Date: 22nd July 2010 at 1:00pm
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Last night’s game against Philly Union was harder than most of us expected. A spirited performance as well as a makeshift team saw United under pressure but as usual finding a way to triumph.

Many people may not have been impressed by the performance last night and I myself thought the Union may have deserved something from the game but this was just another stage in the tutelage of United’s potential next class of stars.

Last night a largely youthful team experienced the pressures of a relatively high profile game and it was the link up of two of them that lead to our winning goal. Danny Welbeck’s smart ball left Gabriel Obertan with the simply job of slotting past the opposition’s goalkeeper and he duly obliged.

As I said it wasn’t a great performance from the team but the fact that they didn’t play great but managed to come away with a result is indicative of a winning mentality already being present amongst them.

Big things were expected from a number of players, Obertan to build on his previous performance against Celtic, Welbeck to continue showing why he is so highly rated at the club and perhaps get amongst the goals again like he did against Celtic, Macheda to show why he is being touted as a future of Old Trafford and Cleverley, to show he can replicate his Watford form in the Red of United and to an extent each delivered.

Welbeck looked lively all night, a particularly memorable moment saw him flash a long range effort past the post and he will count himself unlucky not to have got his name on the score sheet.

Macheda had another solid performance playing on the left of United’s attacking front 3 and although many will feel Welbeck outshone him, he looked good in his time on the field.

Obertan is probably the most puzzling of these players in that as I have said before he makes the simple things look hard but the hard things look simple. It wasn’t a great performance from him but once he warmed up he ran at players and caused problems and his surging run allowed him to get onto the end of Welbeck’s perfectly weighted pass to score. He is a prime example of a diamond in the rough but when he gets it right, it does come off.

I personally was impressed with Cleverley there was a moment in the first half where he picked up the ball pushed forward, held on to the ball whilst Welbeck got into the right position and then released it at the perfect time, not too early, not too late.

He looked good out wide but also centrally so I can see him performing on the wing in a 4-4-2 or in a 3-man midfield.

There were cameos from Chris Smalling, Corry Evans and Ritchie De Laet who almost scored at the death. On a whole I feel the young players, who have been the focus of so much media attention since Sir Alex stated that they are the future of the club, did no harm to their reputations.

Next stop Kansas at the weekend where again the young players will be looking to make the headlines, hopefully they can continue to build off some strong performances and do so.

 

7 responses to “The Kids are alright”

  1. as says:

    I felt the Da Silva twins were a threat always looking to attack, i said once and i say it again Cleverley is the next big thing in the epl. Danny shown again what he all about and deserved a gl to go with assist, Gabby did well and caused problem before a nicely took gl sealed a good display. Smalling, Corry and Jonny where solid and the ever-excellent Tomasz made 2fantastic saves to keep us in the game, Kiko did well and unfortunate not get real chance at gl b4 replaced, Hard fought victory, good see.

  2. Stephen says:

    Wellbeck’s first touch was pretty awful all game!!

    His pass for the goal was top drawer though.

  3. elvido says:

    Thought Wellbeck had an excellent game, hope he gets games this year, with us or elsewhere. Macheda seems to have gone backwards since his goal(would keep him here just for that though!). Obertan is raw talent, no one better than Fergie I guess to hone that, if he does, he will be very very good! Fast, skillful, needs work on the final ball though. Cleverly did a job and I thought Rafa too had a very good game. He should be first choice over Neville now. If we are to trust in youngsters as Fergie insists, then we should give them enough games to prove themselves, even if this is at the cost of the title this season. No point in not bringing in players and playing just the old guard. In a way it’s a good thing some of the senior players aren’t traveling, gives the youth a chance! We need to hold on to Vida though or make sure he goes for a bucket load! With a crocked Rio, an iffy Brown and newbies, wouldn’t want to lose the best CB in the league!

  4. as says:

    Fergie is a genius, he knows by slowly bleeding the kids into the 1st-team he creating warriors hungry for success. We have a fantastic blend of youth and experience and this shall help make sure we stay the elite force over the next decade, many more titles and european cups for the united faithful to enjoy.

  5. Chudi Onwuazor says:

    I think Welbeck did well and looks a lot more like a player now he has bulked up.

    I didn’t really touch on Rafa as he is basically confirmed as having made it at united but Fabio looked good and I hope he gets some real playing time as I expect lack of playing time are a major factor in his injuries.

    Cleverley does seem an intelligent player and his crossing is decent from wide something Obertan should work on if he is going to be employed as a wide man.

    Looks like Vida is probably on his way out so I agree elvido we should get an arm and a leg for him.

  6. Tom says:

    We cannot afford to lose Vidic this summer. Evans and Smalling are not ready, Ferdinand is struggling with injuries and Brown is injury prone. Vidic is a top defender and it will cost alot to replace him. To sell him and not get anyone in would confirm all our fears, that we are broke.

  7. elvido says:

    It would make more sense for the club to increase Vida’s wages than throw away the chances of a title! Obertan should be played through the middle, seems better at beating his man than delivering crosses. If Wellbeck and Cleverly are going to be loaned out, I hope it is to a club where they will get games this year. I think the younger Evan could be sent to championship side to see some real game time. I ma excited about the youngsters but I think this season too will be transitional for the club unless the likes of Berba, Nani and Rooney really play at a top level! And fingers crossed for Ando doing a Nani!