English Debate: Which Manchester United Youths Will Make The Grade?

Goalkeeper:

Ben Amos -
Ben Amos has been at Manchester United longer than current incumbent of the number one goalkeeper's jersey and waning Dutchman Edwin Van der Sar despite his tender age of 18. He joined the club as an 11-year old and has progressed through the ranks and impressed last year in the Under 18s. He has good agility, positional awareness, is strong in the air, a sound shot-stopper, and an organiser of the four defenders in front of him. Amos is a confident and ambitious boy, and targets a first team spot at the club in five years time. If he is to do that, then he will need to work on his overall distribution and his collection from crosses and set-pieces. He has already kitted out for United's first team; a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in the third round of the Carling Cup earlier in the season.

Potential future pupils: Tom Heaton; Ron-Robert Zieler; Conor Devlin.


Defence:

Rafael Pereira da Silva -
The young Brazilian right-back burst onto the English scene with superlative-laden pre-season performances against Peterborough and Juventus. He then increased his stock further with surging runs, sweeping crosses, and shots on goal in United's 3-0 Champions League away win over Danish side Aalborg, and almost inspired a late comeback over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League earlier in the month with assured challenges, and a stunning 90th minute strike to reduce the deficit to a solitary goal. Academy director Les Kershaw first brought Rafael and his brother Fabio to the attention of United while the pair were touring in Hong Kong with Fluminense, but the 'Brazilian Nevilles' only signed for the Red Devils this year. Rafael, 18, is still susceptible to mistakes though. While his flair going forward poses problems for the opposition rearguard, his own defending may need work as his team-mates have had to cover for the Rio-born wing back. The importance of not neglecting his defensive duties can easily be instilled in the boy, but unfortunately the perfect coach to teach him those qualities is now Portugal's full-time manager, Carlos Queiroz. United have a worthy replacement though in current assistant Mike Phelan, who featured as a right back during his own playing days for Manchester United prior to the arrival of Denis Irwin in 1990.

Jonny Evans -
This lad is highly-rated. He is there already and will likely be utilised as a squad player throughout the season. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he had numerous offers to release the Northern Ireland international on a season long loan deal, but the Scot believed he would learn more, develop further and, most importantly, be granted increased playing time at Old Trafford. Evans, 20, is an agile athlete, intelligent on the pitch (as well as off it, he has nine GCSEs - all A and A* grades), is strong in the tackle as well as in the air, and enjoys passing the ball out of defence. He has received 12 full international caps and made his debut in Northern Ireland's memorable 3-2 victory over Spain in September 2006. He was sent on loan to Sunderland in 2007 where he helped the Mackem side claim the Championship title and was also awarded the club's internal Youth Player of the Year.

James Chester -
Chester is the captain of the reserve side at just 19. He began his footballing career at the rawest of ages - five! But his natural talent became increasingly apparent and he was fast-tracked to the Under 9's, playing with boys four years his senior. Like Evans he is strong in the challenge, but despite the boy's leadership credentials he unfortunately faces an arduous task displacing those ahead of him in the centre back pecking order. Rio Ferdinand still has a good four seasons left in his tank; Nemanja Vidic (should he stay in England) is three years younger than Rio and won't need replacing for at least another half decade; Wes Brown, at 29, has been a solid - and loyal - performer for the reigning double champions; John O'Shea, 27, has had opportunities to test himself elsewhere but like Brown has opted to stay in Greater Manchester and, lastly, Evans - who is one year older than Chester - would always get the nod due to his superior standing in United's current line-up. Chester has the makings to become a decent player in the English league, but in order to realise it he will have to make the hardest decision of his career by leaving what is now the greatest club in Britain, arguably Europe, possibly the world.

Fabio Pereira da Silva -
Ditto Rafael, but swap the right flank for the left. Arsene Wenger's young guns seem to be bristling with talent in the midfield regions whereas Sir Alex Ferguson appears to have safeguarded the future of Manchester United's defence. Cries in England have been heard claiming that Fabio is the more talented of the twins, but reports in Brazil suggest it is more balanced. Fabio can pick a pass from deep and has a great range for a youngster. He is equally as comfortable playing the short pass as he is sending a ball over the top from the first to the final third in route one style. He keeps his eye on the ball and tackles well, and cleanly. Like his brother Rafael, Fabio likes to get forward, and has even been known to pull the strings when representing Brazil at youth level. He is also a specialist from a dead ball situation. The reason why he is yet to feature for Manchester United's first team is because he is recovering from a complicated shoulder injury, and Patrice Evra is also maintaining a firm stranglehold on the left back position.


Special mention: Reece Brown - Is a strong and tall defender that can impose a physical game on his marker. He has only just turned 17, and is the younger brother of Wes.

Potential future pupils: Craig Cathcart; Danny Simpson; David Gray; Richard Eckersley; Joe Dudgeon; Scott Wooton; Kenny Strickland; Oliver Gill.


Midfield:

Danny Welbeck -
He is the most recent fledgling to make the headlines due to his swerving shot that helped sink Sorensen and Stoke City last weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson has compared him to former Gunners hero Nwankwo Kanu in the past due to his height, skill on the ball, and his strength on and off of it. He is equally as comfortable playing a high line on the right side of midfield as he is featuring as a second striker. Welbeck's style has also been cited as 'languid', but he is a team-player and puts in his share of defensive work as well as contributing significantly to the action in the final third. He has been capped internationally at Under 17 level, U18, and U19, despite still being 17. He turns 18 on November 26. Welbeck is a determined individual, and has recently indicated he wants to remain in Manchester, and not be shipped elsewhere on a season's loan. He is reportedly a well-liked boy, and is a good personality to have in the dressing room.

