There’s been opinions flying about in recent years that Manchester United have detached themselves from their traditions – playing exciting, attacking football and winning games with style being paramount for decades. Although, some of that criticism is justified, Louis Van Gaal’s Man United have, even in this turbulent period, stuck to their ideals of producing youngsters of the highest quality, and mind you, not just producing them but also give them a chance to express themselves at one of the biggest stages there can be, to do so.
This season and the last have particularly seen, and thanks to the manager, an unbelievable influx of youth – either bred in Carrington or from a foreign academy which has led people believe that maybe the club is heading in the right direction, contrary to the general consensus. Some of them names have stayed on to play a part and some are tipped to play a greater role in the coming years while some will eventually be sold, if not already, to a lesser team but only after ensuring a healthy future for the player. This has always been the prerogative at Manchester United.
It was Adnan Januzaj that carried the weight of millions of expectations in the short-lived David Moyes era. While the player is still an exciting prospect, the jury is still out on what the future holds for the young Belgian #11 and whether Manchester United will play a role in that. Louis Van Gaal, though, almost 20 months into his job at Old Trafford, has overseen some huge changes in the academy structure and way the reserve teams played – some very productive while others not so. And he’s brought through some incredible players with great potential and promise which could define the success and stature of the club in the coming years.
Marcus Rashford is definitely one of those. Jesse Lingard, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Paddy McNair can all be vital for Man United in the forthcoming campaigns. But one particular Dutchman, made himself a player in Ajax’s famed youth system, is set to be central to everything United could achieve in the next ten years – goes by the name of Timothy Fosu-Mensah and what a find he has been. The 18-year-old with the physique of a 25-year-old, also with an equally matured footballing brain, has been one of the few bright spots of not just this season but the whole tenure under Van Gaal – goes to show how little the club has had to shout about in the last three campaigns.
Much has been talked about Fosu’s versatility on the pitch and it must not come as a surprise given his late Johan Cruyff inspired roots. What was more telling was the ridiculous ease with which he carried himself on the pitch ever since his league debut against Arsenal, at left back which is not even his natural position. He was brilliant in that game, coming on for an injured Marcos Rojo and quickly announced himself to the capacity crowd at Old Trafford.
He has made 7 appearances in the league since and not had a bad game yet. His importance was even more pronounced when Manchester United struggled to keep their shape after his substitution in the Spurs game, so much so they conceded 3 goals in 6 minutes to lose that game in almost comical fashion. There have been opinions from everyone associated with the club on his inherent potential to play in midfield for United – as the modern day enforcer, an anchor man who can maraud from box-to-box and do the business at both ends of the pitch. He’s got the legs and he can play too.
The Dutch under-19 international scored his debut goal for the club in the under-21s game against Norwich City – one of the 7 goals his side would put past the opposition goalkeeper that day in a 7-0 win. He was brought on as a substitute in the left-back position but ended up playing in midfield, eventually finishing a wonderful move on the break which required a good sense of positioning and timing and the application. It has become a source of debate, his permanent position on the football field – and the Dutchman has made his own feelings clear on what he thinks is his best position. He said in an interview on MUTV:
“It’s a difficult question. I think I’ll just be keeping my options open. Centre-back or midfield, I think that is the most chance. However, as I’ve said before, wherever the manager wants me, I will play there. As an attacking midfielder, you come into positions where you have to think and think as an attacking player as well. When you go back to being a defender, it helps you think how attackers think – about where they’re moving to and what they have to do before they receive the ball. So it definitely helps your game when you play in other positions. I think, when you’re young, it’s important you can play in as many positions as you can so, wherever the manager wants you to play, you have more experience in every role.”
Fosu-Mensah as the number 10? It’s a fascinating prospect. But there will always be better number 10’s out there and it is difficult, especially for a youngster like him to live up to the demands of the club and the fans week-in week-out. While as a center-half, he could develop into a cracking player for United but what will make him an even better midfielder, if he turns out to become one, are his deceptive pace, an invaluable ability in this day and age to get stuck in on the opponent and the fact he is comfortable on the ball.
For what it’s worth, he has been immense for United and one of the saving graces of Van Gaal in the last two months, when little was expected of him and one can only hope, he continues to grow in stature and go from strength to strength.
