First it was Donny, then Christian, then Casemiro, and now Casemiro again. WIth only five senior central midfielders in the squad, the last thing United needed was injuries and absences. But they got them, and here we are. Needs must when the devil drives, so Ten Hag has taken the drastic step recently of playing Bruno Fernandes in one of those deep midfield roles. Well, he is the number 8 after all. But has it been and can it be successful? Darragh Fox has a close look at this new development, while the Devils’ Advocate team are debating it too.
But if not Bruno, then who? With Marcel Sabitzer also not 100% fit, the most obvious pairing – or the last pair standing – is Scott McTominay and Fred. Sound familiar? In our second article, Ayantan Chowdhury looks at the infamous midfield double pivot, past, present and future.
Another star with plenty of experience as a holding midfielder is Lisandro Martinez and he, too, could be asked to help out in that area if problems continue to mount. Having someone called “the Butcher” playing that role will have Anthony Taylor and Andre Marriner polishing up their red cards and perfecting their freeze frame technique on VAR. But where did that nickname come from? Kuda Jinya investigates.
Another player who is going to be out injured for a while is Alejandro Garnacho, which could be good news for the next young flying winger in line – Facundo Pellistri. Derick Kinoti tells us what to expect from the Uruguayan after his promising recent cameos.
We have a double helping of Red Billy this week. In his regular column he asks why United’s academy seems so much more successful at producing wingers than anything else, whilst in another feature he has been delving into some De Gea stats that make for grim reading.
Elsewhere in the mag, Eckers discusses the Kane vs. Osimhen debate whilst wandering through Easter Island and strip clubs, Zoe Hodges brings us all the latest news from United women and Paul Speller reminisces about a productive former encounter with Fulham. Another 5-0 this time will do us nicely – and no more injuries, please!
powered by
The number 8 shirt and tattoo on the Portuguese star’s arm may be misleading
There are few players who produce such a dichotomy in performance level as Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes. Manchester United’s enigmatic number eight is capable of the sublime, incisively unlocking defences with an arrogant flick of the boot or leaving keepers for dead with an emphatic finish from distance. Fernandes was the quickest player in Premier League history to reach 5 goals and 5 assists upon his arrival in Manchester, doing so in a mere 9 games. This rate of productivity sustained beyond his introduction however, with Bruno accumulating 58 goals and 51 assists 168 performances. Even this season, one in which Old Trafford’s attacking output has been somewhat stunted in comparison to rivals, Fernandes ranks 3rd in the league for chances created. Yet he ranks 6th for actual assists – a statistic which speaks to the scarcity of clinical quality playing directly in front of him.
But as José Mourinho once remarked: ‘People who don’t understand football, analyse with stats. I go for what I watched in the game.’ While this is undoubtedly an out-dated viewpoint, which perfectly encapsulates why the modern game has left the Portuguese manager behind, it does offer insight into why United’s current Portuguese maverick requires more subtle analysis.
Statistically Bruno Fernandes is a monster. A player who contributes as much as he does, both in terms of goals and assists, as well as pressing will always shine on paper. Yet this misses the moments of disbelief and horror Fernandes has produced on the football pitch. An errant pass to an opposition attacker; attempting to dribble and being easily dispossessed due to a lack of strength; an inability to evade the counter press, particularly in his own half. These are moments Fernandes falls foul of far too often to effectively operate in central midfield. And these are merely the defensively suspect moments.
Bruno is the walking definition of high-risk high-reward when attacking. The Portuguese star has acknowledged as such, describing how:
‘I’m a risk player. I take risks. I want to take risks and I will take the risks every time. I will lose a lot of balls, I will miss a lot of passes but I know when I find my strikers and wingers, they will score.”
While this mentality will undoubtedly produce the attacking moments for which Fernandes has become famed, concerns remain around the viability of a midfield at the top level which ‘will miss a lot of passes’ to achieve this. Bruno has a tendency, when playing poorly, to double down on his all-or-nothing creative approach. The occasional Hollywood pass becomes his weapon of choice and United’s attacking play suffers as a result, with their defence placed under increasing pressure. This ability to endure pressure represents a fundamental ability of a team to succeed, and it requires control and restraint from a midfield to withstand.
Football matches run on momentum to such an extent that world-class players can look hapless in the face of inferior opposition, while their world-class manager looks on bemused from the side-line. Manchester City won 7-0 this week against RB Leipzig – a match which seemingly represented a procession to anoint Erling Haaland as the greatest sportsman in the history of the universe. Yet the reverse fixture was a different story.
Haaland was completely anonymous and Leipzig nearly overwhelmed City in the second half, unlucky to only score one and extremely unlucky to draw the match. The momentum Leipzig were able to generate in the second half was enough to relinquish City’s usual tight stranglehold on a football match. This control stems from their ability to dominate the ball, ensuring they create chances at will and, crucially, maintain possession when the opposition begin to grow into the game. Your opponents cannot score if they do not have the ball. Guardiola once playfully joked about the perfect performance – ‘What I want is 100% possession.’ Possession is the Cruyffian obsession. And it’s this precept which is why Erik Ten Hag must reconsider Bruno Fernandes’ role within the team, if the Dutch manager is to continue to remould Manchester United in his long-term image.
Successful midfields at the highest level require a high floor fundamentally, rather than a high ceiling. Bruno’s ceiling can be as high as any attacking midfielder in world football, yet his floor sinks all the way down to the Conference League on his bad days. A central midfield that contains Fernandes as the main operator will never develop a high enough ceiling to challenge for major honours. The match against Southampton, albeit in extremely challenging circumstances, offered a glimpse into life with Bruno as a central midfielder. Life is better with the Portuguese further forward.
Which is why the Manchester City analysis is so pertinent. Kevin De Bruyne represents another disciple of the ‘high-risk high-reward’ mode of attacking, albeit without the cloud of negativity. While Fernandes ranks in the distinctly average 46th percentile for pass completion amongst midfielders in Europe, De Bruyne ranks in the 6th percentile. The 6th percentile. With a manager as predisposed towards possession as Pep, how does this risky style of play compute?
Guardiola plays De Bruyne as the most advanced of the midfield three, flanked by technically gifted wingers, and buttressed by fullbacks who join the midfield in possession. This prevents dangerous transitions and ensures constant dominance of the midfield. At the Emirates, in Manchester City’s decisive 3-1 win against Arsenal, De Bruyne’s position on the pitch was often ahead of Erling Haaland. This placement on the pitch ensures that the Belgian’s risky style of play is expressed high up the pitch, away from the City goal, within the framework of a controlled midfield.
