Blades boss praises McFadzean

Blades boss praises McFadzean

Published May. 4, 2013 9:15 a.m. ET

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has admitted he is not ready to move into management when he hangs up his boots.

Carragher, who is retiring from football at the end of the season, has long been tipped to stay in the game in a coaching capacity at Anfield.

However, Carragher has opted to take a break from the game and has signed as Sky Sports' new pundit for next season.

The 35-year-old admits he may consider becoming a manager in the future, but he insists he is no rush to make the move having seen what the game can do to former managers.

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"If you'd asked me at the start of my career I would have said I was going to be a manager," Carragher told the Daily Telegraph. "I may still be in future, but there seemed to be an expectation it was a natural progression for me.

"I'd read all the interviews with other players mentioning how much I love playing, watching, reading and talking about it and it seemed to make people just presume it would happen.

"It's not an easy thing to get into even if you want it. I always thought just because I love football, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm desperate to manage.

"The days of a top player walking into a major job are long gone. That's quite right, too. No one without experience has the right to go straight in. Players should do their apprenticeship. Sir Alex Ferguson made that point.

"You can mention Pep Guardiola but he's the exception and even he needed a break eventually.

"In the modern era, with the rewards the top players have during their career and the risks involved moving into management, more will look at it and say they don't need it.

"You have to remember how many hours these managers put in to get where they are. I have so much respect for all the top managers in the world for that.

"When you're a player at the top of the game it's a lot harder to find the motivation to follow that route if you have other opportunities there for you.

"I'm sure if I really want it I could go down the leagues and find somewhere but if it doesn't go well, what then? You have no experience, you're sent into this new world and then, before you know it, it's over and you're out."

The 19-year-old's first senior goal clinched his side a first-leg lead on Friday night.

McFadzean, a first-half replacement for the injured Barry Robson, ensured the Blades will take a slender advantage into the return leg at Huish Park on Monday after his deflected 46th-minute shot settled a tense and evenly-contested tie in front of a Bramall Lane crowd of 15,262.

But Morgan, who steered the Blades to only his second win in six games since replacing Danny Wilson as manager, warned his players "it is only half-time".

"All the young lads that have been involved with us this season have been excellent," Morgan said.

"They've picked up the challenges we set them. The squad is small this year and never has there been a better time for those young players to make an impact.

"It's pleasing because it's a massive game and do the kids grasp it or do they go under?

"All the kids when I've asked them to do it have gone in and played like men and you look at them tonight and they are men."

McFadzean made his 11th appearance for the Blades during a season that has also seen the likes of fellow teenagers Joe Ironside and Elliott Whitehouse - both second-half substitutes - make the first-team breakthrough.

"We've involved them all year. They've been in the first-team squad all season and they've come on since playing with the experienced players.

"Those lads are only first year pros, they're young lads, but they've grasped the challenge and it's nice for Callum to get his first goal in front of the kop in such an important game."

Morgan, who confirmed Robson had gone to hospital for treatment on a rib injury sustained in the 30th minute, said he was happy to settle for a one-goal advantage.

"We had a gameplan and I thought we were excellent," he added.

"We were up against a good Yeovil team. Two good teams. The four teams that are in the play-offs are all good teams so it's going to be close.

"But we're looking forward to the challenge now on Monday.

"Our aim was to win the game tonight. We were at home and you have to make that advantage pay.

"They'll probably be happy in their camp that it's only 1-0, but we're strong away from home as well."

Yeovil posed enough of a threat throughout to give manager Gary Johnson hope for the return leg.

Sam Foley forced a superb save from Blades goalkeeper George Long, Paddy Madden's goalbound header was cleared by home defender Neill Collins and the visitors had a strong penalty appeal for handball off team-mate Harry Maguire.

"We needed to get the ball down and play and we did that when they scored their goal," Johnson said.

"If we can be a bit better and take our chances on Monday, like we didn't quite today, then of course we're still well in it.

"I thought defensively we were fantastic because we had to deal with a bombardment into our box.

"We'll be up for it again and I know the Yeovil town fans will be right up for it, it's a tight ground at Huish Park and I think it will be a cracking game.

"Me and the boys feel Monday can't come round quick enough."

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