Friday 17 January 2014

Danny Welbeck - On the Rise!

Danny Welbeck seems to have finally answered his critics with his excellent performances this season, and he definitely seems a transformed player. Having scored just 2 goals all of last season, he now has 6 in the last 6 games, adding to his brace on the opening day of the season, making it 8 goals in the Premier League so far. Manchester United are struggling with injuries to Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, and as we know from last season, and the start of this, we rely on these two for the major chunk of our goals. Danny's rise in form couldn't have come at a better time and I'm sure David Moyes is just as pleased as each one of us. 


Danny Welbeck is Manchester United through and through. He's a local lad, a massive fan, an integral part of the Manchester United system. He's come through the youth teams, and made his debut for United in 2008. He went on to win the 08-09 League Cup and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup before being sent on loan to Preston North End and later on to Sunderland. Since the 11-12 season, Danny Welbeck has been a regular figure in the Manchester United first team. He's found it really difficult to break into the first 11 on a constant basis because of the quality of strikers United have had over the years. Just when Danny must have sensed he'd be a regular feature from the 12-13 season, Fergie went ahead and bought the red hot Robin Van Persie who if fit, would undoubtedly feature in every game. 



David Moyes has stated that when he arrived he was informed of how important a role Danny Welbeck would be playing in United's future. Moyes understands the club, the way it functions, the way the youth players become top first team players, and it seems Moyes was determined to get Danny to play to his potential, and it's finally happening. Credit to David Moyes for that. Welbeck is a manager's delight- his stamina, work rate, ability to track back is spectacular, unlike strikers like Chicharito who won't be seen in our own half too many times. Players like Valencia and Welbeck give that extra defensive advantage, put pressure on the opposite team when they have possession, making it easier for the Manager to work his formations. 



It's because of his work rate that Danny has been given quite a lot of game time this season even if the top strikers have been playing. But he's been played on the wing, not his natural position at all. He had been lacking the finishing quality since a while, which was pretty evident in many instances when he should have ideally been slotting the ball home. The English media criticised him, fans questioned whether he was "United quality", but the Manager and coaching staff seem to have stood by him. I'm sure Danny was at Carrington trying to do his best to play as a winger and make a contribution to the team. His finishing and CF abilities may have taken a back seat resulting in his loss of form in that position. However, injuries have let him get back to his favourite and natural position, centre forward. He's taken his chances superbly and is in some sort of a run at the moment. It will be very interesting to see what David Moyes does with him once RVP and Roo are back into the first 11. Rooney behind Welbeck and RVP would be ideal in my opinion. Really hope Danny isn't pushed back to the wing, or the bench for that matter. 



Exciting times lie ahead for Manchester United, with youngsters like Januzaj and Welbeck making a big difference this season, and the likelihood of new signings coming in at least over the summer if not in January. Lets hope this isn't just a phase of brilliance for Danny Welbeck, but a transformation. Hope he manages to reach the 20 goal mark that David Moyes has set for him, and maybe even cross it. Lets hope when our strikers return from injury, Welbeck doesn't go back to his old self, but 
continues this hot streak with them. Hope is a term most United fans can associate with this season. It's the only thing we can do, as fans. So..

LETS. JUST. HOPE.


By- Manan Vora