The possession-centric pairing of Rodri and Bernardo Silva (or Gündoğan) provides the platform for the risk-prone De Bruyne to thrive. Manchester United already have a defensive midfielder superior to Rodri, even if his propensity for a red-card is beginning to cause worry. It is Casemiro’s partner who will prove essential to extracting the best performance from Fernandes. Christian Eriksen provides the technical guile of his City compatriots, while Fred offers their physicality and pressing. Yet neither combine the two and it’s this elusive combination which explains United’s long-standing pursuit of Frenkie de Jong.
The double pivot of Casemiro and De Jong seems a midfield match made in heaven with Bruno placed further forward, free to impose himself on the game with his vast array of talents and propensity for risk – risk which will impact the opposition goalkeeper, rather than David de Gea. De Jong will provide the control on the ball requisite to balance an attacking number ten, while Casemiro will provide the security off it. Players such as Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Antony will then offer the technical ability required to step into the centre of the pitch to function as ‘false-midfielders’, ensuring United are not overrun through the middle. It represents a state of controlled balance.
Fernandes was anointed with the coveted number eight shirt in the summer, following the departure of Juan Mata (hugs). It was a special moment for the Portuguese star, who described how the shirt ‘means a lot [to me]. There is a history behind that [number] because my father, when he used to be a player, he was playing with a number eight.’ The number eight is even the day of Fernandes’ birthday – 8th September.
Yet Manchester United’s next step of evolution will be dependent on Bruno being treated as a number ten who wears the number eight; a player who operates closer to the opposition goal than his own; a forward in midfielder’s clothing. Erik Ten Hag must recognise this, and continue to mould the team accordingly, both on and off the pitch.
Darragh Fox
It has been a dream return to the top-flight for the Cottagers who are chasing European football
A meteoric rise at Watford was noticed by Everton where he subsequently moved to. The first season was a memorable season but it ultimately proved to be a a chastening spell where he was sacked after the Merseysiders were struggling in the relegation zone. After a lengthy gap, Silva has really shone at Fulham. Taking over the recently relegated side, Silva transformed the club's fortunes as Fulham bounced straight back up with the club totaling 106 goals, a competition-best after Manchester City's 108 in 2001–02. Many had envisaged a swift return back down but Silva has got his team playing an attractive brand of football with the Cottagers firmly in the race for European football . Silva's form has attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur who are not happy with the team's progress under Antonio Conte.
In a team that is fighting for the European places, most often the star player is usually the one who plays up front. But at Fulham, the heartbeat of the team is Palhinha and it is easy to see why. He arrived from Sporting Lisbon and has taken to the Premier League like a fish to water. An imposing defensive midfielder, Palhinha has made more tackles than any midfielder in the big five leagues in Europe and has been instrumental as Fulham compete for a place in Europe next season. Without him, the Cottagers suffer and have lost all their games when the midfielder has not played. His terrific performances have attracted interest from all the Premier League bigwigs and it is likely that a move to a more glamorous club could be on the anvil soon.
Despite a stellar season so far, long-standing fans of the club are not happy due to the rise in ticket prices. Fulham are now the most expensive team to watch in the Premier League with their pricing policy continuing despite many legacy followers voicing their concerns. Craven Cottage, an iconic old-school venue in the Premier League, is also not in the best of shape with the facilities often rated poor by match-going fans. Lack of toilet facilities, especially for women, and a congested concourse are just a few of the problems. Owner Shahid Khan recently inaugurated an exclusive members club in the new Riverside stand and according to fans, it indicates a future where Craven Cottage is only available to the privileged willing to pay thousands of pounds a year.
Once heralded as the next great prospect of the United academy conveyor belt, it never quite worked out for Pereira despite former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer giving him a fair few chances. But under Marco Silva, the Brazil international has discovered his best form and that can be observed from the fact that he has started in all their Premier League games so far this season. His stats make for fine reading this season and showed why more teams should have tried to sign him up. In terms of assists provided, only Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen and Bukayo Saka have done it more often this season. In terms of chances created, he is surpassed only by Bruno Fernandes and De Bruyne. Fulham hold the record for most set-piece goals, with three coming from Pereira's crosses. And the Brazilian works hard to achieve these numbers. He ranks third at the club for sprints and has won possession back more than any other club attacker.
When it comes to games against Manchester United, Fulham have a terrible record. The start was not as inauspicious with the Cottagers winning their their first two FA Cup ties back in 1905 and 1908, but since then United have progressed from each of their last eight against the London club. Fulham are have not won in their last 15 encounters against the Red Devils across all competitions and have lost 12 during that dismal run. In terms of away games, Fulham have only won one in 25 games, with that rare victory coming back in 2003. Fulham's record at this stage of the competition is not that impressive either, as they have lost their last three FA Cup quarter-finals. They have reached the last-eight stage of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010. It has been a long 21 years since they reached the semi-finals of the competition. Despite boasting some serious pedigree, United's recent form in the FA CUp is not too pretty as they have lost five of their last eight quarter-final ties, most recently against Leicester in back 2020-21.
The Cottagers have really excelled under Marco Silva's leadership since their return to the top-flight but their good form has started to wane recently. Ahead of the tie against United, Fulham have lost their last two encounters while conceding six times. Not the best way to enter such a crucial contest. They will be buoyed by the return of the influential Joao Palhinha in the centre of midfield while the likes of Neeskens Kebano, Tom Cairney and Layvin Kurzawa are all ruled out for the long-ter. There are still doubts regarding Willian's participation but Aleksandar Mitrović is fully fit after being out due to a hamstring injury for the best part of a month. However, his form in the FA Cup is not worth writing home about. The Fulham top-scorer has scored 120 goals in 255 league games (Premier League and Championship, including play-offs), four goals in seven League Cup games, but has never scored in 11 appearances in the FA Cup.
If no injuries are sustained against Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday, Erik ten Hag is expected to field his strongest side for Sunday’s FA Cup 6th round clash against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Certain to be absent are Casemiro, who is suspended, Alejandro Garnacho and long-term injury victims Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek. Anthony Martial is still working on his recovery, he could make the bench but is highly unlikely to start. Antony was ill in midweek and is 50/50 to recover.
In defence, David de Gea will be in goal, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez the centre backs. Diogo Dalot may be preferred to Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right back as he is considered better going forward, despite poor form since the World Cup. Luke Shaw is currently the clear first choice at left back.
