Periodical readers of soccersweep will be well aware of the bad taste left in our collective mouths when we have regularly referred to Manchester United winger Ashley Young.
Our problem with the lad was that he was too cautious, predictable, basic and not left-footed enough to be a left winger for Manchester United.
Too often under Fergie he would pass the ball back to Evra instead of having a go at the opposition full back. And, while his right footed delivery from the left is dangerous, he was painfully predictable in too often cutting inside to deliver an inswinger.
But, in a watershed period for the Dutch manager at Manchester United, Young has developed into one of Louis’s favourite and most trusted charges.
Louis hasn’t so much revolutionised Young’s game as tweaked it ingeniously.
We all knew that the lad was a great athlete. He hasn’t got an ounce of fat on him and clearly keeps himself in great shape – noone can doubt his professionalism.
Louis has harnessed these qualities but has also arguably changed two parts of Young’s game and, in so doing, the confidence of the lad has gone through the roof.
He’s got Young playing forward instead of backwards. Now, when Young gets the ball his only thought is to attack the full back.
Just as importantly, Young now gets to the byline and crosses with his left foot (which is also decent). This way his game becomes far less predictable – full backs don’t know whether he’ll go inside or outside before crossing.
Most people would give David de Gea the Manchester United player of the season award for the second year running. But – and we still can’t quite believe that we are saying this – the tireless and high quality performances of Ashley Young over the last few months mean that he has to be the Spaniard’s biggest rival for Manchester United’s man of the season.
Let’s see some of his better moments. Manchester United fans: is Young now a certain starter ahead of the £60m Angel di Maria?
JOHNSON B
Apr 2, 2015 at 9:18 am
Young is far better than di maria..cos he’s strong,he doesn’t loose control and ball easily