Fryers thrilled with progress

"To come on at Old Trafford in a Champions League game was out of this world. It all felt a bit unreal. That's the most excited I've ever been and I just want to keep experiencing things like that."

- Ezekiel Fryers, full interview in tonight's United Review.

30/11/2011 11:36, Report by A Marshall & N Coppack

Promising defender Ezekiel Fryers admits he has been surprised by his involvement in the first-team this term.

The youngster was sidelined for a substantial part of last season through injury but started both the Carling Cup ties at Leeds and Aldershot and also came on as a late substitute in the Champions League win over Otelul Galati.

Ahead of another likely appearance against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, the 19-year-old is delighted with his progress.

"I must admit I didn’t think the first-team games would come as soon as they did," he said in an exclusive interview with United Review, the official matchday programme for the quarter-final. "At the start of the season, a lot of the young guys start talking about loans and most people want to land themselves a loan deal to get more experience.

"Nothing worked out on that front for me, so I just concentrated on training well and getting my fitness levels up with the Reserves. Then the Carling Cup game at Leeds came along and it was an amazing experience.

"And to come on at Old Trafford in a Champions League game was out of this world. It all felt a bit unreal. That's the most excited I've ever been and I just want to keep experiencing things like that."

Fryers has already played in the heart of the defence and at left-back for Sir Alex's side so he gives the boss a couple of options going into the Palace tie.

"I was a bit surprised the opportunity came along so soon, especially because I’ve had a couple of injuries in recent years," he added.

"Last season was a bit of a downer: I had a bad injury and needed a knee operation, but this term I’ve managed to stay fit.

"Ideally, I prefer to play at left-back but I'll play wherever the manager wants. I'm not going to say 'no' to him!"

source : Manutd

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

Q&A: Justin Young

30/11/2011 15:13, Report by Gemma Thompson

The Vaccines front man Justin Young on suffering as a young Red and hanging out with Wazza at Glastonbury…

Why United?

My dad and brother both supported Southampton but I wanted to follow another team. I was about five at the time and I saw United on TV and they were wearing red (same as Southampton) so that was it for me; they were my team. I haven’t got a better reason unfortunately.

What are your earliest memories?

They’re not great to be honest. The first few times I saw United live was at The Dell - the first game we lost 3-1, the following year it was 6-3 to Southampton and they won again 1-0 the year after.

Who was your hero growing up?

Initially I used to have pictures of all the players up on my wall. If I saw a photo in newspapers or magazines I’d always cut them out. One time I cut out a picture of a player in a United shirt that I didn’t recognise and put him on my wall. My dad saw it and laughed: ‘that’s Gary Rhodes, he’s a celebrity chef who supports United!’ My first real hero was Beckham – I absolutely loved him and even grew curtains in tribute!

Tell us about your first visit to Old Trafford...

My dad arranged to bring me up to a game against Derby [in April ‘97] but he couldn’t get tickets in time so he planned to try and get some from a tout. Unfortunately they were charging a lot and dad didn’t have enough money so we went home without seeing the game. I was gutted. He did soften the blow by buying me a kit before we left though.

How often do you get to games nowadays?

Once or twice a season depending on work commitments. I was at the Chelsea game last month, which is one of the best matches I’ve seen here, and I came to the Newcastle match at the weekend. The guy who books our gigs is a big United fan so I’m hoping he’ll organise dates around matches!

Is there any football rivalry in the band?

A bit, yeah. Our manager and tour manager are die-hard Tottenham followers and they’ve managed to successfully convert the other guys in the band into Spurs fans. So I’m flying the flag for United on my own.

Have you ever met any of the players?

I’m friends with Winston from Mumford & Sons – he took me to the Chelsea game – and he introduced me to Rooney backstage at Glastonbury. He’s my favourite player and I must admit that being in the presence of greatness left me pretty speechless. I didn’t really know what to say apart from ‘hello!’

What do you make of the modern-day rivalry between United and City and do you expect the Blues to push us closest for the title?

Unfortunately I think they’ll do well this season. They have bought well and seem to be gelling a bit better. City have never been that good in my lifetime until now, but we’ve got a strong squad and with Sir Alex leading us you always have to feel confident.

The Vaccines’ double A-side single ‘Wetsuit / Tigerblood’ is out on 4 December.

source : Manutd

Papers: Elm move hint

01/12/2011 09:21

The Mirror writes…

Elm hints at possible United move

Sweden midfielder Rasmus Elm says he is flattered by links with Manchester United as rumours continue that the champions may move for him in January. The AZ Alkmaar wide man caught the eye in his country's defeat at Wembley recently, with Joe Hart having to beat away a clever corner. Elm, 23, said: "You have to take rumours for what they are, but it is obviously flattering if there is some truth in it. I don't close the door to any league. But the most important thing is to develop here and do as well as I can in Holland." Elm would be a possible replacement for Antonio Valencia, who has slipped behind Ashley Young and Nani in the Old Trafford pecking order. United's midfiield has been a cause for concern this season, and Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a host of players in the absence of injured Tom Cleverley and Anderson. But, last week, he appeared to rule out buying in the upcoming transfer window, saying: "It is easy to say you are going to buy players but it is not easy to buy them for Manchester United, especially in January," he said. "I do not see anyone who could make us a better team. There are two or three players but they are not available, so there is no point even going there."

Several newspapers suggest Mark Hughes is in the frame to replace former United team-mate Steve Bruce at Sunderland with the suggestion that he could even hold talks on Wearside as early as today.

The Daily Mail believe City are growing increasingly confident that they can lure  from Old Trafford. The Frenchman came off the bench in the disappointing Carling Cup exit to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

source : Manutd