In Casemiro’s absence, the midfield pair will be two of Scott McTominay, Fred and Marcel Sabitzer. Ten Hag has so far been reluctant to reform the infamous “McFred” partnership from the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, so he could opt to start Sabitzer alongside one or the other of the old guard. It could be McTominay after his excellent performance against Southampton last weekend.
Up front, if Antony is still under the weather it is probably now a straight choice of Jadon Sancho or Facundo Pellistri on the right with Marcus Rashford left, Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 and Wout Weghorst up front. We expect Sancho to get the nod.
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh
Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Steven Meredith
Fourth official: David Coote
VAR: Neil Swarbrick
AVAR: Natalie Aspinall
Fulham typically defend in a 4-4-2 shape, although as seen in their match against Arsenal, that can often shift into a lopsided variant. Bobby Cordova-Reid was tasked with shadowing Oleksandr Zinchencko in that game, while in-form Manor Solomon remained high to threaten the backline.
The problem for Fulham was that, just as Zinchenko shifted into midfield, so too did Leandro Trossard. That double-movement led to Fulham regularly being overloaded in the centre of the pitch, facing a 4v3 every time Arsenal were in possession in that area. It also gave the Gunners a clear advantage immediately after losing possession, as they were able to counterpress in greater number.
At the same time, Arteta’s wingers were afforded plenty of space because of the positioning of Solomon and Cordova-Reid. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka managed 90 touches between them and completed five dribbles, showing just how easy it was for Arsenal to work them into one-on-one situations.
Given the options available to Erik ten Hag, it is likely that Man United will follow a similar blueprint on Sunday. The Dutchman has made a point of encouraging his fullbacks to step into the middle of the pitch to support possession sequences, and having Luke Shaw perform this role regularly against Fulham could cause all sorts of problems for the Cottagers.
Jadon Sancho would perhaps be the ideal candidate to perform the ‘Trossard role’ as a false nine dropping deep to create a central overload, but given Wout Weghorst has started every game since signing, it will likely be the on-loan striker given the nod.
Where it gets very exciting from a United point of view is the space those movements will afford Marcus Rashford and Antony (if fit). Upon overloading the middle of the park, Fulham’s lopsided response will likely leave the wingers with plenty of room to manoeuvre. Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete are hardly the best one-on-one defenders around, and if the central attacker can draw a centre half with him as he drops deep, the space will open up in behind.
It must be noted, however, that Manchester United will have a far more difficult time exploiting Fulham’s midfield orientation than Arsenal did. When the Cottagers visit Old Trafford, they will be boosted by the return of Joao Palhinha, who is to Marco Silva what Casemiro is Ten Hag. Quick combination play in the middle to avoid the Portugal star dubbed “the tackle machine,” will still be a more than viable way of opening up the flanks, but it will be crucial to maintain a good tempo to avoid becoming embroiled in series of midfield skirmishes.
David O’Neill
In this section we look at some of the most active transfer stories of the week about United, both comings and goings. We give each story a fire rating (how hot the story is, out of five) and a star rating (how reliable the story is, out of five).
🔥🔥🔥🔥
We’re only half way through March and this story is everywhere. Two big obstacles in United’s way, the price tag, which is said to be €150 million, and competition, notably from PSG.
Osimhen wants to play in the Premier League but is also in no hurry to leave Napoli, where he’s enjoying life. Most of the tier 1 journalists seem to be acknowledging that he’s a top target for United now, but who will be the club’s owner come the summer? And will they have €150m to spend?
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Two real trains of thought on Kane to United. Some of the press claim he will refuse to sign a new contract at Spurs, while others say he’s happy to stay. Some of the press say Daniel Levy will sell him for £100m this summer, others claim he will refuse to sell. Some of the press say he’s Erik ten Hag’s top target, ahead of Osimhen, while others say United think £100m for a player his age is too much and that Osimhen’s the guy. No doubt it will all come out in the wash.
🔥🔥🔥
Situation unchanged since our last issue. David Ornstein confirmed that Mount looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge.
As a home grown player, 100% of the profit on the sale of Mount could be used toward balancing the FFP books, making it a viable option for Chelsea as his contract starts to run down.
Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool are leading the race for Mount, but United should not be ruled out. Newcastle are also believed to be sniffing around.
🔥🔥
A couple of bad performances from David De Gea recently have sent tongues wagging about a keeper replacement this summer. Romano says it isn’t a priority but could be sought if the funds are available. Despite a nervy World Cup, Costa is probably the favourite and is being very extensively scouted by United. His buyout clause is €70m so he won’t come cheap. Brentford’s David Raya is another, probably more affordable option.
This one’s gone cold over the last week or so, but it will come back up with the Hammers now ready to cash in.
Various reports say that Rice’s preference is to stay in London, with Chelsea and Arsenal the obvious options. But it has been reported that Ten Hag would sanction a move if the player can be persuaded to head up the M1. Once again, the identity of United’s owner come June could have a big effect on whether this is pursued as the position is unlikely to be a priority and the price is likely to be €100m again.
🔥🔥🔥
Well, it was in The Sun, so it must be true, mustn’t it? The French giants are reportedly readying a €50m bid for the England man. It seems a little too good to be true, but stranger things have happened and he probably would thrive outside of the Premier League.
Newcastle are also said to be interested and are one of the few other teams who could afford his wages.
Thuram is leaving Gladbach, that much has been confirmed by the club themselves, but where to?
Inter have been the frontrunners for a while on this one but Juventus are also keen. Bayern and Chelsea are now reportedly out of the race.
United have reportedly made contact with Thuram’s people, who in turn have offered the player to Barcelona. It’s like football’s version of Take Me Out. No likey, no lighty.
🔥🔥🔥
German outlet Bild have made the audacious claim this week that United are preparing a €120m bid for the French international.
A good player, but it seems highly unlikely that the Red Devils would sanction that amount at this stage, especially when the likes of Kane and Osimhen are around for about the same.
A selection of the best United photos since the last issue
All photos from Getty Images
A collective groan could be heard all around the globe when Antony Taylor was asked by VAR officials, led by Andrew Marriner, to go and have a look at the screen during Manchester United’s Premier League game against Southampton last Sunday. The culprit was Casemiro and fans knew instantly that he would be shown very little leeway. And their worst fears came to pass when Taylor brandished a red card to send the Brazilian off for the second time this season. As an unhappy Erik ten Hag pointed out, the former Real Madrid superstar has never been shown a straight red before his move to the Red Devils and the officiating standards seemed to have very little consistency.
