Man United: Top Ten Reserve Players of 2011

#10 Larnell Cole

D.O.B. 09/03/1993

From: Manchester

Position: Midfielder

Larnell Cole’s progress through the United ranks started to speed up last season when the Manchester born attacker began to nail down a regular spot in the Manchester United reserves. His Attacking midfield play has helped to set up a countless goals for United’s second string and his marauding wing-play has caused the best full-backs in the Reserve and Junior Leagues to look average as he continually bamboozles them with his blinding pace. His best performance of the year came against Liverpool at Anfield in the F.A. Youth Cup and it was his trickery on the right wing that set up United’s equaliser. His hard work in the Reserves paid off this year when he made his First team debut in the Carling Cup against Aldershot and his continual development into a better player means that more first team games maybe on the horizon sooner rather than later. Watch Video

 #9 Reece Brown

D.O.B. 01/11/1991

From: Manchester

Position: Defender

He’s big he’s bad he’s…. Reece Brown, but like his older brother Wes he has developed into one of the reserve team’s most natural defenders. He has all the attributes to be a top class centre half due to his aerial ability combined with strength and pace. His football brain, passing skills and nifty footwork has seen him also take up the full-back positions where his frightening speed has upset most opposition full-backs. His all-round ability has also seen him slot nicely into a defensive midfield role for the reserves where his performances earned him a one month loan spell in that position at Doncaster Rovers earlier this season. Reece was given the number 35 shirt for United for his place on the bench against Leeds United earlier this season and with the Red’s firing on all four fronts, a player of Reece Brown’s quality will certainly be knocking on the door in the near future when it comes to squad selection. Watch Video

#8 John Cofie

D.O.B. 21/01/1993

From: Aboso, Ghana

Position: Striker

Ghanaian born John Cofie joined Manchester United from Burnley after impressing the Red’s junior scouts and since then he has been a prolific goal scorer at every level for United. The tall powerful centre forward has the good habit of scoring goals whenever he plays, whether he starts or come on as a substitute. He has the tall powerful physique that would intimidate any professional defender and for a striker his all round play is exceptional for someone who still has time for plenty of development. His goalscoring has seen him called up for his chosen country England at youth level and at only 18 it may only be a matter of time before he gets his first team call-up as well. Watch Video

#7 Ezekiel Fryers

D.O.B. 09/09/1992

From: Manchester

Position: Defender

Ezekiel Fryer’s shock debut against Leeds this season may have come as a surprise to many Manchester United fans, however after his solid performances in helping United win the F.A. Youth Cup last season, it was only a matter of time before his first start in a Manchester United shirt would arise. Zeki’s height allows him to play comfortably at centre-half  but his most influential position is at full-back where the Mancunian born defender can showcase his attacking prowess. He has all the attributes to be the complete modern full-back with his tough tackling in defence combined with his ability to bomb forward on the flanks. His assured display on his Manchester United debut earned him another start against Aldershot and he has since made his Old Trafford debut in the Champions League. At only 19 Fryers has established himself as player that can no longer be overlooked when Sir Alex Ferguson chooses his first team squads. Watch Video

#6 Jesse Lingard

D.O.B. 15/12/1992

From: Warrington

Position: Midfielder

Jesse Lingard is a live-wire of an attacking player who’s work rate and infectious enthusiasm has helped him progress from academy level to reserve league football with ease. His skill, slinky footwork and electric pace means that he can play comfortable on either wing and his creativity means he can play just behind the striker. His highlights of the year were scoring the famous retaken penalty in the dramatic comeback at Anfield and then scoring in the semi-final of the F.A. Youth Cup against Chelsea.  His performances last season has earned him the number 53 jersey for United and he has been on the bench in both the Champions League and Carling Cup this season. In a footballing world where creative midfielders are of a premium, Jesse Lingard could have an impact on United’s first team sooner than most people think. Watch Video

