and he believes rising star McTominay, 23, has what is required to thrive in the long term.
The midfielder got his chance to stake a claim under former boss Jose Mourinho in 2017 and has now signed an extended deal at Old Trafford.
“He’s developed really well,” said the ex-Wolves and Ipswich Town man. “He wasn’t one of the hot prospects coming out of the youth team. There was no noise about him.
“When I was coming through, Darren Fletcher did something similar, although Fletch was always rated highly. “There has always been the message of having to work hard and not getting carried away by hype. “Jonny Evans is another who came through when maybe he was not as highly touted as others.
“With McTominay (below) there are no airs or graces, he does his work and is in great shape. He’s grown into himself and grown in confidence.
“United have been in a transitional period and it’s been difficult for players to go into that team and deliver.
“He’s played through rough times and come through them with real credit and belief.”
He added: “Players are not going to be tied to long-term deals if they can’t stand the test. You can see what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to build. It will still take time but they have some real footballers. “You look at the starting XI now, it’s not far off whereas a year to two years ago people were saying it would need eight players to fix it.
“We’ve seen with Bruno Fernandes how one player can change a whole perspective of a team.
“Get a couple more and United will compete.”
MANCHESTER UNITED scraped into the FA Cup semi-finals after being given a real scare by Norwich.
Striker Odion Ighalo’s fifth goal since arriving at Old Trafford appeared to have secured victory in the second half for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s in-form Red Devils.
But top-flight no-hopers Norwich levelled through Todd Cantwell’s fine finish to force the Carrow Road tie into extra time.
By then, though, Daniel Farke’s Canaries were down to 10 men after Timm Klose saw red in the 90th minute.
And that proved a killer blow as United snatched a place in the last four when skipper Harry Maguire smashed in from close range with two minutes left on the clock.
Cup fever may have been in short supply in the empty stands but when not when it came to both managers.
Though nothing is going to silence the noise booming out of Liverpool right now, United know they must at least give their own supporters something to think – and cheer about – by maintaining a challenge on as many fronts as possible.
The race for Champions League qualification was going well, they are still in the Europa League, and United arrived here keen to stay on course for a record-equalling 13th FA Cup triumph.
That was certainly Solskjaer’s plan ahead of the trip to Norfolk.
The two-time cup winner insisted lifting this trophy would be an important first piece of silverware for a group in transition.
It would certainly be another step in the right direction – and they had taken plenty of those of late during a sensational 13-game unbeaten run before yesterday.
Norwich were not taking the competition lightly either.
Rock bottom of the Premier League and heading for second tier, maybe, but a first FA Cup semi-final since 1992 would at least ease their pain.
Indeed, Farke had even rested
of his best players in the midweek league defeat to Everton – with the United showdown in mind.
That made it five losses in eight games – and suggested the biggest threat to their illustrious opponents’ ambitions yesterday might be complacency.
Seven changes to the United team who thrashed Sheffield United three days earlier gave the hosts, at full strength, a little bit more of a glimmer.
But, tellingly, Bruno Ferndandes was included and it was the Portuguese’s beautiful through ball that almost put Ighalo in after 15 minutes.
Had it been in-form Anthony Martial – who netted a hat-trick against the Blades on Wednesday evening a a 3-0 Premier League romp – on the end of the pass, United might have grabbed the lead but the Nigerian striker appeared rusty as he mis-controlled.
Norwich’s first chance of the half came in the 28th minute when Kenny McLean robbed Juan Mata only to blaze a 20-yarder way off target.
And, but for a dreadful Todd Cantwell pass seconds later wasting a promising position, recalled top-scorer Teemu Pukki would have been clean through with only Sergio Romero to beat.
The Canaries were beginning to enjoy themselves – and it needed a magnificent Maguire block to deny Lukas Rupp’s close-range rocket just before the break.
United players must have feared a half-time rocket given how poor they had been until that point.
Or, at very least, being hooked for the big hitters kicking their heels on the bench.
Astonishingly, though, their Norwegian coach made none at the interval, meaning the Canaries continued where they left off…on the front foot.
Until the 50th minute, that is, when England defenders Maguire and Luke Shaw combined with the latter firing in a cross into the danger area.
Norwich were unable to clear their lines – and there was Ighalo all alone to pounce and secure the much-needed breakthrough.
But after Ben Godfrey missed a sitter, Norwich levelled in the 75th minute through Cantwell’s swerving 20 yarder.