The fans and the manager are right to be worried about the ramifications of all this. United are set to face Fulham in the FA Cup quarterfinal with a chance to revisit Wembley in the offing. They also have an away tie at top four rivals Newcastle and a two home tests against Brentford, who had beaten them 0-4 earlier on in the season, and a resurgent Everton. United not only need to keep the chances of silverware alive but also will be aiming to preserve their top-four status with Tottenham and the Magpies two and six points away, respectively.
Unfortunately for the 20-time English league champions, their midfield bears a decimated look at this point in time. Both Christian Eriksen and Donny Van de Beek are out for the long-term while loan signing Marcel Sabitzer missed the two games against Betis and Southampton at Old Trafford, and still may not be 100% fit. The Dutch boss even tried an innovative solution against the Saints with attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes playing as the deep-lying playmaker. As discussed elsewhere in this issue, his penchant for losing the ball in dangerous areas potentially stops the manager from utilising him in that role. The Portugal international struggled in the deeper role as he lost possession 28 times – the most of any player in the match.
And that opens up the possibility of once again watching McFred strut their stuff. As the title suggests, it seems to almost be akin to a horror sequel people are too scared to watch. Pundits, journalists and a large section of the fan-base consider the duo’s continued participation under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the nadir in terms of the team’s history of top midfielders. The flaws are there for all to see. Fred is a relentless runner and has the stamina and courage to harry the opposition into making mistakes. These are great attributes when played alongside a defensive-minded player like Casemiro as seen during international games for Brazil. McTominay, on the other hand, can use his physicality to great effect and make lung-bursting runs when required. But the main job of a midfielder is to pass well and both are rather weak when it comes to that aspect and that makes them a rather limited partnership even at the best of times.
Fred’s passing is at best erratic and he often disappears for a half of football before remerging as a completely changed player. McTominay’s receiving and passing leaves a lot to be desired at key junctures. Both don’t do well as the deepest midfielder due to their body-shape and are better suited to the No 8 role. When playing both together, the team can lose its defensive shape and the ability to play in a fast vertical style, something that Ten Hag desires. Even the former Ajax coach binned the duo after watching their unremarkable display against Brighton in the season opener where the Reds lost 1-2. But the United boss needs both of them to be at the top of their game to navigate the upcoming challenges and there is hope that this time, even if for a brief moment, the duo can finally gain validation for their efforts.
Effort is one thing that the duo does not lack and that was evidenced when they had first sprung up as a partnership and cemented their status as the pairing of choice. During the first COVID-19 affected season, when matches happened every three days behind closed doors, the Norwegian trusted the duo who fulfilled their role while the front players were on fire. When given a specific task and for a short duration, they can certainly do the job, especially if the front players apart from Marcus Rashford hit some form.
This is also perfect in terms of timing. Fred has never enjoyed such a prolific campaign and has popped up with crucial goals and has generally excelled when under pressure. Ten Hag certainly likes the midfield dynamo and has entrusted him with a specific set of tasks in big games against Manchester City, Tottenham and Barcelona. As for the Scot, not too long ago, he had even managed to keep Casemiro out of the team for an extended period of time and that should give him the confidence of being able to do it again if needed. His cameo against Southampton was another reminder of his talents as he was easily one of the best players on the pitch in a defensive capacity and Ten Hag certainly admires his ability to run with the ball from the base of the midfield.
There is also the possibility of both being moved on in the summer and that could prove to be a huge incentive for both players to give it their all now that the situation has demanded this. Incisive passing might be missing for a few games, but Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw are able to pass out extremely impressively from the back and their ability to find passing angles should also help the duo. There is far more cohesiveness now under Ten Hag than there ever was under Solskjaer, with all almost all the front players ready to help out with the dirty work. If the momentum shifts, Sabitzer can always come in and help out with the passing. If indeed Ten Hag needs to call upon the duo, fans will do well to remember that the partnership has worked in the past and Ten Hag certainly has the management nous to make it work even if for a short period. Not a midfield to win titles, but for now, ‘McFred’ is once again here to do the job!
Ayantan Chowdhury
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made an interesting tactical tweak in the past few games and it appears to have paid dividends in the short time we’ve seen it in action – Bruno Fernandes has been dropped deeper.
His previous role was as a pure central attacking midfielder and he certainly did it well. But in the absence of a few players like Christian Eriksen, and in light of United’s shocking lack of a playmaker, he’s been asked to play deeper. Now he sits more in line with Ten Hag’s pivot, and it’s working well.
There’s no doubt the Red Devils struggle to control play in the middle third of the pitch and so Bruno’s deeper presence has helped alleviate that pain a little bit. We’re better at playing out the back and are quite exciting attacking in the final third. But the middle of the pitch is the biggest struggle. Besides Bruno helping the team out and it improving us overall, he’s arguably a better player there. His work rate and aggressiveness is more appreciated in that part of the pitch.
And he’s become less of a ‘transition player’ (as Ten Hag once referred to him) and more of a controller, dictator, and playmaker. His passes are less wasteful and yet he’s still capable of playing incredible through balls to his threatening, attacking teammates.
His own threat in the box hasn’t suffered either, as he’s been given the license to get forward too. Plus it means when he does find himself on the wings, it’s not because he’s a winger but because he’s occupying free space created by his full-backs and attackers, making him far more dangerous.
From where I’m looking at things, Bruno playing deeper is a win for everyone. Now Jadon Sancho can adapt to the attacking midfield position more, creating less of a reliance on Wout Weghorst as a 10. We all know the Dutchman works his socks off but we need more than just that. It’s the perfect way to get Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Anthony Martial all in the same starting XI, with Bruno and Casemiro behind them. One dictates the play and the other is the destroyer. It’s perfect.
I would’ve assumed playing the Portuguese deeper would just make him more wasteful and panicky (we all know he’s a high-risk passer) but instead it’s made him more measured somehow. Now he lays off simple passes and then plays the devastating ball forward only when necessary, rather than attempting to barrage through the opposition with a million different kinds of passes.
Attacking midfielders tend to drop deeper in the latter stages of their career to decent success. Bruno isn’t in the twilight of his footballing days just yet but he’s shown he can not just excel there but also make his team all the more better for it.
If Bruno continues to play well in the position, it wouldn’t surprise me if Ten Hag reconsiders the type of midfield profile he wants in the summer. And if that doesn’t sum up Bruno being a better player there then I don’t know what will.
