Youngsters are mainstays - Neil Redfearn says the young players are coming good at just the right time
leedsunited.com 12/11/14
Neil Redfearn says the young players are the “mainstays” of his United side and believes they are coming good at exactly the right time.
Home-grown talents such as Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook have all established themselves as key figures in the first team , while the likes of Chris Dawson and Charlie Taylor have also been knocking on the door.
"These young players are really coming to prominence," said Redfearn.
"It’s really, really unusual you get so many coming in at once.
"I think the last side was the Man United side with Giggs, Keane, the Nevilles and all them. They all came in. Perhaps they’re having an impact such as that.
"They’re having an impact where they’re a big influence on this side. I look at them as the mainstays of our side.
"Cookie in the first half was absolutely outstanding – the amount of second balls he picked up, when he screened the back four and he never let them off the hook, it was relentless.
"A lot of that was down to his positioning and his passing.
"Mowatt was the best player on the pitch the other night against Charlton. He was our best player at Cardiff and he played well again against Blackpool.
"Sam Byram looked more like himself, marauding down the right. He’s got that confidence now, that bit of an edge.
"They’re coming good at the right time."
Redfearn originally joined United’s youth set-up in January 2009 as Under-18s manager, giving him an advantage when it comes to knowing the strengths of the club’s Academy products.
"One of the really exciting things from my point of view is that I’ve known a lot of these young guys since they were Under-16s," he said.
"So I’ve seen their potential. They sort of convince you that you’re doing the right things with them, that what you’re telling them is the right way to play.
"I never put too much pressure on them but they’re playing well together. They’re the glue in this side, they’re gluing this side together.
"It’s been said before, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. At the moment, these lads look more than good enough."
Neil Redfearn says the young players are the “mainstays” of his United side and believes they are coming good at exactly the right time.
Home-grown talents such as Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook have all established themselves as key figures in the first team , while the likes of Chris Dawson and Charlie Taylor have also been knocking on the door.
"These young players are really coming to prominence," said Redfearn.
"It’s really, really unusual you get so many coming in at once.
"I think the last side was the Man United side with Giggs, Keane, the Nevilles and all them. They all came in. Perhaps they’re having an impact such as that.
"They’re having an impact where they’re a big influence on this side. I look at them as the mainstays of our side.
"Cookie in the first half was absolutely outstanding – the amount of second balls he picked up, when he screened the back four and he never let them off the hook, it was relentless.
"A lot of that was down to his positioning and his passing.
"Mowatt was the best player on the pitch the other night against Charlton. He was our best player at Cardiff and he played well again against Blackpool.
"Sam Byram looked more like himself, marauding down the right. He’s got that confidence now, that bit of an edge.
"They’re coming good at the right time."
Redfearn originally joined United’s youth set-up in January 2009 as Under-18s manager, giving him an advantage when it comes to knowing the strengths of the club’s Academy products.
"One of the really exciting things from my point of view is that I’ve known a lot of these young guys since they were Under-16s," he said.
"So I’ve seen their potential. They sort of convince you that you’re doing the right things with them, that what you’re telling them is the right way to play.
"I never put too much pressure on them but they’re playing well together. They’re the glue in this side, they’re gluing this side together.
"It’s been said before, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. At the moment, these lads look more than good enough."
