Erik ten Hag’s star pupil is a hot-stepping midfield menace destined to change Man Utd’s fortunes
It seems as though the more money Manchester United spend to paper the cracks, the more the cracks grow and eventually split, leaving the club in a complete flood.
A flood full of misspent money, dividends taken by the owners, managers undergoing identity crises and players swanning around the place like they’re all the reincarnation of Pele.
Sounds like quite a nasty flood, doesn’t it? And that’s before we consider the *actual* flooding going on whenever it rains at Old Trafford. What a mess.
If it wasn’t already clear, United are a mess. From top to bottom. And no matter how many times the Red Devils sack a manager, appoint a new one to get them into the top four and subsequently lose patience again, nothing will change the fact that they’re run like a circus.
Actually, scratch that. We’re not speaking from experience, but we can imagine that a circus show is much more carefully thought out than whatever kind of operation it is that they’re trying to run at United.
Erik ten Hag isn’t without fault in their latest meltdown – the last time United lost nine of their opening 17 games in a season, they were relegated – but you ultimately have to cut the Dutchman some slack, as he is ultimately the latest in a string of managerial victims who come to Manchester and flirt with a permanently damaged reputation.
Injuries and inconsistencies have seriously hampered Ten Hag this season, restricting him from playing his best XI or trusting the players he has at his disposal to carry out his tactical instructions.
Is that an excuse for leaving £60million Mason Mount on the bench week after week? Probably not. But there’s probably a method to his madness, considering he doesn’t trust his makeshift defence to play the ball out, nor does he trust most of his midfielders to move it efficiently.
That might change once Kobbie Mainoo has worked his way back up to full match sharpness following an injury-hit start to what was expected to be his breakthrough season, but it could also change if the Dutchman puts full faith into his latest prodigy – Omari Forson.
Forson was taken on United’s pre-season tour ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and made his unofficial debut in a 2-0 win over Leeds United.
Ten Hag invested a significant amount of time into the London-born teenager, who was cruelly hauled off in the first half of a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, in order to be educated by the boss.
Since then, though, his stock has only continued to soar at United. Forson has made four appearances in the Premier League 2 this season and racked up three goals and an assist.
While doing the bulk of his work from the right flank, Ten Hag made use of the teenager from the left in pre-season, while he can also prove handy in the centre of the park.
Sounds a dream, right? Take a look and decide for yourself.
🇬🇭🏴 Ladies and Gents, I present you Omari Forson. Remember The Name. La Carrington has done it again. pic.twitter.com/aH2piyI7iU
— Commodore. (@CdoreIsRed) November 6, 2023
Not sure what we’re more in love with, the absurd footwork or the short socks look.
Seriously, a mazy winger rocking short socks? The game has changed. He means business. Baller status certified.
What also stands out aside from that very slick ball-carrying ability is a freakish press resistance and a zipped pass from that very feisty left boot.
It’s immediately clear why Ten Hag trusted him enough to include him in the travelling squad away to FC Copenhagen.
Considering that the right-wing position again appears up for grabs, Forson has a perfect opportunity to slyly muscle his way into the Dutchman’s plans and spearhead a youthful shift of momentum at United.
By Mitch Wilks
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