- Aug 21, 2014
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Alan Hansen infamously said that 20 years ago in the 95/96 season after Man U lost to Villa 3-1. Of course they went on to claim the premier league crown that season.
I checked the stats and apparently United won the league with six players under the age of 23 playing over 10 games that season and since then no other side in the Premier League has even matched that figure. The average number of U23s playing regularly in a title-winning squad since 1992 stands at just 2.5. Manchester's average age that year was 24.
Only five premier league sides have won the title with an average age of under 27 and no side has achieved that feat for 9 years!
Looking at Spurs' squad of 29 players our average age is 24.7, but if you compare it to the stat where by Utd won the league with 6 players playing over 10 games that season, I calculate we have (or will have) at least 7:
Harry Kane (22) 29 appearances
Eric Dier (22) 28 appearances
Son Heung-min (23) 21 appearances
Dele Alli (19) 27 appearances
Carroll (23) 16 appearances
Ben Davies (22) 15 appearances
Kevin Wimmer (23) only 7 appearances so far, but I'm sure he'll play at least 3 of the last 8
There is also an argument to include Lamela seeing as he only turned 24 10 days ago, so that would make 8 players.
Let's hope we prove Mr Hansen wrong as Man U did 20 years ago!
The future is bright though eh? So even if we miss out on the title I can't help but think this group of players can go on and do something special for us over the next few years...
I checked the stats and apparently United won the league with six players under the age of 23 playing over 10 games that season and since then no other side in the Premier League has even matched that figure. The average number of U23s playing regularly in a title-winning squad since 1992 stands at just 2.5. Manchester's average age that year was 24.
Only five premier league sides have won the title with an average age of under 27 and no side has achieved that feat for 9 years!
Looking at Spurs' squad of 29 players our average age is 24.7, but if you compare it to the stat where by Utd won the league with 6 players playing over 10 games that season, I calculate we have (or will have) at least 7:
Harry Kane (22) 29 appearances
Eric Dier (22) 28 appearances
Son Heung-min (23) 21 appearances
Dele Alli (19) 27 appearances
Carroll (23) 16 appearances
Ben Davies (22) 15 appearances
Kevin Wimmer (23) only 7 appearances so far, but I'm sure he'll play at least 3 of the last 8
There is also an argument to include Lamela seeing as he only turned 24 10 days ago, so that would make 8 players.
Let's hope we prove Mr Hansen wrong as Man U did 20 years ago!
The future is bright though eh? So even if we miss out on the title I can't help but think this group of players can go on and do something special for us over the next few years...