Chong

comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 3 hours, 39 minutes ago
Hard to know what he’ll do in his career. He’s nearly 21, but he’s played such little football thus far.

I read not long ago that back in the Netherlands they weren’t happy about him coming to United/how little he’s played thus far. They seem to rate him in the youth set ups - he’s actually an under 21 international - but lacks the experience most other Dutch players his age have made.

It’s a problem there in general when young Dutch players leave their academies. It’s not as good for their development as staying in the Netherlands.
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This, ever since his departure from the Feyenoord academy he's scored less and less goals, and never made it to the senior national team. Leaving Feyenoord was bad, we all knew that. All Dutch youth players that leave for the PL flop bar v Persie. I am surprised Ake is going to Chelsea, dont think he'll do much for them.

He looked lively playing left back - I don't remember seeing him having fun while playing for the seniors before.

He’s going to City. Van Persie isn’t really similar given he’d already played for Feyenoord before Arsenal signed him. I’m talking about the youth players that swap academies. Hard to know how good they’d have been had they stayed in the Dutch teams, but they’d have certainly have had more opportunities. At least with Ake Chelsea found him some decent playing time on loan.

comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 46 minutes ago
Wide players and full backs tend to be the ones that make the step up from u23’s to senior level more often than other positions.

He just looks really rapey on the ball and stick thin. Without playing games he’s not going to gain the confidence needed to play at this level.
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Depends on the skill set. I didn’t say wide players can find it difficult; I said players who excel (and I meant primarily) when they have space to run in and into.

We’ve seen it with Dan James. Playing in open games against high lines in the Championship he was different class. He’d burn into space behind, then have half an hour to beat the keeper one way or another. He’s very, very rarely going to get the chance to do that at United.

Greenwood has always been able to work in tight spaces, and can beat players or otherwise make space for himself with trickery.

Chong isn’t that kind of player - he’s much more like James. He’s good off the ball, and will blow defenders away with his acceleration if he gets the chance one on one or in behind. But he isn’t going to sit players down the way Greenwood does.

I don’t think Dan James was different class in the championship. That’s why it was a weird signing, there were many better players.

I understand the issues of space, but Chong hasn’t had any chances in the prem anyway. I don’t think that’s a massive problem if you know how to use your pace.

As a general point about players making the step up it’s still true. As they’re largely faster and more athletic in those positions.

Midfielders and attacking mids often work better in tighter spaces, but they rarely make the step up at a young age from the u23’s as they’re often still lacking many attributes needed to play in the middle of the pitch.

As for players stepping up at United, since Fergie took charge, to pick an arbitrary date to measure from, we’ve actually had more central midfielders come through the Academy to make (or at least forge) a career at the club than players in any other position.

And looking at players who’ve had successful top flight careers anywhere, I’d guess we’ve developed more CBs than anything else.

comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 4 minutes ago
I don’t think Dan James was different class in the championship. That’s why it was a weird signing, there were many better players.

I understand the issues of space, but Chong hasn’t had any chances in the prem anyway. I don’t think that’s a massive problem if you know how to use your pace.

As a general point about players making the step up it’s still true. As they’re largely faster and more athletic in those positions.

Midfielders and attacking mids often work better in tighter spaces, but they rarely make the step up at a young age from the u23’s as they’re often still lacking many attributes needed to play in the middle of the pitch.

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Maybe times have changed a little, but we’ve had Scholes, Butt, Beckham, Cleverley, Gibson, Fletcher, and McT. Dunno if any of Pogba (who was ready), Possebon (ruined by Pogatetz) or Pereira (obviously went on loan for quite a while) would count.

How old were they when they started getting games? Early 20’s pretty much. We’ve not really had many come through in the positions I mentioned, but generally speaking these are the positions where the youngest footballers break into a side, especially at the top level.

Managers are more allowing of mistakes out wide than they are in the middle of the pitch. Players like Pogba, Fabregas and Wilshere, for example, are exceptions to the rule. Young wingers, especially, get games all the time at the top level.

comment by Imran The King Khan (U10026)
posted 12 hours, 54 minutes ago
How old were they when they started getting games? Early 20’s pretty much. We’ve not really had many come through in the positions I mentioned, but generally speaking these are the positions where the youngest footballers break into a side, especially at the top level.

Managers are more allowing of mistakes out wide than they are in the middle of the pitch. Players like Pogba, Fabregas and Wilshere, for example, are exceptions to the rule. Young wingers, especially, get games all the time at the top level.
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Yeah, that’s probably true more generally speaking.

At a club like United, I’d still expect players of the ilk of Januzaj or Greenwood to first be given more chances, and second, to make the most of those, rather than pace merchants like James and Chong.

Yeah they’re better players. But pace merchants can take to prem level well. Think SWP, Walcott and Lennon (they were the Beckham replacements ). If you don’t play games you won’t learn how to use the limited attributes you do have. I can’t stand Dan James, but like Chong he suffers from a lack of experience for his age.