You can imagine the disappointment of United fans after the derby defeat to Liverpool but I am pretty sure the Carling Cup game against Barnsley put a smile on their faces. First team players Owen, Obertan, Evans and Brown proved they’ve got plenty to offer in team’s quest for trophies, but it is the youngsters that impressed me the most. Welbeck, Macheda, De Laet, Da Silva twins and Tosic showed the future was bright for the Old Trafford outfit.
Alex Ferguson opted for the nice blend of youth and experience when naming the starting line-up for the Barnsley game and that kind of approach produced great results. The back line led by Wes Brown and Jonny Evans did very well and the pair proved they were ready to step in if Vidic or Ferdinand miss out for one reason or another.
Brazilian Anderson was the star of the show in midfield and if the lad can just be a bit more consistent, he will be a hit for this side. Fergie opted for Rafael as the holding midfielder and the versatile youngster didn’t disappoint one bit. Da Silva twins are already showing plenty of potential and I am sure they will repeat the heroics of the Neville brothers.
Gabriel Obertan, a gamble signing according to many, showed that he could prove to be a real bargain with impressive debut against Barnsley. His intelligent runs and technical skills added a new dimension to United attack and he is likely to get the chance in the Premier League much sooner than expected.
Youngsters Welbeck and Macheda again proved their enormous potential and this latest performance will earn them even more playing time in the coming games. Michael Owen had a quiet evening until he scored an amazing goal that proved why he was still one of the best strikers in England. Goals are exactly what is expected of Owen and if these keep coming, maybe Capello will consider him for the future England squads.
Tosic and De Laet were introduced in the second half but they also had a good game and while they are unlikely to get a chance in the Premiership, the pair will probably play most of the FA Cup games.
The aforementioned youngsters have already experienced enough first team action to be considered major prospects, while there are a couple of more excellent young players like Petrucci, Eikrem and King coming through the youth ranks under the watchful eyes of Paul McGuinness and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. All things considered, Fergie, or his successor, won’t have to worry for the future of this team.
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I really agree with you. Sir Alex Ferguson create a good system to give the chance for the youngster and play them at the right time with those experienced player. When they got the enough experience, they can play for the first team.