Kieran Country : Where are they now?

The interesting thing about Kieran moving to Sunderland is that I'd always assumed he was high on the list of players Keane had in mind when he made his criticisms. The fact that Keano is prepared to take him on (and perhaps that Robbo was so anxious to get him back) clearly indicates that he isn't the arrogant wastrel that he appears to be. Various websites do say that he's a decent bloke off the pitch, although his demeanour on the field belies this. Whether Keano can get him to play with his mouth closed, literally or figuratively, I doubt, but given a chance of a more central role, he may yet come through.


And think how pleased cousin Charley will be to come out and find herself related to a famous Sunderland player (I am told that when this piece of news was announced in the "house" Charley didn't appear to know where Sunderland was).

It proves again that you're lucky if a couple of players from even the best youth teams make it as first-team regulars, especially at United.

Flicking around some of the archived blog threads from 2002, the names most frequently mentioned as youngsters likely to break through into the first team squad were Richardson, Mads Timm (see below) and, perhaps surprisingly, the Scottish player.

So the stars of the 2003 FA Youth Cup winning side are gradually diminishing at Old Trafford and there are now only three left. David Jones (the captain) could probably have stayed longer, but decided to leave last year, and won promotion with Derby. Phil Bardsley may yet stay at Old Trafford, but is clearly free to go if a decent offer emerges (and I have even seen him proposed as an England right-back of the future). Chris Eagles will have at least one more season in the first-team squad, to see if he can kick on, particularly after a couple of goals on the Asian tour. Tom Heaton is still on the books, although goalkeepers are always a bit different.


For the whole squad :

Luke Steele (GK) : at one point left as United's second-choice keeper, departed in 2006 for West Brom, as part of the deal that brought Tomas Kuszczak to United, although he has spent most of his time with them on loan at Coventry.

Phil Bardsley (DF) : lived in the shadow of The Cliff, and joined the United academy at 8 years old; still at Old Trafford, had a colourful loan spell at Rangers, more recently on loan to Villa and now strongly rumoured to be on his way to Everton.

Paul McShane (DF) : spent a successful season on loan at Brighton in 2005-06,where he was Player of the Season, before United sold him to West Brom along with Luke Steele; successful international debut for Republic of Ireland last season; recently bought by Keano for Sunderland and will join Kieran there this season.

Lee Sims (DF) : can't really find out what happened to him, after a trial at Cardiff in 2004 (although that same year on Championship Manager one bloke brought Sims in for Gary Neville, pushed up his value to £7 million and had him playing for England -amazing where Google will take you and, sadly, probably the closest Lee Sims will ever come to fame).

Lee Lawrence (DF) : loaned to Shrewsbury in 2004, released by United when the Pontins League side was discontinued, played for Livingston in Scotland but current whereabouts unclear.

David Jones (MF) : see above, sold to Derby County for £1 million, which Billy Davies reckoned was one of his best bargains ever, saving some £3\4 million on his real value; left-footed and eligible to play for both England and Wales; will be interesting to see how he manages in the Premiership.

Kieran Richardson (MF) : see above, sold to Sunderland for something that may presumably amount to £5.5 million if Sunderland reach Europe and Kieran scores a hat-trick for England.

Chris Eagles (MF) : see above, still at United, some eye=catching goals in Asia and is being talked up by SAF at the moment.

Eddie Johnson (FW) : after various loan spells, one of seven players released by United at the end of 2005-06, and moved to Bradford City.


Mads Timm (FW) (above) : once the most glittering of the young prospects, ("seasoned observers like Bryan Robson were left in awe by the FA Youth Cup semi-final performance of Manchester United's Danish star" - "different class" says Barry Fry), sent to a YOI for 12 months in 2005 for dangerous driving after racing another United youngster on public roads, was supported by United and returned to the club on release, but one of seven players released by United at the end of 2005-06 and returned to OB, one of his previous Danish clubs.

Ben Collett (MF) : young player of the year in 2003, another victim of the loss of a reserve team in 2005, adventurously moved first to New Zealand Knights and then on to Dutch club Apeldoorn. Currently involved in a claim for damages against Middlesbrough FC and Gary Smith, for a leg-breaking tackle in May 2003. According to his lawyer, "Ben was one of Manchester United’s most talented young footballers, but the seriousness of this injury ended his prospects of a promising future in the Premier League at the age of just 18. We expect that the damage to his career and loss of earnings will result in significant compensation."

Tom Heaton (GK) : loaned to Swindon last season, still at United and in the squad touring Asia.

Mark Howard (MF) : one of seven players released by United at the end of 2005-06 season, moved to Danish club Brondby.

Phil Picken (DF) : loaned to Chesterfield in 2005 and subsequently moved there permanently; recently had an operation for a double hernia but should be fit for the start of the new season.

Ramon Calliste (FW) : Welsh youth international who, strangely, in view of all the current fuss, was one of two United youngsters who quietly moved to Liverpool in 2005; he could have moved to Colchester instead, but according to their manager in July 2005, "Ramon won't be staying with us. I liked what I saw in the games he played and worked hard to negotiate a contract with him, but it came down to us having to make him our best paid player to get him here....Ramon's agent asked me where his fee was coming from and if he wasn't getting it, Ramon would be going elsewhere. At that stage, I knew it was unlikely the deal would go through" - obviously Liverpool offered more than the £450 a week Colchester put on the table; released after a season in Liverpool reserves, moved to Scunthorpe but broke an ankle, failed to make their team and was released at the end of last season.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (FW) : another of those Liverpool fans that creep through at United, he did at least score a goal for United (in the Carling Cup), broke a leg in 2005 but recovered well and sold to Plymouth in 2006, where he's had a fair degree of success.

David Poole (MF ) : moved to Yeovil in 2005, but then loaned by them to Stockport County in 2006 and sold to County later last season for £100,000.

Sources

mostly Wikipedia I'm afraid, with some digging around on Google
Beachcroft LLP Press Release
I see Sarah Winnerburn on Football365 has been following some similar searches, with little more success, although for some reason she has skipped over Mads Timm