My choice to lead the line on Saturday- but not likely to be Sir Alex's.
If reports are to be believed then Danny Welbeck could well find himself relegated to a place on the bench for Saturday’s game against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
After the Chelsea game last week Sir Alex noted:
“To be honest, I think I should have played Chicharito from the start,” said Ferguson. “When he came on he had them on toast. He really put pressure on them with his movement and positional play. Danny Welbeck is a terrific player and he is going to be a top player, but when Chicharito came on it was a different game.”
That may seem like a fair assessment and who are we to argue with Sir Alex, after all Chicharito did get the all important equaliser and there’s no denying the Chelsea back four looked visibly rattled by him and his runs. Let’s not forget though, that according to Sir Alex Danny Welbeck should have earned a first half penalty and sending off and then did actually earn a vital penalty to bring the game back to 3-2.
Welbeck is unlucky in the fact that on another day, he could have been receiving all the plaudits for causing Chelsea’s implosion but it now seems is destined to lose his place.
I know I’m something of a lone voice but I genuinely think the Reds boss should stick with Longsight’s finest and in a way, Saturday’s game only reiterated the reasoning I have behind that thought.
Chicharito has often been compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and this is a comparison I wholeheartedly agree with, the point is Ole was, despite being one of the most prolific strikers United have ever seen, was often more effective coming off the bench than he was starting. In 1999 I remember being at Old Trafford in 1998 when Dwight Yorke made his home debut, the Reds won 4-1 against Charlton with the former Villa man and Ole grabbing two goals apiece. It seemed that this as to be United’s new striking partnership. Fergie had other ideas though and realising the chemistry between Andy Cole and Yorke worked better and that Ole was the team’s most effective substitute he made the two future Blackburn players his preferred pair.
When I think of Welbeck and Chicharito in some ways it reminds me of the Cole/Ole argument, Chicharito is no doubt the better finisher of the two and more likely to grab you a goal, but Welbeck is arguably more likely to help others gets goal than his Mexican counterpart.
In fact this season, they’re stats are practically identical, with Chicharito having scored eight and assisted with one goal, in 20 games, while Welbeck has six goals and two assists in 18 games, its difficult to call which player is more effective overall using just stats, so it’s much better to give an opinion based on watching the actual games- something which may seem alien to many football fans and ‘writers’ nowadays.
As someone who grew up watching football before you could even find out who got the assist for a goal unless you actually went to the game or spoke to someone who did, I’ve always preferred formulating my opinions on players based on watching them, rather than googling info on them.
Whenever I’ve seen Welbeck start alongside Rooney this season, on the whole I feel the entire forward six have looked more like a complete unit. Whether thats Rooney, Welbeck, Nani Young Anderson Cleverley, or Rooney Welbeck, Valencia, Nani, Giggs and Carrick, or whatever, there seems to be slightly better team play. When Chicharito starts, there is still a good understanding amongst the front six, but there seems to be more of a case of everyone getting the ball to the Mexican who will then try and score rather than, everyone working an opening for whoever.
This doesn’t mean that United are necessarily worse off with Chicharito upfront, after all what does it matter who’s scoring, as long as someone is. I just feel that the Reds seem a better attacking ‘unit’ this season with Welbeck playing just in front of Rooney, the Mancunian doesn’t always look for the run towards goal, he is often willing to try and bring in others and although his hold-up play needs work, on the whole it just edges the Mexicans.
The other point to my argument for feeling it’s better to start with Welbeck is the fact that Chicharito is more effective coming off the bench than Welbeck is, whenever the Mexican comes off the bench he seems much more likely to score than his English team mate does when he’s brought on as sub.
Of course you could point out that I’ve just argued Welbeck is a better player for enabling others to score so it would make sense that coming off the bench the England striker would be a better bet for helping Rooney or whoever grab a goal. I don’t think Welbeck is nearly as effective on the whole as a substitute though in fact he hasn’t got either of his two assists for United when coming off the bench and he’s only scored one goal. Chicharito on the other hand has scored twice coming off the bench and has an assist- hardly a hugely impressive difference I’ll admit but at least it goes some way to backing up my theory. Just.