Darron Gibson -
Manchester United have a squad that is tremendously talented. Yet if there was an area of the park where they could improve, then it would be central midfield. The long term and complicated injury to Owen Hargreaves continues to delay the England international's return to first team duty, while the ageing Paul Scholes will continue to play in cameos. Darren Fletcher is an unsung hero, but would not be seen as a regular first teamer. Anderson played in many of the big games last season, and Ferguson has often said that United's midfield evolves, and even though Anderson is a different player to Keane, it will be the Brazilian who will likely drive the club's midfield in the future. There is however still room for Gibson (and/or Possebon) to break through into the first team squad, but Sir Alex may prefer to recruit considering the importance and significance of the role. Gibson is already a full international for the Republic of Ireland (despite featuring for Northern Ireland at Under 16 level). He is a midfielder that concentrates on the defensive aspect of the game, but also contains a powerful shot.

Rodrigo Possebon -
Another promising Portuguese-speaking player to arrive in Manchester and kit out for the Red Devils. Possebon has a high energy rate and is a hard-working box to box midfielder. He comes highly rated by the management at Manchester United, and after his debut for the club - a friendly in South Africa in the summer of this year - Sir Alex noted that he makes great use of the football, and admired his clever understanding of play. He keeps possession well and challenges well. He is a good talent, and even though Gibson has been attracting the praise of John O'Shea recently, Possebon is the likelier of the two to step up to the first team, should he provided further opportunity. The 19-year old has already made his first team debut, but was injured in a League Cup encounter with Emmanuel Pogotetz on September 23. Initial reports suggested the Internacional-educated 19-year old had suffered a broken leg, but he has recovered fully to perform well in the reserves - he scored a long range effort against Manchester City's second team.

Matthew James -
James is a recently turned 17-year old who can play across the midfield line, and also at the back. The club's Under 18 director Paul McGuiness said of him: "He’s a very good all-round footballer with good technique. He can pass short and long and he’s good in the air. His versatility is a real asset to the team." The ability to fill in at numerous positions is something Sir Alex Ferguson likes at least one of his players to do. Formerly Phil Neville fulfilled that role, but now John O'Shea has come to occupy it and has even featured in every single position on the pitch for United in competitive action - even goalkeeper! Should James continue his development then he has every chance of making the grade despite others around him having more talent. O'Shea for example is not your Hollywood player, but he is decent, consistent, and a good player to have on the bench because he can literally play everywhere.


Special mention: Oliver Norwood - Is a highly creative midfielder with an eye for a pass. Plays for the assist rather than the goal. Can switch play well and is a sound playmaking midfielder for someone so young (17).


Extra special mention: Rhain Davis - Get ready for it... he's 11. Davis' grandfather sent a DVD of the kid to United who were quick to bring the Brisbane-based prodigy to England. The Red Devils have been understandably quick to play down the boy's talent, stating that they take on 30 nine-year old's every year and that he would be subject to the annual cuts just like any other player. The footage though, that has had over 4,500,000 hits, shows Davis' touch, skill, tricks and flicks, flair, and the ability he had on the ball at the rawest of raw ages - nine. Davis' step-overs may be seen as excessive, and pertaining to showmanship, but he is clearly above the skill level of other pre-teen footballers.



Potential future pupils: Lee Martin; Corry Evans; Tom Cleverley; James Derbyshire; Daniel Drinkwater; Magnus Wolff Eikrem; Daniel Galbraith; Robert Brady; Evandro Brandao; Chris Curran.


Attack:

Davide Petrucci -
The summer signing of Petrucci angered many officials at his former club, Roma. A newspaper dedicated to the Italian football club, Il Romanista, stated that United 'stole' Petrucci from under their noses. In addition, they believed that the young striker was the best product of their youth system (high praise considering De Rossi and Aquilani were graduates of the same academy) and, in five years time, would be worth 100 times more than the £200,000 compensation United initially paid for him. Petrucci is a prolific goal scorer and netted 14 goals in 19 games for Roma's youth side last campaign and he has also featured for the Under 17 Azzurrini. He is regarded as the next Francesco Totti. He has already opened his account for United having scored for the Under 18's against Norwich, and also for the reserves against Trafford FC.

Fraizer Campbell -
A pacey frontman with a promising Premier League future. He netted 14 times in 22 starts for United's Under 18s, was adored at Royal Antwerp following his temporary switch (they nicknamed him 'Super Campbell), and his 15 goals for Hull City helped push the club into a division never before experienced in their 104 year history. In the playoff final local builder Dean Windass attracted all the headlines for his technically superb volley, but the pass was provided by Campbell. He can create goals as well as round off team moves and is good poacher inside the six yard box. The 21-year old is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur as part of the deal that brought Bulgarian hitman Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford. He has shown good energy in the games he has featured in thus far, with good creation, and scored a brace against Liverpool during the fourth round Carling Cup clash. With Carlos Tevez's future remaining ambigious, the door may be open for either Campbell or Petrucci to make the step up next year.


Special mention: Federico Macheda - Another young striker from Italy, Macheda was a product of Lazio's academy but signed for United last year. He is a well-balanced, strong, and intelligent 17-year old, and knows how to strike a football. Macheda was the youth side's top goalscorer last season as he found the target 12 times in all competitions, he has also scored seven times this term.

Potential future pupils: Febian Brandy; Antonio Bryan; Nick Ajose.


What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you think it is okay for an academy to have a mixture of foreign talent to supplement local youth like the projects in place at Manchester United and Arsenal? Are the young defenders the future of the Red Devils? What other minions do you think have the necessary ingredients to make the grade? Do you think Rhain Davis will be an international footballer, and if so who do you think he will represent- England or Australia? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...


Alan Dawson