A LOT ABOUT THE KIDS!

Sir Alex yesterday fielded a Manchester United side that, regardless of injuries, showed one or two hints about about what is to come in the future. For starters, I thought he got the tactics right. Basing on the performance of Rafael in the game at the Emirates last week, he could have been tempted to start the young Brazilian. Credit to him he didn't, for the simple reason that the kid is barely my height(5'9). Stoke's secret weapon is basically aerial, so a lot of height in your team only helps youi counter it. It's why the gaffer selected the Irishman and Carrick and Fletcher--all who are above 6ft. It's no surprise that it was O'Shea who got his head first to one of Delap's long throws. At this point, credit must be given to the groundsman for digging up the pitch at the sides to make it steeper and henceforth make it hard for Delap to perfectly execute his 'assists'.
Jonny Evans is one of our beneficiaries of the Carling Cup but the times he has come in the first team, he has been as outstanding as any other senior player. He was one of our best players in the draw at Stamford Bridge and he did equally well yesterday against strikers twice his size. A rock for the future. Danny Welbeck showed why he is highly rated in the OT ranks with a thunderbolt of a strike that Cappello must have taken note of. He certainly fits the Manchester United grade and should therefore be a regular soon.
Gibson's power is well above his age and his contribution will not have gone unnoticed. United have been drawn against Blackburn in the Carling Cup but the quality of the players coming through the Academy suggests that Fergie should not worry about fielding them in the quarterfinal clash at OT. And then Fraizer Campbell dumped the Scousers out of the Carling Cup and then scored yesterday off the bench. It would be foolhardy to lose such a talented player. At this rate, the national team of England has a brighter future.