Red Moon
I am one of those United fans who have been begging for Bruno to be played in the number 8 role more often ever since he arrived at the club so it’s a surprise to find myself arguing against the idea, but I’ve seen enough in the past couple of games to say, perhaps it wasn’t a good idea after all.
On paper, Bruno has all the attributes United need for a creative deep midfielder. An amazing passing range, he’s quick to spot a run and put the ball on a plate for the advancing forward. He’s also a workaholic and will cover every blade of grass, box-to-box, side to side. He reads the game so well, he is the last man of defence one minute and leading the attack the next.
But those strengths are also the big problem, and why I’ve come to think he doesn’t suit that deep midfield role. He’s all over the place. That Eriksen role that Ten Hag is trying to fill is not quite a “sits in front of the defence” one, but it’s close to that. It’s just outside our box to just outside theirs, in the middle. Bruno is simply too busy being everywhere to be reliably exactly there. The result is that the defensive player in the pivot is going to be left on his own in that crucial area of the pitch too often, especially in transition. And if you restrict Bruno to that area, you’ll lose 50% of what makes him so special.
I am certainly not blaming Bruno for Casemiro’s sending off against Southampton, for me that was a very bad refereeing decision. But I’ve seen on social media the argument that as the lone pivot at United, Casi has a lot of work to do, he’s maybe got to run around spinning plates and maybe as a result, is diving in a bit more than he would normally. And you look at that Southampton game, you feel there might be a point to that. There seemed to be big spaces around Casi for a big part of the game.
There is also the issue with the current squad of who replaces Bruno in the hole if he pushes back to an 8. You need someone with creativity in that position and there is no obvious replacement. Ten Hag is trying Sancho there but I’m not sure how that’s going to work. Erik must have seen something, but for me, Sancho hasn’t quite got that vision that a really great number 10 has to see everything around him and be ten steps ahead. Bruno is currently the only player in our squad that has that.
If you’re going to play Bruno deep then I’d argue you need a three man midfield rather than a double pivot and a number 10. So, for example, Casemiro – Bruno – Fred could work, but not Casemiro and Bruno with say Sancho or Weggy at number 10.
Red Billy
As a busy Christmas schedule approached, Manchester United were looking to add to their record 12th Premier League title win the previous season, and had started this campaign like they meant business.
With 12 wins from 16 so far, including an 8-2 demolition of rivals Arsenal earlier in the season, the Reds headed to London to face Fulham, at their compact home on the banks of the River Thames. Craven Cottage had been a ground that United had enjoyed much success at, with the away support often outweighing the home followers, so strong is the pull of the Old Trafford giants even within the capital.
Alex Ferguson’s men took to the field, on a bitterly cold Wednesday night, at an away fixture that had the atmosphere of a home match, and it quickly became just another day at the office, as United hit the Cottagers for five, with an incredible five different scorers. It was only moments into the game that Phil Jones received a facial injury, the United defender spending the first moments of the match holding his jaw after receiving some lengthy treatment. But that was just about the most competitive thing Fulham did throughout the 90 minutes and the Red Devils were set to pounce.
As Portuguese winger Nani used his blistering pace to get to the by-line, his cut back found Danny Welbeck who swept the ball home for a United lead as early as the fifth minute. Jones would be replaced soon after, Ashley Young taking his place, and it was his neat defending that United quickly turned into attack, releasing Antonio Valencia on numerous jaunts down the right until the the visitors won a corner. Swung in by the wand of a left foot possessed by Ryan Giggs, by now converted into a central midfielder, Nani rose highest to double United’s lead with a flicked near-post header.
United secured a 3-0 half-time lead through a deflected Giggs shot and should have had a penalty too, with Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard having to make only one save at the other end, the match was effectively over after 45 minutes. The Reds slowed the pace in the second half, showcasing some beautiful one-touch football which Welbeck failed to finish off, his chipped effort narrowly missing the target. And as the match progressed, Ferguson was afforded some changes. Substitute Young, was substituted himself, for Ji-Sung Park, and scorer Welbeck made way for Dimitar Berbatov.
As both teams looked to have made their peace with the result, with just two minutes remaining Wayne Rooney picked the ball up centrally, fully 40 yards from goal, took a touch and unleashed a rocket which found the net via the inside of the post. And as if that wasn’t enough for the raucous crowd, in the dying seconds they were treated to an outrageously nonchalant flicked goal from Berbatov, scoring his 50th goal for the club, against the team he would go on to join.
A 5-0 rout of Fulham, United’s seventh away victory on the bounce, wasn’t enough to retain the title come the end of the season, but Ferguson would go on to win the Premier League once more before his retirement in 2013. And despite an unfamiliar lack of success since, the club will look to march on against Fulham once more this week, with another famous and convincing cup win.
United line-up: Anders Lindegaard, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones (Ashley Young) (Ji-Sung Park), Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Danny Welbeck (Dimitar Berbatov), Wayne Rooney.
Paul Speller
Diminutive by English Premier League and European standards, 5 ft 9ins Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ at Ajax. Months into his first season with the Red Devils, the nickname has stuck.
A younger Martinez had hopes of becoming the next Maradona or Lionel Messi. Hence, the 25-year-old Argentine isn’t always flattered when it’s suggested that his role at United is to hack down Premier League forwards (via The Mirror).
Despite that, Erik ten Hag’s defensive signing is living up to the nickname given to him by his former teammates at Ajax.
Many moons ago, Martinez plied his trade as a gifted playmaker wearing the No.10 jersey for hometown clubs Urquiza and Athletico Libertad. The No.10 jersey in any South American team is given to the maestro with the talent to pull all the strings and orchestrate magical play sequences.
“I don’t know why at Ajax they called me ‘the Butcher’, says Martinez. “I don’t even remember who gave me the nickname. It must be because I’m aggressive in the way I play my game. I did once make a vacuum (a cut of Argentine beef) in my house, so in one way, the nickname suits me! But the truth is that I do go to each challenge like it is going to be my last one.”
Martinez, aware that his progress as a player has come in leaps and bounds, says:
“Having said that, I have greatly improved the way I read the game and how to make decisions. I have also grown in the way I pass the ball. And I want to continue improving absolutely everything. There is no limit for me. But if I want to go higher, I have to work for it – and that will always be the reality.”
He has cemented himself as a highly effective and unforgiving backline player in a short period. It is no stretch of the truth to say he has been instrumental in United’s resurgence under Ten Hag.
The Argentine defender’s performances have endeared him to the Old Trafford faithful. He became an instant cult hero following his challenge on Mohamed Salah during his third appearance for the club.
