What have been the main highlights of Manchester United’s season?
You really can count them all on one hand.
Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against FC Bruges? Juan Mata’s goal against Southampton? The Spaniard’s assist for Chris Smalling’s winner at home to Wolfsburg?
All certainly in the mix but none come close to Anthony Martial racing towards the Stretford End and effortlessly slotting home United’s third against Liverpool. Or Marcus Rashford grabbing a brace on his first ever senior appearance for the club in that comeback win over Midtjylland. Or Rashford scoring twice against Arsenal three days later. Or the same player netting the winner in the derby. At the Etihad.
There’s a greater point to be made here.
Against the Gunners, Louis van Gaal handed league debuts to three youngsters in Rashford, Tim Fosu-Mensah and James Weir. This term, Guillermo Varela, Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have also stepped up to the plate and impressed at various intervals.
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PA WIRE
PA WIRE
Even in the wake of the thumping defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, United fans sought solace in Fosu-Mensah’s imposing and dominant performance, lamenting the three goals conceded within eight minutes of him being forced off with injury.
The performances of United’s youngsters has been the story of the campaign. And whatever happens this summer, the club needs to recognise just how crucial this talented crop is in getting the side back on an even keel.
United’s elder statesmen have been found wanting this term. Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia have all struggled with injury while Bastian Schweinsteiger – signed to bring some calm and composure to the team – has ominously succumbed too regularly to fitness issues.
PA WIRE
PA WIRE
On a consistent basis, United have relied on two leaders – Chris Smalling and David de Gea and that says a lot. If only the team had another two at the opposite end of the pitch.
Mata has contributed little, particularly this term when his experience has really been needed – and has proved that the £40 million deal Chelsea agreed to in January 2014 was great business for them. He’s no game-maker and with the notable exception of last year’s win at Anfield, he’s turned in a distinct lack of big performances when it’s mattered most.
The ineffectiveness and injury-prone nature of United’s senior stars has prompted a rapid graduation for the club’s up-and-comers. And that has led to other questions about van Gaal’s management – namely his willingness to cull the squad so much last summer and his refusal to sign proven attackers despite allowing the likes of Angel di Maria, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez leave the club.
Because of poor decision-making, Anthony Martial became the club’s main attacking focal point within days of joining. 72 hours after coming on and scoring against Liverpool in what was his first appearance for the club, the then-19-year-old started in Eindhoven because there was no-one else. It’s been the pattern for the rest of the season and it’s staggering how he’s still standing, having played so much football.
Jon Super
Jon Super
It’s been a similar story for Rashford. It’s been six weeks since he featured against Midtjylland and he’s since started nine successive games. Against Spurs, he was replaced at half-time – the second occasion that’s happened him since being promoted to the first team. Van Gaal was reportedly unhappy with the 18-year-old’s performance at White Hart Lane on Sunday though is it any wonder why the youngster might be struggling? For Rashford to be handed so much responsibility so quickly is both refreshing and worrying.
This season, there’s been an over-reliance and that’s not good for anyone.
For next season, United have a conveyor-belt of young, talented players to develop further. This term has whetted their appetites and with more transitions guaranteed (in terms of the coaching and playing staff), the likes of Rashford, Fosu-Mensah, Varela and Borthwick-Jackson are all deserving of first-team places.
With Martial and Lingard, Luke Shaw to return from injury and James Wilson to come back from an encouraging spell at Brighton, there’s a solid group of hungry youngsters to push on.
It remains to be seen if they’ll be given the chance.
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Man United's excellent youngsters are the future and club needs to recognise that
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What have been the main highlights of Manchester United’s season?
You really can count them all on one hand.
Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against FC Bruges? Juan Mata’s goal against Southampton? The Spaniard’s assist for Chris Smalling’s winner at home to Wolfsburg?
All certainly in the mix but none come close to Anthony Martial racing towards the Stretford End and effortlessly slotting home United’s third against Liverpool. Or Marcus Rashford grabbing a brace on his first ever senior appearance for the club in that comeback win over Midtjylland. Or Rashford scoring twice against Arsenal three days later. Or the same player netting the winner in the derby. At the Etihad.
There’s a greater point to be made here.
Against the Gunners, Louis van Gaal handed league debuts to three youngsters in Rashford, Tim Fosu-Mensah and James Weir. This term, Guillermo Varela, Jesse Lingard and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have also stepped up to the plate and impressed at various intervals.
Even in the wake of the thumping defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, United fans sought solace in Fosu-Mensah’s imposing and dominant performance, lamenting the three goals conceded within eight minutes of him being forced off with injury.
The performances of United’s youngsters has been the story of the campaign. And whatever happens this summer, the club needs to recognise just how crucial this talented crop is in getting the side back on an even keel.
United’s elder statesmen have been found wanting this term. Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia have all struggled with injury while Bastian Schweinsteiger – signed to bring some calm and composure to the team – has ominously succumbed too regularly to fitness issues.
On a consistent basis, United have relied on two leaders – Chris Smalling and David de Gea and that says a lot. If only the team had another two at the opposite end of the pitch.
Mata has contributed little, particularly this term when his experience has really been needed – and has proved that the £40 million deal Chelsea agreed to in January 2014 was great business for them. He’s no game-maker and with the notable exception of last year’s win at Anfield, he’s turned in a distinct lack of big performances when it’s mattered most.
The ineffectiveness and injury-prone nature of United’s senior stars has prompted a rapid graduation for the club’s up-and-comers. And that has led to other questions about van Gaal’s management – namely his willingness to cull the squad so much last summer and his refusal to sign proven attackers despite allowing the likes of Angel di Maria, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez leave the club.
Because of poor decision-making, Anthony Martial became the club’s main attacking focal point within days of joining. 72 hours after coming on and scoring against Liverpool in what was his first appearance for the club, the then-19-year-old started in Eindhoven because there was no-one else. It’s been the pattern for the rest of the season and it’s staggering how he’s still standing, having played so much football.
It’s been a similar story for Rashford. It’s been six weeks since he featured against Midtjylland and he’s since started nine successive games. Against Spurs, he was replaced at half-time – the second occasion that’s happened him since being promoted to the first team. Van Gaal was reportedly unhappy with the 18-year-old’s performance at White Hart Lane on Sunday though is it any wonder why the youngster might be struggling? For Rashford to be handed so much responsibility so quickly is both refreshing and worrying.
This season, there’s been an over-reliance and that’s not good for anyone.
For next season, United have a conveyor-belt of young, talented players to develop further. This term has whetted their appetites and with more transitions guaranteed (in terms of the coaching and playing staff), the likes of Rashford, Fosu-Mensah, Varela and Borthwick-Jackson are all deserving of first-team places.
With Martial and Lingard, Luke Shaw to return from injury and James Wilson to come back from an encouraging spell at Brighton, there’s a solid group of hungry youngsters to push on.
It remains to be seen if they’ll be given the chance.
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