A damning testament to youth by Solskjaer
THERE is a fast-growing trend at the top end of the Premier League – and it’s no surprise Manchester United are again playing catch-up.
Given a rocketing transfer market, the current craze of blooding youth players is taking hold far and wide.
Due to hyper- inflated prices and a transfer ban, academies are increasingly being held to account.
Managers are asking: “What have you got for me?”
As far as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is concerned – not a lot... or not enough.
Of course, the Norwegian’s desperately trying his best to keep pace with the fashion, but the quality on offer to him cannot be great – otherwise, he would surely have blooded more of his own.
Chelsea ( Mason Mount, Fiyoko Timori and Tammy Abrahams), Liverpool (Trent Alexander- Arnold, Harry Wilson, Rhian Brewster) and Manchester City (Phil Foden, Taylor Harwood- Bellis and Eric Garcia) are pressing forward at a rate of knots.
However, Solskjaer trying.
Mason Greenwood, 17, and Tahith Chong, 19, made starts against Rochdale – it was welcome recourse for a club that has always prided itself on bringing through the stars of tomorrow.
But, Greenwood aside, does the manager have real belief in any more of them?
The evidence suggests not.
If their other academy graduates were of sufficient quality, would a £50million move for 21-year-old right-back Aaron Wan-bissaka have been sanctioned during the summer?
After all, the Crystal Palace defender had just one season of top-flight experience before a gargantuan fee was agreed with Eagles owner Steve Parrish. If Axel
is Tuanzebe, 21, was deemed good enough to take the captain’s armband in midweek, is it possible that the club could have saved itself the £80m it spent on Harry Maguire by promoting the centre-half ?
Why is there is no youthful alternative to Ashley Young at left-back? The 34-yearold wasn’t even considered a defender until he turned up at Old Trafford.
Up front, Solskjaer turned to Swansea’s Daniel James, 21, another with just one season behind him at the Liberty Stadium – rather than take a chance on any of his upcoming talent.
And why is it that Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were handed long- term contracts? One is on the outside, looking in. The other has been shunted off to Roma.
That decision screams the footballing decision-makers believe there isn’t anyone below f i rst- team l evel capable of stepping up, otherwise these two would never have been re-signed.
E l s e wh e r e , Scott Mctominay was promoted by Jose Mourinho. Is he truly good enough for arguably the biggest club on the planet, as their revenues showed us this week?
He’s a game lad. But would the midfielder get a start at any other top-six club? Doubtful, although he shows heart.
The club’s work in the transfer market demonstrates the conveyor belt of talent at Old Trafford has either stopped, or is being ignored as not fit for purpose.
Manchester United should be pulling in the best. Clearly, the kids aren’t all right. That must change. And now.
The class of ’92 needs to become the class of ’22.
Or it’s going to take all of the money they crowed about earning last week to return them anywhere near the game’s biggest prizes.
PAUL POGBA swerved a Manchester United team-bonding meal at a swanky restaurant after the laboured Carabao Cup win over Rochdale.
Why am I not surprised?
PLENTY TO PROVE