Kobbie Mainoo is firmly the present and the future of Man Utd, and the latter can now form with JJ Gabriel in a dream scenario.
Michael Carrick’s arrival has cemented Kobbie Mainoo’s renewed importance to the team, as he’s close to a contract extension now.
At 21, he can play out more than a decade at Old Trafford, and yet, he’s a remarkable six years older than JJ Gabriel, the crown jewel of United’s academy.
The dream scenario for Man Utd fans is for Mainoo and Gabriel to boss the pitch at Old Trafford for the next decade, and what Gabriel is doing now is making that a very real possibility.
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JJ Gabriel’s latest development is perfect for Kobbie Mainoo
Gabriel has been one of the top performers for the U18s side this season despite being just 15.
The same vein of form continued in the U18 Premier League Cup final, where United lost to Crystal Palace on penalties after drawing 1-1 in regular + extra time.
Gabriel forced United’s opener with his hard work off the ball, and it can be argued that United would have won the game had he stayed on the pitch instead of being subbed off.
Nonetheless, what he did during his time on the pitch is extremely promising for Kobbie Mainoo and Gabriel’s eventual transition into the first team at Man Utd.
The youngster has added more silkiness to his game, particularly with his passing, and he thrives in close spaces by playing one-twos with equally technically proficient teammates.
Against Palace, that was Jim Thwaites, who is a maestro on the ball.
Gabriel combined with Thwaites to great effect on the edge of Palace’s box, bamboozling the opponents with one-twos and smart movement off the ball.
This ability to operate in tight spaces with nifty passes is right up Mainoo’s alley, who likes to play a similar sort of game.
Mainoo already does it with Bruno Fernandes in the senior team, and Gabriel’s playing style might suit even more, because he’s an even more skillful player, albeit less of a creator than Fernandes.
Man Utd have plenty of solutions in Carrington
Gabriel has always been tipped to become an eventual senior Man Utd player, and his playing style, plus his fit with Mainoo, only adds to that narrative.
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The reality is that the players coming through the academy all play “The United way”, so it’s easier for them to transition to the senior team.
United need to look inward for first-team solutions instead of treating the academy for “pure profit”.
It must be remembered that two of the best academy graduates in recent times, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, weren’t even highly rated when they played academy football.
Then they got a chance and made the most of it, and both are superstars today. Sometimes, all you need is someone to give you a chance to showcase your abilities.
United need to get back to their roots and trust in Carrington to deliver the solutions.
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