U21s derby at Old Trafford on Tuesday

[Neville Kneville]

Southend v Stevenage SS5 extra time. . Some quality big English talent on view there. You'd love it Pearcey.

 

[CityFan94]

Kalechi looks on Sturridge's level to me.

dont agree with that, i dont think anyone of them are at the same level or micheal johnsons level. They are good, but i think we had a better quality players in those two especially

Exactly; Johnson was an immense footballer, it was only his physical/mental issues that destroyed him. In terms of ability, he'd fit seemlessly into our first team, even now; in his first full season he linked perfectly between Hamann and Elano.

Him and Sturridge were physically capable and technically superb; too much of our current emphasis is on technique, but in English football you need a blend of both and too many of our kids will fail to make it into the first team as a result.

United and Chelsea know this; they've been winning a lot longer in this league than us, and have tailored their youth ideology accordingly.

Who have those two teams brought through in the last 5 years?

Chelsea haven't brought through anyone and United have brought through the likes of Blackett, who is just a big physical young player who isn't very good.

I look at Denayer and Blackett, similar age, as the difference between ourselves and United in terms of youth ideology. One is a technically fanastic player who reads the game excellently and the other is a player whose only attributes are that he's big and strong.

Let's see who develops more top players over the next 5 years.