The Busby Babes and Fergie’s Fledglings became part of Manchester United history. Call them Ole Gunnar’s Young Guns, or Solskjaer’s Starlets, we will get to know this group well this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been left with little choice other than to dip into his pool of talent. Senior players such as Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez left and replacements did not arrive.
As a result, the students must step up, though this is going to be a testing time for Solskjaer. There is not much room for patience in modern football, and the Norwegian needs his kids to grow up fast.
The United bench told a story here. Among the substitutes was Mason Greenwood, a 17-year-old who will have to get to grips with the pace of the Premier League fast.
At 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, and with Southampton down to 10 men, Solskjaer brought Greenwood on. It was a big ask for the young man.
Also on the bench was Tahith Chong, a Dutch teenager with two Premier League appearances to his name, and 21-year-old defender Axel Tuanzebe. Starting up front at St Mary’s was another academy product in Marcus Rashford, who we often forget is only 21.
Daniel James is no United graduate, though he too is only 21. Here he scored his third Premier League goal for United – as many as Alexis Sanchez managed in 32 games.
Solskjaer wants to do things his way. He is softly spoken but clearly has a ruthless side.
We saw that with the loan departure of Sanchez, with United paying £175,000 a week to not have him at the club. We can also see it with his handling of Fred, their £52million midfielder.
Fred is paid £120,000 a week but has not been in a match-day squad this season. His last appearance was in any competition was in April.
Solskjaer is turning to youth, just as he was taught by Sir Alex Ferguson. Yet will it work out?
Being asked to finish inside the top four is one thing. Being asked to achieve that with a limited squad is another. Beyond Rashford and Anthony Martial, their options up front appear bleak.
There was one moment at St Mary’s when the ball was fired through the six-yard box. No one was there to tap it in, because they don’t have that type of striker.
Saturday’s draw means United have now won just one of their last nine Premier League matches. Solskjaer is working with what he’s got, but what he’s got may not be fit for a top-four finish.
Vipacdknot
0
solksjaer also needs to grow in an experienced manager
ugorjiclems
0
Mzan23
0
Its an honor to actually have a glimpse and taste of what United was during Fergie’s earlier days at United. Its pretty fresh combination, but excuse aside, they need to step up faster as the internet forbidden them from taking their sweet time. 😁
vaacilpuy
0
Never in top 4 n below 10 ya
Tipbdrsuyz
0
why keep talking about top 4? this is man u, should talk about being champion!
Newacdmsuz
0
there is only the name of m.united , team is nothing
jeaceilt
1
cannot win anything with team. Honestly the English players are all average. Dont fool yourself is not the team that we should expect to win anything.Sack You manager he has no idea .
DaMhztourage
0
We ain't going anywhere with this type of toothless performance, no creativity, no urgency after scoring the first goal , they seem to have Ole's slang of "get 1 , get 2 and 3 in terms of goals scoring sequence , they relaxed too much , thereby giving Southampton the chance to believe through Lindelof's miscalculated jump , ultimately allowing the host opportunity to level the score. Despite Utd's one man advantage, they failed to grind out a required result , huge disappointment for Utd fans !!
Zahbceprt
1
ole.. could u please grow up your tactics first? dont just tell them every single match to "express yourself". u need a solid plan or strategy
vamaceimsu
0
olé just need to be sacks
and who should replace him??? you only know there's no a better manager out there when chelsea hire a rookie lampard
ArturTalash
1
ha ha ha, top 10 Maybe
Tasinoyz
0
olé just need to be sacks
pobacenpy
1
what a tragedy 4match 3 penalty 1red card 1win two draw 1los
YunusManUtd
3
its not the case of "MAY" the reality is this squard CANT reach the Top 4. 😔
JohnMc2018
1
How can they improve when they don’t get played?
AyanfunmiSbs
4
When you don't score. You concede. United need a central Forward. Lukaku shouldn't have been sold. Faith in Rashford will only get him killed. Mourinho knows Rashford won't develop into your world class number 9
Charlieputh
0
youth will only get u sacked.