Kuda Jinya
If wasteful-but-willing-Wout has taught us anything it’s that United desperately need a ruthless centre-forward. Not to take anything away from Weggers and his Easter Island sized head but he’s basically turned out to be everything you might expect from a (fingers-crossed) January loan punt. Lovely fella, infectious smile, happy to be here, impressive workrate…nowhere near good enough at the crucial art of scoring goals.
With spontaneous combustion being just about the only ailment not to affect Anthony Martial (yet), fans are already pinning their hopes on a megabucks summer signing to transform our underpowered attack. At present, speculation whirls around two stars with very different qualities. The £100m question is: Will the Reds go all-in for Spurs’ record-breaker Harry Kane or dynamic young Napoli attacker Victor Osimhen?
There’s very little that hasn’t already been said about the relentless Harry Kane. The Londoner has overtaken Jimmy Greaves to become Spurs’ all-time record goalscorer and is currently level with Wayne Rooney at the top of England’s scoring charts. He’s currently third in the Premier League’s list of top scorers and has a very good chance of eventually catching Alan Shearer. Basically, he’s as close as it comes to a cast iron guarantee of goals.
Osimhen’s tally of 64 goals in 132 career games might seem modest by comparison but the present campaign suggests he’s been honing his craft. As part of a free-flowing Napoli side, the lively attacker has bagged 19 goals in just 21 games in Serie A, with match-winning performances against the likes of Juventus and Roma. He’s also hit the net twice in three games in the Champions League. This scintillating form has rightly made him one of the most coveted attackers in all of Europe.
Goals aside, Kane is an extremely accomplished footballer, with 45 PL assists to go with those 203 goals. While nominally a target man, the No.9 is equally happy to drop into midfield and spray dangerous passes into the paths of his wide men. Although his slightly cumbersome gait sometimes distracts from his serious ability, he’s a very intelligent footballer who you suspect could easily slot into any top side and hit the ground running. Talking about running, he’s not exactly pacy but makes up for it with his strength, technique and anticipation.
Stylistically Osimhen is a completely different proposition. The Nigerian is known to be an intense, hard-running athlete who dominates in the air and is a constant threat on the deck. He’s very quick, has great movement and doesn’t give defenders a moment’s rest. Unlike Kane, he’s at his best running in behind defences and doesn’t quite have the same polish. There’s a sense of rough edges but, at 24 he’s got plenty of time to improve. Scarily, he’s not even the finished article yet, despite already being the best striker in Italy.
The England man is already at his peak, with the big question being how long he can stay there. Naysayers are convinced that ankle injuries will curtail his effectiveness and that he’s a prime candidate for premature burn out, making the £100m price tag a risk. However, he’s known to be a dedicated professional with a good mentality, so could very well enjoy the kind of late bloom that we’ve seen increasingly among the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and our very own Zlatan.
Even so, adding another experienced player to an already mature squad might seem like the wrong move. Kane might offer 3 or 4 years of top level football, whereas Osimhen represents a long-term investment who could transform our fortunes for the best part of a decade. The appeal is obvious and the price tags wouldn’t be too far apart either. It seems like a straight choice between the present and the future – a proven 9.5 for now or the consummate leader of the line for years.
There are obvious qualities whichever side of the debate you land on but either player would be a massive upgrade. Both have pretty unique qualities – for everything you gain with Kane, there’s a persuasive counter argument for Osimhen. Both would cost a fortune. Both would be treated as crown jewels by their hard bargaining owners. One has PL experience and silky skills, the other has the potential to be the best striker in Europe.
Ultimately this will come down to Erik ten Hag’s preferences and the United board’s ability to get a deal over the line. With Todd Boehly dropping money like a drunken rapper in a strip club, fans will be hoping the proposed takeover happens before the summer and that the manager has a decent sized war chest. If we’re lucky enough to nab one of Kane or Osimhen, we’ll be well-placed for a title change next term.
Scott Eckersley
Alejandro Garnacho’s untimely injury should secure more minutes for the Uruguayan
After Sunday’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Southampton at Old Trafford that saw Casemiro sent off and receive a hefty four-game domestic ban, Manchester United fans were waiting with bated breath to hear news of Alejandro Garnacho’s injury and the full extent of his physical setback. The Argentine superstar was pictured leaving the stadium with his foot enclosed in a protective boot – similar to the one Christian Eriksen had on after Andy Caroll’s horror tackle on him in the FA Cup tie against Paul Ince’s Reading. Some of the nerves were calmed by Erik ten Hag’s comments after the game. The Dutchman declared that Garnacho’s injury did not look “too bad” and he was only taken off as a precaution. Another report relayed that the player’s camp was optimistic that he would make a swift recovery and join up with the Argentina national team for the upcoming international break.
24 hours later and news broke that Garnacho’s injury is actually a nasty one and the player will miss action for around six weeks. The 18-year-old confirmed as much in a statement he posted on social media, where he expressed sadness at his misfortune. Garnacho’s prolonged period on the sidelines means that Ten Hag has lost his main weapon off the bench. The sight of Garnacho coming on and making an impact with the game teetering on a knife’s edge has become a regular occurrence this season. Even worse for the United boss and the team is that Garnacho’s injury has only further served to reduce the numbers in an already extremely light attacking department. Ten Hag will need to be creative in finding ways to offset the attacking vacuum left by Garnacho’s profound absence.
A likely solution for Ten Hag is Facundo Pellistri. The Dutch Despite operating from the right rather than the left, Pellistri boasts a similar skillset as his injured fellow South American – rapid, exhilarating burst of pace, silky on the ball, can beat his man and works hard defensively. An added edge that Pellistri possesses is his poise while in control of the ball. In the short cameos he has been afforded so far this term, Pellistri has proved that he has a lot to offer if given sufficient opportunity. Primarily deployed from the bench late into games, Pellistri has made a difference in the few minutes he has featured for the Red Devils. Recently, he came on against Real Betis and produced a remarkable bit of play where he turned a Betis defender inside out before putting a dangerous ball into the box for Scott McTominay. The goalkeeper kept McTominay’s shot out but a spilled save led to a sliding Wout Weghorst finding the back of the net. Even against Southampton, Pellistri had an influence on proceedings, but his attempts were not enough as the team were a man down and had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Signed in 2020 from Peñarol, Pellistri had to wait for more than two years to make his senior debut. Since then, the 21-year-old has not looked back and has been knocking on the door. Garnacho’s injury may be just the big break the youngster needed to establish himself in the side and increase his standing within the squad. Last week, Ten Hag alluded to there being more chances coming for Pellistri, with the manager saying that he is one of the best trainers at his disposal. While Ten Hag may have thought he would gently introduce the Uruguay international to first team action, it may well be that his hand has been forced and that he is obliged to thrust Pellistri into action. Evidence suggests Pellistri can handle it. After all, he is a full-fledged international with his national team and is a regular fixture in the starting XI. Holding down the fort while Garnacho recovers should therefore be a walk in the park, right?
