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Ashley Young rejuvenated in trumping of Manchester City

By on April 12, 2015

It takes an acquired taste to appreciate the value in Ashley Young: he’s fast and can whip in a great cross but isn’t very versatile; he’s good when running at players but criticized for his habit of diving; an out-and-out winger true to its meaning. He is very much a player of the Sir Alex Ferguson brand, lacking a big name yet very effective on his day, when used well.

Except Sir Alex Ferguson couldn’t even make his own signing fit into United’s team. Young rapidly fell out of favor and is still having trouble shaking off the characterization of a high-priced, sixteen million pound flop. In his first season at the club, Young amassed nineteen appearances but couldn’t recreate his sparkling Aston Villa form; indeed, he was often sub-par and his appearance in a squad warned of poor things to come for many fans. In the previous two seasons he scored only twice and made four assists in the league. His twenty Premier League appearances so far this season have already surpassed his former record at Old Trafford. All he could do was cross, they said, only reinforced by David Moyes’ use of the Englishman when the Scot was most heavily criticized for playing a crossing-only game. Yet they mistook his wisdom as ignorance, and that skill was so vitally important for United today.

Under Louis Van Gaal, Young is a rejuvenated man. Not only is the winger being used, but he is being made good use of. In particular, United take advantage of his crosses. In today’s Manchester Derby, Young had a direct hand in three of United’s four goals: Chris Smalling’s late headed goal came directly from Young’s trademark, whipping, far-post free-kick and Young’s own goal — United’s first — from the aftermath of another early free-kick. The Red Devils’ second also came from Young’s cross, again a no-frills, crosser’s cross to the head of Marouane Fellaini at the far post.

In both of Van Gaal’s favorite formations, a 3-5-2 and 4-3-3, great importance is placed upon the wide men — in the 3-5-2, the wing-backs, and the wide forwards in a 4-3-3 — creating one-on-ones down the wings. The Dutchman achieves this by stocking Fellaini right in the channel between the opposition’s right full-back and center-back, acting as a unique “target midfielder” breed. Fellaini can knock it down to Young, as he did in the build-up to United’s first goal from De Gea’s long-ball, or back to Daley Blind, who has been shifted out wide into the left-back position largely to combine with Fellaini and Young, creating a neat triangle.

Young, on one hand, appeared to have confidence in his ability throughout. Speaking after the Derby to Sky Sports, he said: “I’ve just listened to what the manager has said. He’s willing to play me enough and it has repaid.”

The twenty-nine-year-old has performed well over the course of the season, scoring once and making two assists before today, but today’s performance has finally announced his return to the limelight in United’s 4-2 win. Of the game, he said: “I think the first ten minutes [City] were brilliant and played good football, but after that we showed character and we came back.” Few words could better describe the match.

City came bursting out of the blocks, visibly eager to turn the tides on their recent poor form, and just seven minutes in had a go-ahead goal when James Milner and David Silva combined down the left, the former slipping the latter through down the left side of the box. Silva squared the ball across goal, with ages to do so, and Sergio Aguero had the simple job of tapping home from point-blank range.

But United showed character in coming back, and twenty-seven minutes in they had completed the turnaround. Fellaini excelled, while Ander Herrera seemed to be everywhere at once. Wayne Rooney also provided proof that his return to forward is paying dividends.  Although City scored a late consolation goal, United already had four by then.  In Young’s words, it was a “massive result and good win” for United.

Photo credit: Dagur Brynjólfsson on Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.