Chong

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 18 minutes ago
I'm always reluctant to predict which young players will or especially won't make it because there aren't consistent correlations between how promising they are at youth level or their first couple of years on the fringes of the senior squad and how they eventually turn out. There are so many variables: the psychology and character of the individual (which you don't really ever know until it's put to test); the final stage of physical development; fortune with injuries; whether they get the crucial opportunities at the right time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep; shouldn’t stop people getting excited about watching them play and develop or about their potential though.

I thought Chong looked raw when he featured for us. Hopefully the loan and consistent game time works well for him.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 minutes ago
I'm always reluctant to predict which young players will or especially won't make it because there aren't consistent correlations between how promising they are at youth level or their first couple of years on the fringes of the senior squad and how they eventually turn out. There are so many variables: the psychology and character of the individual (which you don't really ever know until it's put to test); the final stage of physical development; fortune with injuries; whether they get the crucial opportunities at the right time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Occasionally there is a player where you just know though; Rooney, Owen, R9, Mbappe, Messi...

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
I'm always reluctant to predict which young players will or especially won't make it because there aren't consistent correlations between how promising they are at youth level or their first couple of years on the fringes of the senior squad and how they eventually turn out. There are so many variables: the psychology and character of the individual (which you don't really ever know until it's put to test); the final stage of physical development; fortune with injuries; whether they get the crucial opportunities at the right time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I share your sceptism. I have watched too many players with great start to their career dropoff not because they lack talent but because other factors come in to play. But as Busby said their are a handful of players whose talents are just off the scale or are already exhibiting the maturity of a seasoned.

With players at utd I have no problem with admitting I choose to be overly optimistic about their future prospect afterall what is the worst that can happen. I am less so about young players from other clubs especially when they come with world record price tags unless they pass my "wow factor" test.

*off the scale talent or the maturity of a seasoned

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 minutes ago
I'm always reluctant to predict which young players will or especially won't make it because there aren't consistent correlations between how promising they are at youth level or their first couple of years on the fringes of the senior squad and how they eventually turn out. There are so many variables: the psychology and character of the individual (which you don't really ever know until it's put to test); the final stage of physical development; fortune with injuries; whether they get the crucial opportunities at the right time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Occasionally there is a player where you just know though; Rooney, Owen, R9, Mbappe, Messi...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’d add Pogba, Greenwood and Ravel to that list.

And Giggs.

comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 2 hours ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 18 minutes ago
I'm always reluctant to predict which young players will or especially won't make it because there aren't consistent correlations between how promising they are at youth level or their first couple of years on the fringes of the senior squad and how they eventually turn out. There are so many variables: the psychology and character of the individual (which you don't really ever know until it's put to test); the final stage of physical development; fortune with injuries; whether they get the crucial opportunities at the right time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep; shouldn’t stop people getting excited about watching them play and develop or about their potential though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Totally. My comment was as much about not writing players off too quickly as anything else.

comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 27 minutes ago
And Giggs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think there are quite a few posters on here who have no idea of just how good Giggs really was when he broke through to the first team.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 27 minutes ago
And Giggs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think there are quite a few posters on here who have no idea of just how good Giggs really was when he broke through to the first team.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’d swap an 18 year-old Giggs for Rashford or Martial without thinking about it.

And that’s no sleight on either of the latter.

comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 4 hours, 37 minutes ago
VC, I'm afraid I'm one of the numbnuts, I never thought he had it in him, or at least at our level..
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not a numbnuts... This is a fair evaluation of what he produced in the first team...

However, I don't think the guy did himself justice in any of his first team appearances (bar the last one at LB). Didn't seem to be able to deal with the pressure of playing with the first team. Half the time it seemed like his legs weren't functioning properly

I feel the lack of crowds is a major factor as to why his currently doing well (and played well in his last game)...

Hopefully he gets to mature during this loans spell and starts believing in himself and feeling at home in a first team...