Culprit: Why Manchester United Winger Is The Problem To Their Form And Why He Should Be Flogged

Manchester United have endured a poor run in all competitions this season and most of the players have failed to live up to the expectations as per United standards.

One of them is England international Ashley Young, who has failed to impress David Moyes nor had an impact performance under the Red Devils' former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The United midfielder has been a poor link on the wide areas, which has long been a concern for the Old Trafford outfit this season.

Young was signed by Ferguson from Aston Villa in 2011 and in his debut season, he managed to play regularly in the starting XI. However, the second season was disastrous in terms of stats and performance.

In the current campaign, Young has featured in 15 league games, managing just two goals. In addition to this, the England midfielder has taken 10 shots, out of which only five have been on target.

Traditionally United are known for a playing with a 4-4-2 formation, with two wingers and two strikers. Ferguson used to use players like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo to name a few on the wider positions, who were at their best in delivering pin point crosses. Not to mention the quality of the strikers at the club who used to convert those crosses into goals on a regular basis.

United have quality in the strike force, which mainly includes Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, with the latter playing crucial role in their title winning campaign last season. Although the pair  have managed to find goals for Moyes this season, their performances have failed to give the Red Devils the much needed boost to lift the spirits in the squad, as the crosses have dried up in the penalty area.

Moyes has been fielding Young, Antonio Valencia, Adnan Januzaj and Juan Mata on the wings. The Spain international arrived from Chelsea in January and has played a handful of games so far United.

Januzaj has been one of the few positives for United this season. With Nani out of action for the most part of the season due to injury and poor form, Moyes has preferred Young and Valencia, along with Januzaj.

Meanwhile, Young's club teammates Januzaj has taken 39 shots out of which nine of them were on target, while Nemanja Vidic being a defender has 10 taken out of which two were on target. When compared to that of Young, he has failed poorly miserably in terms of shots taken.

Moving on to crosses, Young has managed 81 assists so far while Januzaj has 76 while Chelsea's Eden Hazard has 67. However, the latter two have managed to deliver meaningful crosses, which means the majority of the crosses delivered by the 19-year-old and the Belgium international first made contact with their teammates rather than those of Young's.

With one of United's wingers failing to deliver a high performance in each game, it has forced Moyes to find creativity from the central midfield position, which has long been a weak link for the Red Devils. However, there has been no real chances created from the central midfield as well.

With wingers and central midfielders failing to create opportunities for the striker, it has led them to suffering a poor run in all competitions this season. No doubt that central midfield position is where United need to strengthen in the summer, but the combination of Young and Valencia this season has been nothing but disastrous (except on rare occasions).

The Red Devils need to offload Young, who has failed to meet the expectations at Old Trafford. Despite giving numerous opportunities over the years, the former Villa man has not proved his worth for the club.

It is time for United to offload Young and Valencia could follow him out of Old Trafford in the summer. Moyes has the services of Januzaj and Mata on the wider positions, who have been creating more chances and the former Everton boss could use the duo instead of Young and Valencia.

Young's time at Old Trafford is almost done and should they keep the England international at the club, it will be a mystery for everyone as to why he is still given a place in the squad. Even if he is retained, it will be for the best that he will be allowed to warm the bench and rather than allowing to run on the pitch.

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Comments

[Rob Mac]

Young is as good as Nani,who is as good as Fellaini,who is as good as Wellbeck on the left wing,who is as good as Smalling playing at right back, who is as good as Kagawa on the wing......but are all better than Lingard,Rafael,Zaha and Januzai according to Moyes the Magnificent.......Well he did buy Darren Gibson from us............

‘Old Trafford’…..as it is now known the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’…….A complete Madhouse where tactics,substitutions,player acquisitions,style of play,and the retention of a complete doughbag of a manager,is nothing less than MADNESS…..OLD TRAFFORD once THE THEATRE OF DREAMS…….NOW AN ASYLUM for THE INSANE….