đď¸ Interviewing Kobbie Mainoo
How has he changed since 2022? | Anthony Crolla boxes at United | A mind-bending TV recommendation | U18s in cup action | A rollercoaster of a Libertines interview
If youâre new here:Â Iâm Harry Robinson, a 23-year-old Stretford Ender, freelance football journalist and the author of The Men Who Made Manchester United. I write about things Iâm passionate about, mainly MUFC, history, youth football and travel.
Whatâs inside:
MUFC trivia
What was it like to interview Kobbie Mainoo?
The Academy Briefing (U18s stay unbeaten, Cup game approaches, Crollaâs boxing session)
What Iâve enjoyed this week (Bodies, Pete Doherty)
â MUFC trivia
How many of Manchester Unitedâs 249 Academy graduates were born or grew up in Greater Manchester?
đď¸ Interviewing Kobbie Mainoo
âWhat was most important is it felt really authentic, didn't it?â said Nick Cox, Unitedâs Director of Academy. And he was right.
The clubâs latest rising star returned to the Academy last week to participate in an Under-8s training session, answer questions, take pictures and even, just before leaving, sing âHappy Birthdayâ to one of the beaming little lads. It was lovely to watch.
When I say âreturnedâ to the Academy, itâs really not that far. Nor has it been that long!
A symbolic curved walkway links the Academy and first-team buildings at Manchester Unitedâs Carrington training ground. Glass panels on either side are adorned with historical details of the clubâs commitment to youth and the name of every graduate to earn a first-team debut since 1931.
Itâs a genuinely symbolic thing and fantastic, although the last couple of seasons of graduates havenât yet been added, a sign of how the little things have slipped as the Glazer ownership has neared two decades.
When we walked into the Academy building â where a famous Busby quote about striving for perfection greets you â I said to Kobbie it must feel a bit weird to be back, but then realised how little time it had been. We walked through the corridor of dressing rooms, where illustrations of past graduates adorn the walls. He wants to be on that wall one day.
Kobbie was a bit early. So early, in fact, that we chatted for a good 10 or 15 minutes before the U8s he was meeting arrived. Heâd played the full game away at Luton Town the day before and admitted his legs were a little weary. But when asked if heâd get involved with training as well as doing a Q&A, he seemed surprised by the question.
I loved that.
Itâs always comforting when a footballer shows they really do love the game.
We spoke about when he first came into the team, playing at Goodison Park and Galatasarayâs Ali Sami Yen. Thatâs some pair of grounds to be introduced at. He loved them both.
He revealed his idol was Ronaldinho, called Casemiro his âteacherâ, thanked Erik ten Hag for pushing him on when it was needed â âhe wanted to me to be more dominant and demand the ball all the timeâ â and revealed he was a striker until just a few years ago.
You can watch Kobbie Mainoo: Playing with Freedom here and read the full interview in the next edition of the Inside United magazine, out in mid-March.
Finally, what was Kobbie like at the Academy? Well, Nick Cox is well-placed to answer that.
âAll the way through the journey, he's been exactly as you've witnessed this morning. In love with the game, a really cool customer, grounded, respectful, focused and a delightful young man really. And I think that showed through in the way that he's interacted with the young players today. But that's been him all the way through. And I would suggest that is probably a big reason for the success he's having at the moment as well.â
âHe's always been driven, always had a desire to want to be better, always made sure that he's taken every opportunity to learn. He's doing great things, but he will tell you as much as anybody that this is early days, and he knows that he's got more landmarks to tick off.â
INTERVIEWING KOBBIE DOWN THE YEARS
The maturity and focus that teammates and coaches attribute to Mainoo have been clear since his first interview back in 2022, when, aged 16, he was a key part in the FA Youth Cup-winning team.
As a first-year scholar â unlike Alejandro Garnacho, for example â Kobbie did fewer interviews than some of his teammates, to ease him into the experience. Interviews at that age serve a dual purpose: they allow fans an insight into the next generation of talents at United while acting as training for those players. Itâs a chance to mess up, do some retakes, if needed, and receive some feedback on what is a skill that generally has to be taught: learning to be an interviewee. Some are naturals, but not many. Others are very nervous and that can manifest itself in shyness or a lot of messing about.
