Manchester United's kids are the new Beckham and Co, says Nicky Butt
NICKY BUTT recognises class when he sees it – and he is *convinced that 20 years after Manchester United’s Famous Five, football has *witnessed the birth of a new golden generation.
Butt made history at Old Trafford along with David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and the Neville *brothers, who went on to underpin an unprecedented, sustained period of *success for the club from the mid-1990s.
Now, Sir Alex Ferguson has the Fab Four – Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck – another group of young English players primed to lead United into a *glorious new era.
Butt, who won six Premier League titles, a European Cup and three FA Cups, can see a *familiar pattern developing.
And he knows, just like in his day, that older dressing-room enforcers will ensure the superkids never get too big for their boots.
Invincible
Butt said: “Going back to the time when Becks, Scholesy, Gary, Phil and me were coming through into the first team, we felt invincible.
“When we were in that youth team there was a feeling that something *special was developing.
“We felt we could take on the world and I see that same sort of confidence running through the young lads that are in this United team now.
“It’s exciting to see it happening again because you can’t *underestimate what can happen when you get a group of young players like Sir Alex has now all gelling at the same time.
“Am I surprised? No, not at all *because these things don’t happen by accident at United.
“The manager plans for this kind of evolution and, as in the case of the Class of ’92, he is always willing to give young players a chance.
“He did it with our group and you can see he’s already recognised that these young lads can handle being on the big stage as United players.
“Cleverley and Welbeck have been at the club a while and he’s carefully managed their career development.
“Smalling and Jones have been brought in from outside, but he’s *immediately seen there’s no point in farming them out on loan.
“They are ready now because they have what it takes.
“It looks like those two have been United players for years.
“They aren’t fazed by the high *standards the club have set nor the *expectation levels that come with *being a United player.
“It was the same with the lads I grew up with at United. We knew we were talented and would make a living in the game, but at that age we didn’t think we’d go on to achieve what we did as a group.
“But in those days the mix of youth and experience in the team was *perfect and everything just clicked.
“Now I can see history repeating itself because there are a core of *experienced lads like Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and *Darren Fletcher who will make certain no one steps out of line or gets too big for their boots.”
Butt, 36, clearly remembers senior pros like Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, Peter Schmeichel, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Brian McClair ruling the roost – and making sure the *youngsters *fulfilled their potential.
Rollicking
And he recalls a blast from star-maker Eric Harrison when he was making his way through the ranks.
Butt said: “I was 14 and got a real rollicking from Eric, who was the youth coach at the time. He told me not to think I had made it – and that stuck with me. I remember walking into the old training ground at The Cliff in Salford when I was 16.
“You think you have cracked it as a footballer, but you are quickly brought down to earth and made to understand the work ethic that runs through the club.
“Our group were all good lads and didn’t take much looking after *because we all wanted to make it at United.
“But if we did ever need to be kept in check, we were slapped down by the older players. Sometimes they didn’t need to say anything – just a stare from Robbo, Brucie, Keane or Ince was all it took!
“I’m sure that Giggsy, Rio and even Wayne will keep the young lads in line now, but they all look sensible lads who are focused on their football and the future.
“The senior lads are probably more important when things go wrong *because the likes of Welbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling are certain to hit a bad patch.
“And that’s when the advice and *experience of players like Giggsy, Rio, Vidic and Wayne will be crucial.” Butt knows the new generation have a long way to go to emulate United heroes like Beckham and Scholes.
But after routing Arsenal 8-2, he is convinced they can fend off rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool this season.
Trophies
He said: “That win over Arsenal just *cemented my belief that these lads will win *plenty of trophies.
“The manager will keep them on their toes and I don’t see anyone they should be scared of at all. Some of my family and mates are big City fans and they have been giving me some stick that they’re going to be winning the big prizes this season.
“They have bought some massive players and now have a fantastic squad, but it’s not just about that.
“I’m not saying City won’t win the Premier League, just that it’s not easy to win it.
“And even though United are a much younger team than City, you still wouldn’t back against the *manager *making it 20 titles for the club come May.”
Source :
http://www.people.co.uk