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64 18 July 2010 ● THENEWPAPERONSUNDAY
s p o r t s
KENNETHCHEW
Y OU’LLnever win anything withkids.
That was Scottish pundit AlanHansen’s scything comment after Man-
chester United had crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on the first day of the 1995-1996Premier League season.
But 12 months later, Hansen was forced toeat his words after Sir Alex Ferguson’s young teamcelebrated a League and Cupdouble.
FERGIEKNOWS
THE likes of the Neville brothers (Gary andPhil), Paul Scholes, David Beckham and RyanGiggs would shoot to prominence that sea-son, and form the backbone of the Unitedside foryears tocome.
Fast-forward 14 years, and the signs arethere that history looks set to repeat itself,
with a suspicious lack of transfer activity through the revolvinggates of OldTrafford.
AsrivalsChelseaand cross-town foesMan-chester City hog the headlines by splashing out millions on glitzy new superstars, Fergiehas come out to speak of yet another assaulton thetitle forthe RedDevils,spearheadedby
youth thisupcomingseason.
TRADITION
“THE history of Manchester United is quitesimple. It’s always been based on young peo-ple, and that’s where we’re more comforta-ble,”Fergusontold The Mirror.
Assuch, the RedDevils have alwayshad anemphasis on producing players through the
youth system.“It’s a fantastically satisfying thing,” said
Ferguson.
And with only a couple of relatively low-key arrivals at Old Trafford during theoff-season, the club’s promising youngsters
will be given the opportunities to take cen-tre-stage, guided by several established veter-ansalong theway.
CLASSOF2010
MEXICAN striking sensation Javier Hernan-dez could not have arrived at a better time,
with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owenhaving neverconvincedat OldTrafford.
Ferguson will hope Hernandez can repli-cate his scintillating performances in South
Africa for the Red Devils, and help take some weight off theshouldersof WayneRooney.
Likewise, the promising duo of FedericoMacheda and Danny Welbeck will look toreignite theirpromising, if stop-startcareers.
Thegoalscoring responsibilitiesat OldTraf-ford certainly look to be in good hands for
yearsto come.
Doubts however, hang over the futures of defensive stalwarts Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdi-nandand GaryNeville.
Assuch, £7 million centre-half ChrisSmall-
ing recruit looks set to be the future at theheart of the United defence, alongside Jonny Evans and the Brazilian twins, fullbacks Ra-faeland Fabio.
In midfield, Sir Alex has earmarked Evans’ younger brother Corry and Oliver Gill, along-side the more established Darron Gibson asamongthe players to watch thisseason.
The youngsters have already impressed inpre-season, with a pair of late strikes from
Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, another promis-ing midfielder who starred at Watford on loanlast season, sealing a 3-1 win against ScottishgiantsCelticon tour inCanada.
EvenFergie has spoken of the improbabili-ty that an entire crop of youngsters wouldemerge together again as they did in the mid1990s, but the talent is undoubted in this“Class of 2010”.
So will they be good enough to reclaim theEPL title from Chelsea or even rock cash-richcross-town rivals ManchesterCity?
Onlytime willtell.
YOUNGDEVILSSTARIN3-1 WINAGAINSTCELTIC/Page62
Sir Alexwill bankon young talent to spur Man United this season
GOLFBREAKTHROUGH: Danny Chia is first Malaysianto make thecutat British Open.Page51
DEALOFF: Manny-Mayweather Jr boxing showdowncancelled as latter fails to respond.Page55
THENAND
NOW:Above, theFergieFledglingsof1993.DoyourecogniseBeckham,Scholes,Buttand theNeville
brothers?Left,someofthestarletsof 2010.
PICTURES: ACTIONIMAGES,AP
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