The academy system needs a refresh but now is the time for Carrick to trust in youth

Manchester United’s most famous eras were built around their academy products so why not give the current crop a chance to shine?

Watching Manchester United succumb meekly against Como and Bournemouth brought to mind questions and comparisons with yesteryear. Two of United’s most famous eras were built around their youth players: the Busby Babes and Class of 92. Could this be a moment for Michael Carrick to give their most talented academy products a meaningful chance?

In February 2025 I saw United beat Arsenal 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium. Jack and Tyler Fletcher did well for United and so did Harry Amass, a signing from Watford. Max Dowman, a generational talent, starred for Arsenal.

Not one of that United team has established themselves in the first team. Amass, a left-back, has two substitute appearances this season. The winger Shea Lacey, part of the same under-18s squad, has come on four times and got a Carabao Cup start.

Supporters, not least at Old Trafford, like players from the academy. The two United youth products who are regulars, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, are well established. I look at some of the club’s big signings and wonder: do they see themselves as real Manchester United players? With youth-team products you get spirit and identity – a deep pride in the shirt. That isn’t enough but to really assess them they need a proper chance.

You have to give a player a minimum of three starts in a row to see whether they have the potential to be a regular. Some players at United and elsewhere get an occasional Carabao Cup start and that’s it.

It is interesting that JJ Gabriel, a highly rated 16-year-old at United, and his advisers appear to think he could be better off elsewhere. Other young English players have made similar moves. Noni Madueke, for instance, left Tottenham for PSV at 16, got games and came back to sign for Chelsea, then Arsenal.

This is a wider issue than what is going on at United. The purpose of a youth system should be to produce players for the senior team – not to be a trading post, a way of raising funds to buy often mediocre players from abroad.

Tottenham have brought through internationals including Sol Campbell, Ledley King, Harry Kane and Andros Townsend over the past 30 years or so. This season their only homegrown player with a Premier League appearance is Mikey Moore, and he was sent back on loan – this time to Cologne – in August.

The loan system can be beneficial – look at Kane. I saw him at Leyton Orient on his first loan from Spurs and wasn’t sure he had the pace for the highest level. When he came back injured from a loan at Norwich his rehab work, including weights in the gym, left him feeling fitter and quicker.

It got to a point where Tim Sherwood, Tottenham’s technical coordinator, was banging on the door for Kane to get a first-team chance. He got it, took it and this week won the Ballon d’Or. Often as an academy player you need a sympathetic manager and strong advocate. Three players Spurs acquired for their academy were sold this summer: Alfie Devine to Preston and Will Lankshear and Ashley Phillips to Middlesbrough. Were they not deserving of an opportunity?

Liverpool have fielded a scouser every season since 1892 but named a 25-man Premier League squad in August without a player born in the city. They do have young English players and two – Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni – have started non-Carabao Cup ties this season but looking across the Premier League I worry our national team talent pool is being eroded.

The academy system needs refreshing. Principally, under-21 football should be scrapped. There are 18-year-olds retained only so clubs have a big enough squad to support the one player who could become a diamond. A boy should be released at latest 18. Those who stay should be in the first team or on loan.

Young players need the competitiveness of senior football as soon as possible. Academy football is tidy and highly technical but has little resemblance to the frenetic, physical senior game. It also doesn’t test whether a boy has the mentality to cope in a tough dressing room where older players don’t want you taking their place. As a young player at Nottingham Forest I dribbled in training past an older teammate who warned: “Do that again, son, and I’ll break your leg.” It’s not like that any more but you need a certain character.

Too many over-18s are released from Premier League academies and want an EFL club without having the CV for that. Can they cope physically? Can they be trusted by a manager who has a short time to do well or faces the sack?

Top managers are also under pressure to win and so can be reluctant to give youth a chance. As a minimum they should be watching academy games when they can and asking: “Who have you got who could become a first-team regular?” Some managers separate themselves from the academy as if it’s another club.

Carrick watching United’s under-21s this week showed he does take an interest. Now is his moment to be brave.