The price of academy tokens
A proud Manchester United record is at risk of falling. Why does it matter?
The injury sustained by Kobbie Mainoo that ruled him out of Manchester United’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur a week ago seemed, on the surface, of little significance. It was described as a “minor” muscle issue in media briefings by United and, since Mainoo is not currently in Ruben Amorim’s first-choice lineup, there was seemingly scant cause for concern.
Except for one small thing, which may not matter to every United supporter, but ought to. Mainoo’s absence from the United matchday squad at Spurs put a proud 88-year record at risk.
For the past 4,333 consecutive matches, United have named an academy graduate in their squad. It dates back to 1937 even before the days of the Busby Babes.
These things are important. It is these things that make up the fabric of Manchester United. They are woven in alongside the idea of playing a brand of fast attacking football and wearing a red home shirt with a devil on the badge.
Amorim understands the significance of the record. But whether he named Jack Fletcher in the squad at Tottenham merely to keep the record going – a tokenistic gesture – is now up for debate.
“It’s really important,” Amorim told TNT Sports before the game when asked about the record. “There is something special in our club which has to be bulletproof. The way we behave, the way we feel [about] the club.
“We are not going to stop with academy players. It doesn’t matter about the result. We will continue with these small details which are the foundations of our club.
“We have that record, we won’t break that record. And Jack is ready to help us.
“We will show that our academy is our future. The players in our academy must be ready to help us.”
When Amorim says “it doesn’t matter about the result” you get the feeling he really means it. Some may argue he should be winning at all costs, but it is heartening to see a United manager with this attitude when many of the Portuguese’s predecessors showed such disdain for the academy.
Louis van Gaal binned Danny Welbeck to sign a crocked Radamel Falcao on an expensive loan; Jose Mourinho refused to pick academy-produced players unless they were called Scott McTominay, while Erik ten Hag viewed Anthony Elanga with suspicion before sanctioning his sale.
During the post-Ferguson years, United’s academy suffered as a result. The Under-23s (now the Under-21s) were relegated in 2018 and United failed to win the FA Youth Cup – the prestigious academy competition United have won more than any club – between 2011 and 2022.
The work done by Nick Cox as the club’s academy chief between 2019 and 2024 (and before that as a youth coach since 2016) has been vital to the rejuvenation of United’s youth sides. Cox’s departure to take up the role of technical director at Everton is a shame.
But the fruits of his labour mean the academy is now brimming with talent. There is Fletcher and his twin brother Tyler (18), both sons of current Under-18s head coach Darren Fletcher. There is the supremely gifted Shea Lacey (also 18) who looks to be making good on his potential after navigating injury problems. Even younger but equally as talented is Bolton boy Jim Thwaites (17) and the 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel. The future is bright again.
Whether any of the aforementioned, or anyone else for that matter, gets a chance is now up to Amorim. The likes of Godwill Kukonki, Chido Obi and Tyler Fredricson have all been named in Amorim’s matchday squads in the past – and all three could yet emerge – but it feels like the pressure is on to keep the record intact.
Amorim at least has a strong record for developing homegrown players – at Sporting it became his calling card, blooding 23 academy graduates in the first team in his four-year tenure in Lisbon. Doing something similar in the Premier League, however, is an entirely different prospect.
By staying true to his word, Amorim will send a message to each and every youngster currently on the Carrington books: there is a pathway.
So perhaps the inclusion of Fletcher on the Tottenham trip was a token gesture. Or perhaps Fletcher, or someone else, will break through like Mainoo did two years ago.
In some regard, Mainoo’s own role under Amorim is a separate issue – his exclusion is primarily for reasons of tactics, not talent – but perhaps how his future unfolds will reveal more about United’s attitude to the academy.
In an ideal world we would see as many youth products in the first team as possible. For now, though, any sort of compromise would be an improvement on the status quo. That record is teetering on a cliff edge.
Dominic Booth
If you don't nurture the academy talent, there's no future....?