It's a really worthwhile point. There's been a longer term problem here as well that probably stretches back 25 years (to the time you mention United's class of 92) which is essentially that instability and poor performance doesn't really help young players development. I'd would suggest we over promote young players at times and then don't really consider their development enough.
Gordon was playing as a 9 for Unsworth earlier this season. So something has gone really wrong in the process, even though we have got to grips with it later on. I know people are very keen on loans, but it looks like Gordon has kicked on to me, when he has had a period of rigorous training with a top class manager(which the CO92 probably got with Ferguson). In truth it doesn't really say a lot for Silva, or indeed any of the previous managers (and indeed Unsworth) that it has taken the appointment of Ancelotti to seemingly get a single player ready for first team football. I don't even think Ancelotti is even renowned for his work with younger players either.
I know you're not a big fan of either DCL or Davies but you look at both and again think we haven't done much to help them. Davies has been shoved into any position going and likewise Calvert Lewin was essentially treated as a bit of a workshorse to have balls lumped up to before Ancelotti arrived. You can see the confusion in Davies game, and with DCL probably his own strength of character has got him through (which is probably his best attribute).
As for Gordon, it is a concern, that mid game he has to move into a position, he's never played before because the two players we have in there can't tackle. Where the aforementioned lads had Keane, Ince, Pallister, Irwin, Bruce, Kanchelskis, Hughes, Cantona etc Gordon has to change positiosn to cover for his senior players inadequacies.
It's really difficult as well, because of the money and wages we have invested in the likes of Sigurdsson we are unlikely to even be able to move him on.
