Leeds United pay price for first-team developments in Manchester United humiliation
Leeds United Under-18s losing 8-0 to Manchester United is the cost of so many players taking the next step up at Elland Road quickly.
Facing their bitter rivals at Thorp Arch in the Under-18s North Premier League on Saturday 2 November, the Whites were swept aside as James Scanlon and Amir Ibragimov both scored hat-tricks.
LUFC Youth posted on X at full-time, but a subsequent post after the Under-16s side beat Manchester United 4-0 highlights the Peacocks’ differing fortunes at academy level.
Coming on the same day that Sam Chambers and Charlie Crew – both of whom are still eligible for the Under-18s – made their senior debuts, some of the youth sides have clearly been left in the lurch.
Leeds United need more assistance at academy level
Losing heavily to Manchester United is unacceptable for any and every Leeds team, but this one is no shock given how many academy players are currently playing above their expected level at the moment.
The likes of Chambers and Crew getting first-team minutes against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, with fellow youngster James Debayo on the bench, shows that the path to the first-team is flowing nicely.
However, such defeats at youth level cannot be beneficial for players like Lewis Pirie’s development, and with the Under-21s also loaning players out to senior sides, the churn looks set to continue.
Pulling players out of youth sides to play at the level above is a routine exercise in football, but further investment in the academy is needed at Thorp Arch, to ensure further heavy losses do not happen.
Plans are already in place for the redevelopment of Elland Road if and when the Peacocks return to the top flight, but it’s clear that taking Thorp Arch’s development line to the next level would also be beneficial for the next generation of players to pull on the Whites shirt.
In other Leeds news, Wayne Rooney aimed a joke towards the Elland Road crowd after his Plymouth side were dispatched in LS11.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.