Manchester United And The FA Youth Cup

The FA Youth Cup is a very special competition, one which every United fan should hold dear to their heart.

In 1952, fans at Old Trafford watched on as the start of what became a great love affair with the FA Youth Cup began, in a game which saw two young lads called Duncan Edwards and David Pegg feature for the very first time in the competition. In May of the 1952/53 season, United, managed by Jimmy Murphy, reached the final where they convincingly beat Wolves 9-3 over two legs to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time and among that winning team were Busby Babes Duncan Edwards, David Pegg, Eddie Colman and Billy Whelan. United went on to win the FA Youth Cup another four times in the following four seasons.

Since then the FA Youth Cup has proven to be a springboard into the professional game and United first team for the likes of Nobby Stiles, George Best, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville.

In 2011, the current reserve side containing the likes of Johnstone, Michael and Will Keane, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Lingard, Fornasier, Thorpe, McGinty and also Van Velzen and Cofie who are now out on loan at Royal Antwerp and Sheffield United, reach United’s 14th final where they beat Sheffield United 6-3 over two legs to win what was United’s 10th FA Youth Cup, a record that is unrivalled. Many of that side at the moment are competing for their chance at a shot in the first team which some of them have already been given over the last two seasons. Whether any of them will actually make the grade as a future first team player at United, it’s difficult to say, but hopefully one or two will have what it takes.

And now we come to this year’s U-18 side who tonight begin their campaign against last season’s semi-finalists Burnley at Old Trafford. This team has been an absolute joy to watch this season. Some of the football they’ve played has been breathtaking and has IMO, been the best at any level for United. The current team is very similar to last season’s team who did incredibly well to reach last season’s semi-final stage only to be knocked out by a good Chelsea side who eventually went on to win the competition. The main differences are the absence of Tyler Blackett, Luke McCullough and Gyliano Van Velzen who have moved up a level and of course the amount of experience the team will have gained from last season’s run. The league form however has seen a massive improvement on last season as United under the new format have already qualified for the elite stage after finishing 2nd, a point behind group winners Southampton.

When it comes to choosing what side will start tonight, Paul McGuinness will have some very difficult decisions to make, especially up front.

As far as the goalkeepers are concerned, it’ll be either Sutherland who’s made an appearance at U-21 level this season or Gollini who’s played in the majority of U-18 games.

Donald Love who’s been immense this season at right back should get the nod. At centre back, I would expect Liam Grimshaw to start and if fit I would pick Nick Ioannou who’s one to watch out for to play alongside him but if he has to settle for a place on the bench, Declan Dalley should start. Ioannou performed very well in last season’s FA Youth Cup where he was only a schoolboy and he only turned 17 last month. Finally at left back should be Louis Rowley who has done quite well in replacing Tyler Blackett in that position.

This is now where it gets tricky to predict who’ll start.

In centre midfield, one of the spots will be filled by Ben Pearson, there’s no doubt about that. Alongside him however there are a few candidates. I think if he was fit, Joe Rothwell would probably start, however considering he only returned from injury against Southampton on Saturday, he’ll probably be on the bench so that leaves either James Weir or Jack Rudge and seeing as Weir has made more appearances in the league this season, I’ll opt for him but it could really be either of the two because they've both performed well this season.

With the attacking options at this level, predicting the front four is proving to be a bit of a nightmare. Firstly to play in one of the 3 attacking positions is Mats Daehli. He normally plays out on the left, however you’ll see him drift inside and play out on the right sometimes, which is testament to the flexibility of him and the other two attacking players who play off the main striker. Next there’s Adnan Januzaj in the centre who some of you’ll have seen make a few appearances at U-21 level which I feel he was starting to really get to grips with. Out on the right, I’ll go with Jack Barmby who hasn’t really featured as much as the other attacking players. I would like to think that Paul McGuinness has been looking to play him in this game. He’s featured four times in the last five games, coming off the bench three times and starting once so my money is on him starting on the right. I’ve left out Andreas Periera because he hasn’t featured a lot this season, only appeared in half of the league games although has done well when featured.

And finally we come to the central striker and I’d be surprised if it isn’t James Wilson who’s scored 12 goals in 10 appearances for the U-18s this season. I’m sure a few have heard about the growing reputation of this lad who only 6 days ago turned 17. The other striker in contention is Sam Byrne who’s the older of the two and more physically developed.

I hope those who are at Old Trafford watching the game and those who are watching on TV, get to see these players play the way they do at Carrington every other week because they are a pleasure to watch and hopefully, they can go an extra step or two further this season and win United’s 11th FA Youth Cup.