GregBassett
02-09-2007, 03:32 AM
I, Greg Bassett, started out at Manchester United and came through their youth academy. It was a great honor to be there and just thinking about all the huge names on the world stage that had developed there in the last 15 years sent a shiver down my spine. David Beckham, Nicky Butt, The Nevilles, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown, John O'shea and many more.
I was sitting alone in a room cleaning the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo while day dreaming about what I could possibly achieve at this club if i was ever given the chance. I was always different to everyone else on my teams. They were all strikers, searching for glory. They had to be at the heart of every attacking move. I was nothing like that at all. I took my place out on the right wing and waited for the ball to arrive at my feet and then the magic began. I'd turn my marker and be gone. My passing could only ever really be considered average, speed was my weapon of choice and what a lethal weapon it was. I enjoyed nothing more than breezing past the oppositions left back before aimlessly hoofing the ball into the box and just hoping one of the 9 strikers that seemed to be on my team would get on the end of it and put it away.
The door flew open and infront of me stood Sir Alex, himself. "Cristiano wont be needing those son, hes just pulled his hamstring. Looks like your our only natural right winger for the time being. Report for training with the first team at 7:30am tomorrow" he said. My jaw had dropped. Me, infront of fifty thousand United fans all hanging on my every movement? Could i handle that pressure? I was only 16, after all.
Training came and went, the days between Sir Alex announcing my involvement in the game and me stepping on the pitch simply flew by.
There i was. Taking up my position as I had so many other times but none of them compared to this. Newcastle at Old Trafford, ten years ago the biggest fixture of the season. I found myself day dreaming, what a time to drift off - huh? Just then something hit my leg, i looked down to see the ball. Gary Neville burst past me and Alan Shearer was coming in from my left. I had no time to even think about what to do, i just turned to my right and began to run - almost as if i was chasing Neville. What i did couldnt have looked pretty, i was simply knocking the ball 3-4 meters infront of me and just chasing it but i was covering ground quickly and before i knew it i had bypassed 2 newcastle players before i slipped the ball down to neville who whipped in what could only be described as a menacing cross. Hard and low. Nothing came of the attack but i had made my first mark on the game.
The first half flew by with me making 2-3 commanding runs at the newcastle defence, none fruitful but i could see a look of unease in their eyes as i approached them.
At half time Sir Alex told me to be more direct, go straight for the throat. Make my runs into the box rather than trying to cross. Thats exactly what i did. Within minutes of the game restarting i once again had the ball at my feet. I picked up pace and this time had the ball closer to my feet, i drove forward and knocked the ball between 2 defenders and burst past bramble before what felt like me scuffing a shot on goal from 10 yards. It was indeed scuffed but a deflection off a defender helped it role into the back of the net. I didnt think that it would be officially given to me but i didnt care, i was claiming it!
I was subbed 15 minutes later with the score still at 1-0. Ole Solskjear was my replacement. He didnt have my pace but his technique and composure was something to behold, even when playing out of his natural position. Paul Scholes added to my goal and the game finished 2-0 to United and by some sort of miracle the goal had been officially awarded to me. I was thrilled.
I only ever pulled on the United jersey 3 times after that game and from those 3 games took 3 assists but with Cristiano Ronaldo now back to full fitness it was clear my run in the first team was pretty much over. With United atleast.
I continued to work hard on the training ground for a month or two and then the January transfer window opened, Wolves had put in a offer of £4.8m for me. Although i was a great admirer of United i had been a fan of wolves since i was a child and this was simply to good for me to pass up, surely i would make first team on a regular basis at the molineux?
I did. I made 22 appearance for Wolves that season and had 17 assists to my name, not to mention a couple of great goals. I was finding the league to be really easy after playing for United a few times, I was the star of the show here and i just so happened to feel the spotlight looked great on me.
More to follow
I was sitting alone in a room cleaning the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo while day dreaming about what I could possibly achieve at this club if i was ever given the chance. I was always different to everyone else on my teams. They were all strikers, searching for glory. They had to be at the heart of every attacking move. I was nothing like that at all. I took my place out on the right wing and waited for the ball to arrive at my feet and then the magic began. I'd turn my marker and be gone. My passing could only ever really be considered average, speed was my weapon of choice and what a lethal weapon it was. I enjoyed nothing more than breezing past the oppositions left back before aimlessly hoofing the ball into the box and just hoping one of the 9 strikers that seemed to be on my team would get on the end of it and put it away.
The door flew open and infront of me stood Sir Alex, himself. "Cristiano wont be needing those son, hes just pulled his hamstring. Looks like your our only natural right winger for the time being. Report for training with the first team at 7:30am tomorrow" he said. My jaw had dropped. Me, infront of fifty thousand United fans all hanging on my every movement? Could i handle that pressure? I was only 16, after all.
Training came and went, the days between Sir Alex announcing my involvement in the game and me stepping on the pitch simply flew by.
There i was. Taking up my position as I had so many other times but none of them compared to this. Newcastle at Old Trafford, ten years ago the biggest fixture of the season. I found myself day dreaming, what a time to drift off - huh? Just then something hit my leg, i looked down to see the ball. Gary Neville burst past me and Alan Shearer was coming in from my left. I had no time to even think about what to do, i just turned to my right and began to run - almost as if i was chasing Neville. What i did couldnt have looked pretty, i was simply knocking the ball 3-4 meters infront of me and just chasing it but i was covering ground quickly and before i knew it i had bypassed 2 newcastle players before i slipped the ball down to neville who whipped in what could only be described as a menacing cross. Hard and low. Nothing came of the attack but i had made my first mark on the game.
The first half flew by with me making 2-3 commanding runs at the newcastle defence, none fruitful but i could see a look of unease in their eyes as i approached them.
At half time Sir Alex told me to be more direct, go straight for the throat. Make my runs into the box rather than trying to cross. Thats exactly what i did. Within minutes of the game restarting i once again had the ball at my feet. I picked up pace and this time had the ball closer to my feet, i drove forward and knocked the ball between 2 defenders and burst past bramble before what felt like me scuffing a shot on goal from 10 yards. It was indeed scuffed but a deflection off a defender helped it role into the back of the net. I didnt think that it would be officially given to me but i didnt care, i was claiming it!
I was subbed 15 minutes later with the score still at 1-0. Ole Solskjear was my replacement. He didnt have my pace but his technique and composure was something to behold, even when playing out of his natural position. Paul Scholes added to my goal and the game finished 2-0 to United and by some sort of miracle the goal had been officially awarded to me. I was thrilled.
I only ever pulled on the United jersey 3 times after that game and from those 3 games took 3 assists but with Cristiano Ronaldo now back to full fitness it was clear my run in the first team was pretty much over. With United atleast.
I continued to work hard on the training ground for a month or two and then the January transfer window opened, Wolves had put in a offer of £4.8m for me. Although i was a great admirer of United i had been a fan of wolves since i was a child and this was simply to good for me to pass up, surely i would make first team on a regular basis at the molineux?
I did. I made 22 appearance for Wolves that season and had 17 assists to my name, not to mention a couple of great goals. I was finding the league to be really easy after playing for United a few times, I was the star of the show here and i just so happened to feel the spotlight looked great on me.
More to follow