Philosophy pays off

"It is, more and more, an exciting time for me. It's started with Welbeck and Cleverley because, when I came in, they were 10 or 11. Now they've featured in the first team team and, just underneath, there's more."

Interview first appeared in Inside United

30/11/2011 15:17, Report by Adam Marshall

Rene Meulensteen feels United are reaping the benefits of developing youngsters from an early-age and bringing them through the system.

The first-team coach implemented his philosophy at Carrington, developing the famed Coerver method after working with his fellow countryman Will in the 1990s. Teaching schoolboys good habits allows them the flexibility to play in different positions and the fruits of the hard work are starting to become clear for all to see.

"I worked with Will myself and I was very fortunate to do that," he stated. "That provided the background, the basis of the philosophy which I've taken on board and expanded it so it has become my philosophy, engrained with all the other important aspects.

"I'm just a very strong believer in it because the best players out there in the world - past and present - have given us that information. If you go back in time to George Best, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona up to all of the best players now - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney - they've got the ability to take players on and beat them. It's not only important for the team, it's very exciting for the game itself."

Educating the youngsters is providing a massive benefit for United when they are asked to fulfil various roles later in their career. The in-built confidence in possession and comfort with the ball is vitally important to Meulensteen's programme.

"In the beginning, the kids are young and just respond to the environment you create for them," he explained. "They don't know what is good or bad, they just enjoy it or hate it but they will do it.

"If I had kids climbing the fence up and down all day, they don't know whey they're doing it. "But, when they get to 18-20, they realise it's no good and they should've worked on their skills.

"When they've gone through that, it has become second nature and that's why skill development is so important in the early age groups because it can become second nature by 16, 17 and 18. If a player is going to be a defender, midfielder or attacker, they also know it's no problem because they think if I'm under pressure, I've got the skills to deal with it and that is the big difference."

The progress of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley into the first-team this season is providing evidence that the system is set to produce players of international calibre for Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It is, more and more, an exciting time for me," enthused Meulensteen. "It's started with Welbeck and Cleverley because, when I came in, they were 10 or 11. Now they've featured in the first team team and, just underneath, there's the likes of Larnell Cole, Jesse Lingard, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Tom Thorpe, Ezekiel Fryers and the Keanes.

"They've all been on the skills journey and are now coming back to Reserves training and working with the first team and they see the same coach, sending the same messages. They say: 'Do you remember?' and it's a case of: 'Yes, so now you can tell why we did it. It should make you a player who can make a difference for us'."

For Michael Keane, Cole and Lingard in particular, patience was preached because of their slower physical development and that is beginning to pay off. "Exactly," asserted Meulensteen. "Height is no problem. It's all about quick feet and a quick brain. You see Barcelona showing us that every week."

source : Manutd

Evra: Seize the day

30/11/2011 09:30, Report by James Tuck

Patrice Evra has sounded a note of caution as United’s talented young players prepare to stake another claim for regular first-team action.

The likes of Ezekiel Fryers, Paul Pogba and Michael Keane featured against Leeds and Aldershot in the previous rounds of the Carling Cup and will be hoping to be involved tonight against Crystal Palace.

Whichever youngsters are picked, Evra wants them to make the most of their opportunity to impress Sir Alex Ferguson – and take nothing for granted.

The Frenchman said: "This is a big chance for them, but they have to be careful because Sir Alex gives you an opportunity and if you let him down, it’s difficult to get another one.

"This is the United way: if you play well, you’ll get another chance, but if you play only an average game, the boss will put you on the bench. There’s always someone ready to come in and try to do better than you.

"That’s why players must be ready to grasp the chance. Before the game they must think to themselves how lucky they are to be playing with the first team already."

Evra has nevertheless been impressed by what he has seen so far.

"I’m really proud and pleased because when you see these young players in action, you know United’s future is bright," he said.

"They’re doing a great job and Sir Alex deserves a lot of credit for that – he’s not afraid to play them in the Carling Cup."

source : Manutd

Sir Alex: Timing key for debuts

"When somebody like Paul McGuinness comes to me and says: 'He's a first-team player', then I know to keep a special eye on the player."

- Sir Alex Ferguson

Pictured left to right: Sir Alex with two loyal Academy servants, Jimmy Ryan and Paul McGuinness

28/11/2011 10:57, Report by Adam Marshall

Sir Alex Ferguson has explained the detailed process that is followed when he considers whether to hand a youngster his debut.

The progress of a number of last season's FA Youth Cup-winners for Warren Joyce's Reserves has inevitably led to suggestions that more new faces could feature in Wednesday's Carling Cup tie against Crystal Palace. Zeki Fryers, Larnell Cole, Paul Pogba and Michael Keane have already made their first-team bow in the competition this term, to demonstrate that the Carrington production line is still in fine working order.

"The monitoring system here is good and there's a lot of consistency with our Academy staff," says Sir Alex in the new edition of Inside United. "These are guys that have been here a long time and know what to look for. When somebody like Paul McGuinness comes to me and says: 'He's a first-team player', then I know to keep a special eye on the player.

"From there, we'll bring the boy into first-team training for a couple of sessions. That's what we're doing at the moment with Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison, Jesse Lingard, Zeki Fryers, Larnell Cole and Michael Keane. They're all training with the first team.

"That allows me to see how they cope playing against seasoned professionals, it lets me judge their temperament. It allows me to get a far better picture of how they're progressing. And, while this is going on, you hope they're playing well for the Reserves and displaying the right attitude and enthusiasm.

"Players are never simply thrown into first-team action," he asserted. "They always follow this step-by-step process.

"I don't think we've ever been off the mark and given a boy his chance too early. That can be very damaging. If he's not up to the standards we require at United, then we don't venture there. The last thing we'd want is to humiliate a player. I'm not saying every player I've ever given a debut to has gone on to be a fantastic player at this club, but most of them have at least forged successful careers."

source : Manutd