Derick Kinoti
Some of the best United-related videos on Youtube since the last match
Is De Gea even good at what he’s good at any more?
In the nine shots on target faced in the two games against Liverpool and Real Betis, the Spaniard let in eight goals.
De Gea’s distribution against the Spanish side was extremely suspect, leading pundit Paul Scholes to remark “David isn’t the best footballer let me put it that way.” De Gea’s manager, Erik ten Hag, admitted at a recent presser that he “can’t ignore” his keeper’s poor showing.
Comparing De Gea’s passing stats this season in the Premier League with another top keeper, Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, FBRef.com stats show that the United man has attempted far fewer passes (778 vs. 970) and registered a much lower pass accuracy (72% vs 85.7%).
It has always generally been accepted that the 31-year-old’s passing and sweeping are weaknesses in his game, but over the years he has more than compensated for this with his shot stopping, which has been second to none in world football and which has saved United points on countless occasions.
However, a current season stat issued this week suggests that even in this supposed area of strength, De Gea is now lacking.
According to @FPLFocal, the United man ranks third worst of all Premier League goalkeepers for number of expected goals prevented (XG). These are based on stats from 18th September. To explain this figure better, FBRef.com show how many goals a keeper has conceded for the season compared to how many goals are expected to have been scored against him.
For the PL season, De Gea has conceded 35, when the XG was 29.7, meaning he has let in 5.3 goals this season that he shouldn’t have. Becker, by contrast, has conceded 28 when the XG was 36.6, meaning he has prevented 8.6 goals more from occurring than he should have.
Put another way, United’s inferior goal difference this season (+6 vs Liverpool’s +19) could be more than accounted for by the difference in the two keepers’ performances. In fact, on every main goalkeeping metric, Alisson scores much better than De Gea in the Premier League this season.
source: derived from Fbref.com
With his contract expiring in June, De Gea is currently in negotiations with United about a new deal. He is currently the world’s highest paid goalkeeper on £375,000 per week.
There has been some talk of him even reducing his salary by 50%, but that would still place him at £187,500 per week (£9.75m per year), considerable more than Alisson’s £150,000 per week. It would also mean he is still paid more than Gianluigi Donnarumma (£8.5m), Thibaut Courtois (£7.2m) and Ederson (£5m). In fact, he would still be the fifth best paid keeper in the world behind Jan Oblak, Keylor Navas, Sergio Rico and Manuel Neuer (sources: Read Nigeria Network, Spotrac.com).
The question for United and Erik ten Hag right now is, even if De Gea were to agree to such a drastic deal, would his statistics justify that contract, especially as he turns 33 years of age in November?
Red Billy
Some of the best United-related posts on Twitter since the last match
Clicking on a video tweet will open it in Twitter in a new window.
Years at club: 1961-74
470 appearances, 179 goals
Northern Ireland: 37 caps, 9 goals
“Pele said he thought I was the greatest ever player. I have always thought I was the best ever player – that’s the way you have to look at it. I have never looked at another player and felt inferior” – George Best
Early life
George Best was born in Belfast on the 22nd May 1946. Academically gifted, Best played truant from his rugby union-playing high school until he was moved to a more football focused school with his friends.
Before United
Best spent his formative years playing for Cregagh Boys Club in his hometown. It was there he was spotted by Manchester United, aged 15, whereupon the club’s chief scout sent a telegram to Matt Busby back at Old Trafford which read “I think I’ve found you a genius”. Best would join United and spend two seasons with the clubs world-famous youth system before being promoted to the first team in 1963.
Manchester United career
Best made his first team debut aged 17 and would go on to score 179 goals in 470 appearances over 11 seasons for the Reds. The club’s top scorer in five consecutive seasons, he also helped United to two league championships as well as lifting the European Cup in 1968, where he scored in the final at Wembley. Winning the Ballon d’Or in the same year, Best had won it all and cemented himself as one third of United’s Holy Trinity alongside Charlton and Law, and all by the tender age of just 22.
After United
Despite threatening to leave the club in 1972, who were in decline and had relegation looming, Best would continue until he was suspended, fined, banned and arrested all in the same year before announcing his retirement in 1974. He would go on to appear for three different MLS teams in America, with stints in Scotland, Hong Kong and Australia and a brief, yet successful resurrection of his career at United’s FA cup opponents this week, Fulham. Scoring 8 goals in 42 matches, Best teamed up there with Bobby Moore and his old friend Rodney Marsh for what was undoubtedly an entertaining, yet fruitless season for the London team.
Where are they now
Best lived in South London after his astonishing football career and passed away in hospital aged 59 due to alcohol-related illnesses, on 25th November 2005. With tributes paid to him by greats of the game Pele, Maradona, Cruyff and Cantona, George Best was described as flamboyant and exciting. His legacy at United lives on in fans both young and old, and his name still rings around Old Trafford to this day.
Paul Speller
mystery Manc
Who’s the mystery United player, who is the ref and what club did Scott Parker manage until he was sacked this month? Click the button to reveal the right answer.
Drag the pieces below to solve this United jigsaw. The default jigsaw has 80 pieces but you can change this by clicking the ‘Play On Jigsawplanet’ button and selecting a different size (opens in new window, no sign in necessary).
Crossword
Find the names and words relating to this week’s match in the grid below. They can read left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top but not diagonally. Drag the cursor along the word to select it. It will be crossed out if you got it right.
Manchester United Women may have dropped points against Chelsea, a game in which they could have won if decisions had gone their way, but their season is far from over. They seem to be out of the title race, barring a major slip up from Chelsea, but the point of this season was to have a good cup run and secure Champions League football. This weekend they play Lewes in the FA Cup Quarter final and they’ll be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s league defeat with a dominant display against the Championship side. Manager Marc Skinner is expected to rotate heavily, with Baggaley coming in for Earps to give her a rest.
