The Top Flight
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Throwback Thursday: Alan Hansen Tells Manchester United “You can’t win anything with kids”

By Uzair Madhani

25 Aug 1999: Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs of Manchester United celebrate the first goal during the match between Coventry City and Manchester United in the FA Carling Premiership at Highfield Road, Coventry. Manchester United won the game 2-1. MandatoryCredit: Phil Cole /Allsport
25 Aug 1999: Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs of Manchester United celebrate the first goal during the match between Coventry City and Manchester United in the FA Carling Premiership at Highfield Road, Coventry. Manchester United won the game 2-1. MandatoryCredit: Phil Cole /Allsport /
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22 MAR 1995: ANDREI KANCHELSKIS OF MANCHESTER UNITED CELEBRATES SCORING THE THIRD GOAL OF THE MATCH AGAINST ARSENAL AT OLD TRAFFORD IN MANCHESTER. Mandatory Credit: Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT
22 MAR 1995: ANDREI KANCHELSKIS OF MANCHESTER UNITED CELEBRATES SCORING THE THIRD GOAL OF THE MATCH AGAINST ARSENAL AT OLD TRAFFORD IN MANCHESTER. Mandatory Credit: Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT /

Ince, who later claimed that Ferguson had accepted a bid for him behind his back, was sold to Inter Milan.

Hughes was moved on to Chelsea. Kanchelskis’ move dragged on, but eventually, he was transferred to Everton shortly after the start of the season.

United fans waited with bated breath to see who the club would sign to replace them. After all, they had not been shy to spend when they needed to; the signing of Cole the previous season was a testament to that.

As the summer wore on and no signings came, those who followed the club grew nervous. In hindsight, they should not have worried.

Behind the scenes, Ferguson and youth coach Eric Harrison had revitalised the Manchester United Academy. The path that had been trodden by the Busby Babes in the fifties and sixties, was being frequented once more.

United’s youth side had already won the FA Youth Cup in 1992, with a team containing David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville. Paul Scholes was part of the team that made the final in 1993. Phil Neville captained them to another victory in 1995.

Giggs was already a regular part of the first team by the summer of 1995, having debuted in 1991. Beckham, Butt and Gary Neville debuted in 1992, while Scholes and Phil Neville debuted in 1994.

Having given them sporadic chances in the first team, Ferguson decided that 1995 was the time to pull the trigger. The sales of Ince, Hughes and Kanchelskis, combined with injury troubles to Paul Parker, facilitated the rise of “Fergie’s Fledgelings”.

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