Manchester United: Players to watch out for

A new season, nothing is better than the whiff of another August approaching for football fans.

The English Premier League is just few days away from kick off. All the teams are busy strengthening their squads, either by signing new players or by promoting some players from the youth academy.

Manchester United, current holders of the EPL and the most successful team on English soil are ready to begin their quest to retain the title and lift it a record 20th time.

Let’s have a look at the dark horses in the Manchester United squad. (Young and raw players with the potential to shine)

Danny Welbeck (Winger/Striker)

Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck, 20, is one of Manchester United’s youth players, promoted to the senior squad in 2008. He spent most of the last two seasons at Preston North End and Sunderland, the Sunderland spell being the most successful one. He made 26 appearances for Sunderland and found the net 6 times, before being plagued with an injury which kept him out till the end of the season.

But during the playtime he got, he showed some brilliant footwork, fantastic presence of mind and lightning pace. His lively runs caused a lot of problems for the defenders, with every run being a threatening one.

Welbeck had a fantastic pre season tour with Manchester United in the US and is expected to get a lot of first team appearances in the 2011-12 season.

This would be a fantastic opportunity for Welbeck and make no mistake, he is capable of capitalising on it.

Federico Macheda (Striker)

Federico Macheda

Federico Macheda, just 19 years of age, is every bit the Italian wonder boy. Manchester United signed Macheda from Lazio in 2007. Macheda scored the winning goal for the Man United U-18 team on his debut. He finished that season as the leading goal scorer of the U-18 team with 12 goals in 21 appearances.

In the 2008–09 season, he continued in the under-18 side, while also making a few appearances for the reserves. Towards the end of the season, Macheda enjoyed an extended run in the reserve team, scoring eight goals in eight games, and he was rewarded by being selected for the first team for the match against Aston Villa on 5 April, 2009. This was the match in which he raised a few eye brows by scoring a fantastic curling effort in the stoppage time giving Manchester United a 3-2 win and a valuable 3 points.

Macheda, just like Welbeck, had a fantastic pre season tour and is also expected to make it to the first team. Given his age and hunger for glory he will definitely do wonders in the red Jersey.

Tom Cleverley (Midfielder)

Tom Cleverley

Tom Cleverley, 21, an youth player at Bradford City, signed as a trainee for Manchester United in July, 2005. Tom spent the last three seasons on loan at Leicester City, Watford and Wigan Athletic. He showed brilliance and creativity in midfield in all the three teams, making a total of 73 appearances and scoring 17 goals.

Tom played a crucial part in Wigan’s fight against relegation through his assists and goals and returned to Manchester United with valuable experience and more maturity about his game.

Cleverley showed creativity at midfield in Manchester United’s pre season tour in US and set up Michael Owen to score the winning goal against Barcelona on 30th July. He might prove to be the answer to the void left by Paul Scholes’ retirement in the long run. But at present he can still pull off some good performances as Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his desire to play the young midfielder in the first team more often in the next season.

Luis Anderson (Midfielder)

Luis Anderson

Luis Anderson, 23, signed for Manchester United in 2007 from FC Porto, a talented Brazilian youngster who impressed with his lively presence in the midfield. But he is yet to pull off a good season with Manchester United because of his on-and-off form. But gradually, Anderson has settled in the Premier League and at Manchester United.

Last season, Anderson made his presence felt at the midfield with his lively runs and never ending stamina. Anderson hit top form towards the end of the season, providing crucial assists and scoring goals. He scored two goals in the Champions League fixture against Schalke 04.

Anderson carried the form to the pre season tour in US and showed some creativity in midfield. Quick passes, finding spaces to exploit, making threatening runs and an eye for goal.

Anderson has no doubt developed into a good midfielder and can expect a place in the starting line-up in some matches. He is certainly capable of grabbing the opportunity with both hands.

Gabriel Obertan (Winger)

Gabriel Obertan

Gabriel Obertan, 22, joined Manchester United from Bordeaux in 2009. The french winger has a lot of potential to become a top player and hence Manchester United signed him at an early age. But, Obertan found it difficult to settle in England and failed to impress with his average performances.

But the potential being raw, Manchester United preferred to develop the player instead of releasing him. Obertan has no doubt pulled off some great performances with the reserves team, but now is the time to give him some more first team action.

Obertan looked sharp and accurate in the pre season tour, providing assists and scoring goals. His speed and fancy footwork was a surprise to some. Stepovers of the highest quality and the ability to shrug off defenders in the flank showed that Obertan has matured and ready to fit in the first team squad.

There is no doubt he will get a few chances and he is capable of making it count.

Phil Jones (Defender/Defensive Midfielder)

Phil Jones

Phil Jones, 19, youth product of Blackburn Rovers, joined Manchester United in the current transfer window. The transfer fees however raised a few eyebrows because of the amount involved for a 19 year old player who has yet to prove himself. But given his performances, it could prove to be a vital transfer for Manchester United in the long run with Rio Ferdinand aging and the long serving John O’Shea moving to Sunderland.

Phil Jones is considered to be the most talented defender of his generation and tipped to become the England captain in future by some Football experts.

Besides good composure at the back, it is his versatility which will be of more value in the long run as he can play as a Centre Back, as a Defensive midfielder and also as a Right back.

Jones made his debut for Manchester United in the 3-1 win over Chicago Fire in the pre season tour of US.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already said that Jones will see plenty of first team action and given the chance, Jones can prove himself to be a top defender and justify the price paid for him.

The Da Silva Brothers (Right back/Left back)

Da Silva Brothers

Rafael Da Silva and Fabio Da Silva, aged 21, the future faces of Manchester United’s full backs.

The energetic brothers were signed together by Sir Alex Ferguson. The Brazillian youngsters already are a crucial part of Manchester United’s squad. The breath taking runs, the passion for the game developed these two players into twin dynamites.

Rafael got the chances earlier as a right back and he grabbed the opportunity with both his hands delivering fantastic performances at all occasions.

Fabio, who plays as a left back is not less in any aspect, his lively runs straight from defence to attack in the blink of an eye shows the talent and skill of this young lad. Both of them will go on to become more mature, and develop in the next season as their performances will be awarded by more first team appearances.

David de Gea (Goalkeeper)

David de Gea

David de Gea, 20, another new signing by Manchester United.

Facing a tough task to replace the retiring No. 1, Van der Sar, Manchester United preferred to sign a young talent rather than an established goalkeeper. The fees again was a matter of debate for some, but given his potential and performances for Atletico Madrid and Spain, the amount given may be overshadowed when De Gea pulls on the No. 1 shirt and guard the United goal post.

With amazing reflexes and fantastic speed, David de Gea will be the No. 1 for Manchester United for most of the matches. But he faces a competition within the club with Anders Lindegaard who is another great goalkeeper.

He will definitely get a lot of first team action, but the question is can he develop a siuation just like Van der Sar? A situation of relief and satisfaction for the team and fans that a responsible person is guarding the post. Time will tell, but given his skill and capability, he can certainly go on to become a revelation at Manchester United.

These were just some young and raw players who can make it big in the next season. Another signing, Ashley Young is also a man to watch as he will play with the Champions for the first time.

Whatever performances they give, it should be a team effort aimed at retaining glory.

For now, I cannot wait for the new season to begin.