As I'm sure a lot of you read on an article I wrote when we were first linked with Young, I wasn't entirely convinced he was the correct signing for us to say the least and wad some serious doubts.
Now, trying not to be too pessimistic, when I saw the transfer confirmed I was in one sense disheartened, in the other more of an 'ah, give the boy a chance' sort of mood.
I'm not going to lie, this is probably the least pleased I've been about a signing since Manucho (and he was much, much less and we could've all guessed wouldn't play any huge part week in week out).
But, I've sat and resided with my thoughts, trying to see Fergie's thought process behind this buy.
I've come up with two reasons that, I personally, could justify the transfer with:
1) Young has been bought for simple rotational reasons as we cannot rely on Nani and Valencia for every single game (off-days, injuries, suspensions etc), Giggs is getting on and Park has never been the most attack-minded, flair player that we have become acustomed to seeing at OT.
2) I think this is the most likely (I can't tell whether it'd be good or bad)
We will line up something like this:
..................................De Gea (IF HE SIGNS!)..............
Rafa/Fab.......Rio/Smalling/Jones.........Vida............Evra/Fab
Nani............Anderson........Carrick/Fletch/???...........Young
.....................................Rooney.........................
..............................Chicharito...................
This actually seems like a very good line up if each player performs to his potential (like Ando, Nani, Carrick who could all prove to be hugely important for us next season).
I personally think both Nani and Valencia are better in almost every department than Young but, as we've seen, Valencia, while partial to some killer dead-line balls, can be used rather defensively (ala vs Barca).
Hence, with a very old-fashioned United theory of all out attack, prominently from the wings, Nani and Young could interchange throughout the match. Popping up left, right, centre, in the gap Rooney usually plays ever so well in while Roo was occupied tracking back or similarly switching to the right.
This is an idea I absolutely love! The concept of three fast, tricky players interchanging and popping up all over the place giving the opposition's defenders nightmares while they cross, shoot and thread through some killer passes for a striker we've all come to love as 'the boy who doesn't miss' in Chicharito.
However, while this idea reminds me very much of vintage Man United (especially with Raf, Fab and Evra being wonderfully adventurous full backs and having CBs who can all PLAY IT ABOUT! Rather than play hoof-ball we see at Liverpool) and it COULD be the start of a gorgeous blend of football from our team, I'm still lost as to why the answer was Ashley Young?
We could do the same thing with a technically better, similar priced, foregin player.
Take Mata, Silva (sorry to make you shiver), Costa, Marco Marin, Eden Hazard, Robben (yes, I know, bad memories and about 50mil knowing them Munichs!) but you get the idea. They could all do precisely the same job, probably better, bring more smiles to United fans' faces, higher shirt sales etc and we wouldn't be here right now with a lot of negative articles!
Alas, I will give the boy his deserved chance(s), I'll be keeping an especially close eye on him and try my very hardest not to become liable to bias just because he's not the player I personally wanted.
Anyway, fellow United fans, thoughts?
Ashley Young, woe or delight?
posted on 23/6/11
As you said, the idea of having three interchangable players playing in behind Chicharito is mouth-watering, and I think it will signal a return to the free-flowing football that we havent seen at United for a few years. For that reason i'm happy with it.
We could have gone for a more expensive option, i.e. Sanchez, but perhaps the reason we didnt is because we are also saving for other signings, most likely in central midfield. Central midfield should be the priority this summer, but we did also need a left winger. If we were going to get both, we were always going to have to compromise a little. We are not City or Chelsea, and we do not have an endless pot of cash. A lot of people seem to be forgetting this.
posted on 23/6/11
I think he is a terrific signing. Not too expensive, good age, plays on the left though can interchange, knows the league so is settled, has a terrific end product (assists and goals), probably a better set piece taker than anyone we have and importantly, i feel... English.
I think a good British nucleus is important (though not crucial, obviously). Add to that he is fast, can beat a player and is taking to international football like a duck to water and i think it's a master stroke from Fergie.
I hope him and Nani feature on the wings as they are more versatile and are more of a direct threat to goal than Valencia, who is doubtless a very steady player but quite one dimensional and timid in one v one situations.
posted on 24/6/11
Rooney is what worries me. He is good in the EPL but he does not have the technical ability of Berbatov. I would prefer him as an attacking midfield player who can be involved and then further forward the technical ability of Berbatov and the pace of Hernandez. This would ensure that our attack is always threatening and Berbatov would hold the ball no matter what and give it back to a team mate.
But I guess it is back to the British way of direct football now with Berbatov sure to leave.