c16 - Ferguson's Inspection
Vardy spent a restless night. Before going to bed, he had turned the whole house upside down, searching for hidden weapons or any signs of espionage activity finding none. Only then did he reluctantly fall asleep.
Yet when he woke up, he still felt groggy. No wonder if there had been a small explosion next door in the middle of the night, nobody would have been able to sleep through it.
Despite his lingering doubts about the Smiths possibly being secret agents, they were incredibly warm and welcoming. Mrs. Smith's breakfast was enough to put Vardy at ease, even if only temporarily. His coach had repeatedly emphasized the importance of proper nutrition for a footballer, so he couldn't afford to be picky.
"I wish you a great training session!" The Smiths waved as Vardy left for the day.
---
The days passed quickly. Vardy's routine was a simple two-point trajectory: training ground to home, and back again. Even on weekends, when other players took time off, he opted to stay at the training base to sharpen his skills. His dedication did not go unnoticed McGuinness, his U18 coach, acknowledged his work ethic and commitment.
A month later, while he still needed to refine his fundamentals, McGuinness finally allowed him to join tactical drills and full-squad sessions. That alone was proof that he was making progress.
When intra-squad matches took place, Vardy, despite being assigned to the "reserves" team, quickly became a nightmare for the first-choice defenders. His speed alone made their lives miserable.
Take the center-back duo of the starting lineup Ryan Shawcross (193 cm) and Jonny Evans (189 cm) both were tall, dominant in the air, and excellent at one-on-one duels. But against sheer pace? They had no chance.
Vardy would make a simple run behind the defense, and before they could react, he was already through on goal. His acceleration was devastating.
"Can you stop sprinting past us every time? We're still friends, right?" Evans joked after yet another match where Vardy had tormented them.
McGuinness had seen enough to make a decision. Vardy was outgrowing the youth team. But while some coaches felt he was ready for senior football, others weren't so sure.
---
Meanwhile, a heated debate was unfolding at Carrington among United's youth development staff.
"With Vardy's talent, keeping him in the youth setup is a waste of time. He should be loaned out now to gain first-team experience," McGuinness argued.
"No, absolutely not!" René Meulensteen, the technical development coach, countered. "He's too reliant on speed. In professional football, that won't be enough. If we send him out too early, he'll neglect his technical fundamentals. We must be patient, or we risk wasting his potential."
Meulensteen had closely analyzed Vardy's game. He was electric in transition, but his technical skills still needed work. Unlike in youth football, where he could dominate with raw pace, the professional game would demand more tight control, decision-making, link-up play.
Les Kershaw, United's head of youth development, scratched his head before offering a solution.
"I'll send a tape of his performances to Sir Alex Ferguson. Let's see what he thinks."
---
That evening, Ferguson received a videotape featuring Vardy's performances in training and internal matches.
It was preseason, and Ferguson had little time for distractions he was focused on preparing the first team and handling summer transfers. At first, he barely paid attention to the footage.
"Another 'youth team prodigy'?" He muttered. "How many of these do they send me every season?"
But as the video rolled, something caught his eye.
Vardy picked up the ball near midfield, turned, and accelerated. He sliced through the defense like a knife through butter, leaving defenders trailing hopelessly.
Ferguson, mid-bite into a burger, nearly choked.
"Bloody hell… He's quicker than Michael Owen!"
Intrigued, he kept watching. The more he saw, the more excited he became.
But as the video progressed, his enthusiasm waned slightly. A pattern emerged—Vardy excelled in counter-attacks and open space, but he contributed little when United played with patient, positional buildup.
"So that's the catch," Ferguson murmured. "He's a pure counter-attacking striker."
By the time the video ended, Ferguson had made his assessment. A talented forward, capable of stretching defenses, but still too raw for senior football.
The next morning, despite his busy schedule, Ferguson made a surprise visit to the U18 training ground.
---
The presence of United's legendary manager sent a buzz of excitement through the squad.
"Ferguson's here? To watch our match? This is it—he's looking to promote someone!" Ryan Shawcross whispered, barely containing his excitement.
"Nonsense," Darron Gibson interrupted. "He must have heard about my performances and wants me in the first team."
While the others speculated wildly, Vardy remained outwardly calm. But deep down, he was just as excited as the rest. After all, who wouldn't dream of impressing Sir Alex Ferguson?
By now, Vardy had firmly established himself as the main striker in the U18 squad. That meant Fraser Campbell, the previous starter, had been relegated to a supporting role—and he wasn't happy about it.
Campbell, another pacey forward, had always relied on his speed. But Vardy was simply faster, sharper, and more decisive in front of goal. The shift in hierarchy was clear.
"I'll take my place back," Campbell muttered, glaring at Vardy before kickoff.
Vardy, unfazed, simply shrugged. "You can have it once I leave."
As the match began, Ferguson watched closely. Would Vardy's game hold up under scrutiny?
For the young striker, this was the moment to prove that he wasn't just a youth-level speedster but a future star.