There’s also the question of form, which many people, including Sir Alex will no doubt point to the fact that Chicharito now has two goals in his last two games, while Welbeck has none. Yet in the game against Chelsea, Welbeck as I’ve already stated was an effective contributor and in his previous start- against Liverpool at Anfield he was a lone striker who had so few chances that when he finally did get half a sniff of goal he wasted it with others in a far better position.
There’s also the argument of resting Welbeck, how it might be good for him , well I’m sorry but asking a 22 year-old to play two games six days apart is like asking Luis Suarez to have two controversial incidents in the same week- not a problem.
Although, I know I’ll be in the minority and who am I to argue with Sir Alex, but in all honesty I’d prefer to see the young Mancunian start over the little Mexican this Saturday, although I’ll hardly be gutted to see Chicharito’s name on the team sheet.
Who would you prefer? Feel free to comment suggest and abuse below:
Decent review there couldn’t agree more..Welbeck is a better all round forward..Chicharito is all about goals and movement..if he doesn’t get service he tends to have a bad game where as welbz can come short and make something happen with his gangly self ;)whoever starts i’m happy just believe Welbeck doesn’t deserve to be dropped and chichas more likely to score coming off the bench.
Now I am one of the biggest Chicharito fans but I also love Welbeck equally but I think that Welbeck should keep his spot and I do think that he was unlucky on Sunday. Welbeck is more of a complete striker and I think that we are more dangerous with Welbeck but I do think that Welbeck and Chicharito are our future strike partnership with Rooney moving into a attacking Scholesk midfield role but I would keep Welbeck partnering up with Rooney on Saturday.
The Welbeck Rooney paternship is better, but Hernandez is coming into form & welbeck seems to be coming out of form so i would go with Hernandes. Either partnership will hopefully be good enough to win the game.
I agree Welbeck is the better option now. Maybe Ferguson is saying this just to boost Chicaritos confidence. Maybe is because of injuries, but the mexicans movement has not been that good this season. He “never” creates any chanses for his teammates, he is weak and his running seems bad tactically at times. At Chelsea, ok, we went from three down to a draw with the little pea playing, but apart from the goal, I think he offered limited options for the team to play on. He is kinda similar to van Nistelrooy the way he is only effective inside the box. Some other time I would always have started him, but a game vs Liverpool were it will be little room to move in and a more physical battle for most of the game, presumably, I think it is better put him on later, so that he isnt “worn out” when the chances come.
To say Chicha “never” creates chances (which by the way, you never use quotation marks to put emphasis on a word) is not completely true. He is very good with the one-two passes, which almost led to a goal for Rooney on Sunday, and also gave Darren Fletcher a great (and only) goal during our infamous game against City last year. I don’t understand everyone getting on Hernandez’s case about his “inadequate” (note the proper use of quotation marks) link-up play. It’s something I’ve heard far too often, and I don’t think it’s very accurate. That being said, both strikers have their strengths, and it may be so that Chicha is better off the bench for wearing out defenders late in the game, just don’t make it sound like he’s weak or worse on the ball than he really is.
He actually played a drastic part in the 2nd penalty when he rolled the ball into danny before he was tripped up. So in part, he actually played a role in 2 goals.
Chicharito is better than Welbeck. Welbeck is good in drible but, not good enough to be a striker. Welbeck good as a winger. Chicharito should start the game.
What i think is that rooney should come from the bench, cuz i dnt knw why rooney fails to hit the target other than hitting penalties… He should be more goal bound..
the midfield should be pogba n carrick wit cleverly on the bench, n send scholes bk to retirement, give that lad a challenging task n am sure he’ll eat his shot properly….
Same English bias. Chicha is million times better than this overrated.
Im not english but I dont see bias, unless your a chicharito fanboy
I’ve yet to favour any United player simply because he was English and am not about to start now. What a ridiculous statement.
