Again, a brilliant performance against Liverpool u21..
He is still only 18 and looks out of this world, no matter what you say about Petrucci, Morison, Cleverley, Welbeck, Lingard none of them looked this good when they were 18:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=g-subs-u&v=4CFBfg6vKZM
He had a brilliant pre season, was our best player against Sevilla. IMO he should get as many minutes as possible in PL, and I just can't wait seeing him play in Carling Cup and FA cup..
I think he is very creative, very intelligent, very good short and long passer of the ball, has great vision, seems like a hard worker so I'm not concerned about him bulking up and beeing good defensvly... IMO in the future he could even play a deep lying playmaker role in our midfield.
I just think he could be the best thing our academy has produced since Giggs, Scholes etc.. Really excited seeing him play his first competitive minutes for us..
What do you guys think?
Adnan Januzaj
posted on 20/8/13
I just know that there is a very set path at UTD and it will be no different for Januzaj (unless we get a glut of injuries).
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Spot on JSPC.
We may not always like it but it is what it is.
If Januzaj keeps working his socks off which there is no doubt he'll do and if he keeps performing well at U21 level, he'll get his chance at some point for the first team as has always been the case.
There is absolutely no sense in putting unnecessary pressure on any young player who's only competitive game at first team level was the Community Shield.
Januzaj is IMO a player of immense talent and with a great attitude but there is no need to rush him.
He's made fantastic progression already in his short career from playing for the U18s to breaking through to the U21s and becoming arguably the sides key player and being on the fringes of becoming a first team squad player in less than a year.
posted on 20/8/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 20/8/13
How do you pinpoint weaker teams?
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Do I really need to answer that?
If we are a goal down, would you want someone with no experience,
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If we are a goal down, do we bring on a defender even though we have him on the bench. In the same way some common sense will apply with januzaj.
posted on 20/8/13
If we are a goal down, do we bring on a defender even though we have him on the bench.
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a bench can only really accomodate a gk, a couple of defenders, a couple of midfielders, a winger and a striker. Januzaj could lay claim to maybe 3 of those positions.
You are suggesting that Januzaj should take one of those 3 spots, without ever proving himself in even the CC?
Even against a so called weak team like Palace.... It still causes problems if we are struggling (which can easily happen in this league).
That is without mentioning how it will affect our other players.... You think, say, Ando would be happy trading his place for a unknown kid, or Welbeck (who has proved himself on every level).
In an ideal world, we could have 10 subs and always have a couple of reserves ready for if we are 3-0 up.... But it isn't... so you have to think long and hard about who is on that subs bench.... We will already have occasions where players with vast skill and experience wont even make that bench.
Like i said, and TRS backed up.... For better or worse, we have a tried and tested path to success for these youngsters. If he proves himself in the CC, expect him to be rewarded with a few PL bench appearances.
posted on 21/8/13
Look, i'm a big fan of the reserves, i've been watching since the 90s... I love nothing more than seeing a reserve lad come through the ranks...I just know that there is a very set path at UTD and it will be no different for Januzaj
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This is exactly what I wanted to discus.. I think he is only player in the last 5 years that doesn't have to folow that certain path, he is progressing rapidly.. IMO in 6 months from now, he could be of real use for our first team... Even Pogba, who I avoid mentionig, didn't look that mature at the age of 18, no matter that now at age of 20 would be perfect player for us..
I telly like Januzaj, it's been a long time I was so confident about a certain player.. I think he can progress to the first team without going on a loan, and I would enjoy watching his step up right hear at uniteds u21 and 10-15 appearances for uniteds first team
posted on 21/8/13
The same thing over and over again. The set ways of our youth team serves only the patient. If it were the case, we would not find players to buy under 21.
I keep saying this. If he has the potential, play him. It does not matter if he is 18 or 21, goes on loan for donkey years or not, if you do not play him in your team you will not know. Januzaj is not going to develop to the level that he can bench nani, valencia or young on ressies, I don't care how patient he is. He is most likely to get jaded.
We must start treating these young ones as 10 to 20 million youngsters with potential because anywhere else this is what they are. If they did not decide to be in our reserves, they would be playing regularly at some small club and picked up and raved about with one numpty writing an article on how we should sign him.
The atmosphere for youth development has changed massively from what we all remember. We need to stop looking at them like patient local boys. These are foreigners, players who left home at 16 to play football. This is not a past time for them, this is work. Carling cups and fa cups will not be enough. Not unless you pay him enough. He can read, he can see how good he is and if he is the player we want him to be, he would be confident in his abilities. That is not the recipe for good local lad coming into the first team 3 years from now after waiting his turn (which by the way is by far the dumbest mental block in english football today)
posted on 21/8/13
He looks a very accomplished player for his age. If he can add goals to his game I can see him being a big player for the first team. Needs to add that end product though. He's clearly got an eye for a pass and intelligence in his locker. Goals would make him a very complete player indeed.
posted on 21/8/13
We must start treating these young ones as 10 to 20 million youngsters with potential because anywhere else this is what they are.
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This nails it
We all spend time drooling over other teams youngster like barkley,shaw, kondogbia, niang oliver torres et al and suggest paying upwards of 15 million for them.
In the last 10 yrs rossi,pique and pogba were youngsters with star qualities that was evident from early age. Adnan is another, you do not need to watch 20+ games to figure this out. And why can't we make room for a potentially worldclass talent in the squad.
posted on 21/8/13
Didn't players like Petrucci, Cleverley and Fletcher spend about 2 years out injured when they were around 18 or something?
posted on 21/8/13
The problem is... You have seen him look amazing against relatively poor players. The teams on tour looked good only because they were far fitter than us. They were not PL level players.
Yes, the easy answer is to play him in a PL game and see if he can do it. If all our fans collectively said they don't mind possibly sacrificing a game or two (which could count towards losing the title) to help the youth, we could do it like Saints, Everton etc do (they do it out of financial necessity though).
The simple fact is that UTD fans expect to try and win the league and cups, the pressure is insane for both players and manager.... SAF found a good path to bring reserves through, patiently, AND challenge on all fronts.
BTW - Going out on loan is one part of the path that certain players get to skip. Be thankful that Januzaj seems to be one of such players. He might well into the 1st team by the end of the season which will be the fastest ever rise through the ranks.