After a season unlike any other, Manchester United will seek a sense of stability in the pursuit of perfection at all levels of the club.
At the start of the new season this weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team was the center of attention when visiting bitter rivals Leeds at Old Trafford.
In both age groups, local pride added spice to the Derby opener of the day, but for United’s youth team, this season’s results are seen as a bonus rather than a primary goal.
While first-team success is relentlessly measured in terms of cutlery and league positions, United’s Head of Academy Nick Cox’s job is to build on the solid foundations of last season when five local players made their senior-team debuts and academy graduates contributed over 25 percent of all the minutes played by the first team.
“We learned a lot about our players,” Cox told MEN Sport as he reflected on last season. “I think we knew deep down that it was right to look at each individual and give them the most appropriate experience for their development and put team performance aside. Our duty is to maximize the individual’s duty, with the ultimate goal of getting them to our first team. “
Since Solskjaer was appointed as the first coach, a total of 16 young hopefuls have made their debut in the first team.
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With United in the fortunate position that every youth coach in the world wants to work for them, the summer coup of highly rated coach Justin Cochrane is proof of that.
Cochrane joined United from the FA, where he served as the youth development manager and head coach of England’s U17s.
“I’m really very happy with the group of people we have,” added Cox. “It’s a unique mix. I think our staff, the way we build it, as well as the players, is to make sure you have people who really understand the club and the values, the guardians and goalkeepers, but at the same time bring “in people from outside the organization who can help innovate and move us forward.”
“I have people like Neil Ryan, Neil Wood, Tony Whelan, Dave Bushell; they understand the club, they regularly remind us of what life was like in the past and what we need to protect. Appointments like Justin Cochrane are people.” who bring fresh ideas and knowledge from outside. I’m really proud of the guys we brought with us. I look at Travis Binnion, a former academy manager, I look at Adam Lawrence, a former head of coaching. I think I have people here with real references. I think it’s unrivaled in terms of the quality we have here.
“What I offer the staff is complete job satisfaction. There are other clubs around the country with great staff but never quite the fruits of their labor. I think this is the place.”
One of the biggest changes in the youth field this summer has been an innovative new role for veteran defender Paul McShane, a qualified A-license coach who has been inducted into the squad in a groundbreaking role and for which he is eligible to play in certain U23s -Play during the coming season.
McShane, 35, may not be your typical U23-level sight, but his experience is already proving to be crucial for a young team that has rewarded many star players with senior-level consignments this summer.
But how did the new role of a former United Academy graduate come about? Cochrane, who was signed in the summer, proved to be decisive.
Justin Cochrane (right) poses with United Academy Director Nick Cox
(Image: 2021 Manchester United FC)
“One of Justin’s strong opinions was having a senior player who could both train and play in this group who he thought would be of immeasurable value to us,” said Cox. “So he was very passionate about it. It really was a heavenly marriage.
“It was great timing that we had a qualified coach who is still fit and can play at a high level, but also knows the club inside and out. It was always difficult to find, but he was already in the building.” “
McShane would not have been short of offers had he decided to continue his career in the Football League, but instead was given his own unique opportunity to take the next steps forward. Cox wants to make sure that both players and staff have the same ambition to always improve.
Cox announced that McShane prepared for a recent friendly against Stalybridge Celtic with the same care as he did a World Cup play-off against France when he played for the Republic of Ireland. He has experience as a graduate of the Academy, as a lender, and even confronting Sir Alex Ferguson with his own future at the club; It’s a priceless insight for the newest teens who all share the same ambition to really put on the famous red stripe.
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The next test for the former Hull and Reading defender could well be looking after the youngsters who got their first-team chance this summer.
11 United first-team youngsters in the opening game of the pre-season against Derby.
Cox admitted, “It’s a tricky industry. The most competitive industry in the world and one of the most competitive clubs in the world, it’s tricky.
“I think the type of players we are recruiting are boys who have the drive and determination to find a way no matter how difficult things are. I don’t think the summer experience will put us in has created a problem for some form. ” Our players had a chance that they would not have had at any other club, it was a nice pre-season, we saw how many young players had the opportunity to attract the coach’s attention and develop.
“We take it on a positive note, the guys had a great experience, but the challenge now for us is to work with each of these people to plan and plan the next real step. They are not treated as a group.”
United have been keen to carefully tailor the development plans for each young player at the club and this summer they will try again to push the players out of the comfort zone of youth football.
Cox admits the days when the U23 were considered the reserve team are now over as they don’t quite give the feel of first-team football. That’s why he enjoys participating in the EFL Trophy so much.
Tahith Chong, Nathan Bishop, Will Fish, Reece Devine and Di’Shon Bernard have already left the club on loan, while Ethan Galbraith, Ethan Laird and Teden Mengi will soon follow suit. Charlie McCann went to the Rangers.
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“It’s important to speed up boys’ learning, getting them through development plans at the right pace,” said Cox. “You could possibly see more than five or ten players in the building who could have played for the U23s. I’m pretty confident that if we kept these guys we would win every week, but at our job it works not about “putting together a winning team.
“Yes, we want them to be competitive, we always play to win, but in the end I can never do that at the expense of their development. Winning should be the by-product.”
With so much talent at the club on and off the pitch, United also has the opportunity to carefully recruit the hottest young talent in domestic football.
Last summer, the club took two coups by convincing Joe Hugill and Charlie McNeill to join the youth. This year Ethan Ennis moved Liverpool to Manchester.
Will Fish, Ethan Galbraith, Joe Hugill and Shola Shoretire.
(Image: 2021 Manchester United FC)
United’s clear path to the first team is a key factor in recruiting so many Jewels, but it’s the clarity and openness with which they operate so often.
Cox concluded, “We’re not selling false dreams, we’re really honest about opportunities for development and what we think are their strengths and weaknesses. We introduce them to employees, as many people as possible. They are the people they are become.” with regularly.
“It’s really powerful when you meet our staff. It’s always a great moment when they meet Dave Bushell and Darren Fletcher. Fletcher talks about the time when Bushell helped him settle into the club and now it’s him, who helps the next player. ” settle in at the club. That doesn’t happen everywhere. The balance has to be that story and innovation, that’s a great example of that in practice. “
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