
In my last column I called for a couple of changes for the first team. The biggest one was hoping that Mason Greenwood would come in on the right-hand side.
I thought Mason did well. Fans expect him to score but I was pleased with his overall contribution. His awareness is outstanding for a young player, you can tell he’s a baller, his telepathy with other ballers ie. Bruno, Pogba, Martial is good to watch.
A lot of players don’t have this, and usually, speedy players tend to run with their head down and can be very wasteful. With Mason, he keeps the ball well and looks dangerous when attacking.
I can see him getting dropped for one of the players I’d describe as Ole’s blind spots at the weekend, but I’d keep playing him as a lot of teams are going to sit back and this is no good for players who don’t know how to manipulate the ball or man. I don’t see Mason struggling with the dynamics of big characters as he trusts his ability.
I also suggested that Ole might change the full-backs in order to get some more crossing ability in from that area. I was pleased to see Aaron get an assist against Sheffield United.
I still feel that he and Shaw struggle technically most the time, and 99% of the time they turn back and play the easy pass, or cross and hit the first man. Having said that, Aaron is definitely more adventurous.
I’d still take the chance this weekend to change it up and swap the full-backs. I would also bring Eric Bailly into the defence.
I would keep the midfield the same to get some fluidity, but I’m certain Ole will change so to give a few of those squad players a game, and that does concern me as, like I said, I think it’s a drop in quality.
I’d rest Rashford as he still looks very rusty, and I’d put Martial on the left as he’ll be buzzing still from the other night. Ighalo should come in too.
Don’t be surprised to see Pereira, Lingard, Mata and James all come in… for me, it would be a mistake as from now until the end of the season, the team needs fluidity not chopping and changing just to give lads a game. Five subs can be used so there’s no need for wholesale changes – we’ll wait and see what tomorrow brings.
Ask @johnaokane if he had 200 million as the manger to spend, where’s he spending it and who’s he moving on.
— Daniel Waterhouse (@DanielWaterho13) June 25, 2020
It’s a tough question because we can afford anyone on the planet, and yet seem to have an ineptitude of getting some of these deals over the line.
I’d buy a young kid from RB Leipzig, Dayot Upamecano, who can play CDM or centre-half. He’s a little like Yaya Toure. Jadon Sancho, obviously, is a player we should get, but we’re still missing a poacher, which are hard to find nowadays.
If we were a serious club we’d just go buy Ronaldo, Mbappe or Lewandowski, but I doubt that, so it’ll be a youth product which is nice and free for the Glazers which they like a lot. Maybe Raul Jimenez would fit the financial profile if not the ability profile.
For @johnaokane – could probably do a full column on this alone. Would love his views and comparisons on what it was like for him aged 16-18 at Man Utd, compared to what it is like nowadays for our young Academy Players. No cleaning boots and dressing rooms or playing in the…
— Daniel (@Luzhniki2008) June 25, 2020
….Lancashire League for them nowadays. @johnaokane
— Daniel (@Luzhniki2008) June 25, 2020
When we were eighteen, it was a lot tougher. There was a lot of bullying from coaches and older players and of course jobs we had to do. The world has changed and political correctness has took over so the comparison is so far away to these days.
Kids at clubs now don’t have to play games in the first team and they’re already millionaires. They are also pampered to, which is why you can’t say anything bad to them because they’d tell their agent or lawyer etc.
Whilst I don’t agree with bullying it definitely toughened u up and I suppose with our ability it made us almost unbeatable back then.