Kobbie was neither a complete natural nor was he messing about. He was calm, stumbled over a couple of words but impressively described the excitement that follows the initial nerves of a first Old Trafford appearance. In media training many months later, in November 2022 just as he was on the cusp of the first team, he had become a model to his teammates. He had a natural air of humble confidence.
This time around, for his first major interview, those same characteristics came across. He spoke well and relaxed as our conversation progressed. Similar to his first-team performances, you get the sense more will come as he adjusts. His debut against Charlton Athletic, in January 2023, was solid, but a little timid, relative to his quality. He kept things simple and tidy. It was a good debut but it felt like he was holding something back, something that has since been released: quick feet, effortless control, veteran-like composure and the propensity for an off-your-seat moment.
In conversation, I expect his true, vibrant character to come out more clearly with each interview. He was great around the kids and engaging to listen to. If he continues to make his mark on the first team, heâll no doubt grow into a natural leader on and off the pitch.
â˝ The Academy Briefing
Under-18s
United remain unbeaten in the U18 Premier League after a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough, with goals from James Scanlon, Ashton Missin and Ethan Wheatley. Highlights here.
Missinâs second is worth a watch âŹď¸
A direct and pacey winger in a somewhat similar mould to Anthony Gordon or Cole Palmer, 17-year-old Missinâs positive season with the U18s has gone a little under the radar. Heâs doing well and his influence will grow if he develops physically.
đĽ British champâs boxing session
Former British champion Anthony Crolla (a lifelong Red) gave a boxing session to Unitedâs U7s and U8s recently. The kids loved it.
The Academy encourage players to try other sports. At Januaryâs second annual Celebration Event, awards were given out to those achieving success in cricket and water polo.
đ When I chatted with four Under-21s players a fortnight ago, goalkeeper Dermot Mee revealed he played rugby until recently and said it improved his hand-eye coordination and bravery.
đ Louis Jackson also benefitted from the physical challenge of rugby, while midfielder Toby Collyer believed swimming and tennis had let him properly get to know his body.
đââď¸ Right-back Habeeb Ogunneye sprinted, and you can tell when he runs down the wing!
đ This week
The U21s play Derby County (Leigh Sports Village, Friday 7pm) and the U18s host Crystal Palace in the U18 Premier League Cup semi-final at Carrington on Saturday morning (11:00 GMT). Both games will be shown live on MUTV.
đ First-team injuries make it a very real possibility that some fresh faces could be in the squad for Wednesdayâs FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest. Toby Collyer was an unused sub against Fulham. Itâs worth noting that he wouldnât officially count as an Academy graduate by the clubâs criteria as he signed a few weeks after his 18th birthday. Others whoâve trained with the first-team recently like James Nolan, Habeeb Ogunneye and Harry Amass would. Those are just three of many more! If a graduate does make a debut, they will be the 250th to do so for United. It really will be a special moment when that landmark is reached.
đ What Iâve enjoyed recently
đş Bodies â a mind-bending British crime and science fiction series about four different detectives, in four distinct eras, investing the same murder. Stephen Graham stars and Iâll happily watch anything heâs in. Itâs on Netflix, if youâre interested. Make sure you have something short and light-hearted to follow if you watch before bedâŚ
đ° This dual interview with The Libertinesâ Pete Doherty and Carl Barât is an excellent rollercoaster of an insight into two troubled, talented musicians.
đď¸ Recording the Manchester United Weekly Podcast - always a helpful exercise after a sore defeat. You can listen here.
𤣠Watching several episodes of The Sketch Show on YouTube. More sketch shows are needed in the modern era, although some would argue certain TikTok channels are a 2020s version of themâŚ
Thatâs all for today. Thanks for reading. If youâve enjoyed this, feel free to share it with a mate. Have a great rest of your week!
â MUFC trivia answers
How many of Manchester Unitedâs 249 Academy graduates were born or grew up in Greater Manchester?
100! Dan Gore completed the century. Omari Forson (London-born) and Willy Kambwala (born in DR Congo, raised in France) have followed.