January 2010 provided every Manchester United fan with one extremely dismal day; In fact, I seriously doubt there have been many worse moments in the history of fixtures at Old Trafford.
A mouth watering FA Cup, third round tie with our rivals from across the Pennines, Leeds United. Long forgotten were the days of Mark Viduka, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Champions League encounters and Premiership title run ins.
Administration and relegated to League 1 for the men in white, this game was already a foregone conclusion with pundits and journalists up and down the UK, an opportunity to laugh at the outfit from Yorkshire, a chance for the red rose to slay the white rose, a chance to really rub salt into the wounds of their recent demise…. Or a chance for an upset?
The echoes of jubilant Leeds fans rang around Old Trafford at the final whistle, and to be honest with you – they were worth their 1-0 victory.
Sir Alex Ferguson, not for the first time had put out a weakened side; one that should have been strong enough to see off any League one outfit, whether they were a bitter rival or not. However the likes of Gabriel Obertan and more importantly, Danny Welbeck, came in for huge criticism after the game.
Almost two years on and Danny Welbeck has started the 2011/12 season extremely well; The young striker has scored two goals in three starts and was putting in performances of the highest level – If anything, he looks like a new £20million signing.
Perhaps spending a season on loan at Steve Bruce’s Sunderland helped him mature? Perhaps it was his age and having developed over the last year and a half from a gangly boy into a sizable man has given him a bigger presence up top? Perhaps he learnt his lesson the hard way and realised just what it will take to make it at United?
It can only be described as a massive shame for Danny Welbeck that he picked up an injury in the home victory over Arsenal and will be out for five weeks. Perhaps he was lucky to find himself starting regularly in the first place, as it was down to an injured Javier Hernandez that left an opening – and being selected ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Mame Biram Diouf and Kiko Macheda showed a massive belief in this local lad from the manager.
What happens now? Five weeks out is a long time. Will he walk back into the side again now that Hernandez is fit? I doubt it.
With a third round Carling Cup draw taking Manchester United to Elland Road against the side that almost ruined his chance of making it at Old Trafford, and knowing Sir Alex does like to rotate his squad for Carling Cup fixtures, I ask what happens if Berbatov and Owen both put in impressive displays and Welbeck falls further down the pecking order?
Come mid November will he consider going back out on loan if he finds himself fourth choice and only getting an odd ten minutes here and there?
At his young age, Welbeck does have time on his side; with Owen and Berbatov in their thirties you would have to believe he is the future – but surely any professional who is hungry to be the best and play week in week out at the top level of the game will definitely not settle to be a back up player?
International aspirations always play a major role in these situations – will he get picked at senior level for England if he cannot even get a regular start at United?
Maybe I am over analysing this situation but how many of us honestly believe he will walk straight back into the starting eleven? I hope he does, but I do not expect that he will.
Manchester United are lucky to benefit from having such a talented group of strikers to pick from this season; a great mix of speed, skill, youth, experience and above all, many deadly finishers – however, when he regains his full match fitness, I think Danny Welbeck may find himself out of favour due to this misfortunate and badly timed injury – this for me is the unluckiest of circumstances.
Written by Nathon Woodhead for RedFlagFlyingHigh.com. Follow Nathon on twitter @Nathonw and Redflagflyinghigh @RFFH
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Or have a look at the ten strikers that we think will lead the race for the Golden Boot next season
looking forward to the game,just dont send the same team that played arsenal!!
Lets be honest here, Danny Welbeck has been the weakest part of Manchester United this season. Looks like a £20,000,000 signing. Please.
Watch him play. His first touch is terrible. He’s made one good pass this season (Anderson goal against Spurs). Everytime he gets the ball he slows up play.
Typical article from someone who only watches highlight shows. Next you will be saying Nani will be European player of the year!
he might not be a 20 mill signing, but he definatley is NOT as bad as your trying to make him out to be. he has played well…and bad, but dont all players.
as for your point on the weakest member thats a little flawed aswell…de gea, carrick, evans all come to mind for mistakes.
and slowing up play, are you sure thats not what he’s ment to be doing. he’s taken berbatov place so will probably being to to do the same and play to his advantages, you know a build up player.
know football before commenting on it.
Never heard so much bull than that of = Really! Wellbeck is already part of Cappello’s plans and a “big part” quoting him. He is worth 20 Mil as it stands now, with the other rediculous signings being made i’d say he’s a bargain at that. He is good in the air, holds the ball up, can spin off the last defender and can finish. Can’t ask for more. And Nani, yes should have been nominated for Euro player of the year last year by far but has a great player in Asher Young on the other wing to compete personally with and will produce lots of goals for Wellbeck and Rooney, now l’il Pea is out for a while.
Back out on loan in November? Do you understand the transfer window, unless he were to go to a Championship club (which is ridiculously ludicrous) even that would have to be within its first week. And Fergie told Bruce and Sunderland that he wasn’t going to let Welbeck come back no matter what.
You’re talking like his development is miraculous, it’s not it’s just what happens to players when they play regularly, I agree with ‘Really?’ you must just watch highlights. He had a shocking start last season and slowly improved to score goals, etc. No credit whatsoever will go to Sunderland though because nobody watched them last year, and in fact never do.
I’d like to know how long you’ve been following Football for, it’s no surprise ‘United’ was your first choice but players get injured all the time. He’ll get back in the side cos Owen plays like he’s only got one leg is crocked, Berbatov is a lazy wanker, Macheda has been quite a let down as, Diouf is looking like he has potential but Welbeck has been doing it already this season, he’s in there behind Rooney and Mr. Bean or whatever gay nickname he’s been given. But also United will be playing in 4 competitions this year, that’s a lot of games which is why they have a lot of players. They have strength all over the pitch, what about Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Smalling and Evans all getting games, or do you only know your team’s strikers?
Lastly, (and this is probably below the belt but..) who the fuck spells Nathan with an ‘O’ you really are a downy.
WWWYKI
bit of a tool arnt you, typical united hater not knowing anything
Mate, at least I can form an argument and lay out my opinion. I was contentious on purpose, I think the article is quite sensationalist and makes big issues out of nothing, it basically says, Welbeck’s good, but is he good enough? And has no actual substance.
I might be a ‘Tool’ but I’m an educated tool with grammar on my mind. I don’t hate Man United, just disagree with the constant hype, although it seems rather warranted this season.
I now challenge you to write more than a sentence in response you candy-ass jabroni