Norwegian international Vilde Boe Risa should start and I would like to see players like Cascarino and Adriana Leon given a good few minutes. Russo and perhaps Toone should start on the bench but be ready to come on should things not be going our way. However, we must remember that this is a must win game for the Reds and they can’t underestimate their opponents. They slipped up massively in the Conti Cup this season by underestimating their opponents and it cost them greatly.
In the league United need to remain focused and not let last weekend’s result throw them off the scent of a top three finish. Though they are on course of achieving their highest placed finish ever, it’s easy to see how it could all go wrong. City are now level on points with us, but we have a better goal difference whilst Arsenal are three points behind us but with a game in hand. United need to be ruthless and get a win in pretty much all of their remaining games, but they still have to face Arsenal and City again, who will be just as hungry as them for those all important points.
United didn’t play badly on Sunday, they had 63% possession, two penalty appeals and Sam Kerr was clearly offside for the only goal of the game. However, playing well is no good if you don’t take the points and if United finish outside the top three they will struggle in subsequent seasons as their top players will leave. It looks as though, regardless of where we finish, Russo and Batlle will leave in Summer with many more needing to enter contract talks.
The next few weeks will be vital in securing the future of Manchester United as a force to be reckoned with in Women’s football. It’s crazy to think that one result could have such an impact on how we look at a club, but in a league that is so tight there is little margin for error.
That raises an important question. Why can the league not be expanded, and Premier League clubs encouraged to invest more in their Women’s setup? We talk about money filtering down through the football pyramid, but more investment and expansion in the women’s football pyramid would be the next logical step after a successful and inspiring European campaign by the Lionesses. Of course we need to learn to walk before we can run, but people have been calling for an expansion of the top flight for some time now and it is surely now time.
Another question that those tight margins raises is, if there is so little margin for error from the players and coaches, why are refs still messing up? It really is true that the mistakes made by officials are costing teams points and positions in the table. In a league that is so close, this simply can’t happen! It is debatable whether VAR should exist in the women’s game, I certainly don’t want to see that just yet, but we need to look at the officials and invest in them, give them the tools needed to do their job to a higher standard. Previously we have seen a level of investment, the PGMOL took over officiating in the Championship and WSL in 2021. This followed the game getting a major broadcasting deal which shone a spotlight on all aspects of the game, particularly highlighting the need for professional officials but they are still not getting the support they need and deserve to get to that next level. It’s too soon for VAR, we need to get the basics right first.
In the meantime, United have to move on from the decisions which did not go there way and try to minimise the impact of poor officiating on the outcome of each game by being more dominant, creating and executing more chances and just generally being the better side.
Zoe Hodges
Some of us may have let out a little groan when Scotty was brought on to steady the ship after the Casemiro sending off, but he was absolutely superb. Well done, lad.
It’s was not just about the sending off but he missed two pens – the handball one was really blatant. Whether it’s incompetence or bias, this ref – the same one who moved United’s wall 18 yards back earlier this season – is a disgrace.
In search of the next Neville brother
Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo, Facundo Pellistri are all incredibly exciting young talents. Add them to Rashford, Sancho and Antony and we shouldn’t have to worry about buying wingers for quite some time. Anthony Elanga might still come good as well, although he seems to be one of the few players to have gone backwards under Ten Hag. We might also find ourselves having to support Mason Greenwood again soon, too.
Obviously Amad and Pellistri are not pure academy products, each having joined the club around the age of 18, but nonetheless there is a strong sense of progression here from academy to first team that we just don’t seem to see elsewhere on the pitch. When did an academy goalkeeper last make it to be a first team regular? I can’t think of one, unless Dean Henderson’s destiny takes another turn. For defenders, with the exception of Axel Tuanzebe, who doesn’t look like he’s going to make it at United, we probably have to go back to the likes of John O’Shea and Wes Brown, then the Neville brothers. I had high hopes for Alvaro Fernandez in that regard until I read that United have asked his loan club, Preston, to help them re-configure him as a winger. Yeah, because we’re short of those! Hopes now pinned on Ethan Laird …
There have been so many nearly men. Brandon Williams probably came closest. There was Tim Fosu-Mensah. Louis van Gaal tried with the likes of Donald Love, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair. Where are they now?
Midfielders fare slightly better, McTominay was probably the last one to come through and there was Paul Pogba of course, Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard …
Anyway, my point is, why are we not getting more academy stars through in these other positions? You’ll be pleased to know, I have a theory, or a partial one at least. United tend to blood wingers earlier. Players in other positions need to be more physically robust, but wingers can be gangly little streaks of piss and it doesn’t matter so much. That’s how the theory goes anyway. So we can chuck them in at the deep end. Also, youngsters will make mistakes and mistakes made as a winger are generally not as dangerous as, say, mistakes made by defenders and goalkeepers. So we can afford to soak up those mistakes in the high-stakes world of first team football, but not ones made by, say, a centre back. Wingers generally need to be fast and fearless, too, and these young whippersnappers are cocky as hell and pretty fresh and nimble.
But if you accept the theory that wingers are able to be blooded younger, that still doesn’t explain why academy stars in the other positions don’t make it through in the end, does it? Ryan Giggs was brought into the first team before the rest of the class of ’92, but they all got there eventually, didn’t they? Well, apart from Robbie Savage of course, but then you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
It should actually be easier to find good, solid defenders and midfielders than wingers, too, because the latter needs to have that special something that can’t be trained, whereas more defensive roles can, to a greater extent, be learned mechanically.
We have a fantastic generation knocking at the door now, with the likes of the lesser-spotted Zidane Iqbal, Tyler Fredricson, Marc Jurado, Kobbie Mainoo, Hannibal Mejbri, Di’Shon Bernard, Will Fish, Omari Forson, Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Shola Shoretire, Charlie McNeill, Manni Norkett and Joe Hugill in addition to those mentioned earlier. Surely out of that lot we can get a half dozen or so through the doors into the first team dressing room?
To read the magazine, simply scroll down, or click the down arrow at the top of any page to bring up the table of contents:
This issue will be updated every morning until match day and after the manager’s press conference. You can see the date it was last updated on the magazine’s footer.
Click here to close the magazine and return to United Matchday Magazine home page.
Answer: The United player is Cristiano Ronaldo. The ref is Mike Dean and Parker was recently sacked as manager of Club Brugge after they lost 5-0 to Benfica in the Champions League. Well done if you got them all right!
1. Russia
2. Ecuador
3. Serbia
4. Norway
5. Denmark
6. Brazil
7. France
8. Argentina
9. Tunisia
10. Portugal
11. Belgium
12. Cameroon
13. Sweden
14. Angola
15. Senegal
