Francisco Junior earning his stripes

Here's hoping both Junior and Ross have a better season than Ross did last season. Great to have some talented lads coming through, especially at the same time - didn't do the Mancs any harm playing kids !

Several people at Motherwell made the Ramires comparison. Bit early for that I reckon, but he clearly wants to be that type of player and looks like he has one or two of the attributes required.

Naismith, Junior, Fellaini, Gibson, Pienaar

I like the look of that.

However we all know that Osman will be in that 5 man starting line up somewhere! Personally I hope that Junior makes it as right side midfield player and that Osman gets a run in the "Cahill" position which I think is where he is designed to play. Naismith can then be cover for the right wing, striker and "Cahill" positions.

Personally I prefer Fellaini to play deep - but there is no doubt that we do well when he plays further forward, but I think Ossie has quicker feet and is quicker of thought further up the field. Also there is no point Jags lumping the ball in the air up to him.

And that still leaves Rodwell and Barkley to come through.

In the circumstances I am glad that Cahill is moving on as Fellaini, Osman and Barkley can all likely do a better job than him just off the striker.

That's what I love about the summer. No depressing reality to get in the way of a good dream ...but the dream did come true once for me...it was the winter of '83/84 when a bunch of mediocre demoralised youngsters suddenly got very difficult to beat and then all simultaneosly became full internationals within a few months. Its about time that lightening struck again.

I don't expect Barkley and Junior to be starting too many games this season, but I would love to see them regularly given a good half an hour on the pitch. I think Moyes should show a touch more faith in some of our youngsters, particularly when they are clearly blessed with so much talent.

My worry with Junior is that he did give the ball away quite a bit with simple passes and I fear that may put him in Moyes bad books.

I wouldn't normally be worried since we have a slew of players at the club who can give the ball away with ease, but it seems that there is a double-standard against certain players by Moyes(or selective blindness).

I also agree with Jamie(478), these players with talent need to be given appropriate time on the pitch with the first team. Maybe a 5 minute taster for George Green against lower league opposition in the cup's, but certainly Junior and Barkley should be given proper premier league experience....either that or shipped out to a championship side where they can get that experience a-la-ossie. His spell with Derby seemed to bring him on a lot.

He left us open with some woeful tackling and I reckon more passes went astray than to a team mate.

I do think he looked ok against Dundee though.

I hope I am proved wrong but I think he is a squad player at best.