Not starting an arguement, just asking him to clarify the 8-9 players that are home grown and the couple that are bought in Utds first 11...
Seven? The homegrown ones are Brown, Evans, Giggs, and Gill. I wouldn't call Gibson or Fabio home grown - Gibson joined us as a 16 year old so we didn't really bring him through the academy.
That's like asking KingPepeReina to explain how NESV are worth ã100 billion... Although to be fair United are currently the PL team with the most academy players in their current first team squad. I had a very satisfying argument with a Leeds fan about this, which left him running off with his tail between his legs.
Was being reasonable with the Brazilian as he's been there for a long time, just didn't know about Gibson.
True - I'd put Fabio and Gibson in the same bracket as Fabregas - not true homegrown players, but ones who were spotted at other academies / youth set ups and brought in to the club then trained up. We were actually interested in Fabio and Rafael at age 15, but couldn't transfer them as Brazilian law prevents them moving outside Brazil until they turn 18, unless their parents move with them. That's one of the reasons we paid so much for Anderson - we could have got him from Gremio for 7 million Euros when he was 17, but his Mum moved to Portugal with him so he signed for Porto. I reckon they may have signed him knowing we'd come in for him in the next year or so and they could make a big mark up just by getting him inside the EU. Although who did you reckon was our 7th homegrown player in the squad?
Smalling Evans Giggs Fabio Da Silva Oliver Gill Gibson Brown Research is not my strong point! Did you buy Smalling?
Yes, Smalling was bought in Jan last year from Fulham. Although he was pretty unheard of before SAF unearthed him - he'd only played 14 games for Maidstone and 19 for Fulham. And now he's played seven Champions League games! So a pretty meteoric rise...
I would count Giggs as a United product, as he never signed a contract with City. But I wouldn't count him in our eight, as he broke through in 1991 before the PL started. Same deal with John Terry - I'd count him as a Chelsea product even though he was in the West Ham side until aged 14.
Well he hasn't responded yet, and as I said I'm just looking for clarification...I personally don't give a ****e who has the most of what, where and when, but I do like statements that bold to be backed up.
Yep. Beckham, like Giggs, signed schoolboy forms with United on his 14th birthday. Beckham had already trained with Man United and been a mascot for them before he turned 14 as well. He only trained with Spurs cos they were the closest club to where he lived, and he couldn't formally join any club until he turned 14.
