Youngster promotion - was it really a good moment against Besiktas?
By stvasile
@stvasile (7306)
Romania
November 27, 2009 11:07am CST
I think we all agree that the way Alex Ferguson promotes youngsters in the less important matches is beneficial for the club, as the young players get used to playing at the highest level, in official games, under some real pressure. He usually plays with youngsters during cup games or against the weakest of the Premiership.
But was the match against Besiktas really the moment to play with so many youngsters (Rafael, Obertan, Macheda, Welbeck) or bench players (at least in my opinion, like Gibson, Neville, Brown)?
Looking at the group and the remaining matches, I think it would have been a much better idea to secure the qualification. Now the Reds need to make at least a draw at Wolfsburg, which is not at all a poor team...
1 person likes this
4 responses
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
27 Nov 09
I think it was ok. Actually you do not get too many Champions League matches to get your youngsters a feel of it. So this was an ideal platform for them to do it. I think they will anyway go on to top the group by winning their final match. Also, I guess what would be more important is the fact that they did fight till the end, but in front of the goal did not maintain their composure. So I am pretty sure that SAF will now go to work with these guys in this aspect.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
30 Nov 09
I just re-calculated the odds of Manchester not qualifying from this group and saw there is no way they can lose one of the first two places... I was a bit hasty and thought CSKA could get on top of Man Utd, but the direct results favor MU.
I guess I'm also pis*ed off by the way that home ground invincibility record was given away...
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
1 Dec 09
Actually that was the only real thing that they lost. But I guess you need to give up something for the precious Champions League experience for the kids. SAF is shrewd enough not to take too many chances when it comes to champions league.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@dimsumz (143)
• Indonesia
29 Nov 09
I think Sir Alex made the right strategy by playing young players. Besides giving them an experience boost by playing the highest level of professional footbal, it also gives the main players time to rest for the upcoming game. After all, MU has many great players with relatively even skills, so it really shouldn't have much effect in the outcome of the game. Football is about team playing, if the club played their best as a team, then It wouldn't really matter whether they play young players or senior ones. Arsenal is an example of a great team with youngsters. I hope MU can follow their strategy by promoting many young players and increase their skills and experience to become a good player.
1 person likes this
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
29 Nov 09
I'm not against the promotion of young players - that's the best thing to do - I was asking if sending in so many of them in this particular context was the best thing to do. After all, this choice led to losing the game, when a draw would have secured the first place in the group.
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
28 Nov 09
i think Mr Aex know that he must to give chance for youngster to play in high level. so when the main player like Gigs etc can not play, they can substitute very well.I think he is experienced manager so he can know whats the time for full of youngster or play with a experienced player
@abhikmjmdr (779)
• India
28 Nov 09
Talent wise these youngsters are not at all bad and giving them a feel of a big match is a necessary part of their grooming and United is at the moment rather unsure of their bench strength.Therefore it was necessary to blood these youngsters and non regulars to see what kind of strength United does have when it comes to top level matches.At the moment there is no one really threatening to break into the first XI from the youngsters which is rather a disappointment but with time maybe some of them will.