#5 William Keane

D.O.B. 11/01/1993

From: Stockport

Position: Striker

Will Keane makes the art form of goalscoring look easy and his consistency at all youth levels has seen him become a goalscoring regular for the Manchester United reserves. He is coolness personified in the box and always seems to have time on the ball which is a sure sign of a good footballer. His assurance under pressure has made him deadly from the penalty spot and his all-round predatory instinct has caught the eye of United’s senior staff who all have high hopes for the Stockport born striker. He has already played for the England Under 21′s and the highlight of 2011 was his hat-trick in the semi-final of the F.A. Youth Cup when United beat Chelsea 4-0 at Old Trafford. At the age of only 18, Manchester United’s future goal scoring options are safely intact and soon the song “there’s only one Keano” may have to be changed to “there’s only two”. Watch Video

#4 Ryan Tunnicliffe

D.O.B. 30/12/1992

From: Bury

Position: Midfielder

Local lad Ryan Tunnicliffe emerged as one of the brightest prospects of last year’s Reserve League campaign. His grit, determination, surging runs and box to box play made him an imperative part of the 2011 Youth Cup success. After a string of stunning performances Ryan was awarded the 2011 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award which etches his name on the trophy along side the likes of previous winners Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Wes Brown. Tunners was handed the number 46 shirt ahead of the game against Crawley Town last season and this season his loan move to Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough may give him the vital first team experience that helps the 18 year old edge nearer to the United first team. Watch Video

#3 Joshua King

D.O.B. 15/01/1992

From: Oslo, Norway

Position: Striker

The Norwegian born striker is quickly showing the potential towards becoming the perfect centre-forward. He has the power and pace to frighten even the strongest of defenders and has the composure in front of goal that helped him to be so prolific in the reserves last season. His ability to beat players enables him to create that extra yard in the box and his use of the ball helps him to create goals as well as score them. He was first spotted by Manchester United scouts at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer school in Norway in 2007 and the United number 41 soon became a regular playing for the Baby-Faced Assassin himself in the reserve league. He then made his debut for the first team as a 17 year old against Wolves in 2009. If anyone can spot a natural finisher it is Solskjaer and with Joshua King now applying his trade on-loan in Germany he can only return to United as a better player. Watch Video

#2 Paul Pogba

D.O.B. 15/03/1993

From: Lagny Sur Marne, France

Position: Midfielder

The French Midfielder has shown the potential in the reserves this year to be one of the top midfielders of his generation. He is strong on the ball, good in the air and has endless stamina which has helped him to dominate the engine room at all junior levels. His combative style is combined with sublime skill which helps him create an extra yard of space to pass the ball or score one of his trademark spectacular goals. His defining moment of the year came at Stamford Bridge in the semi-final of the F.A. Youth Cup when his virtuoso display, which was capped with a goal, gave United something to play for in the second leg at Old Trafford. This tough yet elegantly stylish midfielder has started to break into the first team already this season with two Carling Cup appearances and it is safe to say that his Premier League debut is just around the corner. Watch Video

#1 Ravel Morrison

D.O.B. 02/02/1993

From: Manchester

Position: Midfielder

Ravel Morrsion is quickly becoming the most exciting talent ever to grace the Reserve League since the famous class of ’92 almost twenty years ago. His creativity on the ball coupled with goal-scoring prowess allows him to play anywhere in midfield or up front and his ability to glide past defenders like they are not even there has made him the most talked about youth product at Old Trafford for years. His portfolio of goals range from acrobatic to spectacular and his one-touch passing is at a level that belies his standard of reserve team football. His defining moment this year came in the F.A. Youth Cup at Anfield in March when his two goals brought United back from the dead and his celebrations in front of the Kop has warmed him to the hearts of all Manchester United fans. The icing on the cake was a goal in the Youth Cup final and this season he made his second first team appearance when he came off the bench against Aldershot and put on an exhibition performance that showcased some of the Manchester lad’s vast array of tricks and skills. His rise to the big time seems to be imminent and being blessed with such a rare talent means that it is up to the boy himself how far he wants to go in football, because on this early evidence he has the potential to go all the way to the top. Watch Video