Old Manchester United manager Eric Harrison was a great educator. He was the man whose hard love made the ’92 Class what it was.
They became familiar names on his watch but also, as Sir Alex Ferguson said at Harrison’s funeral last year, “good humans”.
Nicky Butt was one of those who benefited from the collaboration with Harrison and is now the head of development for the club’s first team.
I asked Butt some time ago if United had children to watch. He called Mason Greenwood. “One of the best we’ve ever seen,” Butt told me.
Mason Greenwood has been described as the best young man Manchester United has ever seen
Now we are seeing why there was so much excitement. United is a club that properly treats young players. They are proud of it.
That’s why we can be sure that Greenwood is in good hands. They will be in his ear to keep him on the ground.
I remember seeing Michael Owen break through too. In fact, I was on the field the day he made his Liverpool debut against Wimbledon and I became the club’s youngest scorer at 17 years and 144 days.
It was May 1997, but we had heard a long time before that boy from the academy who was coming into the ranks.
Greenwood is in good hands at Manchester United, which will keep the 18-year-old on the ground
This is what happens in clubs when they have a special talent in their hands: rumors circulate. The only question is whether they can handle the transition. Owen did it and Greenwood is doing it too.
With Owen, the defenders would try to show him his left foot because they knew it was his weaker side. Keep the ball away from his right foot and maybe he won’t score.
But Greenwood doesn’t seem to have a weak side. Left foot, right foot, it doesn’t matter.
He likes a step, but does not use them for the sake of looking flash. He uses them to unbalance the defenders and earn half a meter because that’s all he needs to pull the trigger. The power it generates in its blows is a weapon.
Greenwood says he is a left footer but also seems comfortable with his right hand
Greenwood is currently used on the right wing by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but with his size and skills I see him as a future n. 9.
That position belongs to Anthony Martial at the moment, but there is plenty of time for Greenwood to make it his.
Owen has always had a good support system around him, his family and those of the club. He was a reasonable boy – he didn’t let anything distract him from football.
Greenwood is also the perfect club for its development. They will have people who will make sure it is kept on the right track, just as the Class of ’92 has been driven so expertly.
At 18, Greenwood can go far, as long as you listen to those around him. Continue at this rate and will join my team of the season next year.
No sympathy for the self-destructive Watford
Watford has brought this upon himself.
Even though there has been a sincere exchange between Nigel Pearson and owner Gino Pozzo, you don’t have to fire your manager with two games to play and your Premier League status on the line.
The Hornets lost our sympathy when they did. Pearson gave them a chance to fight.
Watford was demoted from the Premier League a few days after firing boss Nigel Pearson
That 3-0 win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road in February was one of the results of the season. They were at the bottom when Pearson took over and that victory lifted them from the relegation zone.
But they didn’t treat their managers with respect and paid the final price.
They have what they deserve and are now a league club.
Lampard made the ridiculous look easy
At the start of the season, you may have heard me say on Sky Sports: “If you think Frank Lampard should finish in the top four and win a cup, then you’re deluded.” Now I support this claim.
Nobody should have expected it. But the fact that Chelsea qualified for the Champions League and is in the English Cup final shows that overtime Lampard did.
Frank Lampard finished in the top four during his Premier League debut at Chelsea
He became the first English boss to join the European elite competition since his uncle and father brought Tottenham there in 2010.
Lampard took over when there was an embargo on the transfer and Eden Hazard was sold to Real Madrid. He inherited a Christian Pulisic player he didn’t know much about.
Yet look where Chelsea are now. Lampard clearly belongs to the highest levels. These are exciting times for everyone at Stamford Bridge.
Bournemouth faces the summer of having been separated
I love Bournemouth. It’s where I grew up and spent my formative years.
But now I’m out of the Premier League and I’m afraid for my former club.
Callum Wilson is slated to be sold this summer. Nathan Ake could also leave, while I’m sure someone will try to catch David Brooks. Can they return from the championship?
It was a miracle when Eddie Howe did it the first time and it would take another to come back.
Henderson deserved the award more than De Bruyne
The result of the FWA footballer of the year sparked some debate.
Plenty pointed out that Kevin De Bruyne has more talent with a ball at his feet than Jordan Henderson.
But Henderson does much more off the pitch. Being a captain of a club like Liverpool is a big responsibility – you have to put your personal problems aside and help others – and he managed everything beautifully.
Jordan Henderson was named Football Writers Association Player of the Year this week
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