Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
How can Manchester United get the most out of this faltering 21-year-old?
In the middle of last summer, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal showed huge signs of intent for the upcoming season when he signed Dutch counterpart and PSV Eindhoven wonder-kid Memphis Depay.
The 21-year-old had been widely regarded as the ‘next big thing’ and had been gathering the attention of the footballing world since his displays for Holland during the 2014 World Cup.
This, added to his impressive club performances last year which won him the Eredivisie Golden Boot and PSV their first league title in seven years, hinted that United were taking a step in the right direction.
The signing of the youngster also hinted that an attacking style of play was going to return to Old Trafford after the tepid approach that epitomised the David Moyes era.
Yet, fast forward seven months of the season, and this first impression has, frankly, not been fulfilled yet. Depay has been inconsistent at best and has lacked the playmaking flair that warranted his move from Amsterdam to Manchester, enduring periods on the side-line as a result; only in three of the last ten games has Depay played the whole 90 minutes of a game, a run that stretches back to November.
So why has it just not clicked yet for Memphis Depay at Old Trafford?
It must be frustrating for Manchester United supporters; two goals in seventeen Premier League matches this season, to go with zero assists, doesn’t go far in repaying the £31 million price tag.
Even more frustrating would be the fact that the Dutchman started off his Manchester United career with promising signs of living up to the hype over his big-money move. All the way back in August, the club must have been licking their lips in anticipation for the new season when he produced a match winning display in their Champions League Qualifier against Club Brugge.
On this occasion, his second appearance at Old Trafford, two good quality goals (one long range shot from the edge of the box, and the other a composed finish after evading two challenges) made the difference and offered a glimpse of the raw talent he possesses.
But as alluded to earlier on, the inconsistency of the 21-year-old is holding him back from making a mark in the Premier League.
One week he’s dancing past PSV Eindhoven defenders and slotting past the goalkeeper, or putting a cushioned volley past Heurelho Gomes in the Watford goal, whilst the next he’s totally invisible and has less touches of the ball in a game than David de Gea in the United goal.
Despite working alongside him in the Dutch national side, and therefore knowing his style of play, Louis van Gaal’s set up of the United side has never left Depay in his most influential position for a run of games; on the wings.
Looking back at his place in the jigsaw of the successful PSV side, he was primarily utilised on the right side of a 4-3-3 alongside two of Luciano Narsingh, Florian Jozefzoon or Luuk de Jong. This formation gave Depay the freedom of the right hand side of the pitch, and the ability to switch flanks to the left, whereas at United it seems like Van Gaal is constantly experimenting and trying to find his best position.
In half a season, Depay has been put on the left wing, right wing, up front (both alone and partnered by Wayne Rooney) and in the attacking midfield role. The constant tinkering of the side by Van Gaal, whether due to injuries or not, doesn’t help the growth of Depay, and arguably the type of football that’s being played at Old Trafford lately focuses more around midfield control and defensive solidity more than the attacking flair that Depay would almost certainly thrive on.
With increasing speculation over the future of the United manager, and reports that the end of his reign is coming near, you can’t help but think that a managerial change could suit Depay.
With both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, both of whom have a more attacking ethos than Van Gaal, being linked with a move to either of the Manchester sides, the appointment of one of these could help the Dutchman reach the potential that he has shown in bits and pieces in the last seven months.
Admittedly, yes it does take time to get used to the pace of the English game and get used to the Premier League and yes, there is a vast difference between the Premier League and the Eredivisie, but for a player of Depay’s class it would have been expected that he’d have settled in by now.
The best thing for Manchester United to do with Depay right now is to give him a run of games on the right hand side of an attacking three with Rooney and Martial; with little being produced in front of goal lately anyway, it’s worth a try to see if it can get him firing again.
If the Dutchman does start finding some form, and United can find a formation to accommodate him in, the old PSV Eindhoven wonder-kind could lead a revival of some sorts at Old Trafford and help them in their push for a vital Champions League spot.
Featured image: All rights reserved by