Youth football expert says Manchester United problems are not Erik Ten Hag's fault
We’re delighted to welcome the founder of Kinetic Academy Harry Hudson as our exclusive columnist. Each week the youth football expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on wonderkids across the UK…
Manchester United are not having the best of times so far this season but youth football expert Harry Hudson doesn’t lay the blame on the manager.
Hudson is the founder of the Kinetic Academy which has seen 61 graduates to professional contracts from the South London region and himself manages non-league Sevenoaks FC.
The Red Devils’ most recent failure came away at Brentford as the Bees enjoyed a rampant half an hour to win 4-0 and send United to the bottom of the league.
Hudson believes the current predicament at Old Trafford is something of a catch-22 for the young players at the club but realises that the issues don’t stop at the manager.
“It’s a bit of a catch-22 because if the first team is doing incredibly well and is well resourced, then opportunities for youth players are more limited,” Hudson told The Football Wonderkids.
“Whereas if the first team are struggling, then in some cases, they might look towards the youth a little bit more so it isn’t always the worst thing for a youth team player if the first team are struggling.
“The situation at Manchester United especially is one that only the people working for the club at the highest level will really understand but it can’t be Ten Hag’s fault.
“He’s one of the world’s most respected coaches and yeah, the performance levels in their first two games has been absolutely embarrassing but they’ve gone through three of four managers before Ten Hag.
“They keep sacking them and it can’t always be their fault so I imagine that there is a lot more going on at that football club than the general public are aware of because it seems really broken at the moment.”
Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Elanga have both had substitute appearances already this season but the Dutchman may have to give more chances to the youngsters at Carrington soon.
In other Manchester United news, a highly-rated right-back is on the verge of making a move to League Two and a club with a rich tradition of developing young players.