While it seems to be an English sportswriting convention to mention a player’s nationality all the time (“the wily Brazilian”, the “sulky Bulgarian”, “the ponderous Englishman” etc.) you go a little further and cite Welbeck’s local roots by calling him “the Mancunian” and “Longsight’s finest”. I think you referred to Chicharito as “the Mexican”. The implication is either a greater fondness for Welbeck as a local lad or a general greater fondness for Welbeck which manifests in citing his local roots.
Just because I have a fondness for Welbeck and cite his Mancunian roots, has no bearing on the argument I’ve put forward, I’ve explained my reasons for wanting Welbeck in the side.
i’m not english either, but based from what i have seen we play better with the mancunian pairing wazza upfront
.In Defence Of Luis Suarez by Rachael Singh
February 8, 2012 · Comments ( 3 )
Like him or not, Luis Suarez has been the most talked about and divisive character of the season. I had my say a few weeks ago, but Dispatches is nothing if not fair. As this week the law is under the microscope on here, Liverpool fan Rachael Singh pleads the case for the defence. Take cover.
There probably isn’t a view that hasn’t yet been expressed on the subject of Luis Suárez and the allegedly racist remarks that he allegedly made to Patrice Evra. Much has also been said in response to Liverpool’s handling of the situation; nearly all of such comments have been negative. Not a great deal at all has been said, comparatively, about the FA’s handling of the case or even the content of the report issued by the ‘independent’ panel – appointed by the soi disant ‘independent’ FA. Sports journalists have never had quite as much fun stoking fires and pouring oil onto them when they’ve not been pandering to personalities and egos (not least their own).
In my eyes, as a Liverpool-supporting linguist and sociolinguist who originally trained as a barrister, the Suárez case has highlighted and confirmed many points that have been raised over the years about the FA, its deeply ingrained bias that so reflects the attitudes and interests of its members, the flaws that continue to afflict its procedures. At no stage has an actual concrete case been mounted against Suárez. I don’t mean a case that would stand up in court; I mean a case that could reasonably be decided on the balance of probabilities.
Firstly, there was no actual evidence – no witnesses, no TV recordings, no officials, stewards, players, colleagues – no-one – just Evra’s word against that of Luis Suárez. There has been no explanation as to why Evra had three separate meetings with the committee while Suárez was only allowed one… a cynical mind may draw conclusions as to the position of David Gill, Manchester United’s CEO and a player in this process and wonder if some degree of ‘coaching’ wasn’t taking place. In the end, with no actual evidence to go on, no independent witness of any other kind and despite Evra’s insistence at different times that Suárez called him (in a Spanish conversation) ‘negro’ – pronounced ‘neh-gro’ and simply being the Spanish word for black once, then 5 times, then 10 times (when on a French TV interview), the panel found Evra a more ‘credible’ witness and insisted that Suárez had called Evra ‘negro’ SEVEN times – a whole new number plucked from thin air. This, despite the FA having called Evra an ‘unreliable witness’ on two occasions in the past, though admittedly when accusing Englishmen. The French FA after the South African World Cup went further, calling Evra ‘a man of low character and a liar’…but then, David Gill wasn’t on their board and they were not afraid of the possible repercussions of Alex Ferguson.
And all this before you go into the panel’s decision to disregard the testimony from linguistic experts on the nuances of South American Spanish – which, incidentally, isn’t the same Spanish that Evra speaks. Continental Spanish and South American Spanish each exist in their own cultural context; none of this was taken into account, either.
Liverpool Football Club saw all of this clearly. They spoke up in strong support of their team-mate, because that’s what people are meant to do in the face of injustice. Mock the t-shirts all you like, but it really is that simple.
Contrast all that with the current media furore surrounding John Terry – captain of Chelsea and erstwhile captain of England and a man with a reputation (much of it proven) lower than a snake’s belly. He verbally abuses Anton Ferdinand, brother of Rio, Terry’s defensive partner for England. The incident is reported, heavily witnessed, clearly filmed and even reported further by a member of the public to the police. Naturally, the police have investigated the allegation of such a racially motivated public order offence (Emma West, anyone?) and passed their file on to the CPS… who have brought charges on the basis of the evidence before them. In the meantime, the FA closed their own file on the matter, having concluded that there was no action to be taken. Imagine the shock when criminal charges were brought. Imagine the pressure to be seen to take proactive steps to kick racism out of football when a racist act is perpetrated by none other than the captain of the national squad. Imagine the embarrassment of having to approach the CPS and ask for their evidence before deciding whether to re-open the FA investigation.
