There was an air of understatement from Nicky Butt late on Monday night when Manchester United finally announced his new role as Head of Academy.
He feels ‘honoured’ at the promotion, as you would expect, but four words leapt out significantly. ‘It’s a big challenge,’ said the former Class of 92 graduate, rather downplaying United’s ills a touch.
In football speak, Butt’s new role constitutes at least a big, big job. The academy structure needs a serious shift in culture, a transformation and individuals moving on.
Former player Nicky Butt has been announced as Manchester United's new Head of Academy
The United academy have struggled this season (pictured Tyrell Warren) and it needs a transformation
Butt (third left) was part of United's 'Class of 92' alongside several Manchester United legends
Butt won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League once as a United player
It is not for the faint heart but he will know what is required. The advantage United have with this appointment is that few possess more knowledge about successful academies than Butt.
Twenty-four years have passed since the ex-midfielder broke through their system and eventually into the first team alongside a few others who would become established at the peak of the English and world game.
United wanted to keep as many of Ryan Giggs, the Neville brothers, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Butt close as possible; the latter, they hope, gives the ailing youth set-up some identity.
Deciding that Butt was the man to take over from Brian McClair has taken 12 months, quite the stretch given he was already in the building as Under 19s manager. That delay bred uncertainty and offers weight to the idea that, at this moment in time, their academy is an afterthought.
They have really felt McClair’s departure after he decided to take up the Scottish FA’s performance director position.
There has been very little formation to the place for months now. Head of youth recruitment Derek Langley has been unfairly tasked with picking up the bulk of responsibilities, helped with administration by club secretary John Alexander.
Eric Harrison (front), Manchester United youth team coach, poses with with members of his team. (left to right) Gary Neville, Ben Thornley, Steven Riley, Chris Casper, Butt, David Beckham, Robbie Savage, Harrison, Richard Irving, Paul Scholes, Mark Rawlinson, John O'Kane, Jovan Kirovski, Keith Gillespie and David Pierce
United have felt Brian McClair’s departure after he decided to take up a position with the Scottish FA
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (left) and Will Keane (right) are two of United's most recent graduates
Butt was involved in 'The Class of '92' film alongside Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville
Communication from top to bottom has been described at Carrington as lacking at best, erratic at worst and the last year in particular has seen United fall further behind Manchester City. Not at Under 21 level, Warren Joyce has still produced a better team than their free-spending rivals, but way below. Not a problem now - United fans still see plenty of products making the first team - but the top age-group will quickly suffer if United’s slide is not arrested from the Under 8s through to the Under 18s.
In their statement to unveil Butt, United boast that 15 academy graduates have made at least one appearance for the first team since 2012. Some are still with the club - Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Will Keane, Jesse Lingard, Adnan Januzaj, Paddy McNair, James Wilson and Andreas Pereira - while others are not.
Tyler Blackett is out on loan at Celtic, two - Saidy Janko and Reece James - made one appearance, that night at MK Dons. Tom Thorpe made one substitute appearance, Robbie Brady the same, while Michael Keane, Ben Amos and Scott Wootton were given a smattering.
In fairness to United, they are aware that patting themselves on the back for promoting youth is no longer relevant given the dearth of quality coming through. It is why Ed Woodward says the promised ‘root and branch review’ is complete, why almost every single job in their academy is up for grabs. Butt will oversee the revamp and tinker where he sees fit, afforded the licence to pick apart the fractured pieces.
What he will attempt to do is quickly find a role for Chris Casper, a team-mate from the Class of 92 and highly-regarded figure in academy football. Casper has a growing reputation and was sat behind Louis van Gaal and Giggs during the Under 18s’ crushing FA Youth Cup defeat by Chelsea at Altrincham last month.
Butt shouts from the dugout during a period helping Giggs as Manchester United's caretaker boss
Phil Neville (front left) and Scholes (second front left) also helped out Giggs at the end of the 2014 season
The manager of that group, Paul McGuiness, unsurprisingly left Old Trafford last week and the willingness to part company with him - who’s been manager since 2005 and whose association first began in 1992 - indicates they at last mean business again.
Other clubs, notably City and Chelsea, have injected the sort of millions to dwarf those spent at Carrington. Woodward told shareholders during the quarterly conference call revenues generated commercially aid their sustained investment in youth football. It currently stands at a third if City’s and half of Chelsea’s.
Even simple things are not made easy. Sportsmail revealed last month that the purchase of basic equipment - bags, balls, cones and the like - can take months given how many sets of eyes are needed to pass off expenditure.
Butt is likely to be handed his own budget instead and given the freedom to overhaul a magnitude of problems.
There will be a recruitment drive at all levels to stop the absurd reality of having to cancel matches so that players can make up the numbers for an older group.
United cannot fail to have been embarrassed at the children of Phil Neville, Robin van Persie, Andy Cole and Darren Fletcher opting for City in recent years.
One former international privately told Sportsmail last month that there was ‘no chance’ of him sending his son to play for United when City were a viable option as well.
How times have changed, and that’s the perception Butt must squash in dragging up a once a great institution by its ankles.
Many young players are now choosing to join Manchester CIty's academy and Butt must change this
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét