Manchester United is a club that takes pride in developing talents through their ranks and promoting them into the first team. However the demands that come with the modern game have made it seem a kind of 'mission impossible' to get into the first team. It's is the transfer market that defines the structure of the first team these days. When a player is out injured , most managers will look forward to the opening of the transfer window. Few will turn to their rookies. While we fans may take pride in the signings of Nani and Anderson, some of those players in the Academy may be cursing their luck. I mean if Paul Scholes gets a three0month injury, who will bet against Anderson taking over instead of Chris Eagles. Worse-still, the demands of the game have given these lads little or no time to showcase their abilities on pitch. Today, for a player to make his mark, he would have to do something like scoring a 30 yard scorcher to beat Arsenal(Wayne...). At Manchester United, Sir Alex, in his tenure, has taken pride in having youngsters develop through the Academy to gain promotion to the first team. The likes of Paul Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Butt, Beckham... owe their careers to the United Academy and Sir Alex who gave them a chance to break through. Even with a very large squad to pick from, the Gaffer chose to go on tour with a string of Reserve team players who he feels have something to offer. Danny Welbeck was the only disappointing absentee but we are all aware that he was given a call up to the senior team towards the end of last season. Otherwise Campbell, Simpson, Lee Martin, Eagles, Foster, Evans and Gibson were among those who made it to the Vodacom Challenge Tournament in South Africa-and they have not disappointed! Eagles weighed in with a goal in the opening fixture again Kaizer Chiefs while Lee Martin got his own in the fixture against Orlando Pirates-with an assist from Fraizer Campbell. Ben Foster, despite being a spectator for long periods did well to keep a clean sheet. All in all it has been a good display from our Academy hot-shots and how I would like them to graduate to senior football. It will be devastating if we lose the likes of Campbell, Simpson and Eagles to other clubs. SO KEEP THEM FERGIE!
