Young Reds impress

Immense talent

"Gary Neville was impressed with how United took the game to the Blues and feels that this is the best youth side at the club in a long time. And, let's face it, he's in a pretty good position to judge the kids." 
- David Stowell

Of all the matches at the club this week, the FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg was the one I was most looking forward to. It didn't disappoint and nor did United's kids.

So many Old Trafford heroes have cut their teeth in this competition. The likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards and Gary Neville, who was in the commentary box with me last night, have all grown up on youth football's biggest stage. Last night we saw the latest crop of youngsters strut their stuff on the hallowed turf and I'm absolutely delighted they got through.
There were match-winning performances right through the team, from the brave and agile Sam Johnstone in net, right through to hat-trick hero Will Keane up top. With the Reds trailing 3-2 after the first leg, the first goal of the night was always going to be crucial. Ravel Morrison's deflected shot looped up into the Chelsea net and it was quickly followed by Will Keane's downward header to make it 2-0. Those two strikes in two minutes shifted the tie massively in United's favour.
The tigerish Ryan Tunnicliffe had an electric second half, chasing down anything that moved in blue and forcibly putting Chelsea first-teamer Josh McEachran into the shade. In the end, United were too strong for Chelsea, both physically and mentally, and another two goals from Keane wrapped it up. But make no mistake: the Blues had more than had their say in the early exchanges.
Gary Neville was impressed with how United took the game to the Blues and feels this is the best youth side at the club in a long time. And, let's
face it, he's in a pretty good position to judge the kids. Personally, having watched the lads and worked with them for the last few years, it's very exciting to see the development many of them have made. There are some who have worked really hard to get stronger, some to improve their ball work and some to improve their CV off the pitch.
It's easy to forget how young these lads are, so this victory is a welcome boost on so many levels. They've shown guts, determination and class to survive a really tricky run to the final, beating Portsmouth, West Ham, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Hopefully the youngsters can go and lift the trophy and write their names into the history books. But even if they don't, they will have gained so much from their FA Youth Cup journey and I, for one, have loved watching it unfold.