Meucdimnps
1
this all happened becauze sols you over trusted rashy
PrinceHazard10
0
Man-U
krishnaprasad_A
1
Rashford waste striker...
always5
0
United matches are a good laugh now-a-days
Wendyritchier
1
It is clear that Lingard will develop no further and he is a championship level player. He needs to be discarded. Rashford may still come good but he is as raw as Greenwood, Chong and Gomez and should not have the divine right to start games
hukcal
0
Players that need to be dropped are Lingard, matic. Players who should be dropped to the bench are Rashford, lindelof and Pereira
meaedog
0
No doubt "Rashy's" many admirers in the media will say he had a great game and remains a world-class superstar! I'll say it again: He's, at best, another Gabby Agbonlahor! Quick but in no way a footballer. Well not one that belongs anywhere near the top level of English football at least. When Rashford leaves the club in 2020 or 2021 and eventually finds his level(somewhere like Preston, if he''s lucky!), people will look back at this time and laugh at how people seriously thought he was good enough for a team aiming to be at the top end of The Premier League. It was plain to see last season that United needed a good manager and a proper clear-out, so players as bad as Rashford, Pereira, Lingard etc weren't regular starters. Until United get said good manager, who won't stand for such poor players being at the club, United will remain an average side that will be lucky to finish 6th!
FCBxavi
1
Clueless and poor, should have trapped ibby when offerred
babysoga
0
Rashford, worst player on the pitch; Mata, slow, knackered finished, why was he given a new contract?; Andreas, no contribution;; Young, mediocre but by his standards a good performance; Lindelof, beaten in the air again, every team will target him; Lingard, a Championship player allowed to pose in a Utd shirt. Greenwood did more in five mins than Rashford in 90; Where was Gomez? Utd face mid table mediocrity because they have a mid-table team. Pogba, surrounded by nonenties, no wonder he's fed up
Brunoso
0
He needs to start Greenwood and drop the ever pointless Pereira
luxurious
0
After winning the league against Chelsea in their first game, now 4 games into the new season and their league campaign is in tatters and their title challenge over. It just gets funnier every week.
Jamirl
1
United can't finish in the top four if they continue like this it is highly impossible!!!they can't hold on to a lead after half United start playing sloppy and their defence is always one way or the other the team needs to be upgraded ole needs to do something if not what they want won't be want they get
weights
0
Harry Maguire is so fast people don't see him!
Cebbekuz
0
I can't blame ole i think ed wood is the fast then ole ..ole believes young players after winning friends match..
Rizacekpu
0
Am tied of been man United Too stingy, we are telling you to buy some good players but you people refuse to do so no problem
chandannath
0
very much the truth
Jaaacdempr
0
they will be a mid table outfit with the squad they have no chance of top 6 even they will score very few goals this season not one player could guarantee 12 goals
Shamsulrizal
0
🍺🍺draw until end of season ahaha
Ossboy
1
Hello everyone, so where is Rashford and Martial who will take the place Alexis Sanchez and Lukaku🤔? You're sure nothing has changed[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Kenneth404
2
Maguire €80m Southampton 22 players €79m
Great_Alams
3
Point of correction, Soljkaer is not working with what he has got but he is working with what he wants
kapabctu
1
Ole tries to be so good to each players that ruined the whole team... and I really don't like pogba game today.. he don't take any serious for man utd.
im007
0
man utd is doomed for the next 12 years. mark my words. southampton 10 players. and cannot beat them. doomed.. man utd fan here. we need to wait when cantona or roy keane takes over as manager
Bihabdiklm
0
this manu team is awfull useless
kazzul75
0
Young local lads bought trained at acedemy then released to other teams to benefit 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
kazzul75
2
manutd will just have a new manager again
Sazabcdkly
0
ole your not the man for the job don't blame other for your incompetence
yent
1
[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Sezcdiklmt
1
manchester pls sack ole and develope the squad instead of ole to sign experience players he is busy signing kids. he thinks he can use kids to win any trophy sign good players instead you spent time buying kids ogs and all other of his staffs should be removed before he takes us to relegation like he did with cardiff all in the name of using kids fool.
Kingbobbychal
2
ole is not showing any good improvement... he failed to sign a midfield players that can improve the team after departure of key midfielders.... united won't make top 8 and Ole might be sacked in December
zuoabstu
5
TOP 4? Daniel James just scored 3 goals in 4 games! More than Sanchez! This achievement itself is worth celebrating. (Norwich Pukki scored 5 in 3 games? Don’t care!)