And I'll take all your names above and raise them with McSheffrey, Turner, Kirkland, Bigirimana, Tuffey, Eustace. Not all world beaters but for every 'failed' younster, there's another that's done alright so you're arguement from that point of view doesn't stack up.
And with regards to those you mention, the majority played whilst we were in the Premier League, the best league in the world and when we were arguably out of our depth, spending more than we could afford to sustain top flight status (which is why we're in the mess we're in now). Like I said, we're a mid-table League One club...youngsters are more likely to flourish at this level than the top level.
You're right though, apparently you can never win anything with youngsters
It's a small squad yes, but how many games will it actually have to get through?
If the CVA is accepted we'll be able to sign players again by the end of August, so we'd only have to get through 4 or 5 league games before we could bring a few more bodies in. If admin was to drag on a little longer you'd still expect the embargo to be lifted in late Septmeber some time. We only had 2 points at that stage last season anyway.
Is it worth bringing back players who aren't in your plans just for the sake of a few games? I could understand if we were going to be relying on 16 and 17 year olds all season, but hopefully that won't be the case.
But then by the same token how does that make it right to suddenly throw the current crop of kids in at the deep end? They might be good enough, they might not.
Throwing them in early though could have a big detrimental effect on their would be careers.
Essentially, it's the difference between Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen.
Despite Giggs being more than able to hold his own in the Man U team at an early age and becoming the star of the squad from very early on, he was protected and only used when either necessary or when it fit into his development plan. The result... scored in every single premier league season, still going strong and is still a staple of the United set-up.
Owen showed much the same promise at an early age and was pretty much a first team regular at a very early age, with the pressures of England to boot. The result - became extremely injury prone, never quite reached his full potential and was forced to retire earlier than he would have liked due to struggling at a lower Prem club.
Now, far be it from me to use singular cases to highlight a whole scenario but there are connections there, for sure.
Essentially, it's the difference between Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen.
Despite Giggs being more than able to hold his own in the Man U team at an early age and becoming the star of the squad from very early on, he was protected and only used when either necessary or when it fit into his development plan. The result... scored in every single premier league season, still going strong and is still a staple of the United set-up.
Owen showed much the same promise at an early age and was pretty much a first team regular at a very early age, with the pressures of England to boot. The result - became extremely injury prone, never quite reached his full potential and was forced to retire earlier than he would have liked due to struggling at a lower Prem club.
Now, far be it from me to use singular cases to highlight a whole scenario but there are connections there, for sure.
How can you say we will do ok, if your follow up is that we may well be relegated with -15 points? We wouldn't have been relegated with -15points last season, so that suggests we are going to do worse than last year?
Essentially, it's the difference between Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen.
Despite Giggs being more than able to hold his own in the Man U team at an early age and becoming the star of the squad from very early on, he was protected and only used when either necessary or when it fit into his development plan. The result... scored in every single premier league season, still going strong and is still a staple of the United set-up.
Owen showed much the same promise at an early age and was pretty much a first team regular at a very early age, with the pressures of England to boot. The result - became
extremely injury prone, never quite reached his full potential and was forced to retire earlier than he would have liked due to struggling at a lower Prem club.
Now, far be it from me to use singular cases to highlight a whole scenario but there are connections there, for sure.
Would like to take issue with one point - I would have scored every season for Man Utd up to and including his age (packed up at 49, when my knee decided I'd played for about 15 years too long!) with the chances they create every season (even though Fergie would have hauled me off after 5 minutes of every game)!
And yet the BBC club's season preview is saying we should finish in the top half of the table with ease. Were do they get their so called experts from, SHITSU's employment agency?