Take note also of the reports from our sports media, not least from Terry’s self-serving biographer who tells us that calling someone “a black c*nt” isn’t racist – and he knows this because he asked a black person (coo gosh, how’s that for investigative journalism). The same sports media that unquestioningly accepts the FA’s cowardly abdictation of responsibility in transgressing its own rules with a view to preventing a replay at Loftus Road of ‘that’ memorable John Terry/Wayne Bridge handshake incident way back at Stamford Bridge. Ah, the wonders of the FA PR machine blundering along.
So here it is. On the one hand, you have one man’s dubious word against that of a newcomer to the Premier League; he is a foreigner and ought to be put in his place. The (English) word ‘negro’ is unacceptable – who cares what he said in Spanish, right? So, £80,000 fine and an eight game ban. And this is in spite of Evra, the FA and the independent panel declaring fulsomely that Suárez is not a racist. On the other hand, you have an English player facing criminal charges brought on the basis of evidence from a number of witnesses (including the victim), evidence deemed sufficient to conduct a prosecution and secure a conviction. Rather than re-open its file, the FA has taken five months to strip that player of the captaincy (a position to which, as many feel, he probably ought never to have been reinstated – or indeed elevated – in the first place). No committee, no report, no procedural impropriety, no £80,000 fine, no eight game ban – just an endless discussion, between now and the European Championships this summer, of who will succeed John Terry as captain.
Nooooo, Stevie, don’t do it!
Wrong thread pal, oh and by the way
LUIS SUAREZ = RACIST BASTARD
“In the meantime, the FA closed their own file on the matter, having concluded that there was no action to be taken.” Simply not true, the FA decided to wait until the police case has been dealt with.
Ive spoken to several Liverpool fans who back Suarez but are disappointed by the way the club has acted, even recently Daglish still couldn’t let the matter lie, bringing it up again after the Spurs game.
You talk about justice yet you’re only happy with the Suarez case if Evra had been found to be lying – which he wasn’t. Sometimes you have to take your medicine. Btw copy and pasting someone else’s blog- which itself is full of holes – completely ignoring the discrepancies in the Comolli’s and Kuyt’s testimony- later put down to individual translation errors- is pretty poor form. If you have an argument you’d like to make, then feel free to post it. Copying and pasting someone else’s simply highlights the fact you don’t seem to have your own defence of Suarez.
I still prefer hernandez (although I am biased as I absolutely love him) and his goals last year near enough won us the title and he just seems so much more intelligent than welbeck. Also in the Liverpool game we had 3 decent chances to go forward and score but welbeck wasted them trying to score from long range when a pass was better.
nice post
In my opinion, i’ll prefer the baby face chico to welbeck considering who we’re playing
Our opponent got the best defensive line up in the league this season and you’ll expect to convert the little half chances we’ll get and hernandez will promise you a goal with that.
We’ve seen it at anfield with our 1-1 score draw where he scored the goal from the bench
Welbeck is a terrific player, but i’ll prefer hernandez in that match
MANCHESTERLOGY-UNITEDLOGRAPHY
Hernandez is different class to Welbeck in my opinion. Welbeck frustrates me at times. He’ll do something positive one moment and then frustrate the next, take the Arsenal game when he was clean through on goal but dithered and the chance went begging but was there ten minutes later to grab the winner. I’d say Daniel Sturridge is a better all round forward than Welbeck when talking of up and coming English talent.
Hernandez has been a breath of fresh air. He pulls defenses apart and keeps them on their toes constantly. I think he’s United’s best buy in years.
Welbeck is a far better all round player than Sturridge. Anyone with a brain can see that.
Welbecks technique and link up play bring more to the team than Chicharito.
JH is also deadly from the bench.
u r biased danny welbeck is miles better and fergie knows it.