Manchester United’s Ashley Young A Top Signing?
After the Champions League Final at Wembley, Manchester United fans questioned where the quality was as witnesses to a mesmeric array of football by Catalan opponents Barcelona .
The top priority for most Manchester United fans, and Sir Alex Ferguson, is to sign a world class midfielder, in other words, a replacement for Scholes. That doesn’t seem like happening any time soon.
Sir Alex Ferguson has already managed to sign Phil Jones, who has been touted as the next big thing to come from England, but what about the signing of Ashley Young? Is he going to miraculously guarantee Manchester United beat Barcelona the next time the two clubs meet, in the Champions League?
Young may not be the answer, but ironically, he is the answer to the problems Manchester United have had on the left, over the past couple of seasons. Giggs has lost his magic, there is still a spark left in him, but he isn’t as explosive as he once was. And, Nani simple isn’t a left winger. He is way too predictable and inconsistent, as we seen in the latter stages of the second half of the season.
Since Young arrived at Aston Villa, he has been racking up the assist, and scoring goals, on a consistent basis. Last season, Young managed to score nine goals, as well as assisting his team mates on fifteen separate occasions. Based on that, you would think that he would have no problem fitting Manchester United’s system.
However, even though those numbers are pretty impressive, he didn’t have the best of seasons with Aston Villa, primarily because Aston Villa struggled after Martin O’Neil’s departure.
There is a common misconception that every player the big guns have to buy has to be world class. That is something, which lurks about in every transfer window. Players like Valencia and Nani have proven that this idea is false. To be a decent footballer, work ethic, determination, true grit, and the desire to do well, is what makes a player good.
Young might not be world class, but he certainly isn’t average. He’s a Sir Alex Ferguson signing, a typical Manchester United signing. Statistic wise, his achievements speak for themselves:
2006/2007 (Watford) – 6 goals, 8 assists
2007/2008 (Aston Villa) – 8 goals, 17 assists
2008/2009 (Aston Villa) – 8 goals, 10 assists
2009/2010 (Aston Villa) – 9 goals, 13 assists
2010/2011 (Aston Villa) – 9 goals, 15 assists
We’re also talking about a player who isn’t new to awards. Young has managed to get into the Premier League Player of the Month award on three separate occasions; April 2008, September 2008, December 2008. Also, he was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice, in 2007/2008 and in 2008/2009. Lastly, to add to all of this, he won the PFA Young Player of the Year, in 2008/2009, beating Evans, who many thought was going to win the award.
Young’s versatility makes him an even better signing. He can operate on the right wing, left wing, or he can play in the hole, making him a very good squad player to have.
Possibilities:
4-2-3-1
De Gea
Rafael – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Valencia – Fletcher – Carrick – Young
Rooney
Hernandez
De Gea
Rafael – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Young – Fletcher – Carrick – Nani
Rooney
Hernandez
De Gea
Rafael – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Valencia – Fletcher – Carrick – Nani
Young
Hernandez
This player has proven that he can lead a team out, and change the game through his own will. A hard working, tenacious, talented player, Ashley Young has all the qualities that are needed if is to succeed at Manchester United. However, the pressure could be too much to handle, and he can lose his bottle. Nonetheless, Manchester United have signaled their intent, yes, their intentions not to rest in the transfer market, even though they were crowned Premier League Champions. Sir Alex Ferguson is going to rest just yet.
What a brilliant article. I am an Arsenal fan, and I must say that Man Utd have done well regarding their signings. I would take him any day of the week. I basically agree with what you have said.