Manchester United's Class of '92
By Jkct02
@jkct02 (2874)
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
May 30, 2012 2:02am CST
Just watched the "football classic" program on TV and it featured the match Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United which was played on 29 September 2001. Manchester United came back from 3 goals down in the first half and scored 5 times in the second half to win 3-5. It was truly a classic. I remember when I watched it live at that time, when the Manchester United equalizing goal came, a header by Ruud van Nistelrooy, I and my friends were so excited that we threw everything in our hands up the air; snacks, papers, and sofa cushions. It was a superb second half performance by Manchester United.
The match reminded me of the Fergie's Fledglings; "The class of '92" which consisted of Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. Keith Gillespie, Simon Davies and Robbie Savage were also there but they had to join other clubs to get to play as their playing positions were overlapped.
In the 1995–96 season, when that group of youngsters started to play regularly, after they lost 3-1 away to Aston Villa in the opening day match, Alan Hansen, the former Liverpool great and a TV pundit, commented,"You'll never win anything with kids". That bunch of kids went on to win almost everything a professional club could win in Europe.
I will never forget the wonderful moments watching them play. I was lucky.
4 people like this
6 responses
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
30 May 12
haha yeah! That was Sir Alex Ferguson's bunch of kids whom managed to fool everybody when they started to gel together as a team. As long as the manager has faith and trust in his players, getting them to play well is not a problem at well. Furthermore, it's a dream to play for Man united and with youth players coming through the ranks in the youth team to senior team, they already have the experience of playing day in day out. I believe the next batch of fergie's new class would be coming soon. haha 
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
31 May 12
Although it is not easy, it is not really difficult to set up an academy and get kids in. It is the talent that is hard to come by. It is lucky if they can unearth one gem and polish it till it shines at the biggest stage. They must have stumbled on a treasure hut in '92 to find so many diamonds at one go. The credit should be given to Sir Alex for his trust and willingness to use the youngsters to replace the outgoing seniors at that time. It was a bold decision but it was proven as the right thing to do. Manchester United has harvested handsomely.
2 people like this
@adhyz82 (36249)
• Indonesia
31 May 12
thats right..
Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul school and Phill Nevila still play..
MU and sir alex ferguson must build again the generation, follow the golden generation of 92...even it is difficult, but if MU want to make it again, they can make a next generation`92...
1 person likes this
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
31 May 12
Two young players were emerging from the youth academy last season; Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck. They have established themselves especially Welbeck who was the main striker partner for Wayne Rooney in attack in place of Javier Hernández. It will be very hard to see so many young players coming from the ranks to play together at the same time again. A young player needs talent to be groomed to be a good player. He also needs luck to be able to break into the first team. If the first team is playing well, the players are all in their prime and they all are happy in the club, it is not as easy for a young, inexperienced player to get selected to play.
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
30 May 12
Yes, that was a fantastic lot and each one has become a legend at the club. I think Fergie can take pride in bringing in three generations of players to Man United and that is a real testimony for any manager. Of course, he also followed up on his promise and knocked Liverpool of their F***** Perch.
Cheers!
Ram
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
31 May 12
Yes. It is amazing what Sir Alex has achieved as a manager for Manchester United. One of the factors why he could do so much is that he was given the time to really mold his own teams. AVB could also do the same with Chelsea if he was given more time, but his Russian boss had waited for 8 seasons and likes Big Mac as lunch.
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
3 Jun 12
Yes, I love football. I am indeed lucky to be able to watch those greats play. Being passionate in anything does not mean that we have to blindly embrace everything that come with it. I feel it is childish to chant "my team is great" etc. If your team is good, it will show in the field, not from anyone's mouth.
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
30 May 12
It is very rarely to have a group of talented boys breaking into the first team at the same time. So I would say the class of '92 is one of the kind which will not be repeated anytime soon. If I remember correctly, Ferguson sold off the likes of Hughes, Kanchelski, Ince to accomodate them. And I was one of those who questioning the sanity of the manager. Of course, I was made to eat my words.
1 person likes this
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
31 May 12
Yes, it is true that very seldom can we see so many young players emerges to play in the same team at the highest level in the same season. Manchester United was lucky to have got those talented kids. I think it was also the trust that Sir Alex had for them that he let go of these established star players. I was upset that he let Hughes go to Barcelona (Hughes was also a young player coming up the ranks when he joined Manchester United from school at the age of 17). I felt it was risky to play so many young players at the same time, but they proved themselves.
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
31 May 12
That was an incredible feat coming from Manchester united back then. So far, i have not seen any other teams other like Manchester united and Newcastle, coming back after being down from 3 or more goals. Not to mention Manchester united's match against Spurs, last 2 season's match between Newcastle and Arsenal was more exciting because there are no young players waiting to bloom in a big club, and yet they showed the same determination to come back for draw after being 4 goals down in the final 10 minutes or so.
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
31 May 12
In terms of excitement, the Liverpool vs Arsenal game in the 2009 season where it finished 4-4 with Arshavin scoring all 4 goals, is as good as any game. But for coming back wins, last season's Arsenal vs Spurs game, where Arsenal scored 5 goals in the second half to over-turn the 2 goal deficit in the first half, was just as exciting.
2 people like this
