Sir Alex asks for more from his youngsters
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is difficult to please. After his team's 4-0 demolition of Orlando Pirates in Durban at the weekend, most managers would have been full of praise for a young squad's impressive first pre-season friendly.
But Fergie said he was looking for a little more in Tuesday's Vodacom Challenge game against Kaizer Chiefs at Newlands (kick-off 8.15pm).
"We were fine in short spells and some of the individual performances were okay, but against Kaizer Chiefs I'd like to see more rhythm... for us to string a lot more passes together and be better in terms of team play."
The United manager also noted "that Kaizer Chiefs are reported to be better than Pirates" and Tuesday evening's game would be another chance to assess the youngsters. "There's one or two close to breaking into the first team," said Ferguson, "though it's that more difficult for the defenders and that's one of the reasons we send them out on loan.
"One mistake from a young defender can cost you, whereas you can get away with it if a striker messes up."
Fergie's policy is likely to see some players, who will be on show at Newlands, farmed out to mostly Championship teams when the English season starts next month.
"Most reserve teams in the Premiership are youth sides, so it's a lot better for a youngster to go to a club where he'll get regular first team experience. We did it with John O'Shea when he went to Antwerp and Kieran (Richardson) spent a season on loan at West Brom."
Both have returned to Old Trafford and are regulars in the first team squad.
Next to be farmed out by Fergie is defender Gérard Pique, scheduled for a loan period in his homeland Spain, and keeper Ben Foster, who helped Watford to promotion to the Premiership and will return to the London club.
Foster, 22, has impressed Ferguson since signing from Stoke City a year ago. "He's got a great frame and he's very, very quick... we're all excited about him."
At a wet Newlands training on Monday the tall keeper looked as solid as Table Mountain and showed why Fergie is so excited as he held on to the slippery balls that thundered in or kept out shots skidding off the turf.
Besides those destined to be farmed out, Ferguson will on Tuesday (and at the weekend against Pirates or Chiefs) be watching the likes of Guiseppe Rossi and Phil Bardsley. Both are on the fringes at United and could spend the upcoming season at Old Trafford or elsewhere.
Teenager Rossi, scorer of about 50 goals for United's reserves over the past two seasons, is expected to be given at least an hour tonight and the American-born Italian striker's immediate future at Old Trafford looks a little brighter today following the news Fernando Torres is likely to remain in Spain.
And Fergie is in two minds over Bardsley.
"He's been in the first team squad for the last two-three years and he only turned 21 earlier this month... he's still very young and a bright prospect," said Ferguson of the fullback.
The squads
Kaizer Chiefs
Rowen Fernandez, Emille Baron; Cyril Nzama, Gerald Sibeko, Jimmy Tau, Derrick Spencer, Fabian McCarthy, David Obua, Ditheko Mototo, Gert Schalkwyk, Arthur Zwane, David Mathebula, Emmanuel Ngobese, Siyabonga Nkosi, Shaun Bartlett, David Radebe, Lucky Mzizi, Louis Agyemang
Manchester United
Ben Foster, Luke Steele, Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Phil Bardsley, Jon Evans, Patrice Evra, Darron Gibson, Gerard Pique, David Jones, Kieran Ricardson, Darren Fletcher, Chris Eagles, Liam Miller, Fangzhuo Dong, Danny Simpson, Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, Guiseppe Rossi