After the blessed hope and promise of Arsenal's second string on Sunday, the crushing discouragement of Manchester United's last night. True, the Premiership leaders raced into a three-goal lead inside six minutes but that was mere burnish on what is a thin veneer.
Scratch beneath the surface and what is there at the factory whose youth conveyor belt proudly produced the FA Youth Cup-winning team of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, the Neville brothers and Ryan Giggs? As those players reach the twilights of their illustrious careers, Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in the youth at his club does not shine through.
Whereas in the Carling Cup final on Sunday Arsenal fielded a midfield worthy of a Paul Hardcastle synthesiser number in tribute to its teenage innocence, United chose instead to roll out Kieron Richardson, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea last night. These are players whose careers have stalled at Old Trafford, players who the watching Roy Keane scorned for their lack of progress at
Maybe they are not to blame. Indeed, perhaps it is Premiership pragmatism that has prevented Sir Alex Ferguson from fostering a new golden generation at his beloved club. Last night he fielded a team that had cost more than £60m to assemble.
It was captained by the world's most-expensive defender, the £30m Rio Ferdinand and even the left-back Gabriel Heinze cost
It was Ferdinand who provided the next goal with a long pass from defence, a hopeful ball that was turned into an assist by the sublime first touch and finish of a £12.8m talent, the striker Louis Saha. Then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swept in a third after picking up
But that is not the point. Even Roman Abramovich, with his £12bn fortune, acknowledges that youth development is a priority for his club. Malcolm Glazer received little change from £900m in purchasing Manchester United but if he is to make a significant return on his investment he will not wish to continue pouring money into the transfer market.