The Risk For Young Players At Manchester United
During Manchester United’s 2-0 victory on Wednesday against bitter historic rivals Leeds United, youngster Noam Emeran starred in a Man of the Match performance, scoring and assisting Joe Hugill to seal the deal. Before the final whistle blew in Oslo, hype around many of the young players who were key contributors in United’s pre season curtain raiser was there to be seen. Especially via social media. Are the likes of Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo ready to be needle threaders in the first team? Is it just a little bit too soon?
On many occasions as a football fan in general, it can be easy to feel a rush of energy when seeing fearless and brave youngsters like Alejandro Garnacho run up and down the length of the pitch with a pep in their step. Just using last seasons break out academy winger as an example, you could see and hear the adulation received from an Old Trafford faithful that had already christened him with a chant reminiscent of the legend himself, Cristiano Ronaldo.
As heart warming as it can be to witness one of our own progress into such a position, we must also be reminded of the risks that can come with a premature push or unfair expectations from the very beginning. The young years of a footballers career can make or break an individual. They will be shaped into whatever the first team demands of them from the offing. Sometimes even fans to a certain extent. One thing to always keep into consideration is that just like any human being when thrown into new beginnings, there has to be time spared in such a busy schedule to learn, develop, & most importantly make mistakes, but fear can often erase the latter.
Fear can restrict a persons overall ambitions due to factors like doubt settling into your mind. An I will do it attitude converts to a Should I do it? Extra layers prolonging decisions that in the past were second nature.
When you expand upon the learning aspect of coaching, young players should be in an environment that provides motivational challenges to keep them engaged. Coaches should become devoted in wanting to understand and know his/her players on a personal level to provide support in times of uncertainty or curiosity. All of these values contribute to a healthy pathway into the first team culture, giving whomever is rewarded with a call up the best possible chance for success.
What we cannot disregard are the amounts of pressure that comes with being a Manchester United player, especially as an academy graduate. My recommendation to all United fans is to be reasonable with your analysis when it comes to such situations. Leeds was the first pre-season game of many, but also a first step in which you are required to make hundreds of thousands. Possibly even millions. Allow that to happen, and in due time, I’m sure we will reap the rewards of our patience.
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